Car accidents happen all the time and, as a result, many people are injured every year. In fact, out of over 5 million reported car accidents in 2020, just over 35 thousand accidents resulted in fatal injuries, leading to more than 38 thousand deaths.
Many people who survive car accidents, however, may end up suffering from head injuries. The following are several kinds of head injuries people experience following a car accident:
Whiplash
Commonly experienced in minor and serious accidents, whiplash occurs when the head is rapidly thrown back and forth, which can put tension on the neck muscles and spine. As a result, people often feel disoriented and suffer from fatigue, blurred vision and depression.
Concussion
A concussion typically happens when the head suffers a heavy blow. Similar to whiplash, the brain then moves rapidly back and forth. The sudden movement can cause damage to the brain.
Coup and contrecoup
When the head suffers from an injury and the brain is injured on the same side, then the victim has suffered a coup. Yet, if the brain injury is opposite the head wound, then it’s a contrecoup.
Brain contusion
A brain contusion is, simply put, a bruise located on the brain. The bruise can swell and end up bleeding, causing major issues to the brain.
Skull fracture
The head may be impacted so hard that the skull fractures. In some cases, the skull may break and bone fragments may damage the brain.
PTSD
Not all car accident injuries are physical – some are phycological. One, for instance, is post-traumatic stress disorder, which can cause depression and flashbacks.
If you’re in an accident and suffering severe injuries, then you may need to know your legal rights to seek compensation for your medical bills.