Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs) affect some 1.8 million people each year, according to data published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). These injuries occur when a jolt or blow to the head causes injury to the brain resulting in a disruption in normal brain function. Some of the issues that people who sustain TBIs can experience for weeks, months, or even years after an accident include headaches, sensitivity to light and sound, problems with speech and communication, trouble concentrating, and difficulty with problem solving. Our attorneys specialize representing the catastrophically injured due to the negligent, reckless, or intentional acts of third parties.
While many people assume that traumatic brain injuries can only be caused be serious accidents, they actually can be (and often are) caused by everyday incidents that you would ordinarily not associate with serious injuries. Some common examples of accidents that fall into this category are discussed below.
Slip and Falls
Most people associate with slip and falls with injuries like bumps, bruises, cuts, or the occasional broken bone. While many slips, trips, and falls do leave victims with these kinds of injuries, they are also capable of causing TBIs, particularly if a person lands head-first or hits his or her head on an object while falling.
Minor Car Accidents
Relatively minor car accidents can easily cause a brain injury, as even a moderate blow to the head can result in a concussion, which is a form of mild TBI. In addition, TBIs can occur in accidents that do not result in a direct head injury. Research shows that TBIs can occur if the head snaps back and forth on the neck with sufficient force, as often occurs to front vehicle occupants in rear-end accidents.
Sports Injuries
Many sports injuries seem like a normal part of the way that a game is played and therefore not a cause for concern. For example, football and hockey players often engage in helmet-to-helmet contact during a tackle or a check, baseball players occasionally are hit in the head by an errant throw or fly ball, and soccer players often intentionally use their heads to strike the ball.
Unfortunately, these kinds of incidents are capable of causing traumatic brain injuries, and recent lawsuits against the NFL and NHL have drawn attention to the cumulative effects of repetitive head trauma. For this reason, it is critical for anyone who believes that he or she may have sustained a TBI should be sure to seek medical attention as soon as possible.
Call a Gerson & Schwartz, P.A. Today to Speak with a Miami Traumatic Brain Injury Attorney
If you or a family member has sustained a traumatic brain injury in an accident caused by the negligence of another person, you may be able to recover significant compensation under Florida law. To schedule a free consultation with Miami Florida personal injury lawyer, call our office today at (877) 475-2905 or contact us online.