Brain injuries are more common than many people realize and have a greater range of effect than many people know. If you or a loved one has suffered a traumatic brain injury, we urge you to contact Law Offices of Michael A. Kahn at (310) 209-1600 for a free consultation and answers to your specific questions. In the meantime, get answers to some of the most commonly asked questions below.
What Exactly is a Traumatic Brain Injury?
Also known as a TBI, a traumatic brain injury happens when you have forceful contact to your head that results in your brain no longer functioning normally. Brains can be injured in other ways, such as by strokes or infections, but those are known as ABIs (acquired brain injuries) and are a different classification.
How Serious is a TBI?
That depends on the injury. Doctors classify brain injuries as severe, mild, or moderate. Most are mild and get better over time. However, moderate or severe brain injuries can result in life-changing damage to the person injured.
How Common are TBI?
More common than most people realize. In fact, nearly 1.7 million people sustain a traumatic brain injury in the U.S. each year. Most of those people are seen at the emergency room or by their doctor and released, but more than one-quarter million each year end up in the hospital and more than 50,000 people will die of a TBI in an average year. Another 125,000 will be permanently disabled as a result of their TBI.
What Are the Most Common Causes of TBI?
There are many potential causes of TBI. Most people believe that car accidents are the most common cause of brain injuries but in fact they are the second most common and make up just over 17% of TBIs. The most common cause, which accounts for more than one-third of all TBIs, are falls. Being struck by someone or struck against something makes up another 16+%, assaults make up 11%, and the remaining 20%+ are for unknown reasons.
Who is in the Most Danger for a TBI?
Men are 1.5x as likely to sustain a traumatic brain injury compared to women. Those at the highest risk of TBI are infants to four-year-old children, followed by 15- to 19-year-old children, and then adults 65 years or older. Certain members of the military have higher risk of sustaining TBI, and African Americans are the most likely to die of a TBI.
What Do I Do if I or a Loved One Has Suffered a TBI?
Contact a personal injury attorney as soon as possible. While we generally will not file a claim or lawsuit until we know the extent of the injury, the sooner you contact us, the easier it will be to prove your damages. Contact Law Offices of Michael A. Kahn at (310) 209-1600 now for your free legal consultation.
