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Important Facts About Traumatic Brain Injury

By Paul Lindquist

Republish: EasyPublish™ Published: 03Feb2012 Word count: 788 Viewed: 54 time(s) Get Free Content For Your Site

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) has either a direct or indirect impact on millions of Americans each year. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that around 1.7 million people suffer from a TBI annually. A TBI can occur in a number of different ways, and in many cases, there are one or more parties at fault for the occurrence. When a traumatic brain injury is sustained and there is a party at fault, the importance of getting immediate medical attention, then consulting with an experienced brain injury lawyer cannot be understated.

What is Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)?

Traumatic brain injury is caused by a blow to the head that damages the brain. This blow can be the result of an outside object like a firearm or pipe (penetrating TBI), or it can also be caused by swift or sharp movement of the brain within the skull from incidents like auto accidents and slips & falls (closed TBI). Some important things to know about traumatic brain injuries are:

-TBI has varying degrees of severity, from mild to moderate to severe.

-According to the CDC, the majority of TBI cases are classified as mild.

-While TBI can happen at the moment of impact, its full effects are often not realized until weeks or even months after the initial incident.

-In many cases, the person suffering from TBI often does not realize it until its symptoms are pointed out to them by friends, family or co-workers.

What are the Common Causes of TBI?

The leading overall (all age groups included) causes of TBI according to the CDC are:

1. Slips & Falls (35%)

2. Motor Vehicle Crashes (17%)

3. Strikes by or against Outside Objects (16.5%)

4. Assaults (10%)

5. Other Miscellaneous Causes (21%)

In the infant and toddler age group, slips & falls are the leading cause of TBI at 50%. Kids and teenagers are most likely to get TBI from playing sports like football, where concussions are common. One other notable fact; among all age groups, the leading TBI-related cause of death is motor vehicle crashes (32%).

How Traumatic Brain Injury Can Affect Your Life

TBI (particularly the severe form) can have a devastating effect on the life of the person affected. Unlike a physical injury that in most cases will heal over time if treated properly, TBI can lead to a permanent disability. With brain injuries, no two cases are ever the same. And because there are a lot of things medical professionals still don't know about brain function, it can be very difficult to determine whether or not someone will fully recover from a traumatic brain injury. One thing we do know is that when brain function is adversely affected, the results are unpredictable. Personalities can change and the brain injury can lead to many other health problems like depression, irritability, short attention spans, memory loss, and many others.

How a Brain Injury Lawyer Can Help

If you believe you or someone you know may have suffered a brain injury resulting from another at-fault party, it's important to seek medical attention for this condition right away. All too often-especially in accidents where other physical injuries are sustained that require more immediate attention-the possibility of a brain injury is overlooked. Since brain injuries can get worse over time if not treated, always get proper medical attention first and foremost.

Once you have been treated for the condition, make sure to contact an experienced brain injury attorney that can inform you of your rights. Brain injury attorneys are those that specialize in cases involving damage to brain function. These cases are far more complicated than a typical personal injury case, because insurance companies will typically try to minimize the extent of the injuries in hopes of paying out the lowest possible settlement.

An experienced brain injury lawyer will take all the steps necessary to make sure you are well represented and adequately compensated for your loss. They will take the time to research everything about your case and find out the extent of the injury suffered. They are also very familiar with the common tactics of insurance companies and know how to counter them effectively. And although no amount of money can ever make up for the physical and mental limitations placed on someone by a traumatic brain injury, the attorney will at least be able to recover the proper amount of damages to help the individual and their family better cope with their new reality.

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