Two things happen to the brain immediately after a car accident. Your brain’s tissue responds to the physical trauma first, and then it begins to impact functioning. These impacts can range in severity from unresponsive to responsive in varying degrees.
In This Post
This blog post helps you understand what happens to the brain after a car accident, types of brain injuries, recovery times, and how to get your medical bills paid. If you think someone else should pay for your medical bills, see the bottom of this post for additional details.
The Traumatic Brain Injury Process
A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is damage caused by penetrating or blunt force trauma to the head. It can be isolated to a specific lobe or affect the entire brain. The skull can also become fractured or remain intact.
Here is what happens to your brain when it is injured during a car accident:
- The impact causes the brain to become injured
- The brain begins responding to the experienced trauma
- Chemicals and material housed within the brain start flooding it
- The process causes brain damage and further destroys brain cells
- Injury victims may experience loss of consciousness at this time
- Victims that regain consciousness but may have long-term health issues
- Symptoms may or may not subside as time passes
A direct head blow causes internal tissue and blood vessel damage. The bruise site is called a coup lesion. As the brain hits the inner skull, it causes tearing to the brain structure.
TBIs are severe injuries to the head. They can range from mild to severe symptoms that impact the victim for the rest of their lives. A victim can also suffer from secondary injuries as the brain begins to swell and deprive the body of the oxygen-rich blood it needs to survive.
Two Types of Trauma-Acquired Brain Injuries
Traumatic brain injuries can present as primary or secondary brain injuries. Primary injury is the sudden trauma experienced during a car accident. Secondary injuries are the changes present over time, and either injury can fall under the two types of traumatic brain injuries.
The two types of TBIs include:
- Closed-head injuries: Caused by the head violently whipping
- Open-head injuries: Caused by an object penetrating the head
Regardless of TBI type, these injuries are expensive to treat. You or your loved one will likely experience years of symptoms. If someone else caused your car accident, New Mexico’s civil laws allow you to file an insurance claim for a settlement.
How Long It Takes to Recover from a TBI
Recovery times for a TBI depend upon several factors. The experience and range of symptoms experienced are different for everyone. As such, the amount of recovery time it takes is not the same for any two people.
Mild TBI Recovery Times
Mild TBIs have the potential for quick recovery times. However, some people can experience symptoms for many years. They may need to seek medical and psychiatric care while recovering to maximum recovery.
Severe TBI Recovery Times
Severe TBIs endure a multi-stage medical care process. These stages can last for months or years at a time, and the symptoms could remain with the injury victim for the rest of their life.
Again, this process is unique for everyone. Your medical provider can offer you a care plan for the best possible outcome and assess your injuries with several screening tools.
How to Pay for Trauma-Acquired Brain Injury Treatments
Due to the level of care a car accident victim needs, the cost of treating a brain injury can become expensive very quickly. The individual is likely missing work, experiencing severe pain and suffering, and enduring a whole host of other losses. Knowing where to turn and how to pay for medical costs after an accident is challenging.
You have a few options when it comes to paying for the medical care associated with a TBI:
- Paying out-of-pocket (least affordable)
- Your health insurance (not always available)
- Your employers’ insurance (not always applicable)
- Negligence claim
- Product liability claim
- Premises liability claim
- Tort claim
- Wrongful death claim
- Loss of consortium claim
Even if you have health insurance, you could recuperate more of your losses if negligence played a role in your case. In general, car accidents are preventable, and many of them stem from someone else’s negligent actions. You can file a claim to recover the money you need to pay for all of your losses, such as medical expenses, lost work wages, and mental anguish.
Have Legal Questions? Call Me for Help
If you or your family member suffers from a TBI after a car accident, Grano Law Offices, P.C. can get you legal help from a New Mexico car accident lawyer. Start with a Free Case Evaluation today by calling (505) 426-8711 or send me a message through the contact form below.
