California Traumatic Brain Injury Statistics

Traumatic brain injuries, also known as TBIs, are one of the most serious types of injuries from accidents. Considering that the jolting, jostling conditions of a car accident or a slip and fall are ideal for causing either a closed or penetrating head injury, it's not difficult to see why.

Though mild traumatic brain injuries, commonly called concussions, often heal on their own with time and plenty of rest, some mild TBIs do not resolve regardless of all proper medical care and treatment.  Further, moderate to severe TBIs can have long-lasting or even lifelong consequences. Here's what you need to know about TBI statistics in California and beyond.

TBI: By the Numbers

• TBIs are a major cause of disability and death in the United States, contributing to approximately 30 percent of all injury-related deaths, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
• TBI is the diagnosis in more than 282,000 hospitalizations and 2.5 million emergency room visits each year.
• Among all demographics, car accidents are the third leading cause of TBI-related emergency room visits, hospitalizations, and deaths.
• Car accidents are the leading cause of TBI-related death for people between the ages of 5 and 24.
• Nearly 32,900 people were diagnosed with a non-fatal TBI and hospitalized in California in 2014 alone, according to the California Department of Public Health (CDPH).
• TBI was the primary or principal diagnosis in approximately 60 percent of those almost 32,900 cases.
• An additional more than 251,000 Californians were treated for a TBI and released (rather than hospitalized) that same year.

Living With a TBI

Those fortunate enough to survive a severe TBI aren't out of the woods, because the injuries may be detrimental for the balance of one's life.   The effects of a TBI can last a lifetime and may include cognition, motor sensory, communication, and behavioral impairments. These deficits not only can negatively affect a person's ability to hold a job, maintain appropriate relationships, or even care for themselves—but they can also have a devastating effect on the victim's family, social circle, and community.

Sadly, more than 5.3 million children and adults in the United States are living with a lifelong disability as a result of a TBI.

Depending on the severity of the TBI and resulting impairments, patients with TBIs may require in-home or in-facility assistive care, assistive devices (such as walkers or wheelchairs), various therapies, medications, and more—the cost of which can quickly become insurmountable. According to a study conducted by researchers at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine, the lifetime costs of treatment for a TBI can range from $85,000 to $3 million.

Seeking Compensation for a TBI Sustained in an Accident

A TBI can be both physically and financially devastating. However, if the TBI was sustained in an accident caused by another person or entity's negligence, you may have grounds to file a personal injury lawsuit and seek compensation for a wide range of economic and non-economic damages, including:

• Accident-related medical expenses
• Property damages
• Lost wages
• Loss of income
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional anguish
• Disability

In a personal injury case, you—and your attorney—will be required to prove the following in order to obtain a financial award:

• The defendant owed the plaintiff a duty of care.
• The defendant breached that duty.
• The breached duty resulted in the plaintiff's injury.
• The injury would not have occurred were it not for the defendant's negligence.

If this sounds like a tall order, don't worry. A knowledgeable and experienced personal injury attorney can investigate your claims and help you build a strong case.

Consult an Experienced California Personal Injury Attorney