Every March, the Brain Injury Association of America makes an effort to raise public awareness of brain injuries.
Brain injuries are all too common: according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 1.7 million people suffer traumatic brain injuries each year. This type of injury is common among athletes—people who regularly expose themselves to the risk of hitting their heads, such as football players and skateboarders. Car accident victims may also suffer traumatic brain injuries.
What are the effects of a brain injury?
Traumatic Brain Injury can devastate someone’s health and functionality. Depending on the extent of the injury and what part of the brain is affected, changes can be far-reaching. A TBI can affect an accident victim’s ability to regulate emotion, communicate; it can effect short and/or long term memory – it can even cause someone to have to relearn simple things like how to get dressed and where they live. Learn more about the signs, symptoms and seriousness of TBI here.
Long-term effects
Traumatic brain injuries can lead to mental illnesses later in life, making it difficult to trace the causes. From one study:
In 2013, a group of Danish scientists found that individuals with TBI (including concussions) were four times more likely to develop a mental illness. People who had received a TBI were 65 percent more likely to develop schizophrenia, 59 percent more likely to develop depression and 28 percent more likely to develop bipolar disorder. This study is the largest of its kind and involved following 1.4 million Danish citizens born between the years 1977 and 2000.
An even more frightening fact linking an increased suicide rate to TBI: People who had received a concussion in the past were three times more likely to fall victim to suicide.
If you or a loved one were injured in an accident that was the result of another person’s negligence, first seek medical attention. Then call the experienced Bellingham personal injury attorneys at Bill Coats Law for your free consultation. We will listen to you, review your case, and fight for the compensation you deserve.
Learn more about handling head injury claims after a car accident.