Today is national Brain Injury Awareness Day. Traditionally led by the Brain Injury Association of America (www.biausa.org), the organization in conjunction with the Congressional Brain Injury Task Force hosts a schedule of programming on Capitol Hill dedicated to engaging public awareness about issues relating to brain injury, including the incidence of brain injury and the needs of people afflicted with brain injuries and their families. The public awareness campaign — which occurs throughout the entire month of March (Brain Injury Awareness Month) — is also focused on de-stigmatizing brain injury, empowering those living with brain injuries, and promoting the various types of support available to people living with brain injury.
Passen & Powell represents a significant number of clients living with brain injuries, including traumatic brain injury (TBI) and acquired brain injury (ABI). That is not surprising when you consider the statistics: Every 9 seconds someone in the United States sustains a brain injury.
Traumatic Brain Injury
A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is caused by trauma to the brain from an external force. TBI injuries are often life-threatening — indeed, every day, nearly 140 people die in the United States from a TBI-related injury. Even when a TBI is considered “mild” or “moderate”, the brain damage can be permanent and cause lifelong disability.
TBI is most often caused by falls (such as on construction sites, due to unsafe premises, etc.), motor vehicle accidents (car, truck, motorcycle, bus, etc.), or being struck in the head by an object (i.e. workplace accidents, head trauma during recreational sports, etc.):
When the TBI was caused by the careless or reckless conduct of another, Passen & Powell can help hold those responsible accountable through the civil justice system.
Acquired Brain Injury (ABI)
Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) is a non-traumatic injury to the brain that is not hereditary, congenital, degenerative, or induced by birth trauma. More than 3.5 million people sustain an ABI each year. Typical causes of ABI include:
- Electric shock;
- Infections;
- Lightning strike;
- Near drowning;
- Oxygen deprivation (Hypoxic-Anoxic Brain Injury);
- Stroke;
- Seizure disorder;
- Substance abuse/Overdose;
- Toxic exposure;
- Tumors
Brain Injury From Birth Trauma
Brain injury may occur at birth due to a number of factors — both avoidable and unavoidable. Brain damage may be caused during a traumatic labor and delivery process causing decreased oxygen (hypoxia) or a complete lack of oxygen (anoxia) leading to decreased blood flow to a baby’s brain (ischemia). Brain injury caused during labor and delivery is rare, and often the result of medical negligence.
Each state has different statutes of limitations — the time period in which a lawsuit must be brought or else it is forever barred — which is why if a parent suspects their child suffered a brain injury at birth due to medical error, it is critical to contact an experienced medical negligence law firm, such as Passen & Powell, as soon as possible.
For a Free Consultation with one of our top-rated attorneys regarding a brain injury you suspect was caused by the wrongful conduct of another, call us at 312-527-4500.
