Basic Information About Traumatic Brain Injuries

Brain Injury Statistics

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) report that an overwhelming 1.5 million individuals throughout the nation will suffer a traumatic brain injury every year. Among those, over 85,000 will have long-term disabilities as a result.

What are traumatic brain injuries and what causes them? Continue reading for these answers and more.

FAQs About Traumatic Brain Injuries

A traumatic brain injury, or TBI, happens when the brain gets injured. A person may begin experiencing serious problems after getting hit or bumped in the head. Here are some serious signs to look out for after a head injury:

• A brief loss of consciousness (concussion)
• Chronic, long-lasting headaches
• Severe vomiting and nausea
• Dilated eye pupils
• Slurred speech
• Deep sleep and an inability to wake
• Seizures or convulsions
• Arm or leg weakness

Any type of head injury deserves appropriate medical attention. Serious TBIs can lead to death, so it’s important to seek out emergency treatment as soon as possible.

How Does a TBI Occur?

TBI injuries happen after a head injury. The top three overall causes of TBIs are car accidents, firearms and falls. Here’s a breakdown of the top TBI-causing injuries:

• Open or closed head injury
• Deceleration injuries (car accident, shaken baby syndrome)
• Injuries caused by chemicals or toxins
• A lack of oxygen (birth injuries, drowning, heart attacks)
• Infections (meningitis)
• Stokes (bleeding in the brain)
• Tumors

The top causes that lead to a TBI vary by age. Statistics show that falls are the number one cause for TBIs in the youngest (0-4 years) and the oldest (65 years and up) groups. For young children (5-14 years) injuries caused by getting struck by an object and falling take the top spots. Young adults (15-44 years) suffer TBIs most often as a result of car accidents, falls and assaults.

Long-Term Impacts of a TBI

There is no cure-all after a serious TBI accident. Extensive rehabilitation can help improve the victim’s situation over time, but there’s no guarantee that they’ll be able to return to their prior level of brain functioning. Personality changes may be permanent. Here are some of the ongoing symptoms of a traumatic brain injury:

• Issues controlling physical motion
• Sensory sensitivity
• Speech or language problems
• Mood swings, emotional distress, anger, anxiety
• Impaired cognitive thinking
• Impaired memory
• Declining ability to communicate socially
• Dysphagia (problems swallowing)

These issues are all life-altering. For many TBI victims, these symptoms will persist for the entirety of their lives.

Contact a Atlantic City Personal Injury Lawyer to Discuss Your Wrongful Death Case in New Jersey or Pennsylvania

Have you or a loved one been the victim of a traumatic brain injury in New Jersey or Pennsylvania? Don’t let the medical bills pile up while you wait for the negligent party or their insurance company to do the right thing. Right now, you need an aggressive personal injury attorney on your side, fighting to get you the compensation you need, want, and deserve. The skilled attorneys at the Law Offices of Richard A. Stoloff represent victims of traumatic brain injuries in Atlantic City, Galloway Township, Linwood, Philadelphia and throughout New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Call or fill out our online contact form to schedule a consultation about your case. We have an office conveniently located at 605 New Road, Linwood, NJ 08221 as well as offices in 1500 JFK Blvd, Suite 520, Philadelphia, PA 19102.

The articles on this blog are for informative purposes only and are no substitute for legal advice or an attorney-client relationship. If you are seeking legal advice, please contact our law firm directly.