Traumatic Brain Injuries

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) contributes to approximately 30 percent of all injury deaths in the U.S., killing 138 people every day, as reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Survivors often face a lifetime of disability. Effects can include personality changes, depression, impaired memory and cognitive function, impaired movement and impaired sensation.

When a person’s head is hit, bumped, struck, jolted, or penetrated, their resulting head injury can be considered a traumatic brain injury if the injury impedes the operating functions of the brain. Some TBI cases are more severe than others. TBI can range from mild TBI (brief changes in mental state or consciousness) to severe TBI (unconsciousness or memory loss for an extended period of time after the injury).

Temporary dysfunction of brain cells occurs with mild TBI, whereas severe TBI can involve bruising, tearing and bleeding in the brain that can result in long-term complications or death.

If you or a loved one has suffered a TBI caused by someone else’s negligence, you may be entitled to compensation for your losses. You should seek legal advice immediately – before you discuss the matter with an insurance adjuster and before you sign anything.

Let the law offices of Kraft & Associates, Attorneys at Law, P.C., advise you about your rights after an accident that caused brain damage. We’re an established and professional law firm with friendly lawyers and staff who are easy to talk to. Please call us at (214) 999-9999 or contact us online.

Incidence of Traumatic Brain Injuries in the U.S.

Brainline.org reports that every year in the U.S., 1.7 million people suffer a TBI. Of those 1.7 million victims, 1.365 million are treated in emergency rooms then released, 275,000 are hospitalized and 52,000 die from their injuries. The direct medical costs and indirect costs of TBI combined were estimated at $60 billion during one recent year.

The problem is getting worse. According to the CDC, ER visits related to TBI increased by 70 percent, hospitalization rates increased by 11 percent and TBI death rates increased by 7 percent during the last decade. Approximately 248,418 children in one recent year were treated in ERs and diagnosed with concussion or TBI following sports and recreation-related injuries.

Causes of Traumatic Brain Injuries

Traumatic brain injury can occur in a number of circumstances from an accidental or intentional blow or wound to the head. According to Brainline.org, the following are the leading causes of TBI:

• Falls are the No. 1 cause of TBI in the U.S., accounting for 35.2 percent of all cases. Falling out of bed; slip-and-fall injuries; falls from roofs, ladders and scaffolding in construction accidents; tripping on stairs; and in many other ways, falls can cause serious head injuries and TBI.
• Motor vehicle accidents are the second leading cause of TBI at 17.3 percent. Car accidents, motorcycle accidents, and accidents involving bicyclists and pedestrians cause a large number of TBIs in the U.S.
• Unintentional blunt trauma (being struck by or against an object) accounts for 16.5 percent of TBI incidents. This often occurs with injuries from sports, such as football, baseball, soccer, boxing, skateboarding, hockey, and any extreme or high-impact sports.
• Assaults (acts of violence) are the cause of 10 percent of TBI incidents. Gunshot wounds, domestic violence and child abuse can result in TBI. Shaken baby syndrome is TBI caused by the violent shaking of an infant.
• Other or unknown causes account for the remaining 21 percent of TBI cases in the U.S.

Treatment for TBI

Treatment for moderate or severe TBIs can be extensive and long-lasting. It may involve:

• Medications, such as diuretics (to reduce fluid in the tissue and relieve pressure inside the brain); anti-seizure drugs (to avoid additional brain damage from a seizure); and coma-inducing drugs (so the brain will need less oxygen) are often used after a serious brain injury.
• Surgery designed to prevent or reduce additional damage may be performed to remove hematomas (clotted blood), repair fractures in the skull, drain accumulated fluid, or make more room for swollen tissue.
• Rehabilitation to help the victim relearn basic skills, such as walking and talking, may be necessary on a long-term basis, depending on which part of the brain was injured and how severely.

Legal Help for Victims of Traumatic Brain Injuries

If you or a loved one has suffered severe TBI through the fault another, it is important to consult with an experienced personal injury lawyer as soon as possible. Whether the TBI resulted from a car accident caused by another driver, a slip-and-fall accident on someone else’s property, or any other accident due to someone else’s negligence, the knowledgeable Dallas injury attorneys at Kraft & Associates, P.C., are ready to help you pursue the compensation you need.

Medical treatment for severe TBI can be long-term and extensive, and total lifetime costs can run into the millions. Those costs can include physical and vocational rehabilitation, counseling, increased living expenses and lost earnings. Our aggressive personal injury lawyers can negotiate skillfully on your behalf and fight for your rights in court if necessary. We have been handling personal injury claims for decades, with successful settlements and verdicts for clients affected by TBI.

Sources:

• CDC – Injury Prevention & Control: Traumatic Brain Injury: Traumatic Brain Injury in the United States: Fact Sheet
• Mayo Clinic – Diseases and Conditions: Traumatic Brain Injury
• Brainline.org – Facts about Traumatic Brain Injury