Traumatic Brain Injuries in the US

Traumatic Brain Injuries in the U.S.

Traumatic head and brain injuries are the most severe among the injuries an individual could suffer in a significant accident. Even though some may feel that a TBI may never happen to them or their loved ones, accidents can occur at any time. Data published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show that TBIs are among the most costly injuries someone might sustain. Some of their statistics include:

• Those who suffer a severe traumatic brain injury impact not only themselves but also their family, friends, and the community.
• The estimated costs of traumatic brain injuries suffered in 2010 were expected to be around $76 billion.
• This number includes both direct and indirect medical costs.
• 90 percent of this cost stemmed from TBIs which ultimately proved fatal.

These numbers show that traumatic brain injuries have a severe impact on individuals, families, and society as a whole. Therefore, looking at the sources of traumatic brain injuries is essential.

The Design of the Study

In a recent study published in the Journal of Safety Research, researchers thoroughly reviewed electronic research databases to categorize the sources of traumatic brain injuries. The researchers reviewed the mechanisms of accidents leading to a diagnosis of a TBI between 2002 and 2010. Some of the possible causes were:

• Road traffic accidents, such as auto accidents, motorcycle accidents, and bicycle accidents
• Slip and fall injuries
• Pedestrian accidents
• Being struck by or with an object
• Self-inflicted injuries

The researchers compiled their data into a table and analyzed their results statistically. The researchers were looking for trends that might help prevent future traumatic brain injuries from occurring.

The Results of the Study: Sources of a Traumatic Brain Injury

The data on traumatic brain injuries were from visits to primary care providers, emergency departments, those admitted to hospitals, and individuals who died. Some of their key results include:

• Traumatic brain injuries resulting from slip and fall injuries led to nearly 660,000 emergency department visits, over 66,000 hospitalizations, and nearly 11,000 deaths.
• Being struck by or with an object led to more than 300,000 emergency department visits, almost 7,000 hospitalizations, and nearly 400 deaths.
• Auto accidents led to more than 232,000 emergency department visits, over 53,000 hospitalizations, and nearly 15,000 deaths.
• Physical assault and homicide resulted in almost 180,000 emergency department visits, more than 15,000 hospitalizations, and nearly 6,000 deaths.
• Suicide via TBI resulted in more than 14,000 deaths.
• Close to 100,000 emergency room visits and more than 113,000 hospitalizations had an unknown cause.
• Nearly 5,000 deaths via TBI were categorized as “other.”

The Significance of the Results

There are some key takeaways from the study discussed above. Some of these include:

• A slip and fall injury is the most common cause of a traumatic brain injury.
• Examples of slip and fall injuries include icy sidewalks, wet floors, and even fall injuries on the stairs.
• The most common cause of death via TBI is an auto accident.
• More than 5,000 TBI fatalities discussed above had an “other” cause.

Watch YouTube Video: Reducing Severe Traumatic Brain Injury in the U.S. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention held a session to explore policies, guidelines, and interventions to help reduce traumatic brain injuries in the United States.

Contacting a Brain Injury Attorney

The complications that stem from severe traumatic brain injury have wide-reaching consequences. This can leave families wondering where they can look for help. As a first step, speaking with a brain injury attorney in San Francisco is helpful. Some of the ways that an experienced injury lawyer can help include:

• Acting as an objective professional who can help individuals and families make difficult decisions during a stressful time.
• Analyzing the details of the accident to ensure that nothing has been overlooked.
• Negotiating with financial institutions to ensure all bills are paid, and all benefits are maximized.
• Assisting families in pursuing damages related to head injury, its complications, and even pain and suffering.
• Transitioning a case to the courts when necessary.

Most importantly, families must know they are not alone following a significant accident. It is essential to take the time to meet with a Bay Area brain injury attorney. You and your loved ones could be owed significant financial compensation.

Brain Injury Attorneys in San Francisco