Gomez Trial Attorneys » Leading Causes of Traumatic Brain Injury

Leading Causes of Traumatic Brain Injury

Causes of TBI

Approximately 1.7 million people in the United States suffer a traumatic brain injury every year. This number has grown quickly over the past 15 years. One of the reasons for this growth is that we are now placing more of a priority on recognizing the signs of a traumatic brain injury, reporting to a medical facility for an examination for a possible traumatic brain injury and successfully diagnosing a traumatic brain injury. We as a society have learned valuable lessons as we have seen more specific traumatic brain injury statistics compiled and released. One valuable lesson is that we have identified the leading causes of traumatic brain injury diagnoses in the United States. Below is an overview of these leading causes as well as information regarding how you should proceed if you’ve been harmed in this manner by someone else.

Falls and Las Vegas, Nevada

According to the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC, of all the causes of traumatic brain injury across the country, falls account for the most. The CDC states that nearly 40 percent of all traumatic brain injuries leading to an emergency room visit in the United States are caused by falls, which equates to nearly 600,000 people per year. That’s also equal to the population of Las Vegas, Nevada. Other facts regarding traumatic brain injuries caused by falls include:

• More than 80 percent of traumatic brain injuries sustained by people 65 years old and older are caused by falls.
• More than half of all traumatic brain injuries suffered by children who are 14 years old or younger are caused by falls.
• Approximately 25 percent of falls that injured older Americans occur somewhere other than in or near their homes.

Unknown/Other and Tampa, Florida

It may seem difficult to understand how more than 20 percent of all traumatic brain injuries in the United States are caused by factors that are classified as “unknown” or “other,” but these are second among the leading causes of traumatic brain injury in the United States. 350,000 people suffer traumatic brain injuries in the United States every year that are classified in one of these ways. That’s equal to the population of Tampa, Florida.

Some reasons for causes of traumatic brain injuries being classified as “unknown” or “other” include:

• The injury occurred quite some time ago and the cause may no longer be clear.
• The TBI occurred because of multiple inflictions of trauma.
• The patient is unable to describe how he or she suffered the traumatic brain injury in question.

Traffic Accidents and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

It should come as no surprise that 17 percent of people in the United States who suffer traumatic brain injuries do so because of traffic accidents. Nearly 300,000 people suffer a TBI in the United States every year because of one of motor vehicle accidents, bicycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, and several other types of collisions. That’s equal to the population of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It should also be noted that traumatic brain injuries caused by traffic accidents account for the highest number of hospitalizations out of all of the leading causes of traumatic brain injury.

In addition to the statistics above, the following data relating to traumatic brain injuries caused by traffic accidents:

• The head does not need to strike an object such as the steering wheel in order for a traumatic brain injury to occur.
• Traffic accidents are the leading cause of death in the United States from traumatic brain injuries.
• People between the ages of 20 and 24 are most at-risk for traumatic brain injuries caused by traffic accidents.

Struck By/Against and Newark, New Jersey

The fourth leading cause of traumatic brain injuries in the United States is classified as struck by/against. This type of injury is often caused by one person colliding with another or against a wall, such as during an athletic contest, or because of falling objects that strike an unsuspecting person. 280,000 people suffer traumatic brain injuries because of running into or being run into by another person or an object. That’s equal to the population of Newark, New Jersey.

In addition to the raw numbers:

• Boys between the ages of 10 and 19 face the highest risk of being harmed in a struck by/against accident.
• Males are more likely to be injured in a struck by/against accident in every age group under75.
• Females are more likely to be injured in a struck by/against accident when they advance past the age of 75.

Assaults and Providence, Rhode Island

The fifth leading cause of traumatic brain injuries in the United States is assaulted. Assaults are obviously a problem across the country, as approximately 170,000 people suffer from brain trauma because someone else inflicts physical harm on them. This problem is wide enough in scope that the number of people suffering harm to the brain because of assaults is nearly equal to the population of Providence, Rhode Island.

Other facts associated with assaults that lead to traumatic brain injuries include:

• 3 percent of children under 15 who suffer a traumatic brain injury were assaulted.
• 1.4 percent of people who are 65 years old or older who suffer a traumatic brain injury were harmed in an assault.
• 75 percent of all traumatic brain injuries resulting from assault occurs in patients between the ages of 15 and 44.

Leading Causes of Traumatic Brain Injury and Legal Realities

Perhaps one of the most daunting revelations when breaking down the leading causes of traumatic brain injury is that 4 of the 5 leading causes listed above likely involve a substantial number of cases where people acted negligently or even intentionally in harming others. People who suffer traumatic brain injuries need to do what they can to make sure that those who inflict this type of severe harm are held properly accountable. Doing so is not only in the best interests of the person harmed and his or her family but also in the best interests of society as a whole. If someone has caused you or someone you love to suffer head trauma, contact a traumatic brain injury lawyer at Gomez Trial Attorneys as soon as possible to schedule a free initial consultation.