Car accidents on New Jersey highways, such as the NJ Turnpike, AC expressway and 295 are often serious and result in catastrophic injuries, such as:
- fractured bones,
- displaced fractures, and/or
- brain injuries.
According to the CDC, car accidents and traffic-related incidents are the second leading cause of traumatic brain injuries. *Source: http://www.cdc.gov. Traumatic brain injuries sustained in car accidents are also known as closed head injuries, which result from blows to the head. Injured victims in car accidents often hit their heads on the windshield or dashboard during the collision. Also, head injuries can occur when the head strikes the head rest, such as in a rear-end accident case.
Car Accident Head Injuries are Often Undiagnosed
Many people injured in car accidents will have undiagnosed head injuries. Many people are misinformed about head injuries and believe that head injuries only occur if there was a loss of consciousness. This is simply untrue and also explains why head injuries in car accidents often go undiagnosed.
In addition, brain injuries may be difficult to diagnose in injured car accident victims because some may evolve over time after the initial trauma. For example, brain swelling, edema or increased pressure inside the skull might be unnoticed immediately after the accident, but may get worse over time.
Also, symptoms of a brain injury may not manifest until injured individuals return to their normal activities. The following scenario is a textbook example of such a situation: a person who hits his head on the steering wheel in a car accident is treated in a hospital after the accident and is released several hours later. The injured driver rests a couple of days at home and does not engage in any activities. He has some headaches, but thinks that with rest the symptoms will resolve. When he returns to work in a busy, hectic environment, his headaches gets worse, and he notices that he has some problems communicating with people. He is having a hard time expressing himself or finding the words he wants to use to express himself. These types of symptoms are very common in head injury victims – headaches, difficulty concentrating, and difficulty with word recall.
Therefore, it is important for injured drivers or passengers to return to the doctor to seek medical treatment if they notice any cognitive impairments or other symptoms like:
- drowsiness,
- severe headaches,
- vomiting, or
- blurred vision.
New Jersey Car Accidents – Proving Traumatic Brain Injury
Brain injuries can be difficult to prove in car accident cases, especially when the injured victim suffers a mild traumatic brain injury, because imaging studies may not show actual damage to the brain. Therefore, individuals injured in car accidents should seek proper medical treatment if they find that they are suffering from some cognitive impairments. It is also important for victims’ family members to take note of any behavior changes or other cognitive changes after the car accident.
Often, family members are crucial witnesses in helping to establish traumatic brain injuries and can attest to the changes in the victims beyond the information contained in the medical records.
Related New Jersey Car Accident and Injury Articles by a New Jersey Car Accident Injury Lawyer
- New Jersey Car Truck Accidents – What Can You Recover?
- Know Your Legal Rights After Being Injured in a NJ Car Accident
- Injured in a NJ Car Accident? – The Basics of Medical Benefit (PIP) Claims
Help after Sustaining a Brain Injury in a New Jersey Car, Bus or Truck Accident. FREE CONSULTATIONS. 800.281.8695
Traumatic brain injuries from car accidents can turn injured victims’ lives upside down. Victims are entitled to compensation and damages from the at fault drivers. Phil Cipreitti has been helping injured car, bus and truck accident victims in NJ for over 35 years. If you were injured in a car, truck or bus accident on the NJ Turnpike, AC Expressway or other New Jersey highways, feel free to contact Phil T. Ciprietti, Esquire for a free initial consultation. 800.281.8695
*Disclaimer: Every case is unique and you should not take any action or make decisions in your case without speaking to a qualified car and truck accident lawyer in New Jersey. This website page does not provide legal advice or create an attorney-client relationship. Use of the contact form on this website or emailing Mr. Ciprietti does not create any attorney-client relationship. In addition, confidential information should not be sent through the contact form.