Top Causes of Traumatic Brain Injuries

Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) can cause a whole range of temporary and lifelong health issues. According to United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 50,000 people die and an additional 85,000 people suffer long-term disabilities from TBI every year. More than 5.3 million Americans live with disabilities caused by TBI.

If you or a loved one is suffering from a traumatic brain injury as a result of the negligence of another, contact a personal injury lawyer today. He or she will fight for justice and damages on your behalf so you can focus on recovery.

Top causes of Traumatic Brain Injuries

The top three causes of TBI related deaths and serious injuries are firearms, car accidents, and slip and falls accidents.

Firearm injuries

Firearm injuries to the head are almost always fatal. In fact, 9 out of 10 people die from their injuries. Many of those who succumb to their injuries experienced an open head wound from the bullet penetrating the skull.

Car accidents and Slip and fall accidents

Car accidents and slip and fall accidents are most likely to cause a closed head injury with focal and diffuse damage to axons. While there is no penetration of the skull, the range of effects varies broadly.

Types of damage caused by TBI

Deceleration injuries

Deceleration injuries are common in both car crashes and slip and fall accidents. During the movement of the accident, the brain moves inside the skull at a different rate than the skull moves. The difference in the rate of movement between the skull and the brain results in direct brain injury due to diffuse axonal shearing, contusion and brain swelling.

Axonal shearing occurs when the brain is slammed back and forth so hard inside the skull that the single nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord are also compressed and stretched. With high enough impact, the axons stretch to the point of tearing. When this happens the neurons die, causing severe injuries.

Contusions cause structural brain damage. A contusion is a bruising of the brain tissue created by small blood vessels leaking. This type of injury is most often caused by an impact to the head which is common in car accidents, slip and fall accidents as well as sports-related accidents.

Brain swelling is a type of TBI that is sometimes called brain edema, elevated intracranial pressure or cerebral edema. Depending on the cause of the swelling, the swelling can happen in different spots throughout the brain but it always increases pressure inside the skull – known as intracranial pressure or ICP. ICP can prevent blood and other fluids from flowing to or from your brain. Without blood flow to the brain, the brain lacks the oxygen it needs to function properly which then causes damage or death to brain cells.

The Seattle personal injury attorneys at Morrow Kidman Tinker Macey-Cushman, PLLC have years of experience representing families harmed by medical malpractice. We seek justice for patients who have been harmed by preventable medical errors including birth injuries, hospital-acquired infections and wrongful death in Seattle and across Washington State. There are no fees or expenses to file a personal injury case as we only receive payment if we recover damages on your behalf. Do not delay; personal injury claims come with a Statute of Limitations, which means they must be filed within a certain time frame of the injury.

Call us now at (206) 752-4366 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation with one of our compassionate, experienced attorneys.