Did you know that the month of March is also known as Brain Injury Awareness Month? Every year, the Brain Injury Association of America leads the way in helping Americans understand more about this debilitating injury. This year, their theme is “More than My Brain Injury.”
The #MoreThanMyBrainInjury campaign tries to help educate the public about what it is like to live with a brain injury. They want to reduce the stigma associated with brain injuries and help the public understand brain injuries as chronic conditions. Their hope is that by doing so, they can improve the care and support received by brain injury victims and their families.
What are Brain Injuries?
Brain injuries are caused by trauma to the skull, resulting in structural damage to brain tissue, either on a temporary or permanent basis. They can cause vision problems, hearing problems, behavioral changes, and seizures. These serious head injuries also often result in long-term problems with emotional control, memory, and thinking.
Brain injuries can occur in many ways. One way they can occur is when there is a rapid acceleration or deceleration of the head. This rapid change in speed causes the brain to hit the inside of the skull – resulting in damage.
Brain injuries also occur when there is penetrating head trauma that causes damage to an area of the brain.
According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), traumatic brain injuries are one of the top leading causes of death in children under 19 years old. The CDC also reports that children have the greatest risk of death or disability after suffering a traumatic brain injury, with high rates of school dropouts and behavioral issues as adults.
In addition, more than 2.5 million brain injuries occur every year in the U.S.
- Half of these injuries are caused by falls
- Approximately 20 percent are caused by being hit by an object or struck against something
- 16 percent result from car crashes
- Assaults cause 10 percent
- 6 percent are due to sports injuries.
Sadly, brain injuries are responsible for more than 3,000 deaths annually. This means that every 19 minutes, someone dies from a traumatic brain injury.
How Can You Prevent a Brain Injury?
Brain injuries are not always preventable. However, there are some ways you can reduce the risk of suffering a serious head injury. Prevention methods include:
- Wear seat belts or car seats when you are riding as a passenger in a vehicle
- Wear helmets while playing contact sports like football or ice hockey
- Always use a motorcycle helmet and a bicycle helmet when riding
- Avoid extreme sports activities that cause head trauma, such as rock climbing, or bungee jumping
- Walk on sidewalks whenever possible to avoid pedestrian accidents
- Maintain proper safety around heavy machinery
- Use caution when climbing ladders or when on scaffolding
Filing a Brain Injury Lawsuit
If you have suffered from a traumatic brain injury because of someone else’s neglect, it is important to seek legal guidance. Brain injury cases are complex and often require the expertise of a brain injury attorney. You need to know what your legal options are in regards to filing a personal injury claim for monetary damages against responsible parties.
Filing a brain injury lawsuit may be your next step. Brain injuries are serious. They can be life-altering for the victim and their families. As such, lawsuits are often necessary to collect the compensation you need to pay for medical expenses, lost wages, and disabilities.
However, not all brain injury claims end in personal injury lawsuits, either. There are other options like workers’ compensation claims that may work for some people.
If you do decide to proceed with filing a brain injury lawsuit, you will need a lawyer on your side to help you avoid unnecessary delays. Your brain injury attorney will fight for your rights against large insurance companies and their adjusters. This enables you to focus your energy and efforts on your recovery and on putting your life back together again after a serious brain injury.
Contact Our Atlanta Injury Lawyers
If you suffered a brain injury in an accident anywhere in Atlanta, we can help you pursue maximum compensation. Our law firm offers FREE initial consultations and reviews, so you can get the answers you need – when you need them. We provide free consultations with no obligation required. All cases are taken on contingency, which means that there are no fees unless you receive compensation through settlement or judgment in your case.
Call 404-587-8946 or fill out our confidential contact form. Just call and JUST WIN.
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