What Causes a Brain Injury?
“Brain injury” is a broad term that encompasses a wide range of trauma. Some injuries are temporary, while others can cause permanent, life-altering changes. A mild brain injury, or concussion, often allows for a full recovery. However, “mild” is a clinical term; even a concussion can significantly disrupt daily life and requires careful medical monitoring.
If your brain injury is more severe, you may be facing a traumatic brain injury (TBI), which can involve internal bleeding, swelling, or increased pressure on the brain. These types of injuries can often result in long-term disability, cognitive impairment, or, in the most serious cases, wrongful death.
Brain injuries may be caused by:
- Being a victim of a violent crime
- A sports accident
- A diving accident
- A construction accident
- A car accident
- A boating accident
- A truck accident
- A motorcycle accident
- Medical malpractice
- Slip & falls
This list isn’t all inclusive. However, it does list common causes of brain injuries.
What Are the Symptoms of a Brain Injury?
Symptoms of a brain injury can differ depending on their severity. If you’ve been in an accident of any kind and experience any of the following symptoms, make sure that you get medical assistance right away. With early intervention, the long-term effects of a brain injury may be minimized. If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, you may have a head injury:
- Dizziness or lightheaded feeling
- Nausea or vomiting
- Sensitivity to light
- Sensitivity to sound
- An abrupt mood change
- Fatigue
- Problems with memory
- Problems with concentration
- Loss of consciousness even if it is only for a few seconds
- Sleeping more
- Seizures
- Slurred speech
- Lack of coordination
- Dilated pupils
- Acting in a way that is uncharacteristic
With children, you may notice that their eating habits change or that they even lose interest in their favorite toys or activities.
Brain Injuries From Car Accidents
Motor vehicle collisions rank among the top causes of TBIs in New York. In a crash, the brain can slam against the skull due to sudden stops or jolts, causing bruising, bleeding, swelling, or microscopic tears in brain tissue, although initial scans appear normal. Even low-speed fender benders can trigger concussions or more severe TBIs, as the force disrupts delicate neural pathways.
Certain car accidents heighten TBI risk due to high-impact forces, rapid deceleration, or ejection from the vehicle:
- High-speed rear-end collisions: Sudden jolts whip the head forward and back (whiplash), common in stop-and-go traffic and leading to coup-contrecoup injuries where the brain hits both sides of the skull.
- Side-impact (T-bone) crashes: Lateral forces shear brain tissue, often causing diffuse axonal injuries from twisting motions; frequent at intersections.
- Head-on collisions: Extreme deceleration slams the brain against the frontal skull, risking contusions, hematomas, or skull fractures.
- Rollover accidents: Multiple impacts and ejections can repeatedly strike the head, increasing the risk of severe or fatal TBIs, especially for occupants in SUVs or those not wearing restraints.
- Pedestrian or bicycle strikes: Direct head impacts against vehicles or ground amplify penetrating or crushing brain trauma.
A White Plains brain injury attorney, like those at Denlea & Carton LLP, frequently handles these cases, where victims face lifelong cognitive, emotional, and physical challenges from negligent drivers, trucking companies, or other liable parties.
What to Do After a Car Accident Brain Injury
If you suspect a brain injury after a New York car crash, act quickly to protect your health and legal rights. Follow these essential steps:
- Seek emergency medical care immediately. Do not delay or “tough it out.” A prompt evaluation detects hidden issues like internal bleeding and establishes a medical record tying your TBI to the accident.
- Follow all treatment plans. Attend follow-ups with neurologists, neuropsychologists, or therapists, and adhere to restrictions on work, driving, or exertion to support recovery.
- Track symptoms and impacts. Log headaches, dizziness, memory lapses, mood swings, or fatigue in a journal, noting how they disrupt daily life, work, and relationships.
- Gather and preserve crash evidence. Collect photos of the vehicles and scene, witness contacts, police reports, and insurance details before anything is lost or altered.
- Consult a New York brain injury attorney first. Avoid speaking directly to insurance adjusters, who can minimize claims or offer lowball settlements ignoring future TBI costs. A trusted traumatic brain injury attorney can help investigate your case, negotiate on your behalf, and work to maximize your recovery for medical expenses, lost income, and pain and suffering.
Based in White Plains, Denlea & Carton LLP’s New York brain injury attorneys guide clients through these steps, working with experts to prove full damages and hold at-fault parties accountable. Contact us at (914) 331-0100 for a free consultation.
Our Attorneys Are Here to Help Brain Injury Victims
Our attorneys help brain injury victims pursue the full amount of compensation they may be entitled to. Brain injuries often occur at little or no fault of the victim, but you may be eligible for compensation to cover medical expenses, future care, lost wages, and even pain and suffering.
At Denlea & Carton LLP, our brain injury lawyers in White Plains, New York, are here to help you move forward. Substantial brain injuries can result in lasting mental and physical impairments, and in some cases, you may no longer be able to work.
Don’t wait to schedule your initial consultation. Call us now at (914) 331-0100 to get started.
