Common Causes of Traumatic Brain Injuries
Traumatic brain injuries are a leading cause of death and disability, with about 2.8 million Americans suffering from the condition each year. A traumatic brain injury, or TBI, disrupts normal brain function, often creating lifelong challenges. Even individuals who experience a mild or moderate traumatic brain injury, or TBI, can experience memory problems, difficulty communicating, and personality changes, along with other long-term consequences. Like any other condition, TBIs do not discriminate, affecting persons who take every possible precaution to avoid injury.
In this blog, the Pickens brain injury lawyers at Parham Smith & Archenhold LLC discuss common causes of traumatic brain injuries and the importance of hiring counsel to defend your interests.
Falls
Falls are the most common cause of TBIs. Annually, more than 3 million older persons visit the emergency room due to a fall. Given the difficulties with coordination, balance, and strength, individuals 65 years of age and older are at an increased risk of falling. An elderly individual who loses their balance may hit their head on a table or other stationary object, potentially causing the skull to be punctured (known as a penetrating head injury). When a fall results in a traumatic brain injury, the person may lose consciousness.
Motor Vehicle Crashes
In 2024, motor vehicle crashes accounted for 210,000 traumatic brain injuries. Given the high velocity of a collision and the numerous hard surfaces in a vehicle, blood vessels in the brain may tear and rupture due to the oscillation against the bony skull. Known as a closed brain injury, this type of TBI is most common in motor vehicle accidents.
While some individuals following a crash may experience a concussion (a mild TBI, which usually has a relatively short recovery period), others may be plagued with lifelong challenges. Symptoms of a severe TBI may include a prolonged loss of consciousness, difficulty breathing, seizures, coma, and potential death. People who choose not to wear a seatbelt are at a higher risk of sustaining a severe TBI, underlining the importance of buckling up.
Sports Injuries
If you participate in a contact sport, you are at much higher risk of sustaining a TBI. Among youth sports, football, soccer, and lacrosse reportedly have the highest rate of concussions. Generally speaking, high-velocity sports substantially increase a person’s risk of head injury. Since young people are more likely to participate in recreational sports and their brains are still developing connections between brain cells, known as myelination, they are most at risk of developing a TBI due to a sports injury.
Offering Tenacious Representation for TBI Victims and Loved Ones
If you have suffered a TBI, you will need to provide evidence showing how another person’s negligence caused your cognitive, physical, or behavioral deficits. This requires establishing a causal link between another party’s actions and your injuries. This can be difficult to prove, requiring that you work with an experienced Pickens brain injury attorney to obtain the best results.
At Parham Smith & Archenhold LLC, our team of professionals knows what evidence to gather following a TBI. Once negligence is proven, we will work with you to organize your medical bills, lost wages, and other damages and assemble a compensation package that reflects the full extent of your losses. Once you accept a settlement, you will sign a release barring you from further compensation, making it essential that you accurately calculate the entirety of your damages now. When you hire our legal team, you can feel at ease knowing that your current and future needs will be tended to.
Suffer a TBI? Contact Our Pickens Brain Injury Attorneys Now
A traumatic brain injury can impede a person’s ability to perform normal tasks, hold a steady job, and maintain meaningful relationships. If you or a loved one have recently experienced a TBI, our Pickens brain injury lawyers would like to hear from you. At Parham Smith & Archenhold LLC, our legal team is dedicated to attaining the financial resources you need to heal physically and emotionally following a TBI. Do not leave paying for your medical bills to chance. To learn more about our services, contact us online or by phone at (864) 432-1796.