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What You Should Know About Brain Injuries

Posted on behalf of Arnold Law Firm on March 6, 2020 in Personal Injury
Updated on February 24, 2022

brain-red-glow-middle-drawingAccording to the Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA), someone suffers from a brain injury every nine seconds in the United States. The BIAA estimates more than 3.5 million people sustain acquired brain injuries (ABI) every year, and this does not include degenerative, congenital, hereditary or birth injuries.

These are just some of the reasons why March has been designated as Brain Injury Awareness Month. Below, learn more about this year’s theme and the scope of the problem of brain injuries across the nation.

Change Your Mind

The Brain Injury Awareness Month campaign theme for 2020 is #ChangeYourMind. The goals for this campaign are:

  • Educate the public about the problem
  • Promote support for brain injury victims
  • De-stigmatize brain injuries
  • Empower brain injury survivors along with their caretakers

You can participate in this campaign by sharing flyers, posters and ads, along with the personal stories of brain injury victims, shared through BIAA. 

Facts About Traumatic Brain Injuries

One of the most serious types of ABI is traumatic brain injury (TBI). TBI is sustained when there is an alteration of brain function, or other evidence of pathology, caused by an external force. TBI can cause permanent damage to the functioning of the brain and other parts of the body.

BIAA estimates that there are at least 5.3 million people living in the United States with a disability that was caused by some type of TBI, and that number could be even higher since not everyone seeks treatment for their injuries. This means that one in every 60 people living in the U.S. suffers from a disability caused by TBI.

An even more troubling fact is that 137 people die every day in the U.S. from TBI-related injuries — approximately 50,000 deaths every year.

People Affected by Brain Injuries

When an individual suffers from a serious brain injury, it may also affect additional people, such as the victim’s spouse, parents, siblings, guardians, neighbors, friends and other loved ones. The effects of TBI can impact all aspects of life, including sleep, memory and attention, mood control, anxiety and depression, personality changes, and employability.

Others who could be affected include:

  • Caregivers
  • Health care providers
  • Employers
  • Educators
  • Insurance companies
  • Attorneys
  • Government agencies

What Causes Brain Injuries?

BIAA estimates that 47 percent of TBI cases are caused by some type of fall, the leading cause for these types of injuries. Other common reasons for brain injury include:

  • Substance abuse/overdose
  • Infectious disease
  • Electric shock
  • Oxygen deprivation (Hypoxia/Anoxia)
  • Stroke
  • Tumor
  • Lightning strike
  • Near drowning
  • Toxic exposure
  • Seizure disorder

Contact the Arnold Law Firm to Discuss Your Brain Injury

If you or a loved one suffered from some type of brain injury, contact an experienced Sacramento personal injury lawyer from the Arnold Law Firm. Our team of licensed attorneys are prepared to hear the details of your injury claim in a free consultation.

Call us at (916) 777-7777 or fill out a Free Case Evaluation form.