Car Accident Head Injuries

Car accident head injuries can be debilitating if not devastating. Life, as you know it, may be forever changed in one split second. Depending on the type of head and brain injury suffered, recovery, if possible, can be expensive, lengthy, and challenging. However, if someone else is responsible for the crash, you may be able to pursue compensation for your injury and expenses.

You don’t have to go it alone. Morgan & Morgan’s dedicated car accident lawyers are here to support you and fight for what you need to rebuild your life. We want you to have the best chance of recovering the compensation you deserve. Contact us today for a free case evaluation to find out how we can help.  

Common Head Injuries in Car Accidents

Head injuries can be common in car crashes and range in severity from mild to life-threatening and fatal. The most severe injuries have the potential to negatively affect all aspects of an individual’s life. Typical car accident head injuries include:

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

Concussion, a type of TBI, is one of the most common head and brain injuries in car collisions. The condition usually occurs due to a sudden impact or change in movement, as is typical in a car accident, and can occur even in low-speed crashes. Symptoms of a concussion include:

• Loss of consciousness
• Dizziness
• Confusion
• Headache or the feeling of pressure inside the head
• Nausea and vomiting
• Personality changes

Seeking medical attention for a concussion as soon as possible can be vital for preventing severe or permanent brain damage.

Penetrating Head Wound

Penetrating head injuries can occur when objects or glass pieces inside the car fly around in an accident, hitting individuals in the head. Such an injury can affect the skull or, if deep, even impact the brain. While penetrating injuries to the head are typically obvious, the following symptoms may accompany them:

• Difficulty breathing
• Heavy blood loss
• Bleeding from the ears
• Loss of consciousness
• Loss of sensation in limbs
• Coma

Contusion

In a car accident, brain contusions (bruises) typically occur when a driver or passenger is struck by an object or hits their head in the car or, when ejected from the vehicle, hits their head on the ground. Contusions on both brain sides, the site of impact and the opposite side, are called coup-contrecoup injuries.

Brain bruises, if mild, can heal on their own. However, a severe contusion may require surgery. Complications of brain contusions include blood clots in the brain and cognitive changes, among others.  

Diffuse Axonal Injury

A diffuse axonal head injury is a typical high-speed accident injury that occurs due to extreme rotation or shaking of the head, causing tears in brain structures. The injury can lead to seizures, memory loss, coma, and death in the most severe cases. Symptoms of a diffuse axonal injury include:

• Nausea and vomiting
• Loss of consciousness
• Severe headache
• Dizziness
• Fatigue

Signs and Symptoms of Car Accident Head Injuries

Common symptoms such as a headache or nausea could signal a severe brain injury, which is why it is critical to see a doctor after a crash, even if you only experience minor discomfort. After an accident, seek medical advice instantly if you notice any of the following signs and symptoms:

Headaches

According to a study published by the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), headaches are common after car crashes. While a headache may not be due to a severe injury, persistent headaches and migraines can be common symptoms of TBIs, contusions, and other brain injuries. Headaches after accidents could also point to the following conditions:

• Concussions
• Muscle strain and sprains
• Nerve injuries
• Fractures of the skull or neck

Never ignore seemingly harmless headaches after a car crash, and seek advice from a doctor. A persistent and worsening headache could point to brain trauma and other injuries.

Problems Concentrating and Thinking

Individuals suffering from a brain injury may have trouble keeping up and get easily distracted. They may have problems thinking clearly and concentrating on tasks. When part of the brain is damaged, bruised, or swollen due to a car accident, individuals may also experience slow thinking, “brain fog,” and memory loss. Difficulty in dealing with emotions after a car accident can be another sign of a brain injury.

If you find it challenging to think clearly and concentrate or experience memory loss after a crash, promptly see a doctor.

Other Head Injury Symptoms

Any of the following symptoms could arise due to a brain injury after a motor vehicle accident:

• Loss of consciousness
• Clear brain fluid draining from the nose and ears
• Sensitivity to light or sound
• Seizures
• Dilation of one or both pupils
• Confusion
• Inability to awaken from sleep

Compensation for Head and Brain Injuries

Serious head injuries can derail your entire life. However, if you suffered a head injury in an accident and someone else is responsible, you could be entitled to compensation. A car accident lawyer at Morgan & Morgan can determine whether someone else’s negligence caused your head injury. The compensation you could recover can include:  

Healthcare Costs

Medical expenses for a severe brain injury can be astronomical and long-term. An individual impacted by a severe brain injury may require round-the-clock care, medical devices, and medications for the rest of their life.

Victims and families could qualify for all medical expenses, including future expected costs, to cover treatments and rehabilitation for the accident injury. Disabled victims may also receive payments to modify their homes and vehicles to their new requirements.

Loss of Income

While those with a minor head injury may be able to return to work after recovering, a significant brain injury might prevent an individual from returning to their career. Among other damages, you could recover:

• Loss of income and future income
• Loss of benefits
• Loss of pension contributions

Pain and Suffering

Individuals with severe head injuries do not only have financial damages. They may also suffer great physical pain and emotional trauma. Moreover, if you are unable to lead the kind of life you had before the accident and have to give up activities or hobbies you enjoyed, you could qualify for adequate compensation for this loss of life quality.

Therefore, injured individuals may be entitled to so-called “non-economic” damages, such as the following:

• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Reduced life quality
• Disability

How Can a Morgan & Morgan Car Accident Lawyer Help?

Morgan & Morgan understands that no amount of compensation can make you or your loved one healthy again. However, if your life is forever altered due to a car accident head injury, we want you to win and recover what you truly deserve. An adequate settlement can help you access innovative medical treatments and help to make your future life as comfortable as possible.

Morgan & Morgan’s dedicated car accident lawyers are here to fight for the injured. You pay nothing until we win. We can handle your claim from start to finish and:

Calculate the True Worth of Your Claim

Car crash victims may undervalue their claims because they do not know what they are entitled to or how to calculate non-economic damages such as pain and suffering. Insurance companies are quick to exploit this and may try to push claimants into lowball settlement offers.

Morgan & Morgan knows what your case is worth. We can calculate your damages accurately, including all present and future expected losses. Our experienced attorneys do not want you to leave money on the table and can fight tirelessly for the settlement you deserve.

Determine All At-Fault Parties in Your Accident

Accidents, especially when involving multiple vehicles, are rarely clear-cut. While another driver may be responsible, you could also have a case against their employer if they were working at the time of the accident. If a drunk driver caused your crash, you could even sue the bar that served them despite knowing they were intoxicated.

As you could have multiple defendants in your claim, you may also have several avenues for recovering compensation. Examples of defendants in a car accident case can include:

• A government entity
• A car manufacturer
• An employer
• A restaurant or bar

Our auto accident attorneys can analyze your crash with the help of professional investigators who can identify the cause of the accident and all potentially liable parties.

Prove Negligence

To have a valid claim, you must prove another party’s responsibility for the accident. We can help with gathering the evidence required to prove your claim, such as:

• Traffic or dash camera footage
• Photographs and videos of the accident scene
• Police reports
• Witness statements

Communicate With the Insurance Company

Insurers want to preserve their profit and may make it challenging for you to recover what you deserve. When our attorneys handle all communication and negotiation with an insurer, you do not have to watch your every word and worry about saying something that an insurer could use against you. Our car accident lawyers know how to protect your legal rights, can present your case powerfully, and negotiate aggressively for what you deserve.

Fight for You at Trial

We never accept an insurance company’s last best offer if your claim is worth more. Therefore, if an insurer refuses to compensate you appropriately, our attorneys can represent your case powerfully at trial, fighting tooth and nail for the true value of your claim.

How Long Can I File a Lawsuit to Receive Compensation?

State laws, specifically the statutes of limitations, generally determine the time for filing a personal injury lawsuit. In some states, the deadline is relatively short, and you may have only one year to file your case. Other states give victims four years or more to file a claim.

Moreover, depending on the circumstances and details of your case, your deadline may be shorter or longer. For example, if your head injury meant that you were incapacitated and could not file a lawsuit sooner, you may receive an extension to the deadline. However, exceptions to the stature are rare. Therefore, consult an attorney promptly after a car accident to determine the best time to file a lawsuit. Filing your case late will most likely prevent you from receiving compensation.

Can I Receive Compensation for a Head Injury if I Am Partially At-Fault?

In most states, you could recover compensation even if you are partially responsible for a car crash, provided you are no more than 50 percent at fault for the accident. However, your settlement is typically reduced by your percentage of responsibility, which is why having a car accident attorney on your side can be critical. The other side and their legal counsel may try to assign you a higher degree of responsibility for the accident than justified to get away with paying as little as possible or nothing at all in damages.

Having a tenacious lawyer present your case can prevent the at-fault party from taking advantage of you. Moreover, if your case goes to trial, an attorney can argue your case powerfully in front of the judge and jury. 

We Fight Hard for Injured Victims and Families

If you or a loved one suffered a car accident head injury, don’t delay seeking legal advice as you may have only limited time to file a claim. Our dedicated car accident lawyers want to protect your legal rights and fight for fair compensation on your behalf.

Over the last 35 years, Morgan & Morgan has helped thousands of car accident victims and families get justice. We don’t settle for less because we don’t want our clients to get stuck with stacks of medical bills and other accident-related expenses when someone else is responsible for their suffering and financial losses.

Contact us today for a free consultation to discover how we could help you pursue justice and compensation for an accident-related head injury.