Traumatic brain injury statistics state that 30% of all injury deaths are due to trauma in the brain. Each day, 153 people in the US die from traumatic brain injuries.
The brain is the most complex organ in the body. It is responsible for every memory, action, feeling, and experience during life. It is a complex organ which houses 100 billion neurons and weighs over 1 kilogram.
It’s no wonder that injury to this organ can result in death and serious complications. A traumatic brain injury usually results from a violent hit to the head. It can also be a result of a wound by a sharp object. Read on to learn about trauma and the brain, including the common causes of brain injury.
Trauma and the Brain
The brain is protected from injury by the skull. The degree of damage a brain sustains depends on how hard the impact was, as well as the type of injury.
Here are some common accidents that cause traumatic brain injury.
Falls
Falls are the most common cause of traumatic brain injury. They account for 47% of all trauma to the brain.
Children and seniors are most at risk for injuries due to falls. Falls can include falling from a high place, down the stairs, while getting in or out of the tub, and in icy weather conditions outside.
Vehicle Collisions
Crashes that involve cars, motorcycles, bicycles, and pedestrians are another cause of trauma to the brain. These injuries can occur due to a blow against a vehicle or by being hit by a vehicle.
Various brain injuries from vehicle collisions can occur. These include concussion, contusion (or serious bruising), and diffuse axonal, which is a forceful rotation of the head.
Have you been a victim of a vehicle collision? An experienced accident attorney can help you resolve the matter and get compensation for your medical debts.
Violence
Being hurt by a weapon such as a gun or a knife, by child abuse, by domestic violence, and by assault are other causes of traumatic brain injury.
Sports
Traumatic brain injuries can result from a variety of high-impact sports like football, soccer, and boxing. Extreme sports like skateboarding, surfing, and rock climbing can also result in trauma to the brain.
These injuries are most common in teenagers.
Combat
Explosives and combat are common causes of head injury for members of the military. Explosive blasts cause a pressure wave to pass through the brain which results in improper function.
Shrapnel, hard hits to the head, and penetrating wounds due to an explosive can also aggravate the brain trauma initially caused from a blast.
Non-Traumatic Brain Injury
The other type of trauma in the brain is called non-traumatic brain injury. These are due to illness instead of physical, external force.
A person can suffer a non-traumatic brain injury due to a stroke, a tumor, cancer, lack of oxygen, and an infection. Strokes are the number 1 cause of non-traumatic brain injury.
Final Thoughts
We hope you found this article about trauma and the brain useful. As you can see, there are many ways that someone might get damage to the brain as a result of force or illness.
If you or a loved one have suffered a brain injury, learn about what not to do and how to find out who is liable by consulting with Kastl Law.