BSN Stock Photo - Medical

Types of Brain Injury

Brain injuries can occur in numerous ways, such as being hit in the head with an object, or forcefully hitting an object, like the dashboard of a car. When the victim receives a sudden hit to the head, it causes the person’s brain to strike against the inside of the skull. When someone receives a brain injury in this manner, it is referred to as a closed-head brain injury.

Another way in which someone can suffer a brain injury is when their skull is pierced with some sort of object, such as a bullet or knife. When someone suffers an injury like this, it is called open-head brain injury. Open-head brain injuries are not nearly as common as closed-head injuries.

According to statistics from the Mayo Clinic, there are around 1.4 million Americans who suffer from traumatic brain injuries every year. The good news is that more than 75 percent of these brain injuries are only mild concussions and these are treatable. Mild concussions don’t typically carry any serious long-term effects.

The Most Common Brain Injury Causes

The two most common ways of sustaining a brain injury are:

• Slip-and-fall accidents, including stumbling and tripping accidents

• Vehicle accidents, which can involve SUVs, automobiles, buses, motorcycles, and tractor trailer rigs

Brain Injury from Slip, Trip, and Stumble Accidents
The number one cause of brain injuries is slip-and-fall accidents and they can happen even when we’re being careful.
Common slip, trip, and stumble accidents can happen inside or outside a building. Some examples include:

• Falling on a slippery floor in a department store

• Slipping or tripping on dangerous stairs in a mall

• Slipping on ice, sand or gravel on the sidewalk

• Stumbling on rough ground in a parking lot

• Tripping over grates or exposed pipes in retail center

Most of these causes of brain injuries take place on public property where we expect safety to be of utmost importance. On public property, the property owners and management are responsible for ensuring safe conditions at all times. Yet, accidents still happen because of the negligence of someone else and all of these types of falling accidents can lead to a serious brain injury.

Brain Injury from Motor Vehicle Accidents
The other leading cause of brain injuries is motor vehicle accidents. Motor vehicle accidents typically occur due to another driver’s negligence or unsafe conditions of our roadways. You can sustain a brain injury from any accident involving a motor vehicle, from a single or multiple car accident to an SUV rollover or a tractor-trailer crash.

In many states throughout the US, motor vehicle crashes are the leading causes of death and many of these accidents also cause serious brain injury to those who survive. Car accidents occur due to the recklessness of other drivers, from drunk driving, or simply not paying attention. Auto accidents can also take place due to dangerous road and highway conditions.

Dealing with a traumatic brain injury is not only difficult for the victim, but for those closest to them as well. If you or someone your love has suffered a brain injury from the negligence or carelessness of someone else in the Phoenix, Arizona area, please contact Snyder & Wenner to set up a free consultation. We will help you pick up the pieces and get the compensation you deserve for your pain and suffering.