Traumatic brain injuries accounted for 2.87 million hospital visits throughout Florida and the rest of the country in 2014. These injuries are caused by a jolt, blow or bump to the head and can result in a disruption to the normal functioning of the brain. Car accidents tend to be one of the leading causes of these types of injuries.
Understanding traumatic brain injuries
Motor vehicle accidents that cause a driver’s head to bump against the steering wheel or have such a high force that it violently jolts their head can cause mild to severe cases of traumatic brain injury. Those suffering a mild injury, commonly referred to as a concussion, experience a brief change in mental status or consciousness. These brain functioning interrupts can last from a few minutes up to a few days.
In more severe cases, the period of unconsciousness or memory loss is extended. Many of these patients experience impairment in thinking, memory, sensation, emotional functioning and movement. Severe traumatic brain injury effects can last for the rest of a person’s life. It does not only affect the person but their families and communities around them.
Who is more at risk?
Taking a look at the various data regarding hospitalizations in 2014 due to traumatic brain injuries, there were two groups of people who were more at risk for this type of brain injury. These include people over the age of 75 years old and children between the ages of newborn and 4 years old.
Traumatic brain injuries, ranging from mild to severe, can result from automobile accidents. If you’ve been injured in an accident and are showing symptoms of traumatic brain injury, it’s prudent to talk with a lawyer. They can work to ensure that you get compensation to cover your medical bills for the injury and any of its lasting effects.