Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is an injury to the brain caused by a sudden or violent trauma to the head. Traumatic brain injury can cause mild to severe symptoms, depending on the extent of the damage to the brain, and the general health of the sufferer. According to the Centers for Disease Control, over 1.4 million Americans sustain a traumatic brain injury each year, resulting from a variety of causes.

Causes of Traumatic Brain Injury

Traumatic brain injury occurs when the head is hit hard enough to shake or move the brain within the skull, or when an object pierces the skull and damages the brain tissue. Common causes of traumatic brain injury include automobile accidents, slips and falls, medical malpractice, sports injuries, firearms and physical violence. Infants and children often have traumatic brain injury as the result of violent shaking or child abuse.

Symptoms of Traumatic Brain Injury

Mild traumatic brain injury, such as a concussion, can result in headaches, confusion, blurred vision, difficultly with memory and concentration and other sensory impairments. Moderate to severe traumatic brain injury can result in permanent disability, sensory impairment, difficulties with thinking and cognition and mental health problems. Traumatic brain injury is a factor in a large number of deaths and incidences of permanent disability. According the Centers for Disease Control, 50,000 people who sustain a traumatic brain injury die each year in the United States. The Centers for Disease Control further estimates that more than 5.3 million people in the United States require prolonged – or lifelong – care as a result of damage sustained from a traumatic brain injury. The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke reports that traumatic brain injury can increase the risk of brain disorders, such as Alzheimer’s disease, as sufferers grow older.

Costs of Traumatic Brain Injury

In addition to the potential personal and emotional challenges faced by persons who have suffered a traumatic brain injury, treatment can be extremely costly. Research shows that costs associated with traumatic brain injury are approximately $50 billion per year. Direct care for a survivor of severe traumatic brain injury can cost an estimated $600,000 to $1.9 million over a lifetime.

Contact a traumatic brain injury law firm if you or a loved one are facing the hardship of a traumatic brain injury as a result of someone else’s negligence or medical malpractice.

Traumatic Brain Injury Case Evaluation Form