Traumatic Brain Injury Facts

A Traumatic Brain Injury claim exists if a person experiences head trauma that leads to abnormal brain function caused by another person. The severity of a TBI may range from mild (a brief change in mental status or consciousness) to severe (an extended period of unconsciousness or memory loss after the injury). Traumatic brain injuries may impair cognitive functioning, impairments in language functioning, an impairment in physical or sensorimotor functioning, disturbances in behavioral functioning, and disturbances in emotional functioning.

Traumatic Brain Injuries come in two distinct forms. First, Penetrating Head Injuries, where the brain substance is penetrated and sends shock waves to the brain. High-velocity forces (i.e., bullets or other projectiles) cause a pressure wave of damage throughout the brain, leading to higher mortality rates. Low-velocity impacts (i.e., shrapnel, handgun bullets or clubs, baseball bats) create more focal brain damage but can be just as dangerous. Second, Non-Penetrating Brain Injuries, where layers of the brain remain intact and foreign substances do not enter the brain. The skull also remains unbroken.

Traumatic Brain Injuries are caused by a variety of external factors, including but not limited to slips, trips, and falls, motor vehicle and traffic-related accidents, being struck by objects, colliding with moving objects, and or assaults. Traumatic brain injuries can affect people of all ages, from young children to adults to the elderly.   

Data related to traumatic brain injury:

• Traumatic brain injuries caused by motor vehicle-related accidents are estimated to result in the largest percentage of TBI-related deaths.
• Falling accidents cause the largest percentage of TBI cases.
• According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is among the predominant causes of death and disability in the United States. Stating that annually 1.7 million people will sustain a TBI, 80,000 people will suffer a lifelong disability, and 50,000 people will die annually from injuries that include TBI.
• Approximately 5.3 million Americans currently have a disability as a result of a TBI.