by Melissa J Luther

Created on: December 01, 2008   Last Updated: December 09, 2008

Head and neck injuries are among the most common injuries sustained in motor vehicle accidents. Often these injuries are not diagnosed immediately, as more life-threatening injuries take precedence during initial medical treatment. It is important to get a proper diagnosis after a motor vehicle accident both for effective treatment, and to be eligible for compensation if the accident was caused by another person's negligence. The type of compensation depends on individual state laws.

There are many types of head trauma and brain and neck injuries that can result from motor vehicle accidents.

>Whiplash<

Whiplash is a term that refers both to specific symptoms caused resulting from a motor vehicle accident as well as a mechanism of causing additional head and neck injuries. It can occur even at low speeds.

Whiplash occurs when the head snaps back and forth rapidly. This rapid movement hyper-extends the neck, damaging nerves and ligaments in the neck. The result is pain in the neck, shoulders or base of the skull and lack of mobility in the neck. When the nerves get stretched, this damage can also disrupt internal brain communication and communication with the rest of the body, affecting thought processes and motor function. In most patients the damage is temporary, but a significant percentage of people experience chronic pain.

>Closed Head/Traumatic Brain Injuries<

These injuries are difficult to diagnose because there is no visible external injury. Sometimes brain injuries are only diagnosed months after the accident.

The rapid back-and-forth movement of whiplash is often also responsible for the brain injuries sustained in motor vehicle accidents. The brain is not anchored within the skull; it floats in there. When the head snaps back and forth, the brain bounces around inside the skull, resulting in bruising and blood vessel tears.

* Concussion: The brain colliding with the skull often disrupts normal brain functioning. This loss of function is called a concussion and usually involves loss of consciousness. A mild concussion may not cause unconsciousness.

* Subdural Hematoma: When torn blood vessels leak, the blood collects between the brain and its covering. This injury heals very slowly, and often the only symptom is sleepiness.

* Hydrocephalus: This is a common complication of brain injury. Fluid builds up in the ventricles (spaces within the brain), causing excess pressure within the brain. Symptoms are non-specific; often the major symptom is a diminished

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