According to the findings of a new study, emergency room visits for traumatic brain injuries (TBI) have skyrocketed nearly 30% in recent years, which may be the result of an increased focus on the adverse effects of head injuries and concussions. In the study, which was published last week in the Journal of the American Medical Association, researchers examined data on nearly 140 million emergency room visits from hundreds of different hospitals, and found that ER visits involving head trauma increased eightfold from 2006 to 2010. If you have experienced a traumatic brain injury you believe was caused by the negligence of another person, such as in a traffic accident or sports accident, consult our skilled lawyers at Bandas Law Firm today. You may have grounds to file a personal injury lawsuit against the person found at-fault in the accident, in order to pursue financial compensation for your injuries.
ADVERSE EFFECTS OF BRAIN INJURIES
Researchers from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine conducted the TBI study in an effort to analyze national trends in emergency room visits involving brain injuries, and did so by reviewing data from the Nationwide Emergency Department Sample – a national database that compiles information on ER visits for more than 950 hospitals annually. Lead author Dr. Jennifer R. Marin and her team of researchers found that nearly 2% of the 140 million patients treated for head injuries at emergency rooms received a traumatic brain injury diagnosis, and they also found that TBI diagnoses increased 30% overall during the four-year study period.
HEAD TRAUMA AND LASTING BRAIN DAMAGE
Serious concerns have been raised about head injuries, concussions and the associated brain damage in recent years, particularly in relation to a condition known as CTE (chronic traumatic encephalopathy), which is a progressive degenerative disease of the brain found primarily in athletes that can only be diagnosed after death. In 2011, researchers involved in a TBI study found that traumatic brain injuries in young athletes increased by more than 60% over the previous decade, and another study published in the medical journal Brain established a link between long-term brain damage and repetitive head trauma from contact sports like hockey, football and boxing. Another study published earlier this year found that victims of TBIs may be three times more likely to suffer a premature death.
OUR COMPASSIONATE BRAIN INJURY LAWYERS CAN HELP
One of the most alarming findings by Marin and her research team is that children under the age of three and adults over 60 saw the most significant increase in TBI rates during the four-year study period. While these results were unexpected, the researchers speculate that these particular age groups may not benefit as much from public health intervention programs, which are geared towards shedding light on the dangers of concussions and head injuries. If you have suffered a head injury or traumatic brain injury in a Texas car accident or another type of accident, contact our reputable attorneys at Bandas Law Firm today. Our law firm is located in Corpus Christi, and our lawyers have extensive experience protecting the rights of TBI victims throughout Texas.
Source:
http://jama.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=1869198
