More than one million people in the United States suffer traumatic brain injuries every year, and mounting research indicates that even mild head injuries may cause more damage than doctors suspected in the past. If you have suffered a head injury in a motor vehicle accident or another type of accident in Georgia, contact our reputable attorneys at Rechtman & Spevak for legal help. You may have grounds to file a personal injury lawsuit against the allegedly negligent person or party, in order to pursue financial compensation for your injuries, medical bills, and pain and suffering. Our lawyers have years of experience protecting the legal rights of accident victims throughout the state of Georgia, and will work diligently to help you seek the reimbursement you deserve.
Head Injuries Leading to Brain Damage
A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is an acquired form of brain damage occurring when sudden trauma to the head causes injury to the brain. TBIs can be classified as mild injuries – when a person is struck in the head and suffers a concussion or temporary loss of consciousness – to severe injuries – where an injury to the brain results from movement of the brain within the skull, or when an object actually pierces the skull and penetrates brain tissue. Overall, traumatic brain injuries contribute to a considerable number of deaths and cases of permanent disability in the United States, and several new studies suggest that even mild head injuries can cause more damage to the brain than previously believed.
Adverse Effects of Traumatic Brain Injuries
According to a study published recently in the journal Radiology, patients who experience a mild TBI continue to suffer a measurable loss of brain volume one year after sustaining an initial concussion, leading to cognitive symptoms like anxiety and changes in memory and attention. Another recent study looking at college football players indicates that athletes may experience significant and long-lasting brain damage caused by repeated head injuries, even when they do not sustain what is considered a traditional concussion. A third study involving animal subjects was published recently and found that even mild brain injuries can interrupt blood flow to the brain, which can lead to significant brain damage as synapses in the brain begin to die.
Consult Our Knowledgeable Attorneys for Legal Help
Although significant attention has been paid recently to the risk of traumatic brain injuries among athletes, particularly football players, the threat of life-altering head injuries is far more widespread in the United States. Virtually anyone is at risk of suffering a devastating head injury, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that the most common cause of traumatic brain injuries is fall accidents (35.2%), followed by motor vehicle accidents (17.3%), struck by/against events (16.5%) and assaults (10%). If you have suffered a serious head injury or traumatic brain injury in Georgia, and you believe another person or party’s negligence to be the cause, consult our knowledgeable lawyers at Rechtman & Spevak today.