Car accident victims can experience broken bones, neck pain from whiplash, and even spine injuries. Another common car wreck injury is a Traumatic brain injury (TBI), which can be serious if not treated immediately.
TBI is a broad term that describes when an object external to the body strikes the head, injuring the brain or if the brain impacts the interior of the skull do to a sudden impact. Mild TBI may temporarily affect the brain cells, but moderate to severe TBI sometimes results in long-term complications and even death.
Delayed symptoms are common, appearing days or even weeks later. Car accident doctors can help with medical treatment immediately following a car crash to prevent a mild head injury from becoming more severe.
TBIs fall into two main categories:
Many car accident injuries fall in the closed brain injury category, but doctors further characterize TBI as mild, moderate, or severe based on symptoms.
The standard classifications of TBI are primary and secondary injuries. The primary injury occurs at the point of impact and includes open and closed injuries.
Examples are:
Secondary head injuries occur indirectly as a result of the initial trauma. Some common examples include:
Car accidents often lead to secondary injuries because of untreated primary injuries. An auto injury doctor could potentially diagnose and treat a primary injury before more serious injuries develop.
TBIs from car accidents range from mild to severe, depending mainly on the accident’s severity. The most common types include:
In more violent accidents, you may see penetrating brain injuries.
Traumatic brain injuries are common accident injuries due to the abrupt nature of a collision, and without seeing an auto accident doctor, victims may not know for days that they suffered a head injury in some cases. Knowing the possible symptoms could prevent more severe damage or even save your life.
Common physical signs of a mild traumatic brain injury can include:
Independently, many of these symptoms could indicate other issues. However, if you suffered a recent head injury in a car accident, it may result from a mild TBI.
Moderate to severe TBIs present with more severe physical symptoms:
You can experience as many as all or as few as only one of the physical symptoms. If left untreated, your condition may worsen or even cause irreparable damage.
The symptoms of mild, moderate, and severe trauma to the brain can manifest as behavioral, cognitive, and sensory abnormalities.
Some examples include:
Symptoms may present differently in children. For example, infants may struggle to eat or nurse, seem more irritable, or cry inconsolably.
Small children may lose interest in their favorite activities or toys or have a sudden change in their mood or sleeping habits. Some have difficulty paying attention.
They often struggle to communicate symptoms, so you may benefit from seeing a doctor right away if your child appears different.
The neurologists at Medical Clinics of New York City have experience treating car accident victims suffering from traumatic brain injuries. They provide dedicated quality medical care care with kindness to help you recover in a warm environment.
Our team can work with your insurance company and primary care physician to make sure you properly document your injuries and treatment plan for your medical records or any personal injury claims you may have. We accept no-fault insurance, PIP (personal injury protection), workers’ compensation, medical liens and other health insurance plans
You can request your appointment online today and see a specialist at one of our many locations throughout the New York City.
The doctors of Medical Clinics of New York City are dedicated to quality care, comprehensive services, and caring customer service in a warm, stress-free office setting.
We’re conveniently located in New York City with several offices to serve you.
