Brain Injuries and Lasting Ramifications

Over 50,000 people die each year from brain injuries and 80,000 to 90,000 more can expect to experience long-term disabilities because of a brain injury. It is estimated that 5.3 million Americans currently live with disabilities due a brain injury.

Brain injuries often go undiagnosed because they are easily missed by MRIs and CT scans. Some of the symptoms like behavioral problems, emotional problems and personality changes are not readily recognized as a brain injury. As such, brain injuries are the number one cause of death and disability in children and young adults.

There are two main types of brain injury that are not congenital: traumatic brain injury (TBI) and acquired brain injury. Traumatic brain injury involves an external blow to the head hard enough that the brain hits the inside of the skull and is injured. Following is not an exhaustive list but are some examples of incidents that can cause TBI:

· Car accidents
· Skiing accidents
· Assault
· Sports injuries
· Shaken baby syndrome

Acquired brain injuries result from metabolic changes to the function of the brain. These can be caused by lack of oxygen or lack of blood flow to the brain from accidents such as near-drowning, choking, strangulation, electrical shock, trauma to the head or neck, shock, vascular disruption, heart attack, aneurysm, brain tumors or toxic exposure.

All brain injuries are potentially very serious and require immediate medical attention. For some people the injury may be slight and only cause temporary discomfort like headaches or nausea and balance problems. Others, however, face life-long complications such as behavioral or cognitive problems or even coma. Some even die from brain injury.

There are ways to protect yourself from brain injury and while the following tips may seem simple, they could save your life or the life of another.

1. Always wear a seatbelt and insist that others riding in your vehicle wear them too.
2. Never drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
3. Keep firearms unloaded and locked in a gun safe or cabinet.
4. Always wear a helmet when participating in sports where injury is possible.

Sometimes brain injuries can’t be avoided but aren’t the fault of anyone in particular. But other times these devastating consequences are brought on by the fault or negligence of another, such as in road accidents, medical malpractice, or faulty devices.

“An attorney that specializes in brain injury cases can help you decide if someone else was at fault for your injuries and if you can receive compensation to help with medical bills and other financial needs,” says Brian J. Glick of the Glick Law Firm in Boca Raton, FL.