Understanding Traumatic Brain Injuries After Portland Trucking Accidents
Any type of brain injury is a very serious type of injury. One type of head injury or brain injury is a traumatic brain injury. According to the CDC, a traumatic brain injury is defined as “a disruption in the normal function of the brain that can be caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head, or penetrating head injury.” But traumatic brain injuries after Portland trucking accidents are incredibly serious. This is because that “bump, blow, or jolt to the head” is usually powerful and explosive when a large commercial vehicle is the cause of the force. This is particularly true on highways and interstates where semi tractor trailers generate considerable force. Our Portland trucking accident lawyers know how dangerous and devastating these types of auto accidents are and why victims who suffer traumatic brain injuries after Portland trucking accidents need our help.
Two Types of Traumatic Brain Injuries After Portland Trucking Accidents
There are two general types of traumatic brain injuries, or TBIs. The first type is a penetrating injury or an open head injury. This is when the skull has fractured. Debris could penetrate the fractured skull and directly harm the brain. This could be from the twist steel of the impact or crushing forces from fallen cargo or a toppled over truck.
The second type of traumatic brain injury is a closed-head injury. While this may not sound as dangerous as a penetrating injury or open head injury, closed-head injuries are very dangerous. This is because the skull creates a closed system for the brain to be inside. The pressure inside the skull is regulated by the body’s autonomous functions. However, when the brain suffers serious injury inside of the skull but the skull is not damaged, the pressure can quickly build inside of the skull due to swelling or internal bleeding. The increased pressure in the skull can cause massive damage to the brain resulting in the death of an innocent person.
What are the Signs of a Traumatic Brain Injury?
Traumatic brain injuries after Portland trucking accidents are classified within four categories. All victims of any motor vehicle accident should also consider these four categories when monitoring for possible head injuries. This is because you could suffer a traumatic brain injury without actually hitting your head on anything. The four categories of symptoms include the following:
- Thinking and remembering difficulties – trouble thinking, feeling slow, concentrating issues, difficulty remember new information;
- Physical symptoms – headaches, blurry vision, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, sensitivity to light or noise, balance issues, fatigue;
- Emotional and mood issues – irritability, depression, emotional swings, nervousness, anxiety;
- Sleeping issues – sleeping a lot more or a lot less than usual, trouble falling asleep, trouble getting head comfortable.
Common Types of Traumatic Brain Injuries From Truck Wrecks
There are many possible types of head injuries which you or a loved one could sustain after an Oregon trucking accident. Our Portland trucking accident lawyers know how dangerous it could be for innocent people to suffer serious injuries due to the negligence of another. Some of the most common types of traumatic brain injuries after Portland trucking accidents include the following types:
- Penetrating injuries;
- Contusions – a bruise to the brain;
- Diffuse axonal injuries – when the brain suffers tears in its tissue;
- Coup-contrecoup injuries – when the brain suffers injuries on opposite sides of it;
- Concussions – the violent impact to the head which causes shock to the brain;
- Brain bleeds – injuries causing severe trauma to the brain; and
- Many other types of TBIs.
Victims Who Have Suffered Traumatic Brain Injuries After Portland Trucking Accidents Should Call Our Law Firm For Help
If you or a loved one have been seriously injured or killed as a result of a trucking accident or collision contact the Oregon Truck Accident Lawyers at Kuhlman Law at our number below or fill out the intake form. We offer a free initial case evaluation and handle cases on a contingency fee which means that you pay no money unless we recover.
Our law firm handles cases throughout the state including Bend and Portland Oregon, Redmond, Central Oregon, Multnomah County, Deschutes County, Salem, Eugene, Corvallis, Lane County, Medford, Gresham, Albany, Medford, Beaverton, Umatilla, Pendleton, and Hillsboro.
We also have an office in Minneapolis, Minnesota and take Trucking accident cases throughout the Twin Cities, including St. Paul, Hennepin County, Ramsey County, Dakota County, Washington County, Anoka County, Scott County, Blaine, Stillwater, and Saint Paul Minnesota.
Please act quickly, there is a limited time (Statute of Limitations) in which you can bring a claim under the law.