Traumatic brain injury (TBI) may occur anytime the head is subjected to a bump, blow, or jolt, and it is a top cause of death and disability in the US. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that TBI leads to around 175 fatalities every day, and these head injuries are a factor in 25% of all accidental deaths nationwide. Plus, approximately 223,000 people are hospitalized for TBI annually, with medical complications and long-term consequences that have a profound impact on the victim’s life.
The CDC also stresses that TBI is preventable with the exercise of due care. Unfortunately, there are parties that engage in negligent, careless acts that increase the potential for accidents. Florida personal injury laws cover these situations, so you should consult with a Miami catastrophic injuries lawyer to learn about your legal remedies. It is also helpful to review some additional details on who is prone to TBI.
Statistics and Demographics for TBI
Data on the age of victims is important as a starting point for understanding who is most at risk for head and other catastrophic injuries. The top age group for fatal TBI is individuals aged 75 years and older, with an average of 16,950 deaths annually. Older individuals aged 55 to 74 are also at a higher risk of head injuries, with 15,660 fatalities. In addition:
- Men suffer TBI almost twice as often as women, at 44,500 to 16,000 deaths, respectively.
- The CDC reports that there are 25,200 fatalities from head injuries in the South, a region that includes Florida. This figure represents about 42% of all TBI deaths in the US.
- Children aged birth to 17 years old account for just 4.1% of fatalities from head injuries.
- Approximately 15% of all high school athletes reported sports-related TBI within the preceding year.
Common Causes of Accidental TBI
Surprisingly, the top cause of TBI-related fatalities is suicide, which the CDC includes in statistics on unintentional injuries because it is preventable. However, there are other trends that shed light on who is most prone to head injuries.
Unintentional falls account for 29.9% of all TBI fatalities. Almost 18,100 people die because of these head injuries, many of them elderly.
Motor vehicle collisions account for 17% of TBI deaths. They are the #1 cause of TBI-related deaths in children aged 0 to 17. The age group with the highest number of fatal head injuries in traffic crashes is 15 to 24.
Another top cause of TBI is being struck by or against an object, which is common in the workplace environment.
Contact a Miami Catastrophic Injuries Attorney to Discuss Legal Rights
Whenever negligence causes an accident, a victim may qualify to recover compensation for medical costs, pain and suffering, and other losses. Gerson & Schwartz, PA, is committed to assisting accident victims who suffer TBI and other catastrophic injuries, so contact us today. You can schedule a free consultation at our offices in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, or West Palm Beach, FL, by calling (305) 371-6000 or going online.