The Leading Cause of Traumatic Brain Injury

Wednesday, December 4, 2013

The Leading Cause of Traumatic Brain Injury

Written by Malman Law, reviewed by Steve J. Malman.

Traumatic brain injury has been an increasingly popular topic of discussion more recently. One of the reasons for this is the number of NFL football players filing lawsuits against the NFL, citing the lack of information given to them about the risks of the sport. Many prolific players have made their brain injury experiences public over the years, and around 1.7 million new brain injuries occur each year. They are often hard to discover because they aren’t visible, but progressive personality changes may reveal the problem.

As a result of the increased number of TBIs, personal injury lawyers are available to help victims recover the compensation they need. However, the leading cause of recent TBIs is apparently not football, but falls.

 

The Dangers of Falling

You may have trouble believing that a simple fall could be life-altering, but according to Dr. Ileana Arias of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, falls are primarily responsible for traumatic brain injury cases. Dr. Arias, who is the director of the CDC’s National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, stated, “Adults ages 75 and older have the highest rates of TBI-related hospitalizations and death.” This contradicts many people’s belief that young children and active adults are most at risk for brain injury.

Because the elderly are more likely to fall, they often suffer from serious injuries caused by weakened limbs, bones and tissue. The elderly also have a harder time recovering from injuries than younger people, which is why loved ones should make sure that they live in an environment that can support them. If neglect is believed to be responsible for a TBI, victims and their families should consult personal injury attorneys for legal representation.

How to Prevent Falls

Here are some recommendations regarding the prevention of falls, in order to make loved ones safer and avoid lawsuits:

  • Encourage your loved ones to exercise regularly, with their doctors’ approval. Exercise helps prevent weakened joints and other factors that cause falls.
  • Make their living environment as safe as possible by removing obstacles that could cause falls, and make objects that they need easier for them to reach.
  • Ask health care providers to make sure over-the-counter and prescription medications are safe for your loved ones to consume.
  • Make sure they undergo regular eye exams to ensure that poor vision is treated with eyeglasses or other treatments.

If you or someone you know suspects that a traumatic brain injury was caused by another’s negligence, discuss your claim with a personal injury attorney to recover the highest compensation.

You can read more about the CDC findings in the Senior Journal here.

Steve Malman

Malman Law’s founder Attorney Steven Malman has over 30 years of experience handling personal injury, nursing home, medical malpractice, truck accidents, car accidents, premises liability, construction, and workers’ compensation cases in Chicago, IL.

Years of experience: +30 years
Illinois Registration Status: Active and authorized to practice law—Last Registered Year: 2024

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