How they happen and how they impact survivors

1. TRAUMATIC BRAIN
INJURIES
HOW THEY HAPPEN AND HOW THEY IMPACT SURVIVORS

2. What is a Traumatic Brain Injury?
A blow or jolt to the head that disrupts the function of the brain is called a traumatic brain
injury (TBI). A TBI can be mild, moderate or severe. A concussion, for example, is
considered a mild TBI. However, many brain injuries can have devastating long-lasting
consequences on a sufferer. In the pages that follow, we’ll look at how these injuries
typically occur and what the impact is on a TBI victim.

3. How Common is TBI?
 Every day in the United States, 153 people
die due to injuries that include TBI.
 Every year, around 1.7 million people suffer a
TBI.
 Of those 1.7 million, 52,000 die, 275,000 are
hospitalized and over 1.3 million are treated
in emergency rooms.
 TBI is a contributing factor in around one-
third of all injury-related deaths.

4. Falls and TBI
Falls are the leading cause of traumatic brain injuries, accounting for nearly
half of all TBIs treated in hospitals. These falls can occur in the workplace, in
public or in our own homes. Children ages 14 and under and adults ages
65 and older are disproportionately affected by fall-related TBIs.

5. Vehicle Accidents and TBI
Vehicle crashes are another major contributor to
TBI in the United States. Crashes are the leading
cause of TBI-related hospitalizations for people
ages 15 to 44. They are also the leading cause
of TBI-related death for people ages 5 to 24.

6. Being Struck by an Object
Being struck by or against an object is one of the most common causes of
TBI. This can happen in a workplace accident or during a sporting event or
recreational activity. Being struck by or against an object is the second-
leading cause of all TBIs.

7. The Consequences of a Serious Head Injury
A TBI can lead to physical, mental and emotional
problems. These include:
 Dizziness
 Nausea
 Headaches
 Cognitive impairment
 Difficulty processing language
 Difficulty speaking
 Memory problems
 Vision impairment
 Anxiety
 Depression

8. Other Long-term Effects of TBI
A TBI victim will likely suffer serious problems well after they have been treated. Within 5 years of
suffering a moderate to severe TBI, around half of sufferers will die or see their condition worsen.
Only one-quarter report getting better. The life expectancy of someone with a moderate to severe
TBI is nine years shorter than someone without TBI. They are 50 times more likely to die from
seizures, 11 times more likely to die from accidental drug poisoning and 9 times more likely to die
from infections.

9. Looking for Signs of TBI
While signs and symptoms of a TBI are often
obvious - unconsciousness, dizziness, nausea,
confusion, etc. - they can sometimes be more
difficult to identify. In many cases, it is only in the
days, weeks or months following the injury that a
sufferer or their loved ones notice that something
isn’t quite right. It is vital that a person seek
medical tests and treatment even if there is a slight
possibility they have suffered a TBI.

10. Legal Options for Victims
A TBI can be very painful, debilitating and costly. It can disrupt a person’s life and the lives
of their loved ones in many ways. A serious head injury may permanently alter a person’s
life, decrease their ability to earn an income and require lifelong medical treatment. If a
head injury was caused by someone else’s negligence - a reckless driver, an employer, a
business - victims have the right to file a personal injury claim to recover the costs
associated with their injury.

11. Contact Kaplan Lawyers PC
If you or a loved one has suffered a traumatic brain injury
in New York and are considering taking legal action
against the negligent party, we encourage you to call
Kaplan Lawyers PC. We fight to make sure our clients get
the maximum compensation for their injuries. We offer
free consultations and earn no fee unless we win your
case. Contact Kaplan Lawyers PC by filling out our online
form or calling us at any of our office locations:
 (212) 563-1900 (NYC)
 (516) 399-2364 (Nassau County)
 (347) 758-9011 (Brooklyn)
 (631) 619-5309 (Suffolk County)
 (917) 382-9212 (Queens)