Our brains control everything we do: our breathing, our speaking, our thinking, our decision making, our emotions, and the way we connect with our friends and loved ones.
Severe trauma called Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) or closed head injury occurs when our brain is damaged due to high impact with the skull.
Every year, at least 1.7 million traumatic brain injuries occur in the United States. Most of these are mild and include concussions. But many of these injuries are severe.
Important facts to know about brain injury:
- Who is most likely to suffer a TBI? Children ages 0 to 4 years, adolescents aged 15-19 years old and adults aged 65 and older.
- Who is most likely to die from TBI? Adults 75 and older.
What causes traumatic brain injuries?
- Falls, including slip and falls are a major source of traumatic brain injuries. Older adults are the most vulnerable to this situation whether they live in their own home or in a senior living arrangement. Falls are also common in hospitals and rehabilitation centers.
- Automobile accidents, particularly when seat belts are not used. Adolescents in the back seat are the most likely victims of this scenario.
- Sports (both contact and non-contact). The biggest contributors to concussion are soccer and football. Football involves collision. Soccer typically doesn’t but the participants wear no protective headgear.
- Medical malpractice occurs when a patient does not receive adequate treatment and supervision in a medical setting, causing severe damage to the brain.
Victims of trauma to the head or brain may be eligible to seek monetary compensation for their damages if the accident was the result of negligence of another party. This monetary compensation can help pay for medical expenses, loss of income or earning potential, and help to compensate for your pain and suffering.
