A traumatic brain injury caused by an accident can devastate the life of the injured person and also the lives of that person’s family. Whatever the cause, every connected life is completely altered in an instant.
If the injury came as a result of someone else’s negligence, you have a legal right to be compensated for the damage to your life. A dedicated attorney could help. A Kentucky brain injury attorney at Becker Law Office has extensive experience helping families obtain justice in such circumstances.
How These Accidents Happen in Kentucky
In adults, brain injuries can suddenly interrupt a productive life and can result in very costly health care.
In children, a brain injury can be personally even more devastating. Children are much more susceptible to brain injury because their skulls are only one-eighth as strong as adults (according to the Center for Disease Control). In fact, one-third of all pediatric injury cases are related to brain injury (according to the National Pediatric Trauma Registry).
Brain injuries occur more often in men than women and can result from car accidents, motorcycle accidents without a helmet, slip & fall accidents and other types of accidents.
- There are approximately 1.4 million traumatic brain injuries every year in the United States.
- Of the 1.4 million injured, there will be 50,000 who die, 235,000 who are hospitalized and 1.1 million who are treated and released from an emergency treatment center.
- Even a “mild” concussion can have life-long repercussions.
- The leading causes of traumatic brain injuries are falls (28%), motor vehicle traffic accidents (20%), being struck by or against objects (19%), and assaults (11%).
- The Centers for Disease Control estimates that at least 5.3 million Americans are living with traumatic brain injury and may have a need for long-term assistance to perform daily activities.
Causes of Head Injuries
Brain injuries may happen any time and to anyone. However, there are certain types of accidents that often lead to brain injury.
Common causes of brain injury include:
The violent force of a car accident, motorcycle crash or being struck by a vehicle while a pedestrian can cause a serious brain injury. Many motorcyclists and bicyclists are thrown by the impact and hit their heads, suffering brain injuries.
Falls are a leading cause of brain injuries in the United States. Seniors ages 65 and older are particularly vulnerable to traumatic head injuries from falls. They can occur at work or on someone else’s property because of hazards that should have been repaired or mitigated.
The Mayo Clinic estimates that around 10 percent of brain injuries result from violent assaults, particularly gun violence.
Contact sports and recreation accidents can cause a head injury, particularly concussions. Repeated blows to the brain while playing sports can increase the chances of developing brain injuries over time. Improperly fitting helmets, lack of proper safety gear and improper supervision can all increase the risk of sports injury.
Active duty military members may be susceptible to brain injuries due to bomb blasts, shrapnel and other hazards of combat.
The back-and-forth movement of a baby’s head and neck caused by violent shaking can cause severe brain damage. Negligent daycare providers or other caregivers can injure a baby under their care if they shake the child as a misguided form of discipline or to try to make the baby stop crying.
Call a Kentucky Brain Injury Attorney for Assistance
A Kentucky brain injury lawyer have handled cases at all levels where brain injury has interrupted a productive life. Our commitment goes beyond helping our clients. We have also made substantial contributions to organizations that serve damaged individuals, such as the Brain Injury Alliance of Kentucky.
