Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is considered to be a serious public health concern by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Every year, approximately 1.7 million people in the United States suffer some form of TBI, with thousands of these types of injuries happening in South Carolina. The consequences of these injuries range in severity between a mild concussion and permanent disability such as paralysis.
The following are the five main causes of TBI according to the CDC:
- Falls (47%) – The most common accidents that result in TBI are falls. Among children ages 0 to 14 years old, falls contribute to 50% of TBIs. For seniors of the age of 65, falls consist of 62% of TBIs.
- Striking or being struck by an object (15%) – Being struck or against an object accounts for one in five TBI-related injuries in children under the age of 15 years old. These injuries are the result of being unintentionally struck by another person or an object.
- Car accidents (14%) – Auto collisions are considered the third leading cause of TBI among all age groups. Furthermore, these types of accidents are the leading cause of fatalities from brain injury (32%).
- Other or unknown (21%) – Unknown makes up for 12% of all TBIs, while 9% are categorized as other, including injuries resulting from explosions, electrocutions, fireworks, radiation exposure, burns, and animal scratches.
- Assault (10%) – Only 2.9% of children under 15 years of age and only 1% of adults aged 65 and older were injured in this manner.
If you suffered a brain injury caused by a negligent party in SC, contact our Charleston personal injury attorneys at Pierce | Sloan today.