According to the CDC, about 2.87 million people in the U.S. visit the emergency room for a TBI every year. In 2020 alone, over 64,000 brain injury-related deaths were recorded, accounting for 165 deaths daily.

Brain injuries can range from mild injuries such as concussions to severe traumatic brain injuries (TBI). Unlike mild injuries that resolve in a few weeks, TBIs are often severe and may cause permanent disability or take a long time to heal and put patients at a high risk of death.

While all brain injuries can occur under many circumstances, some causes are more prevalent than others. This guide highlights the most common causes of traumatic brain injuries and their prevalence.

Common Causes of Brain Injuries

1. Falls

Severe brain injuries often result from an external force, such as a fall, blow to the head, or penetration by foreign objects. According to statistics, over 40 percent of traumatic brain injuries result from falls, making falls the leading cause of brain-related injuries.

Falls can occur in any situation, including when walking on pavement, using the staircase, in the construction industry, or when shopping in a grocery store. Under tort law, property owners are responsible for damages resulting from accidents within their premises due to negligence.

If you believe that someone’s negligence resulted in a fall accident in which you suffered a brain injury, you may qualify for compensation. But before filing a claim, consider getting a free brain injury case review with a local injury lawyer.

2. Car Accidents

Car accidents are also a significant cause of brain injuries accounting for approximately 14 percent of all brain-related injuries.

Most car accident-related brain injuries result from a back and forth jerking of the head at impact resulting in the brain being dashed against its enclosure. At other times it could result in brunt object trauma from hitting the head against internal car components.

3. Contact Sports

According to the CDC, contact sports are a leading cause of traumatic brain injuries for people between 10 and 24 years and account for over 21 percent of all traumatic brain injuries. The severity of brain injuries resulting from contact sports can range from mild trauma to traumatic brain injuries that could result in lasting damage to the brain or even death.

4. Assault

Assaults account for over 10.5 percent of all brain injuries. Assault refers to intentional harm perpetrated on a person by another, which can include hitting them with a blunt object or using a penetrative weapon such as a gun or any sharp object that penetrates the skull. Traumatic brain injuries involving a penetrative object like a bullet are severe and have a high chance of turning fatal.

Symptoms of Brain Injuries

Brain injury symptoms can vary widely based on the severity of the injuries. Sometimes, brain injury symptoms are not apparent at the time of an accident. At other times, they may be present as other conditions.

Some common brain injury symptoms you may want to look out for include:

• Passing out for minutes or hours after an injury
• Persistent headaches that become severe with time
• Changes in mood or behavior
• Difficulty concentrating
• Difficulty remembering
• Sensitivity to light or sound
• Problems with sleep
• Memory problems
• Difficulty concentrating
• Sensitivity to light or noise
• Mood swings
• Sleep problems with coordination

If you have any of the symptoms mentioned above after an accident, seek medical attention as soon as possible. A doctor can order tests to determine the extent of the injury and recommend a course of treatment before the condition deteriorates.