Brain injuries aren’t uncommon in car wrecks, and they’re among the most devastating injuries someone can possibly have. Even worse, the injury never really heals.
While someone may eventually seem to recover from a brain injury as far as their ability to function is concerned, their brain is actually never going to be exactly as it was before the wreck.
Why? It all comes down to the nature of the brain itself.
Most cells in the human body have the ability to divide. In dividing, they create new material that can be used to heal cuts in the body’s skin, bruises in the body’s muscle and breaks in the body’s bones.
The brain, however, is made of neurons, and neurons don’t divide or renew themselves (with a few small exceptions). This means that when you have any kind of head injury that damages your brain, the neurons that die are gone forever – and that’s true whether you have a relatively mild concussion or a serious injury.
Because doctors know this, the first thing they try to do after they stabilize a patient with a brain injury is to try to limit the damage to the brain as much as possible. This includes secondary damage that’s caused by traumatic swelling, which can increase the damage many times over in the hours and days immediately following a wreck.
The long-term consequences of a brian injury, even a small one, can include things like:
- Nausea and dizziness
- Headaches and fatigue
- Personality changes or mood swings
- Problems with memory and concentration
- Sleep problems and irritability
- Seizures, paralysis and intellectual difficulties
In short, a brain injury can rob you of who you used to be – or take away someone you loved even though they’re still alive.
Because brain injuries can have such far-reaching effects on someone’s life and future, it’s important to hold negligent drivers and other parties who might have contributed to the wreck accountable. Find out more about your legal options.
