Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are serious issues that have the potential to affect an injured person’s health for years. While these injuries can happen in any accident that impacts a person’s head, they are more common in some scenarios. What issues often lead to brain injuries?
Motor vehicle accidents
Car crashes are one of the main reasons people get TBIs. Bicyclists, motorcyclists and pedestrians are particularly at risk because they do not have as much protection as people in cars. During a crash, the head can forcefully hit something like the vehicle or the street surface. In other situations, the head might move back and forth sharply, making the brain actually hit the inside of the skull.
Falls
Falls are another big cause of TBIs. They often happen in unsafe environments where hazards like wet floors, uneven surfaces or poorly maintained walkways exist. However, even normally helpful tools like ladders and scaffolds on a construction site can leave a user vulnerable to a fall. When someone falls, they can hit their head on the ground, handrails, or other things around them. Falls are so common that they lead to almost half of the brain-injury-related hospital stays in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
When someone’s careless or negligent actions cause an accident that leads to a TBI, the injured person might be able to hold them responsible. This could include vehicle drivers in a crash, property owners who did not fix dangerous conditions, general contractors who allow workers to use unstable ladders and scaffolds, and others. A personal injury lawsuit not only helps get money for the injured person but also helps make things safer for everyone by raising awareness and pushing for better safety practices.