March is National Brain Injury Awareness Month. In recent years, there has been a lot of research conducted on traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), most notably concussions that are caused by sports. However, significant head trauma is often a result of a motor vehicle accident. The force of impact in a car crash can be severe, causing a driver and passengers to slam their head against the steering wheel, windows, or doors. In many head injuries, the brain is negatively affected, and the long-term consequences of it can be serious, often requiring medical treatment such as surgeries or therapy. Depending on the details surrounding the collision, a victim may be able to bring a personal injury claim against a negligent party.

Types of Head Trauma

Brain injuries can affect an individual’s speech, critical thinking skills, memory, and more. Physicians usually classify traumatic brain injuries into two main categories. Closed injuries do not fracture the skull but open injuries can break or penetrate the skull bone, leaving a person’s brain exposed to outside elements. This can lead to other complications, such as infections.

There are several different types of brain injuries that can occur, including:

According to national statistics, more than 630,000 children are brought to emergency rooms each year because they have sustained some kind of traumatic brain injury (TBI). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data shows that one in 30 children will sustain a brain injury by the time they reach 16 years of age. Young children, in particular, are more susceptible to brain injuries, and about one-third of children with TBIs will suffer from long-lasting or permanent disability from the injury.

There have been multiple studies done which confirm that TBIs in children can have serious side effects on a child’s behavior, cognitive function, and IQ that can last for an extended period of time. Some of these studies reveal that recovery from brain injuries can go on for years and that there are certain factors – including whether the child has certain genes or the home environment the child lives in – which can affect recovery.

Infants are very vulnerable to brain injuries because their skulls are still soft and developing. Compounding the issue is that their brains are growing at a very quick rate and if the baby suffers a TBI during this time, he or she can have serious cognitive difficulties.