You’re driving home from work along the same route you always take, when suddenly, you’re broadsided by a speeding driver who blew through a stop sign. Upon impact, your head hits the steering wheel. Sadly, this is a fairly common scenario for auto accident victims. Head injuries are common, even if you’re driving the speed limit and obeying traffic laws. Quite simply, you can’t predict or control another motorist’s behavior.

Sometimes, when your head hits the steering wheel, you might be dazed and shaken but — aside from the shock — feel relatively fine. Other times, you might lose consciousness or suffer a traumatic brain injury (TBI). Here are some of the head wounds resulting from this type of accident.

Types of Steering Wheel Injuries

In a collision, the driver’s head may be thrust forward at a high rate of speed. The force of the impact with the steering wheel can cause the driver to endure injuries such as:

• Concussion: A form of TBI, concussions happen when the brain is jarred inside the skull. Depending on the severity of the concussion, symptoms can range from headaches, dizziness, and a temporary loss of consciousness to memory loss, personality changes, and sensitivity to noise and light.
• Contusion: A contusion is a bruise on or inside the head that can range from minor to life-threatening. Symptoms can include severe pain and swelling, difficulty speaking, numbness, and loss of coordination.
• Skull fracture: A forceful blow to the head can cause a skull fracture. Such broken bones aren’t always easy to see. Symptoms that might indicate a skull fracture include facial bruising, swelling, tenderness in the impacted area, and bleeding from the ears or nostrils.

Following an Accident

Sometimes injuries to the head are not immediately apparent. It’s imperative that you seek medical attention right away even if you think you’re fine. Afterward, be sure to contact an auto accident attorney at Morgan & Morgan. For more than three decades, we’ve fought on behalf of car accident injury victims to help them secure financial compensation. Find out how we can help you in personal injury claim by filling out a free case evaluation.