Traumatic Brain Injury
What is a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)?
A blow or jolt to the head or a penetrating head injury that disrupts the normal function of the brain can cause a traumatic brain injury (TBI). The severity of the jolt or blow to the head can cause a TBI. Two ranges or common classifications of traumatic brain injury are “severe” and “mild”. In the case of a severe” TBI, amnesia or a long period of consciousness after an injury can occur. In the case of a “mild” TBI, a brief change in the consciousness or mental state can occur. It is important to seek medical treatment after experiencing trauma to the head to receive proper diagnosis and treatment.
Signs and symptoms of TBI
A commonly asked question is: How can a person tell if they suffered a TBI in an accident? Since there are subtle signs and symptoms in a traumatic brain injury (TBI), a person should consult with a physician after experiencing head trauma or a blow to the head. It is important to recognize it may take days or weeks following an injury for symptoms of traumatic brain injury to appear. The injured person may look fine from the outside, but may experience unusual things or even act differently after the accident. It is imperative to have by an experienced physician in traumatic brain injuries, examine the injured person after an accident to ensure the proper diagnosis and treatment.
A few common signs and symptoms of a TBI include the following:
• Light-headedness, dizziness, or loss of balance;
• Getting lost or easily confused;
• Slowness in thinking, speaking, acting, or reading;
• Increased sensitivity to lights, sounds, or distractions;
• Blurred vision or eyes that tire easily;
• Mood changes (feeling sad or angry for no reason);
• Headaches or neck pain that do not go away;
• Difficulty remembering, concentrating, or making decisions;
• Nausea or the unexplained urge to vomit;
• Ringing in the ears and a loss of sense of smell or taste;
• Feeling tired all of the time, having no energy or motivation; and
• Changes in sleep patterns (sleeping a lot more or having a hard time sleeping
Traumatic Brian Injury (TBI) Statistics
TBI contributes to a substantial number of deaths and cases of permanent disability annually.
An estimated, 1.4 million people sustain a TBI in the United States each year. The breakdown includes the following figures:
• 50,000 die;
• 235,000 are hospitalized; and
• 1.1 million are treated and released from an emergency department.
Leading Causes of TBI in the United States
According to the CDC, leading causes of TBI include the following:
• Falls (28%);
• Motor vehicle-traffic crashes (20%);
• Struck by/against events (19%); and
• Assaults (11%).
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) in Children and Adolescents
In Children ages 14 years and under, TBI results in an estimated:
• 2,685 deaths;
• 37,000 hospitalizations; and
• 435,000 emergency department visits annually.
When a Child suffers a brain injury they may experience the same symptoms as adults, however, it is difficult for a child to explain to an adult how they may feel after an injury. Immediately, take a child to a doctor or hospital if they experience a blow to the head and any of the following symptoms are displayed in the child:
• Loss of balance or unsteady walking
• Crankiness or Irritability (excessive crying or cannot be consoled);
• Changes in eating (will not eat or nurse) or vomiting;
• Lack of interest in favorite toys or activities
• Tiredness or listlessness, changes in sleep patterns;
• Loss of new skills, such as toilet training;
• Changes in performance at school or changes in the way the child plays.
If you think that you or someone you love may have experienced a TBI, contact a medical doctor, immediately. It is recommended that a neurologist, neuropsychologist, neurosurgeon, or specialist in rehabilitation (such as a speech pathologist) examine you to properly diagnose and treat the traumatic brain injury. Getting help soon after the injury by trained specialists may speed recovery.
If you or a loved one has suffered a traumatic brain injury, as a result of the negligence or actions of others, please fill out the form at the right for a free case evaluation by an experienced Traumatic Brain Injury Lawyer. Our experienced attorneys understand the difficulties that brain injured victims and loved ones are going through. We fight for the rights of the injured to obtain the justice and compensation they deserve. Contact us immediately to discuss your case and to protect your rights.
Important Links on Traumatic Brain Injury
Emergency Room Visits and Treatment in the United States
Leading Causes of TBI in the United States
Brain Injury Association of America
Brain Injury Association of Florida
Head Injury in Children and Adolescents
A blow or jolt to the head or a penetrating head injury that disrupts the normal function of the brain can cause a traumatic brain injury (TBI). The severity of the jolt or blow to the head can cause a TBI. Two ranges or common classifications of traumatic brain injury are “severe” and “mild”. In the case of a severe” TBI, amnesia or a long period of consciousness after an injury can occur. In the case of a “mild” TBI, a brief change in the consciousness or mental state can occur. It is important to seek medical treatment after experiencing trauma to the head to receive proper diagnosis and treatment.
Signs and symptoms of TBI
A commonly asked question is: How can a person tell if they suffered a TBI in an accident? Since there are subtle signs and symptoms in a traumatic brain injury (TBI), a person should consult with a physician after experiencing head trauma or a blow to the head. It is important to recognize it may take days or weeks following an injury for symptoms of traumatic brain injury to appear. The injured person may look fine from the outside, but may experience unusual things or even act differently after the accident. It is imperative to have by an experienced physician in traumatic brain injuries, examine the injured person after an accident to ensure the proper diagnosis and treatment.
A few common signs and symptoms of a TBI include the following:
• Light-headedness, dizziness, or loss of balance;
• Getting lost or easily confused;
• Slowness in thinking, speaking, acting, or reading;
• Increased sensitivity to lights, sounds, or distractions;
• Blurred vision or eyes that tire easily;
• Mood changes (feeling sad or angry for no reason);
• Headaches or neck pain that do not go away;
• Difficulty remembering, concentrating, or making decisions;
• Nausea or the unexplained urge to vomit;
• Ringing in the ears and a loss of sense of smell or taste;
• Feeling tired all of the time, having no energy or motivation; and
• Changes in sleep patterns (sleeping a lot more or having a hard time sleeping
Traumatic Brian Injury (TBI) Statistics
TBI contributes to a substantial number of deaths and cases of permanent disability annually.
An estimated, 1.4 million people sustain a TBI in the United States each year. The breakdown includes the following figures:
• 50,000 die;
• 235,000 are hospitalized; and
• 1.1 million are treated and released from an emergency department.
Leading Causes of TBI in the United States
According to the CDC, leading causes of TBI include the following:
• Falls (28%);
• Motor vehicle-traffic crashes (20%);
• Struck by/against events (19%); and
• Assaults (11%).
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) in Children and Adolescents
In Children ages 14 years and under, TBI results in an estimated:
• 2,685 deaths;
• 37,000 hospitalizations; and
• 435,000 emergency department visits annually.
When a Child suffers a brain injury they may experience the same symptoms as adults, however, it is difficult for a child to explain to an adult how they may feel after an injury. Immediately, take a child to a doctor or hospital if they experience a blow to the head and any of the following symptoms are displayed in the child:
• Loss of balance or unsteady walking
• Crankiness or Irritability (excessive crying or cannot be consoled);
• Changes in eating (will not eat or nurse) or vomiting;
• Lack of interest in favorite toys or activities
• Tiredness or listlessness, changes in sleep patterns;
• Loss of new skills, such as toilet training;
• Changes in performance at school or changes in the way the child plays.
If you think that you or someone you love may have experienced a TBI, contact a medical doctor, immediately. It is recommended that a neurologist, neuropsychologist, neurosurgeon, or specialist in rehabilitation (such as a speech pathologist) examine you to properly diagnose and treat the traumatic brain injury. Getting help soon after the injury by trained specialists may speed recovery.
If you or a loved one has suffered a traumatic brain injury, as a result of the negligence or actions of others, please fill out the form at the right for a free case evaluation by an experienced Traumatic Brain Injury Lawyer. Our experienced attorneys understand the difficulties that brain injured victims and loved ones are going through. We fight for the rights of the injured to obtain the justice and compensation they deserve. Contact us immediately to discuss your case and to protect your rights.
Important Links on Traumatic Brain Injury
Emergency Room Visits and Treatment in the United States
Leading Causes of TBI in the United States
Brain Injury Association of America
Brain Injury Association of Florida
Head Injury in Children and Adolescents
