| A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is one of two kinds of | | | | determined, but it may have something to do with |
| acquired brain injury, with the other type manifesting | | | | differences in brain structure or hormones in the |
| itself in acquired brain injuries, such as brain damage | | | | endocrine system. |
| caused by a stroke, meningitis or any form of anoxia | | | | In addition to differing incidences along gender lines |
| (lack of oxygen to the brain). A traumatic brain injury | | | | among TBI patients, there exists a significant skew |
| can be any injury where a sudden trauma causes | | | | toward younger people. Children aged zero to four, |
| brain damage. An important part of understanding | | | | and those individuals aged fifteen to nineteen are the |
| TBI is to understand its causes and how it can affect | | | | most likely to suffer a serious traumatic brain injury, |
| those most at risk, as traumatic brain injuries affect a | | | | according to the CDC. This occurs because of the |
| wide variety of Americans every year, causing a | | | | high frequency of accidents among young children, |
| multitude of symptoms that can vary from mild to | | | | and the high incidence of car accidents among |
| extreme. | | | | teenagers. Finally, elderly Americans over the age of |
| There are varying statistics between some research | | | | seventy-five are the most likely to suffer TBI as a |
| studies, but there is a generally accepted view that | | | | result of slips and falls, mostly due to the effects of |
| at least 1.4 million American sustain a traumatic brain | | | | the aging process and medications. |
| injury each year. Among these, roughly fifty percent | | | | Given these causes and associated populations at |
| of all TBIs are caused by accidents involving | | | | risk, it becomes clear that a traumatic brain injury |
| automobiles, motorcycles, bicycles and pedestrians, | | | | may most likely occur while doing the most universal |
| according to the National Institute of Neurological | | | | human task: transporting one's self from point A to |
| Disorders and Stroke. In effect, half of those with a | | | | point B. It is also apparent that those segments of |
| TBI incurred it as a result of a transportation | | | | the population least able to deal with the significant |
| accident. An additional twenty percent of traumatic | | | | impact of a TBI may be those most likely to incur |
| brain injuries are a result of a type of violence, | | | | one: the elderly, teenagers and the very young. A |
| including child abuse and gun violence. More striking is | | | | traumatic brain injury can be an incredibly costly |
| the statistic from this same study that more than | | | | injury, both physically and in terms of quality of life. |
| half of all TBIs occur with alcohol consumption playing | | | | Of the 1.4 million Americans that suffer a TBI |
| a significant role. Additional causes of TBI can include | | | | annually, nearly 50,000 of these will die as a result of |
| sports injuries, boating and swimming accidents, and | | | | their injuries. A further 80,000 will be disabled for life |
| occupational injuries. | | | | and unable to work or regain their former lifestyle. |
| Investigating the causes of TBI can be interesting | | | | For individuals that have been severely affected by a |
| and provide useful information, however it could be | | | | brain injury, there are numerous resources that can |
| even more helpful to examine the segments of the | | | | provide compensation and ease the suffering cause |
| population that suffer TBIs, so that one might gain a | | | | by the TBI. If the traumatic brain injury suffered is |
| better understanding of who is most at risk. TBI | | | | the result of an incident in which someone else was |
| victims can be divided along several age, as well as | | | | at fault, the best course of action could be to consult |
| along gender lines. According the Centers for Disease | | | | with an experienced traumatic brain injury attorney, |
| Control, men are about twice as likely to suffer a | | | | at an experienced brain injury law firm. A qualified |
| traumatic brain injury than are women. However, | | | | traumatic brain injury lawyer can carefully examine |
| men are also more likely to have success in TBI | | | | each brain injury victim's case in order to determine if |
| treatment. The cause for more sever brain injury | | | | a traumatic brain injury lawsuit is in order. |
| outcome in women has not been specifically | | | | |