If you are knocked unconscious during a car crash, the length of time that you are unconscious can vary greatly. It could be just a few seconds, or it could even last weeks or months. If you’re only briefly unconscious, you will most likely be fully recovered within a few months. A more serious blow to the head could require surgery to relieve pressure on your brain.
If you become unconscious after a car accident, then what that would generally mean is that you have sustained a concussion. If a prize fighter is knocked out, they generally are not cleared to fight again for a certain period of time. Thus, when you heard Howard Cosell shouting “…and down goes Frazier!” you can rest assured that Mr. Frazier had to go see a neurologist before he would be cleared to fight again.
Just as boxers are, if you’re knocked unconscious you should also be evaluated by medical professionals and cleared before you get behind the wheel again. Being knocked out for any length of time could have serious repercussions.
Even if you lose consciousness for a moment, it should be taken seriously.
One of the things that you have to realize is that even if you lose consciousness for a moment, that is your brain’s signal to you that it has gone through a traumatic event. Really, the best analogy that we can come up with would be that losing consciousness is kind of like your skin receiving a bruise. Thus, it’s definitely going to take some time for your brain to heal. Of course, this leads us to our next point:
No two Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI) are the same.
When we say that no two traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are alike, it is just another way of saying that there are several different types of brain injuries that need to be considered when it comes to car accidents. The most common types include:
Concussions
A concussion might seem small, but even that occurrence can cause serious damage. Impairments from such things as whiplash, cranial gunshot wounds, and direct blows to the head can all lead to concussions.
Contusion
Although a contusion will not be as readily noticeable as a concussion, it can still pose a significant amount of damage to the patient. This can be better described as bleeding or a bruise on the brain that will normally be caused by a direct impact. Most of the time, you will need surgery to correct a contusion.
Coup-Contrecoup
If you have contusions that occur on the impacted side of your brain, this will generally mean that the contusion can often be great enough to propel the brain against the opposite side of the skull and cause a second contusion.
Diffuse Axonal Injury
If you go through a situation where you have shaking or a strong rotation of the head, then chances are this means that you have incurred a diffuse axonal injury. This type of injury is seen most often in shaken baby syndrome, motorcycle accidents, and rollover car crashes. With this type of injury, the brain might release additional chemicals, and this can add to your head injury problems.
Anoxia
Finally, there is anoxia. This type of brain injury usually will only occur when the brain is deprived of oxygen. There are three types of anoxia:
- Anoxic anoxia, which is an injury where you get no oxygen to the brain
- Anemic anoxia, which is an injury to the brain where the blood is not carrying enough oxygen
- Toxic anoxia, which is a brain injury where metabolites or toxins are blocking the oxygen from being used
You may want to consult an attorney if you didn’t cause the accident that knocked you out.
If you have incurred head trauma during a car accident and you weren’t at fault, it is important that you have someone representing you that knows your rights and can tell you if you have a solid case in order to file a claim. You may have a long road to recovery ahead of you, with many costly medical treatments. Compensation can help you cover your expenses.
A lawyer may also be able to get you a settlement that will cover any wages you lost because of the accident, the cost of emergency transportation, and any other expenses you had due to your injury. If you’ve been knocked unconscious and sustained a head injury in an accident, consult a lawyer to learn more about whether you have a valid case.
