Brain Injury Statistics

Incidences of Traumatic Brain Injury are more widespread than you might think, according to the brain injury statistics available online. According to the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, each year approximately

• 1.4 million people sustain a TBI
• 50,000 of TBI sufferers die, of which 2,685 are children ages 0-14
• 235,000 people are hospitalized for TBI

The American Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also estimate that 5.3 million people in the United States currently have a “long-term or lifelong need for help to perform activities of daily living as a result of TBI.”

Traffic crashes are a leading cause of TBI: according to the Mayo Clinic, half of all traumatic brain injuries are caused by collisions involving cars, motorcycles and bicycles.

Symptoms of brain injuries include:

• Chronic headaches
• Memory loss
• Stiff neck
• Slurred speech
• Mood swings
• Behavioral changes
• Irritability
• Loss of hearing, vision, taste, etc.
• Seizures
• Speech and language problems

Brain Injury symptoms in children

• Listlessness or tiredness
• Irritability
• Changes in skills and functions (eating patterns, sleep, interaction, or school performance)
• Loss of interest in favorite activities and toys
• Loss of new skills and motor skills ( walking, balancing)
• Vomiting

Brain injuries are a serious matter. Whenever you receive a blow to the head you should contact your doctor. If the blow is serious it would be wise to go to an emergency room right away. You cannot always detect if you or a loved one has received a brain injury.

Causes of traumatic brain injury include:

• Motor vehicle accidents (17.3%)
• Falls (35.2%)
• Struck by/Against an object (16.5%)
• Assault (10%)
• Other (21%)

If you or someone you love has been in a serious car crash, make sure to get an evaluation for TBI. It is more common than most people realize, and sadly, the age groups that suffer the highest-risk of sustaining a TBI are children ages 0-4 and 15-19. If you are worried about paying for ongoing medical treatments related to brain injuries, please call our office to speak with an experienced brain injury attorney about your legal options: (503) 222-4411.