Traumatic brain injuries are a serious type of injury ranging from a simple concussion to brain damage. Studies have revealed that 1.5 million Americans experience this type of injury every year.
Law firm DSS Law is calling for more awareness of these injuries, as well as real action to cut down on these numbers. They have examined the leading causes of traumatic brain injuries and have put forth guidance on how to cut down on the incidence rate.
How Traumatic Brain Injuries Happen
Traumatic brain injuries are types of injuries caused when someone sustains a significant blow to the head. Damage to the brain occurs because of the brain hitting the inside of the skull, which is normally designed to protect the brain from injury.
The nature of a traumatic brain injury means that many patients won’t suffer any symptoms immediately. This can lead to many victims not getting medical treatment and, therefore, not knowing that they have a traumatic brain injury.
Top Three Causes of Traumatic Brain Injuries
Traumatic brain injuries can be sustained in a number of ways. All it takes is a blow to the head of some kind. DSS Law has examined the numbers and come up with the top three causes. You can click here to visit Davis, Saperstein & Salomon, P.C. to find out more.
1. Falls
Falls are the leading cause of traumatic brain injury, with 48% of all emergency room visits for this type of injury coming from them.
These numbers take into account both falls at home and at work. Hitting your head on a foreign object or the whiplash effect from falling can lead to these injuries.
2. Intentional Self Harm
Attempted suicide and general self-harm all fall under the category of ‘intentional self-harm’. Due to the mental health crisis in America, intentional self-harm has become one of the top three leading causes of traumatic brain injuries.
3. Motor Vehicle Crashes
The number of accidents on America’s roads hasn’t spiked, but they’ve remained stubbornly high. What’s most worrying is the significant increase in the number of motor vehicle crashes involving large vehicles.
How to Reduce the Number of TBIs in the US
Reducing the number of traumatic brain injuries in the US is a complex issue, according to DSS Law. Due to the differences in the major causes, separate action plans must be developed for each.
The common thread throughout most traumatic brain injuries, though, is safety. Whether it’s safety at work or safety on the roads, both state governments and the Federal government must act to improve in all aspects.
Until safety is taken seriously, along with providing sufficient enforcement, it will be impossible to reduce the rate of these injuries.
Conclusion
While campaigners say that the increase in traumatic brain injuries is partly due to the fact that doctors better understand the nature of these injuries, it doesn’t take away from the need for action.
Stricter safety regulations are necessary and, until they come, safety campaigners warn things are only going to get worse.