March is Brain Injury Awareness Month, a time dedicated to raising awareness, dispelling myths, and educating the public about the realities of brain injuries. The Brain Injury Association of America reports that a brain injury occurs every nine seconds in the United States. Even with numbers that high, the general public still has many misconceptions about brain injuries. These common misconceptions can lead to delays in seeking treatment, improper treatment methods, and victims receiving inadequate support.
In this blog, our Quad Cities brain injury attorneys explain the causes of brain injuries, common types of brain injuries, and dispel some of the misinformation.
Accidents That Can Cause Traumatic Brain Injuries
A brain injury can happen to anyone. Some common causes of brain injuries include:
- Falls: Slip and fall accidents are the leading causes of brain injuries. These can be especially dangerous for older adults and often result from wet floors, falling down stairs, or tripping on uneven surfaces.
- Motor vehicle accidents: Car accidents, truck wrecks, and motorcycle crashes frequently lead to brain injuries due to forceful impacts.
- Sports injuries: High-impact sports like football, hockey, boxing, cheerleading, and wrestling often lead to concussions and other brain injuries.
Along with the accidents listed above, brain injuries can occur from workplace accidents and medical malpractice.
Brain Injury Types
One of the ways to help manage the misconceptions about brain injuries is to understand the types of brain injuries. The most common types of brain injuries include:
Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI)
A TBI occurs when an outside force damages the brain, such as the head hitting the pavement in a fall, the head hitting a hard object, or sudden movement, such as a whiplash injury. TBIs are classified as mild, moderate, or severe.
- A mild TBI is the same as a concussion, which occurs when the head and brain move back and forth
- Moderate TBIs occur when there is a loss of consciousness for up to 24 hours with detectable brain trauma
- Severe TBIs are characterized by the loss of consciousness over 24 hours and more persistent, severe symptoms like cognitive impairment and long-term disability
Non-Traumatic Brain Injuries/Acquired Brain Injuries (ABI)
These brain injuries are caused by internal factors such as oxygen deprivation or infections. ABIs are often caused by:
- Strokes
- Near-drowning, drug overdoses, carbon monoxide poisoning, and medical negligence
- Brain aneurysms
- Infections like meningitis that attack the brain
Open TBI
Also called a penetrating TBI, this type of brain injury occurs when an object pierces the skull and damages the brain. Penetrating traumatic brain injuries are usually caused by bullets, shrapnel, or bone fragments. These affect a specific area of the brain and lead to localized damage.
Understanding the different types of brain injuries is just one way to correct misconceptions about brain injuries, recognize their severity, ensure proper treatment, and advocate for the rights of those affected.
Top Misconceptions About Brain Injuries
Misconceptions about brain injuries are harmful to everyone; especially those suffering from these life-altering injuries. Here are some of the most common myths surrounding brain injuries:
1. You Have to Hit Your Head to Suffer a Brain Injury
Brain injuries like whiplash and those caused by oxygen deprivation can lead to significant injuries and damage.
2. If You Didn’t Lose Consciousness, Your Brain Injury Isn’t Serious
Not all brain injuries result in the loss of consciousness, but they still result in symptoms like headaches, dizziness, cognitive impairment, and mood changes.
3. Mild Brain Injuries Aren’t a Big Deal
The term “mild” traumatic brain injury refers to the classification and not the long-term impact. Even mild brain injuries, like a concussions, can lead to memory loss, depression, difficulty concentrating, and chronic headaches.
4. Brain Injuries Always Show Up on CT Scans or MRIs
Doctors rely on neurological exams and cognitive assessments to diagnose TBIs.
This is because certain brain injuries, including concussions and diffuse axonal injuries (DAI), do not appear on standard imaging tests.
5. Brain Injury Recovery Is Quick and Predictable
Recovery times vary based on the severity of the injury, type of injuries, health of the patient, etc. Some can heal within weeks, while others experience lifelong impacts.
6. Children Recover from Brain Injuries Faster Than Adults
While children may experience quick recovery from brain injuries, they remain susceptible to long-term effects due to the brain’s ongoing development into the mid-to-late twenties.
7. If Someone Sustained a Concussion, You Should Wake Them Up Every Hour for 24 Hours
While monitoring for signs of worsening symptoms (such as confusion, vomiting, or difficulty waking) is important, repeatedly waking a person with a concussion can disrupt much-needed rest to help the brain recover. If someone is suffering from a concussion, you should not wake them every hour for the next 24 hours.
Share These Brain Injury Misconceptions to Help Spread Awareness
Raising awareness is crucial to help prevent, diagnose early, and treat brain injuries effectively. No one ever expects to suffer a brain injury or have a loved one experience one. However, if a brain injury happens, it can lead to physical, emotional, and financial impacts.
Suffering such a severe injury can be even more devastating when the negligence or recklessness of another causes it. Whether the brain injury was caused by a car wreck, a fall, medical malpractice, or a violent assault–the victim and their family deserve justice and compensation.
The Quad Cities personal injury lawyers at Winstein, Kavensky, and Cunningham are ready to fight for your legal rights and help secure compensation for medical bills, rehabilitation costs, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more.
We take pride in serving the local community and offer in-person meetings to establish a personal connection and provide the support you need and deserve. Unlike other firms that avoid litigation, our attorneys are prepared and ready to go to court, fight for you, and hold the responsible party liable.
To get started on your claim, schedule your free case consultation. Reach us by phone at (309) 794-1515, via LiveChat, or by filling out our contact form.