The brain is a simultaneously crucial and delicate organ. Thus, a car accident brain injury can lead to unforeseen, sometimes bizarre circumstances. Take the case of Alissa Afonina. In 2008, Afonina was a promising media-arts student with aspirations of becoming a filmmaker. That is, until she was a passenger in a serious car accident that left her with a traumatic brain injury (TBI). After that, her personality changed: she lost impulse control and focus, became socially isolated, and developed sexual proclivities she’d never experienced before. Eventually, she opened up a business as a professional dominatrix. Though odd behavioural changes such as Afonina’s are not extremely common after TBIs, car accident brain injury is a shockingly common problem that can bring about a slew of symptoms.
TBI Details
The symptoms of TBI are widespread, but they can be grouped into several main categories.
- Physical symptoms include loss of consciousness, seizures, headaches, dizziness, reduced muscle strength/ability to control limbs, nausea and vomiting, balance/movement/coordination issues.
- Behavioural symptoms might include agitation/combativeness, anxiety or stress disorder, depression, sexual impulses, and changes in the ability to experience or express emotions.
- Cognitive deficits that can appear after TBIs include changes in awareness of place, loss of attention to tasks, lessened reasoning and problem solving, and memory deficits (mild to severe retrograde and/or anterograde amnesia), among others.
These symptoms, numerous though they are, are still only the beginning when it comes to what TBI sufferers go through. But none of this matter unless people actually sustain the injury. Unfortunately, car accident brain injury is all too common.
Car Accident Brain Injury Statistics
On the whole, TBI contributed to 2.5 million emergency department visits, hospitalizations, and deaths in the US in 2010. Concerning car accident brain injury in particular, motor vehicle accidents are the third leading cause of TBI. However, serious car accidents are the second leading cause of TBI related deaths. Furthermore, car accidents are the leading cause of TBI related hospitalization and death for people between the ages of 5 and 45 years old. The biggest reason for the discrepancy between car accident brain injury commonness is that a large percentage of TBIs impact the elderly and very young children as a result of falls. Once the risk of severe slips and falls reduces in the general population, motor vehicle accidents overtake them. Motor vehicle accidents also contribute to a higher percentage of serious brain injury compared to other sources because the forces involved in most motor vehicle collisions are far greater than, for instance, a slip and fall.
Because car accident brain injury is both severe and common, staying informed is incredibly important. However, if you yourself have suffered a car accident brain injury, it may have already become too difficult to read up on the issue. Instead, contact an experienced Toronto personal injury lawyer. They’ll be able to provide you with all the information you need, and they can help you to receive the compensation you deserve after your harrowing experience. Look for a free consultation as soon as possible, and rest easy with the knowledge that a personal injury lawyer is on your side.
Sources:
http://www.cdc.gov/traumaticbraininjury/get_the_facts.html
http://www.asha.org/public/speech/disorders/TBI/
http://news.nationalpost.com/news/canada/student-turned-dominatrix-awarded-1-5m-after-car-accident-left-her-with-brain-injury-and-a-new-personality