March is Brain Injury Awareness Month

People who suffer a traumatic brain injury (TBI) are often misunderstood and suffer in silence. For more than three decades, Brain Injury Awareness Month has raised awareness of their issues and tackled public misconceptions.

A brain injury occurs every 16 seconds in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Health professionals report 1.5 to 2 million traumatic brain injuries each year. Traumatic brain injury is the leading cause of death and disability among children and young adults.

The Smith Law Center pioneered traumatic brain injury litigation in the United States. Attorney Stephen M. Smith has more than 44 years of experience in brain injury cases and is an internationally-recognized TBI expert who is often called on to speak about brain damage. Please contact us if another driver, a business, or a healthcare provider caused your brain injury.

The Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA) has led the nation in the observance of Brain Injury Awareness Month in March for over 30 years. The theme of the campaign from 2018 to 2020 is #ChangeYourMind.

The BIAA states on its website that the #ChangeYourMind public campaign is essentially an educational platform. The more we know about the effects of a brain injury, the more we can understand the needs and challenges faced by people who live with TBIs. The awareness month aims to:

• Empower people who suffered a brain injury and their carers;
• De-stigmatize the injury through community outreach; and
• Promote the support available for people who struggle with TBIs.

What Are the Main Causes of Brain Injuries?

A brain injury is often a life-changer for the victim. However, many people who suffer a concussion, which is a mild traumatic brain injury, make a full recovery. Brain injuries are usually unexpected and follow an accident or an acute health condition. The main causes of brain injuries are:

1. Falls

Older people and the young are particularly vulnerable to head injuries in falls. Falls account for about half of all TBIs.

2. Car Accidents

Car, truck, motorcycle, cycling, and pedestrian accidents account for about 380,000 brain injuries a year, according to Brainline. Vehicle accidents cause the largest proportion of TBI-related deaths.

3. Impacts with Objects

As many as one in five TBI-related injuries are caused by falling objects or being unintentionally hit by another object or a person.

4. Assaults

Assaults cause about 10 percent of traumatic brain injuries. These include punches and gunshots.

5. Sporting Accidents

Contact sports can cause multiple concussions that threaten long-term health effects in players. States like Virginia have strong concussion protocols intended to remove athletes from the field if they suffer a concussion. Football, soccer, and boxing are associated with head injuries.

6. Stroke

Stroke is the major cause of a non-traumatic or acquired brain injury. A stroke causes an interruption of oxygen to the brain and can kill cells. Every year, a million people suffer a stroke in America. Studies also show people who suffer a traumatic brain injury face a greater danger from a stroke.

7. Medical Malpractice

Mistakes by doctors, anesthesiologists, nurses, and other medical professionals that deprive a patient’s brain of oxygen can cause brain damage. A failure to act promptly to a medical emergency during delivery can leave an infant with permanent brain damage.

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Brain Injury Awareness Month Highlights the Symptoms of People With TBI

The brain is very complicated. A TBI affects different people in different ways. Sometimes auto accident or slip and fall victims don’t realize they suffered a brain injury until family members notice subtle changes in mood and behavior. You are entitled to compensation for changes in your life if another party caused your injury.

A brain injury can cause the following behavioral changes:

• Memory problems
• Issues with social relationships
• Inexplicable feelings of anger
• Depression
• Withdrawal
• Confusion
• Sensitivity to bright lights
• Speech disorders
• Inappropriate behavior in social situations
• Inability to work or concentrate
• Insomnia
• Impulsiveness
• Uncharacteristic behavior

Talk to a Leading Virginia-Based Brain Injury Lawyer About Your Case

At the Smith Law Center, we help many people who struggle to overcome traumatic brain injuries every year. Attorney Stephen Smith is the founder of the Brain Injury Law Center. He has litigated high-profile cases involving major catastrophic injuries across the United States and the rest of the world. The Hampton-based lawyer won the largest personal injury verdict in Virginia’s history and the largest mild traumatic brain injury verdict ever awarded.

People who suffer a traumatic brain injury sometimes require ongoing medical care for the rest of their lives. Medical bills can reach millions of dollars. It’s vital to hire an experienced Virginia brain injury lawyer to fight the at-fault party and to recover as much money as possible for your serious injury.

If you or a family member suffered a TBI, please call our experienced Virginia brain injury lawyers at (757) 244-7000.