Thousands of Americans find their lives changed irrevocably after sustaining a traumatic brain injury.

Sometimes called a brain injury or head injury, a traumatic brain injury occurs when a person sustains a blow or jolt to the head that disrupts the normal functioning of the brain. An estimated nearly 1.5 million Americans suffer traumatic brain injuries each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Of those injured:

• 50,000 die from head trauma
• 235,000 are hospitalized with a traumatic brain injury and survived
• 1.1 million are treated for a traumatic brain injury by an emergency department and released

A CDC study found that traumatic brain injuries typically result from falling (28 percent), traffic accidents (20 percent), hitting or being hit by objects (19 percent), and assault (11 percent). Those most at risk for a brain trauma injury are young children (aged 5 and under), adolescents (aged 15-19), and seniors (75 and older). Men are more likely than women to sustain a brain injury. While many traumatic brain injuries are mild and the injured are often able to make a full recovery, tragically that’s not always the case. Traumatic brain injury may significantly impair a person’s thinking, language, learning, emotions, and behavior. It may also lead to medical complications such as epilepsy and increase the risk for brain disorders such as Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s disease. In fact, today more than 5 million Americans require long-term or permanent care as a consequence of suffering a traumatic brain injury, according to the CDC. The emotional and financial challenge of dealing with a brain injury can be immense. 

If you or a loved one believes a traumatic brain injury was sustained through the negligence of another, you may be entitled to compensation and other damages. Contact Dejban Law for a free legal consultation.