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According to the Brain and Spinal Cord Organization, 280,000 people in the United States receive motor vehicle induced traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) every year. This makes the vehicle crashes the second largest cause of brain injuries. 

Who is at risk? 

The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia in coordination with State Farm Insurance, found that of the more than 55,000 teen drivers and their passengers who were seriously injured in vehicle accidents during a two-year period, 30 percent suffered acute head injuries. These head injuries included concussions, skull fractures, and TBIs. 

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of TBIs for teens ages 15 to 19.

What is a TBI?

The Brain Injury Society (BIS) says that when the brain is exposed to mechanical energy that exceeds its tolerance, injury occurs. This is usually a blow or jolt to the head or body or a penetrating head injury. It can disrupt normal brain function and have serious side effects. The severity of a TBI may range from “mild,” such as a brief change in mental status or consciousness to “severe,” such as an extended period of unconsciousness or amnesia after the injury.

BIS further reports that TBIs take two forms: open and closed. An open (or penetration) TBI occurs when a foreign object goes through the skull and enters the brain. A closed head injury, by contrast, is caused by a bump or blow to the head. Closed head injuries are much more common than penetrating head injuries in crashes. They typically occur when the head strikes the windshield, dashboard or steering wheel.

How does a TBI occur in a vehicle crash?

The Brain Injury Institute reports that trauma to the brain can occur during an automobile accident when the skull strikes, for example, an object like a steering wheel or windshield.  There may or may not be an open wound to the skull due to the accident; however, in automobile accidents, the skull may not necessarily need to have been penetrated or fractured for a TBI to occur.  In the case of an automobile accident, the sheer force of the accident can cause the brain to collide against the internal hard bone of the skull. The reason this occurs is that when a moving head comes to a quick stop, the brain continues in its movement, striking the interior of the skull. This can cause bruising of the brain (contusion) and bleeding (brain hemorrhage) which may not be visible at the time of injury.

“If you or a loved one has been injured in a motor vehicle accident, contact the experienced attorneys at Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A. to discuss your rights,” says Randall Spivey.

Naples Brain Injury Attorney, Randall L. Spivey is a Board Certified Trial Attorney – the highest recognition for competence bestowed by the Florida Bar and a distinction earned by just one (1%) percent of Florida attorneys. He has handled over 2,000 personal injury and wrongful death cases throughout Florida. For a free and confidential consultation to discuss your legal rights, contact the Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A., in Lee County at 239.337.7483 or toll-free at 1.888.477.4839, or by email to Randall@SpiveyLaw.com. Visit SpiveyLaw.com for more information. You can contact Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A.in Charlotte County at 941.764.7748 and Collier County 239.793.7748.