Common Causes of Traumatic Brain Injuries

Based on evidence compiled by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), around 30% of all injury deaths involve a traumatic brain injury (TBI). In total, roughly 153 people die every single day while suffering from a TBI.

TBIs range from relatively “mild” concussions to life-threatening brain damage. Many accident victims with TBI struggle because of impairments to their speech, coordination, balance, and memory. Many also find that their personalities change or that they experience wild mood swings.

At our firm, we have represented many people who suffered a brain injury as a result of an accident that was someone else’s fault. They incur massive medical bills, lost income, and find their lives turned upside down. They need financial compensation to help them, and we are here to help them pursue it.

Below are some of the common ways that people can suffer a brain injury.

Car Accidents

The CDC has reported that motor vehicle accidents are the third-leading cause of traumatic brain injuries. There are two main ways people can suffer a TBI in a car accident:

• You can slam your head directly on something, such as the steering wheel, window, or another hard surface in the car.
• You can sustain violent shaking that moves the brain and causes it to slam into the inside of the skull.

It’s a misconception that you need to suffer a direct hit to the head to suffer a brain injury. Anything that moves the brain around forcibly in the skull can change how the brain works, leading to impairment.

Truck Accidents

Commercial trucks are much larger than passenger cars. Under Department of Transportation regulations, they can weigh up to 80,000 pounds, whereas passenger cars typically weigh only about 4,000 pounds. After a truck accident, it is vital to get immediate medical attention. A brain injury is often coupled with other life-threatening injuries.

Bicycle Accidents

Bicyclists are vulnerable. There are not nearly enough dedicated bicycle lanes in Pasadena, and many motorists do not realize that bicyclists have as much as a right to be on the road as other vehicles. Many motorists will turn directly in front of a cyclist at an intersection after incorrectly judging the cyclist’s speed. Other motorists sideswipe or clip a cyclist while trying to pass.

Even wearing a helmet, a cyclist can still suffer a brain injury. However, helmets can greatly reduce the risks. According to the CDC, wearing a helmet can reduce the risk of a brain injury by 69%.

Pedestrian Accidents

Pedestrians are the least protected of all accident victims. No one is wearing a helmet as they walk, since no one expects to get struck by a motor vehicle. However, it is very easy to be injured in the following ways:

• A motorist backs up in a parking lot or out of their driveway without checking their mirrors
• A driver illegally passes on the shoulder or even goes up onto the sidewalk
• A motorist or cyclist cuts in front of a pedestrian in the crosswalk
• A driver fails to yield at an intersection

A pedestrian accident can happen anywhere, not simply at intersections, so pedestrians should always be on alert.

Motorcycle Accidents

Unlike other motorists, people riding a motorcycle do not have a steel shell protecting them. It should not be surprising that a motorcyclist can suffer a direct hit in a collision or get thrown clear of their bike and suffer a TBI when they hit the ground. Many motorcycle accidents are caused by motorists who are not looking out for people on two wheels.

Slip and Fall Accidents

According to the CDC, falls were the leading cause of traumatic brain injuries. In one recent year, falls made up 47% of hospitalizations, emergency room visits, and deaths related to TBI.

It is easy to see why. When a person loses their balance, they can easily slam their head on an object, such as a desk, wall, table top, or counter top. Some people slam their head onto the ground. The force generated can be enough to cause a serious brain injury.

Slip and fall accidents are particularly dangerous because, unlike with car accidents, no one might know that you have fallen and suffered a serious brain injury. Some victims must wait a considerable amount of time before receiving medical attention, which can cause complications.

Dangerous Products

Any product that fails to perform safely as it should can be very dangerous. A consumer is probably totally unprepared for a product to malfunction and therefore is not protected. Just a small sample of products that can malfunction include:

• Bureaus and dressers that are unstable and can fall on children
• Defective high chairs that send children falling to the floor
• Malfunctioning car and booster seats that fail to restrain a child in a car accident
• Unstable shoes that can cause a person to fall and strike their head on something

To keep up with malfunctioning products on the market, check with the Consumer Product Safety website, which lists the latest recalls. A product does not need to be recalled to be dangerous. However, a recall is a red flag and you should stop using a product and return it to the retailer or manufacturer.

Contact a Pasadena Brain Injury Attorney Now

Have you suffered a devastating brain injury that wasn’t your fault? If so, you probably need compensation to help cover your medical expenses, rehabilitation costs, and many other losses. Fortunately, California law allows injured victims bring claims against those responsible for their injuries to seek money to cover all economic and non-economic losses.

Please contact the Law Offices of Pius Joseph – Personal Injury Attorney today. Our firm understands brain injury cases, and we are prepared to fight to seek the compensation you deserve.

To schedule a free consultation with our Pasadena brain injury attorney, please call or contact us online now.