The Law Offices of Chaikin and Sherman, P.C.
Toll Free - 800.229.8384
Phone - 202.659.8600
Fax - 202.659.8680
Common Causes of Traumatic Brain Injury
WASHINGTON, D.C., MARYLAND & VIRGINIA
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is often preventable. While freak accidents do happen you and your loved ones can take some precautions to minimize the risk of TBI. The key is to understand the most common causes of brain injuries. Only then, can you take steps to prevent and avoid them.
Auto accidents
The leading cause of TBI in the United States, responsible for more fatal and non-fatal Traumatic Brain Injury than any other event, is auto accidents. Even a minor crash can cause serious brain injuries, many of which go undetected because there is no visible wound and little or no vehicle damage. Whiplash is a common culprit in auto accident TBI, causing serious injury to the brain which goes untreated while victims focus on more obvious problems such as neck and back pain. More serious accidents, such as rollovers and accidents which cause occupants to be ejected or strike the inside of the vehicle, also cause TBI, often with obvious head injuries.
Seat belts and child restrains are the best way to prevent auto accident-related TBI. However, when seat belts and child restraints are defective or used improperly, they can do more harm than good.
Falls
Falls are a very common cause of TBI. Traumatic Brain Injury caused by falling is less likely to be fatal than brain injuries caused by an auto accident. Anyone can incur TBI from a fall, but certain groups are at an elevated risk for falling including:
- People 75 and older
- Children and infants four and under
- People with certain medical conditions, including epilepsy
Medications and alcohol are often involved in falls, especially in the elderly.
Proper supervision, maintaining an environment free of tripping hazards, child-proofing, and making sure that all equipment, such as playground equipment, ladders, and step stools, are in good working condition, can help prevent TBI from falls.
Sports
Both contact and non-contact sports can cause Traumatic Brain Injury. The Centers for Disease Control estimates that sporting activities cause over 300,000 brain injuries each year.
High school sports and bicycling are common causes of sport-related TBI in children and teenagers. About 20% of high school athletes sustain a brain injury each season, with over 60% being caused by football. About 50,000 children in the U.S. sustain bicycle-related brain injuries each year, with over 400 dying from their injuries.
Sports-related Traumatic Brain Injury is often overlooked, leading to lack of treatment and/or additional injuries. Recognizing and responding to symptoms of concussions and other sports-related TBI is the key to preventing serious and permanent damage. Proper safety equipment, including good helmets when appropriate, can also reduce the severity of brain injury.
Violence
Shaken baby syndrome is another common cause of Traumatic Brain Injury in infants and young children. Because it does not cause visible injury, it often goes unnoticed until serious damage has occurred. Other forms of domestic violence against children and spouses also lead to TBI which often goes unreported and untreated.
Recent Brain Injury Settlements
- In excess of $5 million lump sum payment obtained on behalf of a 14 year old client as a result of a failed embolization of an arterial-venous malformation in her brain, causing profound permanent brain damage.
- $2.4 million obtained on behalf of a woman who suffered a brain injury as a result of being struck in a crosswalk.
- $1.8 million obtained on behalf of an already paralyzed stroke victim, against a wheelchair transport company which dropped him on his head from the van onto the sidewalk when transporting him from physical therapy to his home.
- $950,000.00 obtained on behalf of a man who was struck on the head by a hotel security guard causing permanent brain damage.
- $450,000.00 on behalf of minor child provided ten times the prescribed amount of anti-seizure medication by a local pharmacy resulting in permanent brain injury.
- $250,000.00 on behalf of a woman who suffered a brain injury when she was struck by a car while crossing the street.
- $250,000.00 obtained on behalf of a man who was struck on the head four times with a steel baton, by a security guard, causing a brain injury.
- $220,000.00 on behalf of a woman who suffered a brain injury when a wooden “FOR LEASE” sign fell off a building from two stories above, and struck her on the head while she was walking on the sidewalk.
Pending Cases Involving Brain Injury
- Claim against a hospital resulting from failure to properly insert a cannula (catheter) into blood vessels of an infant. Cannula slipped out and blood loss was so great that the child had permanent profound brain injury.
- Failure to timely perform a C-Section resulting in permanent profound brain injury.
- Negligent performance of embolization of arterial-venous malformation in the brain resulting in permanent profound brain injury.
If you or a loved one has suffered any kind of traumatic brain injury in Maryland, Virginia and Washington DC, please email or call our skilled brain injury attorneys today. We are committed to obtaining justice for you - the victim.
