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    3.  | Second impact syndrome after a car accident: What is it, and what’s the typical treatment?

Second impact syndrome after a car accident: What is it, and what’s the typical treatment?

by | Nov 28, 2016

Second impact syndrome after a car accident

Concussions are the mildest form of traumatic brain injury, and they occur after an impact to the head. Car accidents victims often suffer concussions after hitting their heads during the crash or experiencing whiplash during the sudden deceleration, causing the brain to shake within the skull.

One concussion is bad enough, but fortunately it is usually not life-threatening. Most people recover fully within a month of the accident. A second concussion before the first brain trauma has fully healed, however, is quite serious, and it is often fatal. That next blow to the head can result in Second Impact Syndrome (SIS), in which the brain swells and/or hemorrhages.

The Second Impact

SIS is a catastrophic injury, and many victims do not survive. They succumb shortly after the second head injury, usually within five minutes as the respiratory system fails. Symptoms are immediate, and include:

  • Dilated pupils
  • Loss of consciousness
  • Respiratory problems

An SIS is always a medical emergency, with the victim requiring immediate treatment.

Emergency Treatment

If the victim gets to a hospital quickly enough, there is hope. Immediate stabilization is necessary, and physicians must focus on the victim’s respiratory distress and circulation. The patient may receive mannitol, a sucrose-like substance used to reduce pressure within the skull. Neurosurgery is often required. It’s a long, hard road ahead, and the patient may remain hospitalized for weeks or months. Even if the patient survives, virtually all SIS victims will suffer some sort of lifelong disability. Common impairments include:

  • Memory loss
  • Mobility problems
  • Neurological issues.

Prevention

Anyone who has suffered a concussion in a car accident must take care to prevent a second head injury for the next several weeks. Of course, no one deliberately wants to cause head trauma, but it is imperative that victims take as few risks as possible until the doctor clears them. This means no playing sports, riding bicycles or participating in any activities that include the risk of falling. If the victim’s type of employment poses hazards, they should not perform those jobs without a physician’s approval.

If you or a loved has suffered traumatic brain injury or second impact syndrome after a car accident, a personal injury attorney may help you at this difficult time. Call us at 602-283-4122 to schedule a consultation.

Update 1/30/2025 Read about Fox News 10 news coverage on the story here: https://www.fox10phoenix.com/news/family-plans-lawsuit-against-mesa-birthing-center-after-tragic-loss-unborn-baby

Willow Midwife Center for Birth & Wellness – Our firm is currently counsel for plaintiffs in a lawsuit (midwife malpractice) against the birthing center – involving failure to transfer mothers and newborns to hospitals when emergency care was needed, causing devastating consequences for those involved. 

At the Kelly Law Team, our personal injury practice includes a wide range of injuries caused by negligence and other wrongful conduct. including injuries that are inflicted upon newborn babies (and their mothers).

When a woman is about to give birth, she understandably wants to be as comfortable as possible, not only in her surroundings, but also in terms of the quality of care she will receive. People choose birthing centers in part, at least, due to the promise of a more personalized attention, a home-like environment, “continuous care,” less medical intervention, and a more “natural” birthing experience. 

Unfortunately, birthing centers are not equipped to handle many emergencies. There are numerous areas of concern when you entrust your maternity care to a birthing center. For example, as in our case, delayed transfer of mothers and newborn babies to a hospital could lead to devastating consequences, including oxygen deprivation, untreated fetal distress, and more. This could result in the baby suffering with cerebral palsy, developmental delays, and other serious problems and conditions.

These centers generally operate without an onsite physician, and the possibility of a delay in the transfer to a hospital in the case of an emergency or difficult delivery is only one example of injuries to newborns and to their mothers, who suffer needlessly as the result of negligence on the part of the birthing center. Moreover, birthing centers are not able to perform Cesarean sections, while almost one-third of births in the United States are delivered by C-section.

Indeed, according to the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, birthing centers carry an increased risk of adverse outcomes, including the following:

  • Neonatal deaths (birth through day 28);
  • Depressed Agpar scores in the first few minutes of birth (Apgar evaluates the newborn’s heart rate, muscle tone, reflexes, respiration, and appearance); and

In addition to the risks to the infant, medical problems suffered by the mother may also be well beyond the capacity of a birthing center to diagnose and/or treat.

If you or a loved one has given birth at a birthing center, and either mother or child has had health problems, during or after childbirth, we may be able to assist in finding out whether the birthing center was at fault, causing or exacerbating the injury/condition, and whether you are entitled to compensation. If you believe a birthing center caused or failed to diagnose or properly treat a medical condition, contact the Kelly Law Team to find out what our firm can do for you.

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