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Understanding the Severity of a Traumatic Brain Injury
An estimated 2.5 million emergency department visits, hospitalizations, and deaths were attributed to TBIs in 2010 alone, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In the United States, approximately 5.3 million people are living with TBI-related disabilities.
Traumatic brain injuries range from mild in severity (such as a concussion) to severe, which may include lasting memory loss or unconsciousness. Although most (75 percent) traumatic brain injuries fall into the mild category, the effects of a traumatic brain injury can last an individual’s entire life, regardless of the severity of the injury.
Unfortunately, traumatic brain injuries can be fatal, contributing to roughly 30 percent of all injury deaths in the United States. According to the CDC, traumatic brain injuries contributed to approximately 50,000 deaths in 2010. Every day, 138 people die from injuries that include a traumatic brain injury.
Top Four Causes of Traumatic Brain Injuries
The majority of TBI cases between 2006 and 2010 in the United States were caused by four different events: falls, motor vehicle accidents, assault, or struck by/against an object.
Falls — Falls accounted for 40 percent of all TBIs between 2006 and 2010. Fifty-five percent of TBIs in children ages 0 to 14 were caused by falls, and 81 percent of TBIs in people over the age of 64 were caused by falls.
Accidental hit by object — Unintentional blunt trauma accounted for 15.5 percent of traumatic brain injuries. In children under the age of 15, blunt trauma was the cause of TBI in 24 percent of cases. Oftentimes these injuries occur on the job, such as at a construction site or oilfield.
Motor vehicle crashes — Motor vehicle crashes accounted for 14 percent of traumatic brain injuries. However, motor vehicle wrecks were the cause of 26 percent of all TBI-related deaths between 2006 and 2010.
Assault — Approximately 10 percent of TBIs were caused by assault, and about 75 percent of these injuries occurred in people between the age of 15 and 44.
A traumatic brain injury can also occur due to the brain receiving too little oxygen. This may happen when a person is choking, drowning, during strangulation, or a medical mistake. Anoxic or hypoxic brain injuries can lead to serious injuries, coma, and death.
Contact an Experienced Traumatic Brain Injury Attorney
If you or a loved one have sustained a traumatic brain injury in a car crash, at work, or in any other accident, contact Thomas J. Henry TBI Lawyers. Oftentimes, people suffering from TBIs require extended hospital stays, medical procedures, and rehabilitation services. Medical bills can start to pile up, causing unneeded stress for individuals who should be focusing on recovery. Our experienced TBI attorneys can relieve you of the hassle and stress and let you focus on healing.
At Thomas J. Henry, our team of legal professionals will diligently work to put you in the best position possible to receive maximum compensation for your traumatic brain injury. Contact us today for a free case review. Our firm has offices in Corpus Christi, San Antonio, Austin, Houston, and Dallas serving traumatic brain injury clients across Texas and nationwide.
