Types of Brain Injuries from Car Accidents

Car accidents place enormous force on the body in a fraction of a second. Even when the skull remains intact, the brain inside can twist, shift, or strike against the surrounding bones. The result is a wide range of head injuries that vary in severity, from short-term concussions to permanent damage.

Understanding these different brain injuries helps explain why recovery varies so much from one person to the next. Some people recover quickly, while others experience ongoing complications that can alter their memory, balance, or personality.

These are the seven most common types of brain injuries from car accidents, and what symptoms to watch for.

If you or a loved one sustained a brain injury in a vehicle crash, the Brain Injury Law Center can review your case. Call (757) 244-7000 or contact us online for a free consultation.

Concussions

Concussions are one of the most common brain injuries seen after car accidents. During a crash, sudden acceleration or deceleration can cause the brain to bump against the skull.

Even mild concussions disrupt how the brain processes information, sometimes leaving lasting sensitivity to noise, trouble concentrating, or mood changes that affect daily routines.

Signs you may have a concussion include:

• Headache or pressure inside the head,
• Confusion or slowed thinking,
• Dizziness and imbalance,
• Nausea or vomiting, or
• Sensitivity to light or sound.

While many concussions improve within weeks, repeated injuries or delayed care can lengthen recovery and increase the risk of longer-term complications such as post-concussion syndrome.

Brain Contusions

A contusion is a bruise on the brain’s surface, caused when an impact damages small blood vessels. Car crashes frequently cause contusions near the site of impact, such as the temple or forehead striking a steering wheel or window.

Larger contusions can swell and increase pressure inside the skull, making them dangerous if untreated. Depending on size, contusions may cause:

• Swelling around the bruise,
• Problems with coordination or speech, or
• Difficulty focusing or staying awake.

Severe contusions sometimes require surgical intervention to reduce pressure, and even smaller ones can leave survivors with lingering cognitive or motor issues during recovery.

Coup-Contrecoup Injuries

In many collisions, the brain is injured at two points. First, it strikes the skull at the site of impact (coup). Then it rebounds and hits the opposite side (contrecoup). This double injury increases the risk of swelling and widespread damage across multiple regions of the brain.
Victims may experience more severe cognitive changes, since multiple regions of the brain are affected simultaneously. Symptoms of coup-contrecoup brain injuries can include memory loss, slowed speech, and impaired coordination, which may take months of therapy to improve.

Headaches that won’t ease, sudden memory gaps, or vision changes after a car accident can all point to a brain injury. If you’re living with these symptoms, call the Brain Injury Law Center at (757) 244-7000 or message us online to schedule a free case review.

Diffuse Axonal Injury (DAI)

When the head twists or rotates violently, nerve fibers inside the brain can stretch or tear. This is called diffuse axonal injury. Unlike a bruise, DAI does not always show up clearly on scans, but it can impair communication between brain cells. The widespread damage makes recovery unpredictable, with many survivors requiring long-term therapy.

DAI can result in:

• Loss of consciousness at the scene of the crash,
• Ongoing coma in severe cases, or
• Long-term difficulties with concentration, memory, and motor control.

Rear-end collisions and rollovers are particularly associated with this injury, and outcomes often depend on how extensive the shearing of nerve fibers becomes.

Hematomas

A hematoma occurs when blood collects inside the skull after a vessel ruptures. Pressure builds as blood fills areas where the brain has no room to expand, creating a dangerous rise in intracranial pressure. The most common types in car accidents include:

• Epidural hematoma: bleeding between the skull and the outer layer of the brain.
• Subdural hematoma: bleeding beneath that outer layer, pressing directly on the brain.
• Intracerebral hematoma: bleeding within brain tissue itself.

Symptoms may not appear right away, but can become life-threatening as pressure builds. Emergency treatment is critical, often requiring surgical drainage, followed by close monitoring for re-bleeding or secondary swelling.

Penetrating Brain Injuries

Car accidents sometimes involve shattered glass or metal debris piercing the skull. These penetrating injuries damage specific regions of the brain, creating highly localized problems that vary depending on which lobe is affected. A single object can cause both direct trauma and secondary swelling.

Possible consequences include:

• Loss of vision if the occipital lobe is injured,
• Changes in mood or personality if the frontal lobe is damaged, or
• Weakness or paralysis if motor areas are struck.

Treatment usually requires emergency surgery to remove fragments and control bleeding, followed by rehabilitation to rebuild lost functions. Even with steady progress, survivors may continue to face long-term challenges tied to the exact area injured, such as memory gaps or speech difficulties.

Hypoxic or Anoxic Brain Injuries

Not all head injuries in car crashes involve direct impact. If oxygen flow is disrupted during or after a crash due to airway blockage, lung trauma, or cardiac arrest, brain cells can be deprived of oxygen. Since neurons cannot survive long without oxygen, even a brief interruption can cause significant impairment.

When oxygen loss occurs, survivors may experience:

• Short-term memory problems,
• Slowed thinking and decision-making, or
• Severe movement or awareness impairments if deprivation lasted longer.

Recovery from a hypoxic or anoxic brain injury depends on how quickly oxygen was restored. TBI survivors often need long-term medical support, respiratory care, or daily assistance with mobility and communication, and outcomes vary widely.

Secondary Effects of Car Crash Head Injuries

Even when the initial injury seems stable, complications can develop later. Swelling, reduced blood flow, or chemical changes inside the brain may cause new damage hours or days after the crash. These delayed changes are why many head injury patients are kept under close watch.

Warning signs include:

• Sudden confusion,
• Loss of coordination,
• New or worsening seizures, or
• Decline in alertness.

These secondary effects can sometimes cause more harm than the initial trauma, which is why close neurological monitoring is critical in the days following a crash. Quick detection and intervention can prevent additional brain damage and improve long-term recovery outcomes.

Pursuing Compensation for Car Crash Head Injuries

When negligence causes a serious crash, legal claims offer a means to secure the necessary resources for recovery. Compensation for brain damage after a car accident may cover:

• Hospitalization, surgery, and medications;
• Rehabilitation in speech, occupational, and cognitive therapy;
• Lost wages and diminished future earning ability;
• Home modifications, assistive devices, and caregiving costs; and
• Pain, suffering, and the emotional toll of the injury.

Insurance carriers frequently undervalue these claims, offering settlements that do not reflect the lifetime impact of head injuries in car crashes. A dedicated brain injury attorney can document how brain trauma reshaped daily life, bring in medical experts to explain long-term needs, and press for compensation that accounts for both present and future challenges.

Speak With a Brain Injury Attorney About Your Car Crash

Different types of brain injuries from car accidents can leave survivors facing long recoveries and financial stress.

For 75 years, the Brain Injury Law Center has exclusively handled these complex cases, recovering over $1 billion for clients across the nation. We build cases that reflect the full impact on your health, work, and daily life.

Call (757) 244-7000 or contact us online to start your free case review.