A traumatic brain injury is defined as an alteration in brain function, or other
evidence of brain pathology, caused by an external force. Brain injuries can have a
severe impact on the quality of life for the victim and for their family members as
well. In some instances, the traumatic brain injury may be caused by the negligence
of another person, requiring the retention of an attorney to represent a victim’s
interest in seeking compensation.
The number of traumatic brain injuries that take place in the United States each year
is staggering. More than 2.2 million people are treated and released from medical
facilities after a brain injury. Of these, 280,000 are hospitalized and from this, about
52,000 pass away.
According to the Center for Disease Control and Injury Prevention Control Center,
the top five causes of traumatic brain injury are:
Falls – 40.5%
Unknown or other – 19%
Struck by something – 15.5%
Motor vehicle accidents – 14.3%
Assault – 10.7%
From these causes, there are several different types of traumatic brain injuries that
occur:
Diffuse Axonal Injury – caused by shaking or a strong rotation of the head, such as
with Shaken Baby Syndrome, or as with a car accident, causing nerve tissue to tear.
Concussion – caused by direct blows to the head, from sports injuries, gunshot
wounds and related occurrences. Can take a few months to up to a few years to
heal.
Contusion – caused by a direct impact to the head resulting in a bruise and bleeding
into the brain.
Coup-Contrecoup – contusions that are on the site of the blow to the head and the
complete opposite side of the head, generally as the result of a blow of great force.
Penetrating injury – caused by the impact of an object that lodges skin, bone, hair
and other objects into the brain.
Choulos, Choulos & Wyle proudly serve clients in San Francisco, Oakland and in
cities throughout the Bay Area.
