Common Causes of Traumatic Brain Injuries in Tallahassee

The human brain can be injured in a number of ways. Some injuries are caused by internal factors, including infections, tumors, and strokes. When a brain injury is caused by an external physical force, it is considered a traumatic brain injury. The external trauma is what causes the injury.

For those seeking to prevent traumatic brain injuries, it is helpful to understand how these injuries frequently occur. Knowing the most common causes of the trauma that leads to these devastating injuries is one way to help protect yourself and loved ones.

Types of Traumatic Brain Injuries

Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are classified into different types, and certain forms of external force are more likely to lead to some types of TBIs than others.

• Penetrating TBIs are injuries in which an object pierces the skull and brain
• Non-penetrating TBIs are closed-head injuries where the damage occurs due to movement within the skull
• Primary TBIs are the initial injury caused on impact
• Secondary TBIs are injuries that develop due to the consequences of the primary injury, such as bleeding or the release of chemicals in the brain
• Focal brain injuries involve damage to one area of the brain
• Diffuse brain injuries affect widespread areas of the brain

All of these injuries have long-term effects that may never fully heal. Some grow worse over time. While the appropriate medical care can improve the prognosis, in many cases, doctors can recommend steps to keep the damage from growing worse, but may not have the ability to repair damage that has already occurred. 

Although traumatic brain injuries can lead to imminent death, statistics from the Florida Department of Health show that in our state, death results less than 20% of the time someone suffers a traumatic brain injury, so victims must live with the effects for a considerable length of time.

Who is at Risk?

Adults over 60 are more likely to suffer a traumatic brain injury than younger individuals, and men suffer more of these injuries in all age groups. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), men are admitted to the hospital with TBIs more often than women, and they are three times more likely to die from a TBI. Florida statistics reveal similar results, with risks for both fatal and non-fatal injuries increasing dramatically starting at age 75.

However, TBIs occur in individuals of all ages in all walks of life.

Falls are the Leading Cause of TBIs

Both NIH and the Florida Department of Health report falls as the leading cause of traumatic brain injuries. Florida statistics show that falls caused 55% of non-fatal TBIs and over 50% of all TBIs. These falls often occur because of negligence, either on the part of the person who fell or someone who created a dangerous condition for that person, or a combination of both.

For instance, individuals in the care of a nursing home are supposed to be protected by measures designed to reduce the risk of falls, but caregivers do not always follow the protocols. Falls are also commonly caused by tripping hazards, slick surfaces, loose or inadequate railings, uneven floors, and other problems that are ignored by property owners. Animals, such as dogs off-leash, also cause falls more often than most people realize.

Traffic Accidents are the Second Leading Cause

Collisions involving cars, trucks, motorcycles, and other vehicles also cause a substantial number of traumatic brain injuries in Florida. One fourth of all TBIs are the result of traffic accidents, and a significant number of those are fatal.

The force of impact when vehicles collide often causes drivers and passengers to suffer what are known as coup-contrecoup injuries on opposite sides of the brain. First, the victim’s brain collides with the inside of the skull on one side because of the impact, and then the brain tissue rebounds and strikes against the other side of the skull. This can be repeated, particularly if the accident involves a vehicle being struck more than once.

Motor vehicle accidents also frequently cause diffuse axonal injuries in the brain because the impact stretches nerves to the point of severe damage, disrupting their communication. The impact can also release chemicals in the brain, causing additional damage.

Other Causes of TBIs in Florida

While falls and traffic accidents cause the vast majority of traumatic brain injuries in Florida, other causes include:

• Violent assault with a firearm or other weapon
• Assaults with no weapon, such as when a child is shaken violently
• Collisions while walking or participating in sports
• Blast trauma from explosions, which is commonly suffered by service members or first responders

Any action that allows an external force to impact the head can lead to a traumatic brain injury. Once someone has suffered this type of injury, a repeated injury occurring before the first injury has fully healed increases the likelihood of negative symptoms and permanent damage.

Preventing Traumatic Brain Injuries

With so many traumatic brain injuries resulting from motor vehicle accidents and falls, efforts to prevent these types of incidents can go a long way toward avoiding TBIs. When driving or riding in a car or other vehicle, it is wise to wear a seat belt to reduce the risk of certain types of impacts. When walking or driving, try to be extra vigilant about dangers in the surroundings, including spills on the floor and inattentive drivers. If you or a loved one has balance problems, make sure you use appropriate support while moving around.

Even when you take proper precautions, however, injuries may still happen, particularly if others around you are behaving irresponsibly. When that happens, an experienced injury attorney can review the circumstances to determine if you may be eligible for compensation for your injuries and suffering.

Talk to Searcy Denney About Your Legal Right to Recovery After a Traumatic Brain Injury

Traumatic brain injuries can often have catastrophic long-term effects that require extensive medical care and have a devastating impact on the quality of life. Victims may require assistance just to meet basic needs, and the ability to work may be permanently destroyed.

When the injuries are the result of someone else’s negligence or deliberate wrongful conduct, an injury attorney can work to recover compensation to offset suffering and provide for future needs. For a free confidential consultation and case evaluation from an injury attorney at Searcy Denney Tallahassee, call 888-549-7011 or contact us online now.