Brain Injury Types and Common Causes
Has a brain injury impacted your life or the life of someone you care about? The consequences of brain injuries can be overwhelming, affecting your health, finances, and overall well-being. However, you don’t have to face these challenges alone. The attorneys at Cain Law are here to pursue justice and secure the compensation you need for your recovery.
Contact Cain Law for a free initial consultation today and take the first step toward getting the help you need. Discover how we can guide you through the legal process and fight tirelessly for your rights and the compensation you deserve.
Types of Brain Injuries
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 69,000 people in the United States died from traumatic brain injuries in one recent year. More than 214,000 people were hospitalized due to TBIs in the same year.
The CDC classifies traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) as mild, moderate, or severe. A mild TBI is caused by a bump or jolt to the head or a hit to the body that causes the brain to move quickly back and forth. This sudden movement can stretch and damage brain cells and cause the brain to bounce around in the skull. Mild TBIs can result in chemical changes to the brain.
The CDC explains that moderate and severe TBIs can lead to long-term or life-long health problems. These injuries are caused by a bump or jolt to the head or a penetrating injury, such as a gunshot. These injuries can affect every aspect of a person’s life.
Most Common Causes of Brain Injuries
According to the CDC, the most common causes of brain injury, in order, are:
Gunshot Wounds
Tragically, the CDC reports that the use of firearms results in 44% of TBI-related deaths.
Falls
The CDC reports that accidental falls are one of the leading causes of TBI-related hospitalizations, especially among older adults. The CDC’s Surveillance Report states that falls are responsible for approximately 30 percent of TBI-related deaths. When someone slips on a slick floor or uneven surface, they can fall and hit their head, leading to a range of brain injuries. Common examples include concussions, coup-contrecoup injuries, and skull fractures. Collectively, falls and firearm-related injuries lead to most moderate and severe TBIs.
Brain injuries from slip-and-fall accidents often occur because property owners fail to maintain safe conditions. For example, wet floors, loose rugs, or poorly lit areas can create dangerous situations. If you fall and hit your head, immediate medical attention is vital, even if you initially feel fine. Symptoms of brain injuries can develop over time, and seeking treatment right away can make a significant difference in recovery.
Medical professionals can use various methods to treat symptoms of brain injuries, such as medication, therapy, and, in some cases, surgery. If the accident that caused your injury resulted from a property owner’s negligence, you could have the right to seek compensation for your medical costs, lost income, and more.
Motor Vehicle Accidents
Motor vehicle crashes are among the most common causes of brain injuries and the leading cause of TBI-related deaths for children from birth to 17 years, according to the CDC. These accidents often involve high speeds and sudden impacts, which can lead to serious head injury. When vehicles collide, the force of the impact can lead the brain to move rapidly within the skull, potentially resulting in injuries such as concussions, contusions, and diffuse axonal injury.
Even in accidents where the vehicle isn’t traveling at a high speed, the sudden jolt can still cause significant damage. Rear-end collisions, for example, can cause whiplash, which can result in a traumatic brain injury (TBI) if the head snaps forward and backward violently. Motorcyclists are particularly vulnerable to traumatic injury in collisions, as they have far less protection than vehicle occupants.
Brain injuries from motor vehicle accidents can have long-lasting effects, impacting memory, cognitive functions, and even personality. Immediate medical attention is critical after an accident, as some brain injuries do not show symptoms right away. If you suffer a brain injury in a car wreck, you can file a car accident injury claim to seek compensation for the losses you incur due to the traumatic event.
Besides assaults, the other common causes of TBIs are classified as “other” or “unknown” and include injuries caused by unknown factors or the following:
Bicycle and Pedestrian Accidents
Bicycle and pedestrian accidents are also common causes of brain injuries. When a vehicle strikes a person on a bicycle or on foot, the impact can cause severe trauma. Unlike car drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians do not have the protection of a vehicle’s structure, making them more vulnerable to severe injuries.
The external force from the impact can cause the brain to strike the skull, which can damage brain cells and result in moderate to severe TBI. In some cases, cyclists and pedestrians can even sustain skull fractures upon impact with a vehicle or the unforgiving surface of the road.
Brain injuries from these types of accidents can result in long-term effects. Some victims experience cognitive difficulties, which can affect memory, concentration, and decision-making abilities. These challenges can make daily life harder and often require ongoing medical care and rehabilitation.
If you suffer a brain injury in a bicycle or pedestrian accident, you could be entitled to compensation. Oklahoma law allows you to file a personal injury claim if someone else caused the accident. This could include a driver who was speeding, driving while distracted, or refusing to yield the right of way.
Drowning
Drowning is a lesser-known but significant cause of brain injuries. Drowning is the third-leading cause of accidental death worldwide. When water blocks a person’s airway, the oxygen supply to the brain gets cut off. This lack of oxygen, known as hypoxia, can cause brain cells to die within minutes. If this occurs for even a short period, the person can suffer significant brain damage that may lead to long-term disabilities or even death.
Children are particularly vulnerable to severe brain injury from drowning. However, adults are also at risk, particularly in situations involving alcohol, poor swimming skills, or unsafe water conditions. Immediate action is essential if someone is found unresponsive in water. The faster a drowning person receives medical care, the better the chances of minimizing any injury to the brain.
After a drowning incident, survivors can face challenges such as memory loss, difficulty concentrating, or permanent cognitive impairments. If the drowning occurs due to someone else’s negligence, the injured party might have grounds to take legal action and seek compensation for their suffering.
Medical Errors
Medical errors can also lead to severe brain injuries. These injuries can occur if healthcare professionals make mistakes during surgery, administer incorrect medications, or fail to monitor a patient’s vital signs. For example, if a patient doesn’t receive enough oxygen during surgery due to an anesthesia error, the lack of oxygen can cause significant brain damage. Similarly, misdiagnosing a condition or delaying treatment can lead to brain injuries if providers do not address the underlying issue in time.
Medical errors involving birth injuries can result in traumatic brain damage, too. If a doctor uses too much force during delivery or fails to recognize signs of fetal distress, the child can suffer from a lack of oxygen. This oxygen deprivation can lead to permanent brain damage and conditions like cerebral palsy.
Brain injuries resulting from medical errors can have lifelong effects, including cognitive impairments, physical disabilities, and emotional challenges. Victims and their families could be eligible to pursue legal action against the responsible healthcare professionals and seek compensation for the harm these preventable mistakes caused.
Contact an Oklahoma Brain Injury Lawyer Now
A brain injury can change your life in an instant, but you don’t have to handle the aftermath by yourself. Cain Law is here to support you and fight for the compensation you need. Contact us today for a free, no-obligation initial consultation and discover what an Oklahoma brain injury lawyer can do for your case.
