A severe brain injury can change your life forever. Depending on the nature of the accident and the severity of the injury, a TBI may be mild, moderate, or severe.
This guide will explain the different causes of traumatic brain injury, how these injuries affect the brain, and the steps you can take to move forward after this type of injury.
Common Causes of TBIs
Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that certain accidents are more frequent causes of TBIs than others. According to national health statistics, the most common causes of traumatic brain injury are accidents that can happen during our daily lives.
Falls
Falling down is the most common cause of TBIs in the United States. According to the CDC, falls account for nearly half of all TBI-related hospitalizations. While anyone can slip and fall, older adults and young children are at the highest risk.
A simple slip on a wet grocery store floor or a trip over a broken sidewalk can cause a person to hit their head hard on the ground. If a property owner failed to clean up a spill or fix a broken step, they might be responsible for the resulting injuries.
Motor Vehicle Accidents
Car crashes, motorcycle accidents, and truck wrecks are another leading cause of severe head injuries. Even with airbags and seatbelts, the force of a high-speed crash is often too much for the human body to handle. Victims might hit their heads on the steering wheel, dashboard, or window.
Violence and Assaults
Sadly, many brain injuries are the result of intentional violence. This includes domestic violence, physical assaults, and firearm injuries. A heavy punch to the head or being struck with an object can easily fracture the skull and damage the soft brain tissue inside. The CDC notes that firearm-related injuries are heavily linked to the most severe and fatal brain injuries.
Sports Injuries
Contact sports like football, soccer, hockey, and boxing carry a high risk of head injuries. Concussions are a type of mild traumatic brain injury. Even though they are called "mild," concussions still require immediate medical attention and plenty of rest.
Repeated hits to the head over time can cause permanent and severe brain damage. Coaches and schools have a duty to keep players safe and must remove injured athletes from the game immediately.
Workplace Injuries
Occupational hazards are a major cause of traumatic brain injuries. Construction workers, factory employees, and warehouse staff face serious dangers every day. A worker might fall from a tall ladder, get struck by a falling tool, or be involved in a heavy machinery accident. If your employer failed to provide a safe workspace, you may be able to file a workers' compensation claim.
Less Common Causes of TBIs
While falls and car wrecks make up the majority of cases, we also help clients who were hurt in highly unusual and complex situations. Understanding exactly what causes traumatic brain injury in these rare cases requires deep legal and medical knowledge.
Medical Malpractice
We trust doctors and nurses to heal us, not harm us. Unfortunately, medical errors do happen, and they can cause permanent brain damage. A brain injury caused by medical malpractice usually involves a lack of oxygen. For example, if a doctor makes a mistake with anesthesia during surgery, the patient's brain might stop receiving oxygen.
Birth injuries are another tragic example. If a doctor fails to monitor a baby's heart rate during a difficult delivery, the baby can suffer oxygen deprivation, leading to lifelong brain damage.
Product Defects
Sometimes, the products we buy to keep us safe end up causing us harm. Defective products are entirely preventable hazards. For example, a defective car airbag might explode with too much force, striking the driver in the head. A poorly designed bicycle helmet might crack open upon impact, failing to protect the rider.
Additionally, defective home heaters can leak carbon monoxide. Breathing in this toxic gas starves the brain of oxygen and causes severe brain damage.
Recognizing TBI Symptoms
Brain injuries are sometimes called "invisible injuries." You cannot always see the damage just by looking at someone. Furthermore, symptoms might not show up immediately. It can take hours or even days for the swelling in the brain to cause noticeable problems.
If you or someone you love hits their head, you should go to the emergency room right away. Only a doctor can perform the CT scans and MRI tests needed to diagnose a brain bleed and other brain injuries.
Watch out for these common physical symptoms:
- A headache that gets worse and does not go away
- Nausea and repeated vomiting
- Dizziness, loss of balance, or trouble walking
- Extreme tiredness or an inability to wake up from sleep
- Numbness or weakness in the fingers and toes
- Confusion and memory loss
- Trouble finding the right words to say
- Difficulty doing simple math or following basic instructions
- Sudden mood swings, anger, or depression
- Slurred speech
If you notice any of these warning signs after an accident, seek emergency medical care immediately. Waiting too long can result in permanent disability or death.
Speak to a TBI Attorney After an Accident
Recovering from a severe brain injury is incredibly expensive. You might need life-saving surgeries, weeks in the intensive care unit, and years of physical therapy. Many brain injury victims can never return to their old jobs, meaning they lose their income right when they need it most.
Insurance companies try to pay victims as little as possible, but DM Injury Law seeks to get you the maximum compensation you deserve. You should not have to face financial ruin because someone else was careless.
If the worst does happen, DM Injury Law is ready to fight for you for any case. We have offices across the Midwest, including:
- Kansas City traumatic brain injury attorney
- St. Louis brain injury attorney
- Columbia brain injury attorney
- Topeka brain injury lawyers
- Wichita brain injury attorney
- Omaha traumatic brain injury lawyers
- Oklahoma City brain injury lawyer
- Tulsa brain injury lawyer
- Denver brain injury lawyer
We will handle the legal battle so you can focus entirely on getting better. Our firm has a long track record of securing massive settlement checks for our clients. Just a few of our recent results include:
- $1.35M for Mother Injured in Head-On Crash
- $1.25 Million for Client in UTV Accident Causing TBI
- $850,000 for a Client Who Suffered a Seizure After Being T-Boned
Do not let an insurance company tell you what your future is worth. Call DM Injury Law today and schedule your free consultation. We work on a contingency fee basis, which means you PAY NOTHING up front or out of pocket.
Contact DM Injury Law today to schedule your free case consultation or call us at 816-888-7500.
