Each year, more than two million people visit the emergency room for a traumatic brain injury (TBI). Of those, around 50,000 suffer a fatality. The rest recover over a wide range of time, and to varying degrees. The treatment and therapies made available to these survivors can play a critical role in the degree and duration of their healing. Unfortunately, many TBIs go undetected, or they are detected long after they have occurred, which can drastically impact their recovery. A new screening test, which was just approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) hopes to change all of that.
Common Causes of Traumatic Brain Injury
A TBI occurs when an external force (a blow to the head, sudden jolt, etc.) causes damage to the brain, such as bruising, bleeding, or tearing of the tissues. Using that definition alone, it is not difficult to discern that some of the most common causes of TBI are slip and fall accidents, falling objects, and traffic accidents. There are other causes, however, including violence, sports injuries, and explosions. Traffic accidents – including pedestrian, motorcycle, car, truck, and bicycle accidents – are one of the most prevalent causes and accounts for around 14 percent of all traumatic brain injuries in the United States.
How the New Test Will Help
Known as the Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing (ImPACT) test, the newly approved TBI test is a software program that can be used to assess the cognitive function of at-risk patients. The software developer cautions that physicians should not rely on the test alone, but its ability to test for memory, reaction time, or word recognition deficits could help clinicians spot a TBI when it might have otherwise been overlooked. The test could also prove to be highly beneficial in situations where time is critical to the patient’s well-being. If, for example, a patient comes into the emergency room and has possibly suffered a TBI, the software could help detect injury in less time than it would take to obtain an imaging scan.
Are You a TBI Sufferer? Was Negligence a Factor?
Not all traumatic brain injuries are caused by negligence, but many of them are. Pedestrians hit by a negligent driver, victims of distracted or drunk driving, and motorcyclists who were hit at an intersection where they had the right-of-way are just some examples. In these instances, victims have the right to pursue compensation for their injuries. Every circumstance is unique, but this compensation often covers any medical expenses experienced by the victim, as well as any time lost at work, loss of life, loss of quality of life, pain and suffering, and/or other losses.
If you or someone you love has suffered a traumatic brain injury caused by someone else’s negligence, let Martinz & Schill LLP help you seek the compensation you deserve. Dedicated to your future and well-being, we will fight aggressively for your rights. Schedule your consultation with our San Diego, California personal injury attorneys today to learn more. Call us at 619-512-5995.
Sources:
http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm517526.htm
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/traumatic-brain-injury/basics/causes/con-20029302
http://www.cdc.gov/traumaticbraininjury/get_the_facts.html