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.
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:
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:
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 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:
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:
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.
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