Car accidents are one of the leading causes of traumatic brain injuries in the United States. Annually, 50,000 people die from traumatic brain injuries, while over 230,000 people per year are hospitalized and survive a TBI. Unfortunately, of those 230,000 people per year, an estimated 85,000, people experience the onset of a long-term disability as a result.
In a car accident, a traumatic brain injury can occur several different ways. The most obvious way is from your head violently striking a portion of the car. While this is what most people associate with the cause of a brain injury, a brain injury can also be caused by violent whiplash. Whiplash occurs when the force from the impact moves your neck back and forth. Because your brain is not locked in your skull, the brain moves within your skull and will hit the front and back of your skull during the whiplash movements which can lead to a closed head injury.
A traumatic brain injury is an injury to the brain caused by an external force which can result in impairment in cognitive abilities or physical functioning. The external force can, as illustrated above, be a direct hit or the force can be a rapid acceleration and deceleration of the head like the movement associated with whiplash. The external force causes damage to the tissues and cells of the brain which then cause temporary or permanent injuries in the physical, cognitive, and emotional abilities of an individual.
Common symptoms of a traumatic brain injury include:
· Seizures
· Loss of taste
· Loss of smell
· Double vision
· Blurred vision
· Fatigue
· Headaches
· Memory loss
· Concentration difficulties
· Organizational problems
· Difficulty following conversations
· Spatial disorientation
If you have suffered a traumatic brain injury as a result of a car accident in west Virginia, an experienced car accident lawyer who has experience with brain injuries is crucial. If the lawyer does not recognize or understand a brain injury and how to help the client, you will not get the help you need.
At the Manchin Injury Law Group, our West Virginia brain injury lawyers have the necessary experience in working with clients who have traumatic brain injuries. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury, call us today to discuss how we can help you
Attorney Timothy Manchin established the Manchin Injury Law Group in 2011 after his law partner of more than 25 years became a West Virginia circuit court judge. His focus is on helping individual clients and entire families victimized by negligent acts.
We offer a free initial consultation at our office in the Manchin Professional Building — our home since 1983 — conveniently located in Fairmont.
If you are unable to visit our firm, we can come to your home or hospital room.
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