Understanding Catastrophic Traumatic Brain Injuries After a Truck Accident: Explained by Atlanta Trucking Accident Lawyer Nigel Phiri, Esquire.

Traumatic brain injuries are one of the most catastrophic types of personal injuries that a victim in a motor vehicle accident could suffer. In fact, motor vehicle accidents are one of the leading causes of brain injuries in the United States. Although any type of motor vehicle crash could cause this type of personal injury, traumatic brain injuries after a truck accident are more likely in crashes involving commercial vehicles like big rigs, box trucks, and other semi-tractor trailers. This is due to the heavier weight of trucks that generate more momentum and force in an impact, which is passed to the occupants in smaller, passenger vehicles. As a result, far too many occupants will suffer life-changing and sometimes life-threatening traumatic brain injuries in an 18-wheeler wreck.

Nigel understands how devastating traumatic brain injuries can be for a victim – medical bills, lost wages, and of course the conscious pain and suffering. These unexpected and often unfair damages can greatly impact someone's life, and also the lives of his or her family. That's why Nigel, an  experienced trucking accident lawyer in Atlanta offers victims and their families FREE consultations and case evaluations to help accident victims learn more about their rights to compensation.

What is a Traumatic Brain Injury?

Also known as a TBI, a traumatic brain injury is defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as “[a] bump, blow, or jolt to the head” or a type of penetrating head injury that damages the brain. What is important to realize about a TBI is that a person's head does not have to suffer a direct impact in a collision. Rather, a TBI can be caused by a violent impact or whiplash motion.

This is what makes traumatic brain injuries after a truck accident more common than other motor vehicle accidents, because the powerful momentum in a collision could more easily cause whiplash. This can even occur at a lower speed than another type of motor vehicle like a motorcycle or passenger car. Thus, all types of trucking accidents – even a low-speed collision in a parking lot – can result in catastrophic injury.

Common Types of TBIs

There are many different types of TBIs that could be caused in a motor vehicle accident. All types of brain injuries have different symptoms and carry different types of disabilities. Further, although a doctor may label a brain injury as “mild,” that does not mean that it is still not life-changing or catastrophic for a victim.

Some of the most common types of traumatic brain injuries include the following:

• Concussions – all concussions are very serious, despite what some sports may have depreciated the value of a head injury. A concussion is caused by an impact or blow to the head. It can result in both impact damage or chemical changes in the brain which affect brain tissue. Concussions are debilitating and can keep victims out of work for months or even years as they recover. Even if a concussion completely heals, it can have lasting effects which can become catastrophic in a second impact – even becoming fatal.
• Diffuse Axonal Injuries – also known as a DAI, this type of TBI is when a powerful impact causes brain tissue to shred, rip, break, or otherwise become torn. That means that certain neural connects and other structures inside of the brain can become disconnected and damages, affecting how a victim send signals and processes information. These TBIs are very serious and often carry lasting disabling.
• Coup-contrecoup Injuries – when the head is violently shaken or rocked in a collision, whiplash can cause the brain inside of the skull to slide forwards and backwards. When that happens, the brain can impact the inside of the skull and suffer a bruise each time it slides back and forth. That means there could be brain injuries at opposite ends of the brain, resulting in life-threatening swelling.
• Penetrating Injuries – when debris from an accident break through the skull and harm brain tissue, it can result in serious or catastrophic harm to a victim.

Did You Suffer any Traumatic Brain Injuries After a Trucking Accident in Atlanta? Nigel Can Help

If you or a loved one suffered any types of serious or catastrophic personal injuries in a motor vehicle accident, call Nigel, an  experienced trucking accident lawyer in Atlanta to schedule a FREE consultation to learn more about your rights to compensation in Georgia. A traumatic brain injury or TBI is a very serious and often permanent injury, meaning that victims and their families need to obtain representation that will fight for their rights. To learn more, call 678-813-0498 or send us a message  by clicking here.