The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has just released its report, Traumatic Brain Injury in the United States: Emergency Department Visits, Hospitalizations, and Deaths, 2002-2006. Researchers analyzed data from 2002 to 2006 in an attempt to identify the leading causes of traumatic brain injury (TBI), as well to identify the incidence by age, race and gender.
It is important to understand the significance of a traumatic brain injury, which is the result of a bump, blow or jolt to the head. TBI can impact the brain’s function, leading to lifelong complications, ranging from language problems to memory loss. It is an injury that affects the entire family and results in high medical costs over the life of the patient.
According to the report, traumatic brain injuries contribute to almost a third of injury-related deaths in the United States. Some of the other findings included in the report are as follows:
- The individuals who are most likely to sustain a TBI include children up to 4 years of age, adolescents from 15 to 19 years, and adults 65 years and older.
- Falls are the leading cause of traumatic brain injury.
- Traffic accidents account for 17.3 percent of TBI cases, making it the second leading cause of this type of injury.
- Males seem to be at a higher risk than females of suffering from a traumatic brain injury.
“This report not only presents TBI numbers, it helps to show the impact of this injury nationwide. These date can help to impact the lives of millions of Americans as they serve as building blocks that guide TBI prevention strategies,” said Richard C. Hunt, M.D., director of CDC’s Division for Injury Response.
If you or a loved one has sustained a brain injury caused by someone else’s negligence, contact an experienced California brain injury attorney at Steinberg Injury Lawyers at (800) 989-6385.
