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Top Five Brain Injuries in Truck Accidents

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If you or someone you know was injured in a truck accident caused by someone else, it’s likely that one of the resulting injuries was a brain injury.

Traffic accidents are a leading cause of traumatic brain injuries (TBI). Crashes involving large trucks have a greater potential to cause severe and life-threatening brain injuries. Their size and weight make it likelier that other drivers, passengers, and pedestrians incur serious injuries.

Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) require immediate medical care. The top five types of brain injuries in truck accidents are listed below.

Diffuse Axonal Injury (DAI)

Diffuse Axonal Injury (DAI) happens when the brain is subjected to rapid acceleration or deceleration forces, typically caused by high-impact events such as truck accidents.

Common symptoms of DAI include:

  • Loss of consciousness
  • Cognitive deficits
  • Motor impairments
  • Sensory disturbances
  • Changes in behavior or personality
  • Coma
  • Persistent vegetative state

DAI may cause widespread damage to the brain and can have serious long-term consequences, including cognitive and physical impairments.

Cerebral Hemorrhage

Cerebral hemorrhage is a type of stroke that occurs after head trauma and causes brain bleeding. Cerebral hemorrhages are life-threatening conditions.

Symptoms of cerebral hemorrhage can include:

  • Sudden severe headache
  • Weakness or numbness on one side of the body or face
  • Difficulty speaking or understanding speech
  • Loss of vision or blurred vision
  • Confusion or changes in mental status
  • Difficulty walking or coordinating movements
  • Nausea, vomiting, or other gastrointestinal symptoms
  • Seizures
  • Loss of consciousness or coma in severe cases

People with cerebral hemorrhage have a high risk for permanent brain damage, resulting in physical and cognitive impairment. They may need lifelong care and assistance with daily living activities.

Concussion

A concussion is a mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) due to a direct blow or jolt to the head or body, causing the brain to move rapidly within the skull. This movement temporarily disrupts brain function.

Concussion symptoms may not always be immediately apparent or could worsen over time. Symptoms of a concussion include:

  • Headache or pressure in the head
  • Dizziness or balance problems
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Confusion or disorientation
  • Memory problems or difficulty concentrating
  • Sensitivity to light or noise
  • Changes in vision or hearing
  • Mood changes
  • Sleep disturbances, such as insomnia or excessive drowsiness

Most people with concussions recover fully within a few weeks, although some may experience persistent symptoms, known as post-concussion syndrome.

Contusion

Brain contusions are bruises or localized areas of bleeding in the brain, typically caused by direct impact. Contusions result in swelling and pressure on the brain.

The symptoms of brain contusion may include:

  • Headache
  • Dizziness or balance problems
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Confusion or disorientation
  • Memory problems or difficulty concentrating
  • Changes in vision or hearing
  • Weakness or numbness in limbs
  • Irritability, agitation, or depression
  • Seizures, in some cases

Patients with a brain contusion may need long-term rehabilitation, including physical, occupational, and speech therapies.

Penetrating Brain Injuries (PBI)

Penetrating brain injuries (PBIs) occur when a foreign object pierces the skull and directly injures the brain tissue. PBIs are a severe form of traumatic brain injury (TBI) and can be fatal.

Symptoms of penetrating brain injuries include:

  • Bleeding or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage from the site of penetration
  • Loss of consciousness
  • Seizures
  • Headache
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Weakness or paralysis in limbs
  • Difficulty speaking or understanding speech
  • Changes in vision, hearing, or sensation
  • Changes in mood or behavior
  • Respiratory difficulties

Individuals with a PBI may need brain surgery to remove the foreign object, repair damaged brain tissue, control bleeding, and manage associated injuries. There may be long-term physical and cognitive issues.

Contact a Riverside Truck Accident Lawyer Today

Truck accidents can cause traumatic brain injuries (TBI) ranging from mild to fatal. If you were injured in a truck accident in Riverside, California, that was caused by someone else, consult with a qualified attorney to understand your legal rights. Since 2004, Wagner Zemming Christensen, LLP, has helped countless clients pursue compensation for their injuries and losses after they were injured by another’s wrongdoing.

Call us at 951-686-4800 or contact us online today to speak with a member of our firm.

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