Car accidents in South Carolina often cause serious injuries that require extensive medical care. Overall, roughly 58,000 people each year on average sustain a serious injury in a South Carolina car accident, according to the South Carolina Department of Public Safety.
Head and brain injuries are common outcomes in crashes
Among those car accident injuries, traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are prevalent. So, just how common are car accident brain injuries? Why do car accidents cause brain injuries? And what are some of the most common types of brain injuries caused by car accidents in South Carolina?
Below, you can find the answers to all these questions and more useful information, courtesy of our South Carolina car accident lawyers at Johnson + Johnson, Attorneys At Law in Lexington, South Carolina.
How common are car accident brain injuries?
Motor vehicle crashes are among the leading causes of brain injuries. Specifically, an estimated 14 percent of all traumatic brain injuries occur due to car accidents, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
This means that approximately 210,000 Americans sustain a traumatic brain injury in a car crash every year, according to additional CDC data, which noted that 1.5 million people overall experience a brain injury annually.
Why do car accidents cause traumatic brain injuries?
Car accidents cause traumatic brain injuries for several reasons:
- The force of a collision between vehicles can be powerful.
- When car accidents occur, the occupants of the vehicle often keep moving at a high rate of speed.
- Often, people involved in car accidents are thrown headfirst into the dashboard, windshield, or another part of the car.
- Even if people in car accidents don't hit their heads on something in the car, the sudden rapid movement of a car accident can cause a brain injury as the person's brain bounces around inside the skull.
The three main types of traumatic brain injuries
Traumatic brain injuries are defined based on their severity. The three main types of TBIs are:
- Mild TBIs, which can cause temporary brain damage. These injuries rarely involve the loss of consciousness at the time of the injury.
- Moderate TBIs, which typically involve a temporary loss of consciousness (usually less than 24 hours) and temporary or permanent brain damage.
- Severe TBIs, which can involve loss of consciousness for at least 24 hours and result in permanent brain damage.
What are the most common car accident TBIs?
Certain types of traumatic brain injuries often occur as a result of car accidents in South Carolina. These types of TBIs include:
- Concussion, which is also sometimes referred to as a mild TBI.
- Contusion, which involves brain bruising caused by the brain hitting the inside of the skull upon impact in a car accident.
- Hematoma, which is a blood clot in the brain. If a hematoma is not diagnosed and treated right away, the blood clot might expand and apply pressure on the brain and skull, which can be painful or even deadly.
How do I know if I have a brain injury after a car accident?
See a doctor immediately after your car accident if you experience any of the following TBI symptoms:
- Dizziness or balance problems.
- Frequent, severe headaches.
- Sensitivity to light.
- Unexplained mood changes.
- Short-term memory problems.
- Difficulty waking up after sleeping.
- Nausea or vomiting.
Why should I hire a South Carolina car accident attorney?
Car accidents in South Carolina might seem straightforward at first. This is especially true if the other driver was clearly at fault and caused your accident. Remember, South Carolina has an at-fault car insurance system. Under this system, the at-fault party is legally responsible for paying for all accident-related expenses for all injury victims.
But just because you should be financially compensated does not mean you will get the money you rightfully deserve. In many cases, the at-fault driver's insurance company (which is often the one that's responsible for paying for your accident) will do everything it can to avoid paying you the money you deserve.
That's not right. That's why our car accident lawyers at Johnson + Johnson, Attorneys At Law want to help. We believe that people should be held accountable for their actions. As your attorney, we will work tirelessly to build the strongest possible legal case and fight for the compensation you deserve.
Get a law firm that's serious about winning. Contact us and schedule a free case evaluation. Our office is located in Lexington, South Carolina.
