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What to Do if Your Teenager Suffered a Traumatic Brain Injury

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What to Do if Your Teenager Suffered a Traumatic Brain Injury

What to Do if Your Teenager Suffered a Traumatic Brain Injury

For teenagers across the United States, high school is not only a place to learn but also a hot spot for exciting physical fitness and athletic games. From football to basketball (and even cheerleading for girls on the sidelines), teenagers have ample opportunities to get up and stretch their legs in the most exciting ways.

However, moments of joy can quickly be cut short when your son or daughter (without warning) winds up in the hospital due to a traumatic brain injury. Although athletics can be fun, injuries can strike without warning and with a vengeance. In some cases, though, someone else may be to blame for your child’s accident.

If your son or daughter has become the victim of a traumatic brain injury, remember not to panic. With the help of an attorney knowledgeable in personal injury lawsuits, you can easily create a viable case in court and get the justice your son or daughter deserves.

CLASSIFICATION OF A TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY

The Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA) classifies the most common types of brain What to Do if Your Teenager Suffered a Traumatic Brain Injuryinjuries under the category of acquired brain injuries (ABI). Overall, an ABI is a brain injury that has not been inherited by the victim and is not classified as congenital or degenerative. Typically, ABIs impact neuronal activity, which (in turn) controls nerve function and integrity.

BIAA recognizes two classifications of ABIs:

  • Traumatic brain injury: a disruption of regular brain function triggered by an external force (can be further categorized as penetrating or non-penetrating, depending on the extent of the injury)
  • Non-traumatic brain injury: a disruption of regular brain function triggered by an internal problem  

DIAGNOSING TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURIES

To diagnose a possible traumatic brain injury, doctors may utilize one or more neurological tests to investigate the person’s physical problems, the brain’s function, potential nerve damage, and consciousness level. Here are some of the most common tests:

  • Glasgow Coma Scale: measures a victim’s ability to speak, open his/her eyes, and move
  • TBI measurement: ranking the victim’s consciousness, potential memory problems, and overall GCS score (scores indicate mild to severe TBI)
  • Speech and language: evaluation of speech skills, language skills, evaluation of speech muscles, use of grammar, utilization of vocabulary, and reading/writing skills
  • Cognition and neuropsychology: measures cognitive skills (critical thinking, problem-solving skills, the processing of information, and memory storage) and neuropsychological abilities (measurement of higher cognitive functions)
  • Imaging tests: taking pictures of the victims’ brains
  • Military tests: procedures for analyzing TBIs in military settings

STATISTICS FOR TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURIES IN THE U.S.

According to the Delaware Coalition for Injury Prevention, an estimated 1.7 million people suffer from a traumatic brain injury each year in our country. Out of these victims:

  • 52,000 die as a result of their injuries.
  • 275,000 require hospitalization.
  • 1.365 million (about 80% of these victims) and successfully treated by the Emergency Department and are released sometime later.

In 2010 alone, 116 fatalities were triggered by traumatic brain injuries.

Here is a closer look at the most common causes of TBI:

  • Falls are the most common causes of TBIs in the United States (ranking at 35.2%).
  • Motor vehicle accidents are the second most common causes of these injuries (ranking at 17.3%).
  • Assaults trigger 10% of TBIs in our country.

YOUR DELAWARE LEGAL SOLUTION

Life can quickly take a terrifying turn if your child has suffered from a traumatic brain injury due to negligence or malicious intent. No one should be put in so much danger at any time. Here at Edelstein, Martin, & Nelson, our team of professional attorneys are passionate about our practice and are fully knowledgeable in the laws, rules, and statutes surrounding severe traumatic brain injuries and other personal injury cases throughout the State of Delaware.

We can guarantee you will receive the justice you deserve and are ready to help you create a case based on your preferences and goals. For legal advice and for more information about our services, contact our office today at 800-300-0909.

 

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