What are the Leading Causes of Brain Injuries?

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a common cause of disability and death in the U.S. The leading causes of TBIs are as follows. 

Falls (40.5%)

Fall accidents are the primary cause of TBIs. Children younger than four and adults older than 75 are at a particularly high risk of suffering a TBI in a fall. Examples of fall accidents that often result in brain injuries include slips and falls on slippery surfaces, missing steps or ladder rungs, falls off beds, etc.

Motor Vehicle Accidents (14.3%)

Accidents involving motor vehicles, including cars, trucks, motorcycles, bicycles, pedestrians, etc. contribute to a high number of TBIs. Victims often suffer a TBI due to the impact of the collision causing their head to hit an object, such as part of the vehicle or the pavement. Whiplash is a common injury from car accidents, and although it is thought of as a neck injury, if the force of the crash is strong enough, it can cause the brain to collide with the inside surface of the skull, resulting in a TBI. Car accidents are also the leading cause of TBI-related deaths.

Struck By / Against Object (15.5%)

Struck by or against an object accidents are responsible for more than 400,000 brain injuries. These accidents also cause TBI in one in five children under 15 each year. Struck by/against object accidents can happen in everyday life due to falling or flying objects. They are also prevalent in the workplace, such as construction sites, factories, and other industries that use heavy machinery. 

Assault (10.7%)

10.7 percent of TBIs are caused by intentional violence or assault. These injuries can be sustained in physical attacks ranging from robbery to rape, domestic violence to child abuse. It is also the leading cause of brain injury-related fatalities for children below the age of four and injury in people between 15 and 24 years old. 

The other 19% of TBIs are caused for other or unknown reasons. 

Brain Injury Symptoms to Look Out For

TBIs can result in vastly different symptoms depending on the severity of the injury, what part of the brain was affected, and many other factors. These symptoms can include any combination of the following:

• Difficulty staying awake
• Slurred speech
• Passing out (for a brief period after the injury incident)
• Unrelenting headaches
• Dizziness
• Nausea and vomiting
• Seizures
• Clear fluid coming from ears and nose
• Challenges understanding others
• Problems expressing oneself
• Memory loss or amnesia
• Sluggishness
• Moodiness, anxiety, irritability

Significant trauma to the brain can be unpredictable. For example, if individuals suffer a brain injury in the same type of accident, the level of damage and the body’s reaction to it can be different. Some people may naturally recover within a few days or weeks, while others may experience symptoms and repercussions for the rest of their lives. 

If you or a loved one has suffered a traumatic brain injury in a preventable accident caused by another party’s negligence, speak to a San Antonio brain injury attorney today. We can help you hold the wrongful party accountable and ensure you recover fair compensation.