Traumatic brain injuries occur in a wide variety of ways throughout the state of California. Often, these incidents are caused by the negligent actions of another individual, business, or entity.
The Facts About Brain Injuries
According to data available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), we can see that there were approximately 61,000 traumatic brain injury deaths across the country during the latest reporting year. The CDC says that brain injuries can affect individuals of all ages.
Traumatic Causes of Brain Injuries
The CDC says that the main causes of traumatic brain injuries include the following:
- Vehicle accidents. Vehicle accidents are a leading cause of injuries throughout the state of California, and they are the leading cause of severe traumatic brain injuries. Traumatic brain injuries occur in vehicle versus vehicle accidents and are much more likely to happen when one vehicle significantly outweighs the other (commercial truck accidents). Other vehicle-related collisions also produce brain injuries: pedestrian accidents, bicycle accidents, motorcycle accidents, scooter accidents, and other vulnerable roadway user incidents.
- Falls. One of the most common causes of traumatic brain injuries are falls: from heights, bicycles, elevated platforms, and while walking via slip and fall accidents. These incidents can occur at work, on roadways or on property owned by other individuals. At Walkup Melodia, we have seen fall accidents that occur at work, in public buildings, on sidewalks, in restaurants or in grocery stores that have led to severe injuries. Fall incidents can also occur from one level to another, and this type of accident is particularly prevalent in the construction industry.
- Violence or gunshot wounds. Firearms can certainly lead to traumatic brain injuries. Firearm brain injuries occur either as a result of an assault by another individual or as a result of self-inflicted wounds. Additionally, domestic violence and child abuse are both types of violence that can lead to a traumatic brain injury developing.
Non-Traumatic Causes of Brain Injuries
Not all brain injuries occur as a result of an outward traumatic incident. In some cases, brain injuries occur as a result of:
- Strokes
- Lack of oxygen
- Tumors
- Illnesses such as cancer
- Brain infections or inflammation
- Other infections
We mention these seemingly “non-traumatic” causes of brain injuries because there are times when these causes could be the fault of another party. For example, a vehicle accident could lead to a massive loss of blood or other injuries that cause internal complications, either immediately or in the weeks and months that follow the incident. A crash victim could develop a blood clot as a result of these complications, and this could lead to a lack of oxygen to the brain and cause a brain injury.
Working With a Brain Injury Attorney
If you or somebody you care about has sustained a brain injury caused by the negligence of another party in California, reach out to a San Francisco brain injury attorney immediately. A lawyer can use their resources to handle every aspect of your claim and work to recover maximum compensation for your losses.
