Los Angeles is a bustling city with construction sites, congested roads, and rapid traffic. With so much going on, accidents happen quite often, many of which individuals sustaining traumatic injury. One of the worst and most severe types of injury an individual can suffer from in an accident is a brain injury.
Brain injuries are serious and can completely change someone’s life. In a city like Los Angeles, where people are constantly in motion and work zones are everywhere, the possibility of being in an accident that causes a brain injury is higher than anyone thinks.
This article will describe the types of accidents that people are likely to sustain, resulting in brain injuries. If you or someone you love has experienced a brain injury in an accident, being able to speak with a trusted brain injury lawyer in Los Angeles can make a real difference in your recovery.
Construction Accidents
One of the biggest sources of brain injuries in LA is construction work. And it’s not hard to see why. The city’s skyline is always dynamic with new condos, new office buildings, and even new roads being built.
Behind all that progress are persistent men and women, often exposed to very real, very physical dangers every single day.
A lot of people think brain injuries only become apparent when someone takes a direct hit to the head. While that’s one of the main causes, it’s not the only one. At manufacturing sites, brain trauma can happen in all sorts of ways, including:
- Machinery malfunctions.
- Employee errors, such as someone failing to properly secure staging or dropping a tool from above.
- Slips and falls
- Toxic allergic reactions to paint thinners, pesticides, and other chemicals used regularly on job sites.
- Repetitive vulnerability to jackhammers and vibrating tools.
Falls
Falls, in general, are the number one cause of traumatic brain injuries for people of all ages. Sudden fall can lead to your head striking the ground with serious force.
One of the biggest issues with these kinds of falls is that people don’t always realize how bad the damage is. Maybe they feel dizzy, have a slight headache, or just want to shake it off. But that initial injury can grow into something worse, like memory problems, balance issues, or even seizures, especially if it’s not treated promptly.
This is why it’s crucial for anyone who’s hit their head in a fall to seek medical help right away. The symptoms of a devastating brain injury don’t always show up promptly, and time is critical.
Motor Vehicle Accidents
Not just fender benders, but serious crashes, rollovers, and T-bone collisions that happen all too often on LA’s congested roads. These accidents rank as the second leading cause of traumatic brain injuries, just behind falls.
The problem is the force. When a car sweeps into another vehicle or suddenly stops at high speed, the body keeps moving, even when you’re wearing a seatbelt. Your brain gets thrown around inside your skull, which can cause anything from an accidental injury to a bleed on the brain.
In some cases, sharp objects like shattered glass or twisted metal can pierce the skull, and this is known to cause brain injuries. These are typically dangerous, requiring emergency surgery and long-term care.
Other Serious Accidents That Often Lead to Brain Injuries
Brain injuries don’t just happen on construction sites, from slips and falls, or from car accidents. Other accident types can lead to serious or even lasting brain trauma:
- Motorcycle accidents: Even with a helmet, riders are exposed. Without one, the risk of a TBI is much higher. Helmets help, but they don’t make you invincible.
- Bicycle accidents: Much like motorcycles, cyclists are vulnerable. A driver opening a car door accidentally or running a red light can send a rider crashing into the pavement.
- Pedestrian accidents: Being hit by a car often throws pedestrians violently to the ground. In LA, where drivers sometimes aren’t paying close attention, this is an all-too-common risk.
- Truck accidents: Commercial trucks are huge and heavy. When they crash, they can cause traumatic injuries, including violent brain injuries. Victims typically need years of rehab or may be left with lingering disabilities.
In every one of these cases, the common thread is sudden, violent force. Whether that force is blunt or penetrating, it can change the delicate areas of the brain in a split second
