Among the most common injuries that can occur due to a car crash is a brain injury. Brain injuries are devastating injuries that may have a significant impact on a victim of a collision. The injury could be mild, moderate or acute with lasting symptoms.
Out of the types of brain injuries, some of the most common in car crashes are concussions, diffuse axonal injuries and open head injuries. Here’s more about each of these damaging injuries.
What is a concussion?
A concussion is one of the most common kinds of injuries in car crashes. They happen when the brain is injured due to impact, such as if the brain hit the inside of the skull without an external impact or if the victim hit their head during the crash. Even a minor concussion can have significant symptoms such as headaches, nausea and dizziness. Acute concussions (the most serious) may result in coma or death.
What is a diffuse-axonal injury?
A diffuse-axonal injury is one caused by the brain rapidly shifting within the skull. This forces the axons, the fibers that connect the brain to the skull, to stretch and tear apart. Usually, a diffuse-axonal injury causes damage to multiple parts of the brain.
What are open head injuries?
Open head injuries are injuries where the skin and bone of the skull have cracked and opened. This kind of injury may happen due to blunt force, such as if a projectile penetrates the skull or a person hits their head hard on a steering wheel. Immediate medical attention is needed, because bleeding and swelling may quickly lead to coma and death.
These three kinds of brain injuries are common at the scenes of car crashes. If someone has hit their head at the scene of a crash where you are, make sure to call 911 and report the head injury. These injuries don’t always produce symptoms right away, or the symptoms may worsen over time as the brain swells and bleeding occurs. Immediate medical attention is important to prevent complications and to start a record of the collision.
