Vehicle collisions are one of the most common causes of traumatic brain injury. Whether the victim’s head makes a direct impact with the dashboard or windshield or the brain is jolted in the skull by a whiplash motion, brain damage can be severe.
When the car accident was not your fault, but you have suffered permanent consequences, you need a car accident attorney who understands the unique challenges posed by a traumatic brain injury.
Our Albuquerque car accident lawyer discusses the potential effects of a car accident brain injury and takes a look at the financial compensation you will need to be able to move on with your life.
Types of Traumatic Brain Injury
A traumatic brain injury can cause a variety of long-term and permanent complications, depending on the type of injury sustained. A vehicle crash can result in a number of different types of injury, including the following:
- Hematoma. When a head injury causes bleeding in the brain, the blood can form a clot and put pressure on the brain.
- Hemorrhage. Uncontrolled bleeding in or around the brain also puts pressure on the brain and can cause permanent damage or even death.
- Concussion. When the force of a collision jolts the brain inside the skull, brain tissue can be permanently damaged. Concussions can range from mild to severe.
- Diffuse axonal injury. Rather than causing a brain bleed, this kind of injury damages the structures that support the brain and tears nerve tissue. These injuries are often permanent and can be fatal.
- Penetrating injury. In a vehicle collision, shards of metal or glass could penetrate the skull and pierce brain tissue, causing permanent damage such as loss of cognitive abilities and paralysis, or death.
Following a car crash, some of these brain injuries are not immediately evident. That is why it is vital that you see a doctor as soon as possible and discuss the possibility of a TBI.
Complications of Traumatic Brain Injury
A brain injury can cause the victim to experience physical, sensory, and cognitive symptoms. Some of these complications are temporary and will go away once bleeding or swelling is controlled. However, a vehicle collision can also cause permanent brain damage. Some common complications of a head injury include:
- Physical symptoms. TBIs may cause headaches, nausea, dizziness, and fatigue on the less serious end of the spectrum, but can escalate to loss of consciousness, seizures, persistent headaches, and loss of motor skills at the severe end.
- Sensory damage. A person who has suffered a head injury may become sensitive to light and sound and experience blurred vision, hearing loss, and changes in the ability to smell.
- Cognitive function. From temporary memory loss to changes in personality, the effects of a brain injury on cognitive abilities can be life-changing. Brain injury victims may experience mood swings, agitation, aggression, and profound confusion.
Depending upon the extent of the brain injury, car accident victims may need to plan for life-long medical care and support.
Fighting for the Compensation You Deserve
When you or a loved one suffers a traumatic brain injury in a New Mexico crash that wasn’t your fault, you will need an attorney who understands the potential long-term costs of this catastrophic injury. The team at Keller & Keller in Albuquerque has worked with many brain injury victims and their families, and we know what it takes to support someone who has a lifetime of medical issues related to a traumatic injury. We will not settle for less than what you deserve from the at-fault driver’s insurance company, including:
- Current and future medical bills, including ongoing therapy, assistive devices, and in-home or rehabilitation center care
- Pain and suffering damages
- Past and future lost wages
- Punitive damages
The personal injury attorneys at Keller & Keller know how to document losses and negotiate for the settlement you need for medical bills and ongoing—sometimes even lifelong—care. When you or a loved one has suffered permanent brain damage, many factors must be considered when negotiating a settlement. Don’t try to do this on your own. In New Mexico, call Keller & Keller to help you get what you deserve.
