Head Injuries

Head injuries can be caused by a number of factors such as accidents on construction sights, injury obtained during an assault, sports injuries, falls, car accidents, and much more. Over 70% of car accidents in the United States result in head injuries, and sadly, many of them are caused by drunk driving or texting while driving. When a head injury is serious, the victim can suffer life-changing personal injury or even wrongful death. The medical bills, rehabilitation, cost of care, and loss time from work can be devastating for the victim and their family. It is important to find a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible after a head injury to help you get the compensation you need to cover such expenses.

TBI – Traumatic Brain Injury

Common types of head injuries would include traumatic brain injury (TBI), tearing of the brain, skull fractures, concussions, injury to the scalp, damage of the nerves, and swelling due to blood between the brain and skull. Traumatic brain injury is the most severe type. This is caused by a blow to the skull or penetrating head injury which causes the brain to function abnormally. The symptoms of a TBI could be a brief change in mental status and personality, or unconsciousness and even amnesia.

Approximately 1.7 million people suffer from a TBI in America each year, according to brainline.org. Of those, 52,000 will lose their lives. 275, 000 will be placed in the hospital, and 1,365 will be treated and released from a local emergency room.

The leading causes of TBI are as follows:

  • 35.2% from falls
  • 17.3% from car accidents
  • 16.5% from being struck by or against something
  • 21% are unknown or other causes
  • The leading cause of TBI for active duty military personnel in a war zone is from blasts.

Those are highest risk for TBI include:

  • Men are 1.5 times more likely to suffer from a TBI than women.
  • Those aged 0-4 and 15-19 are more likely to suffer a TBI.
  • Those with certain military duties such as paratrooper are at higher risk for TBI.
  • African Americans have the highest death rate from TBI.

What are the Costs and Longterm Effects of TBI?

  • TBI cost approximately $60 billion to Americans in medical costs, indirect costs, and loss time from work in the year 2000 alone.
  • According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 5.3 million Americans suffer from long-term or lifelong disability due to a TBI.
  • About 40% of those who were placed in a hospital due to a TBI still had unmet needs due to the injury one year later. Among these needs were memory and problem solving skills, stress and emotional issues, temper problems, and job skills.

Those who suffer from a TBI can have a wide rage of changes in functioning. This could include thinking speaking, learning, behavior, emotions, and feeling. The risk for seizures, Alzheimer’s Disease, Parkinson’s disease and other brain disorders is also much higher. This means that even years after a TBI, the victim could still suffer more consequences than originally noted. Because of this, they will need an experienced personal injury lawyer to make sure that their rights are protected.