Facts about Traumatic Brain Injury

Traumatic brain injuries or TBIs are some of the most devastating of all personal injuries.  Many people understand that TBIs can negatively impact a person’s life, but how many people know the true level of that impact?  Another little-known TBI fact is that there are many different types of traumatic brain injuries and these can occur even in relatively minor accidents.  The symptoms of some TBIs may not appear for some time after an injury, making these injuries difficult to spot and treat effectively.

Traumatic Brain Injury Facts

TBIs can range in impact from mild to devastating.  Here are a few facts about traumatic brain injuries:

  • Nearly 52,000 people die from TBIs each year.
  • TBI is diagnosed in more than 282,000 hospitalizations and 2.5 million emergency room visits per year.
  • Falls account for nearly half of all adult TBIs, while sports injuries are one of the most common causes for teens. For adults over 65, falls are responsible for more than 75 percent of all TBI deaths and injuries.

There are four major types of traumatic brain injury, and each can cause serious and long-lasting effects.

  • While concussions can be very serious, they are often classified as the “mildest” form of TBI.  More than one concussion often leads to a condition known as chronic traumatic encephalopathy, which is common among people in certain sports.  A concussion occurs when the brain is shaken in the skull, resulting in one or more injuries.
  • A contusion is another word for bruising.  The brain can become bruised and even bleed with certain types of impacts.  Contusions, unlike other types of TBIs, usually occur at the site of the injury itself rather than in other parts of the brain.
  • Coup-Contrecoup. A coup-contrecoup injury is one in which the brain moves from one side of the skull to the other, often resulting in injury on the side opposite the impact.  This type of injury is very common in car accidents, particularly rear-end collisions, when the victim’s head snaps forward and backward quickly.
  • Diffuse Axonal Injury. Diffuse axonal injury or DAI occurs when the brain moves so quickly and severely that the brain stem is affected.  This is the most serious type of TBI and often results in permanent, irreversible brain damage.

These types of injuries are considered closed-skull injuries.  One other type, a penetrating injury, occurs when something penetrates the skull and impacts the brain.  All of these injuries are very serious and should be treated immediately.  Some of them can be treated, but some result in long-term damage that can affect a victim for life.

At Barber & Associates, we have spent many years working with the victims of TBIs and their families to ensure that they are protected after a traumatic brain injury accident.  With our help, many of our clients have secured much larger settlements for their TBIs than their initial offers from insurance companies.  This money allows them to return to normal life much more quickly or, if that is not possible, to pay for the support and care they need to live full, productive lives even with traumatic brain injuries. Call us today to learn more about how we can help you secure compensation in your TBI case.

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