CDC Says 1.7 Million Traumatic Brain Injuries Occur Each Year, Many Because of Car Accidents
Data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that approximately 1.7 million people suffer traumatic brain injury each year. Many of these injuries happen as a result of auto accidents. A traumatic brain injury is a serious health concern and, in many cases, requires a lifetime of rehabilitative training for sufferers.
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) can occur when a person receives a hit or blow to the head, is involved in sudden acceleration or deceleration, or suffers a penetrating injury to the head. In instances of impact or sudden changes in speed, the brain may slam into the interior of the skull, damaging delicate brain tissue.
The extent of a TBI can range from mild to severe. Mild TBI, like a concussion, for example, is usually temporary with no long-term health consequences. However, severe TBI can lead to permanent and serious health complications. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports that about 75 percent of TBIs are classified as mild; however many TBI sufferers are severe requiring extensive hospitalization, some even die.
Traumatic Brain Injury Symptoms
The signs of TBI can be hard to recognize, and the damage caused by a TBI is not always readily apparent. In many cases, the symptoms of TBI take several days or longer to develop. According to the National Institutes of Health, symptoms of moderate to severe TBI include:
- Unconsciousness
- Fractures, bruising or bleeding on the head
- Fluid drainage from the ears, nose or mouth
- Pupil dilation or unequal pupil size
- Seizures
- Headache
- Nausea or vomiting
- Loss of coordination and balance
- Speech and language problems
- Sensation or vision changes
- Memory loss and difficulty concentrating
- Behavior changes and irritability
Sometimes called the "silent epidemic," TBI's can occur without outward signs of damage. Jonathan Lifshitz, assistant professor at the University of Kentucky Chandler Medical Center's Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center, says many people with TBI are "walking wounded" and suffer from injuries deemed serious but not easily observable.
When TBI occurs, emergency care and surgery is often necessary, followed by medication, therapy and cognitive rehabilitative training. Keith Cicerone, director of neuropsychology at New Jersey's JKF Johnson Rehabilitation Institute, states that TBI can cause permanent changes in mental processing, including slowed thinking, dulled attention, memory problems and impaired judgment. For these reasons, prompt and proper medical attention is essential when someone may have suffered a brain injury, even if he or she appears to have just suffered a bump on the head.
Car Accidents and Traumatic Brain Injury
MSNBC.com reports that car accidents cause more than 40 percent of all TBI's annually. And while advancements in auto-safety equipment have undoubtedly saved many lives, safety improvements may also have contributed to a decrease in individuals who die as a result of a TBI. Albeit alive, many of these individuals, however, suffer from permanent brain damage.
According to MSNBC, sudden accelerations and decelerations that happen on impact in car accidents can cause nerve fibers in the brain to stretch and tear, which in turn cause permanent cell death. In addition, bleeding, bruising and swelling may occur in brain tissues after an accident, increasing pressure in the limited space of the cranial cavity.
When individuals suffer TBI's or other serious injuries in a car accident caused by someone else, the injured person may be able to make a claim against the other driver in a personal-injury lawsuit. According to one Fort Lauderdale car accident attorney, the state of Florida, for example, is a no-fault auto insurance state that allows drivers to make a claim against the at-fault driver if certain conditions are met.
The victim can seek damages that include:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Pain and suffering
- Lost wages
- Loss of future earning capacity
If you or a loved one suffered TBI in a car accident, contacting a personal injury attorney to discuss potential legal claims is advised. Certain time limitations affect your ability to make a claim.
