Have You Suffered a Traumatic Brain Injury?

• September 16, 2015
• Personal Injury, Injuries

Every year, an estimated 1.7 million people suffer some sort of traumatic brain injury (TBI). According to the CDC, these injuries contribute to about 30% of all injury deaths.

Caused by a bump, blow or jolt to the head or by a penetrating head injury, TBIs disrupt the normal function of the brain. Mild TBIs, otherwise known as concussions or mild head trauma, result in a “brief” change in mental status (some sort of confused or disoriented state) or loss of consciousness, and account for about 75% of traumatic brain injuries. (CDC)

• Over 1.3 million – almost half – of all brain injuries are the result of falls.
• Close to 200,000 TBIs every year are due to a motor vehicle accident or traffic-related accident, accounting for the largest percentage of TBI-related deaths.
• Roughly, 430,000 TBIs result from some sort of blunt trauma, such as getting hit by falling debris or a sports-related incident. This accounts for 1 in 5 TBI-related injuries in children under 15.

Unfortunately, TBIs are often overlooked because the signs and symptoms (CDC) may take days or weeks to appear. Even when they do appear, symptoms can be subtle and easily dismissed; however, they can lead to serious health issues, affecting:

• Thinking (memory and reasoning, ability to think clearly)
• Sensation (touch, taste, smell)
• Language (communication, expression)
• Emotion (personality changes, acting out, social inappropriateness)

Our knowledgeable staff is available at (877) 284-6600.

The Effects of Traumatic Brain Injuries Can be Long-Lasting

• Approximately 5.3 million Americans are living with a TBI-related disability.
• Fifteen percent of people with a mild TBI have symptoms that last one year or more.

How quickly you recover from this type of injury depends on the severity of the concussion, age, health status before the injury, and the care given following the incident.

Symptoms include:

• Fatigue and headaches
• Visual disturbances
• Memory loss
• Poor attention or concentration
• Sleep disturbances
• Dizziness and loss of balance
• Nausea
• Loss of smell
• Mood changes
• Sensitivity to light and/or sounds

Don’t ignore signs of a potential TBI or concussion. Be safe and either go to the emergency room or visit your doctor as soon as possible.

Traumatic Brain Injury Stories

The traumatic brain injury section on the Centers for Disease Control website offers a wide variety of resources, data and statistics, and more about TBIs and concussions. As you can see by the stories below, traumatic brain injuries happen many different ways and to all ages.

• Dr. Nicole Eastman: No visible signs of injury after being struck by a semi-truck
• Lt. Col. Tim Maxwell: Mortar attack in Iraq
• TBI Ten Years Later: A Mother’s Story Continues
• The NFL Dodges on Brain Injuries
• After traumatic brain injury, a young man’s astounding recovery
• The Invisible War on the Brain

Time to Seek Legal Advice?

According to the Centers for Disease Control, “Every day, 153 people in the United States die from injuries that include TBI. Those who survive a TBI can face effects lasting a few days to disabilities which may last the rest of their lives.”

Severe TBIs can be financially devastating, including ongoing medical expenses and lost time from work. If your brain injury was caused by negligence, you may be able to obtain compensation to cover these costs. Seek the advice of an experienced personal injury attorney to help you evaluate your legal options. Contact us for a free, no-obligation evaluation of your case.

Our knowledgeable staff is available at (877) 284-6600.

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