3 Myths About Traumatic Brain Injuries and the Effects on Accident Victims

Myth #1 You Can’t Have a Brain Injury if You Did Not Hit Your Head or Lose Consciousness

Most people when they think of a brain injury, they think that they are a direct result of your head striking an object with great force.  In fact, in most cases, a brain injury can occur with little to no contact with an object, depending on the situation.  This can be seen most in auto accident victims.  Studies have shown that a brain injury can occur within the confines of your skull.  In other words, a strong movement of the head, which is common in an accident, can cause injury as the brain could strike the boney matter within the skull.  An acceleration/deceleration type injury, where you head literally snaps forward and then backward very quickly.

Myth #2  You Will Recover and “Get Over” a Brain Injury Quickly

Insurance companies and their defense attorneys are often caught trying to lessen the extent of brain injuries and how they will affect the victim’s life long term.  They will argue that any effects of the injury will “wear off” and will not cause long term life changes to those that suffer from it.

These thoughts are most always incorrect.  A brain injury is a very serious matter.  An injury can affect a number of daily functions and cause havoc on a person’s life.  We have seen brain injury victims that lose their memory, balance, concentration, have constant headaches and fatigue, all symptoms of which do not go away quickly.  The recovery process from a brain injury is long and difficult, and a number of victims never recover.  Every individual is different, and doctors will treat each person differently depending on the damage and the signs of recovery.

Myth #3  A Mild Brain Injury (Concussion) Causes Less Damage than More Severe Brain Injuries

Concussions, whiplash and other “mild” brain injuries can have long lasting, life changing effects on accident victims.  In fact, although 90% of individuals that have experienced a concussion recover in a quick manner, that is not the situation for everyone.  As we state above, each individual is different and the recovery process for their injuries will be different.

It is important that you understand the symptoms of traumatic brain injuries.  Our office has made available a checklist that you can quickly review that outlines potential symptoms of brain injuries.  You can request your FREE copy below.  Brain injuries are a serious matter.  Get the information you need to ensure that you recover to the fullest extent possible.

*The information provided is not medical advice.  We encourage you to speak with a medical professional for any injuries you may have sustained during an accident.