Brain injuries and motor vehicle accidents

One of the most catastrophic injuries you can suffer in a car crash is a traumatic brain injury. Brain injuries may manifest themselves right away or the symptoms may appear days following the collision. The following is a brief overview of traumatic brain injuries in car accident cases and how the injured may be able to seek compensation for their damages.

What is a traumatic brain injury?

A traumatic brain injury (TBI) can result from a violent jolt to the head back and forth, as in a car accident. While mild TBIs can cause temporary problems, more serious TBIs can cause bruising, torn tissue, bleeding and other types of damages that can result in long-term complications or even death.

A person with a moderate to severe TBI may have the following symptoms. They may:

• Lose consciousness
• Have a headache that worsens over time
• Vomit
• Have a seizure
• Have clear fluid draining from their nose or ears
• Feel weak in their extremities
• Experience a loss of coordination
• Be confused
• Be agitated
• Fall into a coma

These are all serious medical issues that could lead to significant medical bills and lost wages from being unable to work.

TBIs and negligence

If you suffered a TBI in a car crash, you will have to deal with many expenses. Many people also want to hold the party responsible for the collision responsible for their actions. One way to do this is by pursuing a personal injury suit based on negligence.

In order to prevail in a negligence claim, you must be able to prove the following elements. First is duty. All motorists have a duty of care to drive reasonably under the circumstances. Second is breach. A person breaches their duty of care if they cause a car accident. Third is causation. The breach must be the actual cause of the damages, and the damages due to the breach must have been foreseeable. Finally, the breach must have resulted in quantifiable damages.

A TBI is a serious, long-lasting injury that could significantly impact your health, your family life and your ability to work. If you suffered a TBI in a motor vehicle accident in the Cleveland area you may want to learn more about pursuing a personal injury lawsuit. Doing so may allow you to obtain the compensation you need to move forward following the crash.