What Causes Traumatic Brain Injuries?
A traumatic brain injury, commonly referred to as TBI, is an injury to your head that affects your brain’s normal function. Traumatic brain injuries can be external or internal. An external TBI is caused by a massive jolt or blow to the head. An internal TBI, on the other hand, is caused as a result of a foreign object – such as a bullet – penetrating the brain tissue.
Depending on the severity, a TBI can be classified into three categories – mild, moderate, or severe.
- A mild TBI is characterized by headache, confusion, disorientation, loss of balance, vomiting, short term memory loss, and loss of consciousness for a very brief period of time.
- If the loss of consciousness lasts for several minutes, it is considered a moderate TBI.
- If the loss of consciousness lasts for several hours, it is considered a severe TBI.
The Most Common Types of Traumatic Brain Injuries
Contusion
It is caused by a sudden and forceful impact to the head. In most cases, the part of the brain which is directly underneath the area of impact is affected. In some cases, the part of the brain which is on the opposite side of the area of impact is affected.
Hematoma
It is a clot which is caused as a result of a rupture in the blood vessels. The rupture causes the blood to ooze out, at which point it thickens and clots, resulting in a hematoma.
Depending on where it forms, a hematoma can be termed epidural (between the skull and the brain’s dura lining), subdural (between the brain surface and the dura lining), or intracerebral (deep inside the brain tissue).
Traumatic Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
It is caused as a result of a tear in the arteries. The tear causes the blood to leak into the space surrounding the brain.
Diffuse Axonal Injury
It is caused when the brain rapidly moves back and forth inside the skull, as a result of a forceful impact to the head. The rapid, forceful movement of the brain tears and damages the nerve axons.
What Causes Traumatic Brain Injuries?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the leading causes of traumatic brain injuries in men and women of all ages are falls, getting struck by an object, and motor vehicle accidents.
Falls
It is the leading cause of TBIs in adults as well as children. Data from the CDC shows that nearly 50% of moderate to severe TBIs in children are caused as a result of falls. Similarly, 80% of moderate to severe TBIs in people over the age of 65 are caused as a result of falls.
Getting Struck by an Object
Data shows that nearly 17% of all TBIs are caused as a result of getting struck by or against an object, which makes it the second most common cause of TBI related hospitalizations in the country.
Young children, in particular, are at a higher risk of getting struck by or against an object compared to adults. Nearly 30% of all TBIs in children are caused as a result of getting struck by a moving or falling object or as a result of getting struck against a stationary object.
Motor Vehicle Accidents
Any time two or more motor vehicles collide or crash into each other, all the parties involved – drivers, passengers, as well as pedestrians who happen to be nearby – are at risk of sustaining traumatic brain injuries.
The risk is greatly amplified if the collision happens at high speeds, if one of the drivers is caught off-guard, if one or both of the drivers happen to be speeding, if one or both of the drivers happen to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol, or if one or both of the drivers lose control of their vehicle due to various reasons.
Consequences of Traumatic Brain Injuries
A traumatic injury to the brain can have life-changing consequences. A serious injury to the brain can cause you to spend the rest of your life in a vegetative state. In many cases, it can lead to a severe decline in cognitive skills, which can make it impossible for you to be gainfully employed ever again in your life.
Other consequences of moderate to severe traumatic brain injuries include:
- Paralysis
- Partial or complete loss of motor skills
- Loss of vision
- Loss of hearing
- Seizures
- Chronic pain
- Incontinence
- Memory loss
- Clinical depression
Traumatic Brain Injury Lawyers in El Cajon, California
A traumatic brain injury can take an enormous toll on you – physically, mentally, and financially. So, it is important for you to be represented by an experienced lawyer who can file a claim or lawsuit against the parties responsible for the accident and recover damages for you.
The litigators at Garmo & Garmo, LLP have over two decades of experience in representing personal injury victims – including TBI victims – in Southern California.
We can provide you with the legal counsel and moral support you need and recover damages to cover the costs of your treatment, rehabilitation, as well as other losses you suffered as a result of the injury. Contact our traumatic brain injury lawyers at 619-736-3935 for a free consultation.
