Every March for more than 30 years, the Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA), has invited the nation to take part in observing Brain Injury Awareness Month to bring public awareness and education to the forefront of how head trauma is viewed and treated. 

According to the BIAA, someone sustains a brain injury every nine seconds in the U.S., and each person’s journey to wellness thereafter can take months, years, or even a lifetime, depending on the degree of head injury they have sustained.

At 612-INJURED, our traumatic brain injury attorneys would like to do our part in observing Brain Injury Awareness Month by explaining the different types of brain injuries — both traumatic and acquired — to enhance the understanding of these neurological conditions with our audience. We will also extend a helping hand to pursue the negligent parties who are responsible for our clients’ brain injuries to ensure they can get the care they need now and going forward.  

What is the Difference between Traumatic Brain Injuries and Acquired Brain Injuries? 

Traumatic Brain Injuries, or TBI, are caused by an external force that jolts or directly hits the head. TBI accounts for nearly three million emergency department visits, hospitalizations, and fatalities each year throughout the U.S, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

Each year throughout the country:

  • 48% of traumatic brain injuries are caused by falls
  • 17% of TBIs result from being struck by or against an object
  • Motor vehicle collisions account for 13% of all reported TBIs in the nation
  • Assaults are the cause of 8% of traumatic brain injuries
  • Other/Unknown: 14%

Currently, the CDC lists that approximately 5.5 million people live with a TBI-related disability in the U.S., affecting one in sixty people throughout the country.

Unfortunately, not everyone who sustains a traumatic brain injury survives the circumstances. Nearly 50,000 people lose their lives to TBIs each year in the U.S., which equals just under 137 deaths per day.

Conversely, Acquired Brain Injuries are those that arise from developing circumstances that affect more than 3.5 million Americans each year.

Acquired brain injuries are often caused by:

  • Infectious Diseases
  • Near Drownings
  • Oxygen Deprivation
  • Electric Shock
  • Seizures
  • Substance Abuse or Overdose
  • Lightning Strikes
  • Strokes
  • Tumors
  • Toxic Exposure

Whether a brain injury is acquired or traumatic, it may affect one or more parts of the injured person’s faculties, including their cognitive, physical, emotional, and behavioral abilities, which can lead to significant challenges going forward.

Brain Injury Awareness Month was designated to shine a light on these difficulties, so sufferers can get more than just the medical care they need, but the support and understanding they deserve within their communities.

How Is 612-INJURED Helping Brain Injury Victims?

At 612-INJURED, our personal injury attorneys understand that traumatic and acquired brain injuries can affect all aspects of people’s lives, including relationships with family and friends, as well as their ability to work, do household chores, drive, or enjoy other daily activities.

Because these injuries are far-reaching, our lawyers provide experienced legal representation for individuals who have suffered traumatic brain injuries during life-changing events like car accidents and construction accidents that require lengthy medical care, rehabilitation, and therapy.

Throughout the United States last year, the complete economic cost of traumatic brain injuries reached nearly $77 billion, overwhelming both the injured and their family members who may also share the duty of caregivers.

For our clients, those costs include:

  • Emergency, ongoing, and future medical expenses
  • Rehabilitation and therapy expenses
  • Prescription and medical device costs
  • Lost wages and diminished working capacity
  • Temporary and permanent disability

Our traumatic brain injury lawyers focus on evaluating each of our client’s unique financial needs — now and going forward — to pursue the negligent party who caused their injuries for their full recovery, so they may continue to get the care they need to rebuild their lives.

To ensure we are developing an accurate and complete legal case to submit to the liable party’s insurance company, we will meet with our client’s physicians, long-term care providers, and their family members turned caregivers to learn how their brain injuries have affected their day-to-day lives to ensure no detail is left to chance when calculating their complete injury needs.

Our personal injury attorneys understand how devastating these injuries can be to survivors and their caregivers, which is why we pursue legal solutions that will empower both parties and ensure they have the support they need to fully address their injuries. In doing so, we can help those affected live full lives.

Have You or Someone You Love Suffered a Catastrophic Brain Injury?

If you have suffered a catastrophic brain injury in a collision or due to a property owner’s negligence, contact our skilled personal injury attorneys at 612-INJURED today by calling or texting us at (612) 465-8733 or contact us online for a free consultation to learn more about how we customize our legal strategies for each client we represent, so you can get the medical care you need while we pursue the financial recovery necessary to enhance your quality of life.