In March, we observe Brain Injury Awareness Month, a time dedicated to understanding and preventing traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). In Texas, the open roads are important to our way of life, but they also come with major truck accidents, especially on high-speed and congested roadways. The sheer size and weight of these vehicles mean that any collision can have catastrophic consequences, including TBIs to passenger vehicle occupants.
The force of a truck collision can cause your head to strike parts of the vehicle's interior, such as the steering wheel, dashboard, or window, leading to concussions or skull fractures. Even without direct impact, the rapid back-and-forth motion of your head during a crash can cause your brain to move inside your skull.
Additionally, broken glass, metal fragments, or loose cargo can strike your head, which can cause open head wounds or penetrating brain injuries. If you're thrown from your vehicle, the impact with the ground or another object can cause life-threatening head trauma.
What types of TBIs do truck accidents cause?
Truck accidents can cause devastating TBIs, often leaving victims with lasting physical, cognitive, and emotional challenges. The severity of a brain injury depends on the force of the impact and how the brain moves inside the skull during a crash. While some injuries are mild, others are life-altering. Here are some of the most common TBIs that occur in truck accidents.
Concussions
A concussion is one of the most common brain injuries in truck accidents. It happens when a sudden jolt or impact causes the brain to shake inside the skull. Even though concussions are often classified as mild TBIs, they can still have long-term effects, especially if someone experiences multiple concussions over time.
Victims may feel dizzy, confused, or nauseous. Headaches and sensitivity to light or noise are also common. What makes concussions dangerous is that symptoms don’t always appear immediately. Many people walk away from a truck accident feeling fine, only to experience memory issues, mood changes, or difficulty concentrating in the days that follow.
Contusions (Brain Bruises)
A contusion is a bruise on the brain caused by a direct impact to the head. When a truck accident victim’s head strikes the steering wheel, window, or dashboard, it can result in bleeding and swelling in the brain. Severe contusions may require surgery to remove the damaged tissue and stop the bleeding.
People with brain contusions often experience confusion, difficulty speaking, and weakness in certain parts of the body. The severity of the damage depends on how much force was involved in the crash.
Diffuse Axonal Injury (DAI)
One of the most serious types of brain injuries caused by truck accidents is a DAI. This happens when the brain moves so rapidly inside the skull that nerve fibers stretch and tear. DAIs are common in high-speed collisions where the victim’s head is forcefully jerked back and forth.
Unlike concussions or contusions, which have visible symptoms, DAIs are more insidious. Some victims may lose consciousness immediately, while others experience dizziness or disorientation before slipping into a coma. The damage from a DAI can be extensive and lead to permanent cognitive impairment or even death.
Penetrating Brain Injuries
Truck accidents can create violent crash scenes, sometimes sending debris flying through the air. In some cases, sharp objects (e.g., broken glass, twisted metal, or even pieces of a shattered dashboard) can pierce a victim’s skull. These types of injuries are especially dangerous because they directly damage brain tissue. Surgery is usually required to remove foreign objects and stop the bleeding. Even with immediate medical intervention, penetrating brain injuries often require a long and difficult road to recovery.
Coup-Contrecoup Brain Injuries
Sometimes, the damage from a truck accident isn’t limited to just one part of the brain. A coup-contrecoup injury occurs when the brain is injured on both sides due to a violent impact. For example, if a victim’s head slams into the dashboard during a crash, the brain first collides with the front of the skull (coup injury). Then, as the head snaps backward, the brain rebounds and strikes the back of the skull (contrecoup injury).
This type of injury can lead to extensive brain swelling, impaired motor functions, and long-term cognitive issues. The effects depend on which parts of the brain are damaged, but many truck accident victims struggle with memory loss, speech problems, and difficulty concentrating.
Hematomas (Brain Bleeds)
Brain bleeds, or hematomas, happen when blood pools inside or around the brain due to ruptured blood vessels. In a truck accident, the force of impact can cause blood to accumulate in different areas of the brain. Epidural hematomas occur between the skull and the brain’s outermost layer, while subdural hematomas form between the brain and the dura mater (the protective covering around the brain). Intracerebral hematomas, on the other hand, involve bleeding directly into the brain tissue.
The danger of a hematoma is that symptoms may not show up right away. Some victims feel normal immediately after a truck accident, only to develop life-threatening pressure in the brain hours or even days later. Without immediate treatment, a brain bleed can lead to permanent damage or death.
Second Impact Syndrome (Repeated TBI)
If a person suffers a second concussion before fully recovering from a previous brain injury, it can trigger a rapid and dangerous swelling of the brain, known as second impact syndrome. This condition is rare but extremely deadly. Victims of truck accidents who suffer multiple blows to the head are at the highest risk. The brain doesn’t have time to heal from the initial trauma, and the second impact can cause catastrophic swelling and loss of brain function.
The long-term effects of TBIs
A brain injury can change every aspect of your life and lead to long-term challenges such as:
- Cognitive difficulties: Memory loss, trouble processing information, and difficulty focusing can make returning to work or school hard.
- Emotional and behavioral changes: Brain injuries can alter your personality and cause depression, anxiety, or sudden mood swings.
- Physical limitations: Severe TBIs may cause motor skill impairments, chronic pain, or loss of coordination, which requires ongoing physical therapy to regain movement and independence.
- Financial burden: You may accumulate medical bills for surgery, rehabilitation, and long-term care. Lost wages and reduced earning capacity add to the financial strain.
How a truck accident lawyer can help after a brain injury
If you or a loved one has suffered a traumatic brain injury in a Texas truck accident, you already know how much life can change. The San Antonio truck accident lawyers at The Herrera Law Firm see the real impact of these injuries every day, and we know how overwhelming this journey can be. That’s why we're ready to take on the fight for you.
Trucking companies and insurers will do everything possible to avoid paying what you deserve. But we won’t let them get away with their tactics. We build strong cases, gather undeniable evidence, and demand full compensation for your medical expenses, lost income, and the future care you’ll need.
If a truck accident left you with a life-changing brain injury, take action today. Contact us online or call us to speak to our experienced and compassionate legal team.
