Common Causes Of Traumatic Brain Injuries

Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) drastically change lives. A serious head injury can turn a spouse into a caregiver. A serious head injury can end careers. A serious head injury can take away your ability to walk, to speak, to see, and even to remember. But how do these tragic accidents take place, and how can we hope to prevent these injuries in the future?

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) 52,000 people die of traumatic brain injuries each year, while 275,000 are hospitalized with serious head injuries and 1.365 million people visit the emergency room annually due to head trauma. Even more people, the CDC notes, probably suffer serious brain injuries but never seek professional medical help.

What are the most common causes of these head injuries?

• Traffic accidents. Along with fall accidents, car accidents are the leading cause of traumatic head injuries in America. Head injuries are especially common in pedestrian accidents, bicycle accidents, motorcycle accidents, accidents in which occupants were not wearing seatbelts, and rollover accidents.
• Falls. While many people do not often consider falls serious, they are in fact tied for the leading cause of brain injuries in the United States. Fall from significant heights, senior citizen falls, and child falls are more likely to result in a severe head injury.
• Violent crimes and gunshot wounds. Physical assaults, shaken babies, domestic abuse, child abuse, and suicide attempts are responsible for roughly one out of ten serious head injuries. In many cases, assaults and gun violence result in some of the most tragic and long-term brain damage.
• Sports and recreation. Extreme activities and full-contact sports can lead to head trauma and concussions – particularly sports and activities including football, hockey, baseball, skiing, dirt bike racing, skateboarding, cycling, and diving.
• Combat and military-related activities. A record number of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans are returning from war with traumatic brain injures from explosions, IEDs, and gunshot wounds. Many also suffer from other injures as well as post-traumatic stress disorder.
• Work-related activities. Lumberjacks, construction workers, fisherman, and those working in agriculture all have a high risk for brain injury. In some cases, these injuries take place because employers do not follow state and federal safety regulations.