Accidents cause millions of TBIs in America

Every day, people in America are involved in devastating accidents that leave them with severe injuries. Some of the most severe are traumatic brain injuries, which can have an effect on every aspect of a person’s life. About 1.7 million traumatic brain injury deaths, hospitalizations and emergency room visits occur every year in the United States.

Brain injuries are caused by many different types of accidents, including slip-and-falls, sports collisions, and motor vehicle accidents. These accidents can cause trauma to the head which can result in both open and closed brain injuries. Open brain injuries typically mean that the skull has been fractured as a result of the head colliding into a hard surface. Closed head injuries are sometimes harder to detect because there is no fracture involved. They can be more serious than open head injuries due to potential swelling of the brain and possible blood clots in the skull.

The aftermath of a brain injury can be extremely serious. Many brain injury victims suffer paralysis, an inability to speak, and a loss of consciousness. In the worst cases, brain injuries can result in death. Early detection of a brain injury is critical. If an accident victim is suffering from confusion, nausea, severe headaches or numbness on one side of the body, they should seek medical attention immediately.

Treating a brain injury can involve costly hospital visits, rehabilitation and long-term care. With the bills piling up, Pittsburgh victims and their families may feel overwhelmed. Filing a lawsuit against those responsible for the accident may be your best option to help pay these bills and get you on the road to recovery.

Source: FindLaw, “Brain Injury Overview,” accessed on Oct. 13, 2015