Top 10 Leading Causes of Traumatic Brain Injuries in United States

creative brain

Traumatic brain injury, or TBI, results from a physical impact on the head. Traumatic brain injuries may disrupt normal body functions due to bleeding or swelling in the brain and damage to nerve cells.

The U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 1.7 million Americans have a traumatic brain injury. These injuries can result in a wide range of symptoms, depending on the extent of the damage.

Approximately 80 percent of people who suffer a TBI are not seriously injured, and most do not require medical care.

Severe TBI cases can have permanent physical and psychological effects. If you suffer from a traumatic brain injury, consider checking any credible resource for traumatic brain injury victims.

Top 10 Causes of Traumatic Brain Injuries

1. Falls

A recent study has shown that falls account for 21 percent of severe traumatic brain injury cases. Falls can be from a ladder, a step, a bed, or in the bathroom. They are especially dangerous for the elderly and young children, whose brains are not much stable.

2. Motor Vehicle Accidents

Motor vehicle accidents are a leading cause of traumatic brain injuries. These accidents may involve motorcycles, cars, or trucks and usually involve one or more blunt impacts to the head.

3. Assault

Domestic violence and other forms of abuse can result in traumatic brain injuries. However, an attack where the head doesn’t get hit can’t cause a traumatic brain injury.

4. Sports

Traumatic brain injuries are common in contact sports. An athlete may suffer a blow to the head or a fall that causes the brain to strike against the inside of the skull.

5. Blasts or Explosions

Blasts occurring on the battlefield or at the scene of an explosion can cause a traumatic brain injury. Military personnel is often exposed to blasts from roadside bombs, which are lethal.

brain lesion

It’s worth mentioning that the exact way in which blasts and explosions cause brain injuries is yet to be known. However, many researchers explain that pressure waves passing through the brain tend to disrupt the brain’s functioning.

6. Brain Surgery

Brain surgery may be necessary to save someone’s life, but any operation that involves drilling into the skull can result in a traumatic brain injury if proper precautions aren’t taken.

7. Underlying Medical Conditions

Traumatic brain injuries may result from aneurysms, tumors, stroke, and congenital malformations. 

8. Industrial Illness

Industrial illnesses such as mesothelioma and iron poisoning are potential disease-causing agents, causing an extensive range of physical effects on internal organs such as the brain.

9. Extreme Sports

Extreme sports such as skiing, mountain biking, skateboarding, and snowboarding can result in brain injury. The skull is not built to withstand the impact of the falls associated with these activities.

10. Cerebral Hypoxia

Cerebral hypoxia is when a person fails to take in enough oxygen for so long, resulting in the death of brain cells. There are many factors that can cause this condition, including the following:

  • Carbon monoxide poisoning
  • Breathing in smoke
  • Choking
  • Cardiac arrest
  • Breathing in high altitudes
  • Pressure on the windpipe
  • Drowning
  • Drug overdose

You should contact an attorney if you believe you have suffered a traumatic brain injury under the following conditions:

  • Poor working environment leading to falls
  • Your brain surgeon failed to observe all precautionary measures during surgery
  • Assault
  • Motor vehicle accidents

An attorney will evaluate the case and determine if you are entitled to compensation and if so, help with all legal procedures.