A traumatic brain injury (TBI) can result from all kinds of blows or bumps to the head that disrupt the normal function of the brain.
Sometimes the injury is fatal. Each day, more than 150 people in the U.S. die as a result of a brain injury, with TBIs contributing to a whopping 30 percent of all injury deaths in the United States.
Traumatic brain injury is also a major cause of disability in the United States. Even seemingly minor head injuries – like a mild concussion –can turn out to have lifelong effects. TBIs can result in debilitating injuries that impact not only the victims’ lives, but the lives of their loved ones as well.
Primary Causes of Traumatic Brain Injury
Traumatic brain injuries are often the result of someone’s negligence. Whether a TBI is caused by a fall, being struck by an object, or a motor vehicle accident, a Cherry Hill brain injury attorney can help you assess damages and understand whether you have a case for personal injury recovery.
TBIs Due to Falls
Falls account for close to half of all emergency department visits in the country, so it’s no surprise that falls are also the leading cause of TBIs. Young children and the elderly are the most at risk for TBIs from falls, with half of hospital visits among children under 14 and nearly four in five ED visits by seniors aged 65 and older resulting from falls.
TBIs Due to Vehicle Accidents
Not surprisingly, vehicle accidents are a leading cause of traumatic brain injury. It is estimated that in excess of 14 percent of TBIs that result in a hospital visit are due to car, motorcycle, truck and even bicycle crashes, and that 19 percent of TBI-related deaths are the result of some type of motor vehicle accident.
Common Symptoms of Traumatic Brain Injury
Any person who suffers any kind of a blow to the head should seek medical attention, whether symptoms are immediately present or not. Depending on the extent of the injury and the area of the brain affected, symptoms might not appear right away. In fact, some TBI symptoms might not appears for days or even weeks after the accident. The National Institutes of Health lay out common TBI symptoms, ranking them by severity:
A person with a mild TBI may experience:
- Headache
- Confusion
- Lightheadedness
- Dizziness
- Blurred vision
- Ringing in the ears
- Tiredness or sleepiness
- A bad taste in the mouth
- A change in sleep habits
- Behavior or mood changes
- Trouble with memory, concentration, attention, or thinking
- Loss of consciousness lasting a few seconds to minutes
- Sensitivity to light or sound
- Nausea or vomiting
A person with moderate or severe TBI may have some of the symptoms listed above, as well as one or more of the following:
- Slurred speech
- Convulsions or seizures
- An inability to wake up from sleep
- Enlargement of the pupil (dark center) of one or both eyes
- Numbness or tingling of arms or legs
- Loss of coordination
- Increased confusion, restlessness, or agitation
- Loss of consciousness lasting a few minutes to hours
Call a Cherry Hill Brain Injury Attorney for Case Consultation
If you believe you or a loved one has potentially suffered a brain injury – whether you think it is mild or severe – caused by another’s negligence, you may be able to recovery damages. It is recommended you contact a Cherry Hill brain injury attorney for a free personal injury case consultation. Call the lawyers at Folkman Law Offices at 856-354-9444 or reach out to us online today.
