What Causes Traumatic Brain Injuries?
Mark A. Steinberg
Personal Injury
Traumatic brain injuries are some of the most devastating injuries one can experience after an accident of any kind. During the year 2013, an estimated 2.8 million individuals were treated for traumatic brain injury of varying levels, and these injuries came from an array of different types of accidents. The top 3 causes of traumatic brain injuries are traffic accidents, accidents that involve being struck by an object, and slip and fall accidents. In 2013, more than 1.3 million traumatic brain injuries were caused by slip and fall accidents. A slip and fall accident can occur in what seems to be the blink of an eye, and it’s easy to see how these injuries can be the result of these types of falls. When a person slips on a wet floor, trips over a crack in the sidewalk, or falls due to any other hazard, their body is brought to the ground hard and fast. This can result in an individual hitting their head on stairs, on pavement, or on hard linoleum flooring among other surfaces.
During the same year, more than 430,000 traumatic brain injuries were caused by falling or striking objects. These types of traumatic brain injuries are more often experienced while on the job or while working on a large-scale project in the home. If a person is working at a construction site, for instance, and a tool slips from a roof and falls onto their head, a traumatic brain injury can occur.
During 2013, more than 383,000 traumatic brain injuries were caused by vehicle accidents, including trucking and motorcycle accidents. When a vehicle is traveling at a significant rate of speed, and that vehicle comes to a stop due to an accident or near-accident, whiplash can occur. Whiplash doesn’t just affect the muscles and bones of the neck, it can also cause the brain to “rattle” around in the skull. When the brain hits the walls of the skull, a traumatic brain injury may be the result. Additionally, if an accident causes a person to hit their head on the airbag, steering wheel, dashboard, or windshield, this may result in more severe cases of traumatic brain injury.
Traumatic Brain Injuries And Severity
The type of brain injury one may experience in a serious car accident can be quite a bit different than one experienced when bumping their head lightly in a slip and fall. Traumatic brain injuries are scored as either mild, moderate, or severe, and the symptoms one experiences alongside each type of injury will differ.
During a mild traumatic brain injury, one may lose consciousness for a couple of seconds or not lose consciousness at all. These types of brain injuries may be difficult to diagnose by medical professionals, as scans may not show any obvious injury at first. Usually, a mild traumatic brain injury doesn’t leave lasting consequences and one will recover in a short span of time.
Moderate brain injuries can be life disrupting. During a moderate brain injury, a person may lose consciousness for up to a few hours, and the lasting symptoms may linger for weeks to months after the accident has occurred. In some instances, the damage done after a moderate brain injury may be permanent.
Severe brain injuries typically lead to lasting symptoms, disruption of life, and lifelong disability. In many instances, severe brain injuries can be fatal. These are often incurred by crushing blows or penetration of the skull.
No matter your level of traumatic brain injury, it’s important to seek the assistance of a professional in Florida law. These injuries can be life altering, and only a personal injury attorney skilled in traumatic brain injury cases can ensure you get the compensation you need and deserve.