Accidents in automobiles are the 2nd cause of traumatic brain injuries. The reason for this is that the human brain is extremely susceptible to damage from the forces that are generated by the usual type of auto accident. Most lawyers usually see brain injuries when the head strikes an object during an accident, such as a dashboard or a windshield.
However, the brain injuries can also be suffered without a direct blow to the head. The impact from a collision can also cause the brain to undergo a sudden forward and backward motion, usually referred to as whiplash. This type of injury, called a closed head injury, takes place inside the skull.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) estimates that almost 2,000,000 people suffer traumatic brain injuries each year in the US, primarily as a result of automobile accidents. The NIH also states that traumatic brain injuries are the leading cause of long term disability among young adults because it usually affects people of all ages.
Traumatic brain injuries are often called the silent epidemic by many lawyers and doctors who are familiar with them for 2 reasons. The 1st is the numerous people who live with some form of disability which are caused by traumatic brain injuries. The NIH states that there are about 300,000 hospital admissions in the US every year for people with traumatic brain injuries and an additional numerous traumatic brain injuries that are usually not diagnosed but that may result in a long term disability.
The 2nd reason that traumatic brain injuries are called the silent epidemic is because traumatic brain injury cases can be very difficult for lawyers to prove. Many people who have suffered a traumatic brain injury appear normal. Many people don’t display any obvious signs of brain injuries and some even speak well. There are even medical classifications for traumatic brain injuries that are misleading. Many people are diagnosed with a mild traumatic brain injury, however, this is a medical classification only. It doesn’t really mean that the impairments and disabilities are also mild.
An additional challenge to proving that a traumatic brain injury has occurred for many brain injury lawyers is that brain injuries are usually diagnosed using a CT scan or a MRI, which normally do not different between moderate and mild traumatic brain injuries and often yields a neurological examination which is normal. This doesn’t mean, however, that a case involving a traumatic brain injury can’t be proven and won at trial by a good traumatic brain injury lawyer.
If you or someone you know has suffered brain injury as a result of an auto accident, a good personal injury lawyer can guide you through the legal process with ease and help obtain the best resolution for your case. Most personal lawyers have handled traumatic brain injury litigation for more numerous years and understand the psychological, emotional, and physical hardships that you are experiencing from your accident.
