Traumatic Brain Injuries
According to the Indiana State Department of Health, the leading causes of Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI) in the United States and in Indiana are automobile collisions, falls, being struck, and assaults. Approximately 1.4 million people sustain TBI in the United States annually. Of this figure, about 50,000 people die from TBI; 235,000 are hospitalized; and 1.1 million are treated at emergency rooms every year.
Definition of TBI
TBI is described as damage to the brain caused by a sudden blow to the head or a penetrating injury where an object enters through the skull. However, not all brain injuries result in severe brain damage or death. The injuries can rang from mild symptoms, such as headaches, to more serious symptoms, such as memory loss and impaired thinking skills. Other symptoms of TBI include:
- Loss of consciousness
- Difficulty concentrating and making decisions
- Feeling constantly exhausted
- Changes in sleeping patterns
- Light-headedness and dizziness
- Nausea
- Blurred vision
- Loss of taste or smell
Causes of TBI
TBIs can result from a variety of situations, particularly motor vehicle accidents. Automobile accidents are extremely common and can cause significant head and bodily injuries. If the vehicle rolls over or crashes into another vehicle or object, the driver, despite wearing a seat belt, can suffer a tremendous amount of force to their head and torso. This force can cause the brain to collide with the bony internal surfaces of the skull, causing bruising and bleeding in the brain.
Additional common causes of TBI include:
- Motorcycle accidents
- ATV accidents
- Trucking accidents
- Snowmobile accidents
- Slip and fall accidents
- Products liability accidents
- Assault and battery, such as from nursing home abuse
Traumatic brain injuries are extremely serious, and it is important that if you suffer any type of head injury, you should get medical treatment immediately. Injured people should also know that if another person's intentional or negligent conduct caused the head injury, they should consult an experienced personal injury lawyer for legal assistance. Glenn A. Grampp is an experienced personal injury attorney, who has assisted many seriously injured victims in obtaining the compensation they deserve. For assistance with your legal matters, contact Glenn A. Grampp for a free initial consultation.
