Brain Injury FAQs

What is a brain injury?: A brain injury is any trauma to the brain.  It usually results from external trauma such as a blow to the head resulting from a fall, motor vehicle accident, assault or sporting accident.  For more information, click here.

What are the common causes of brain injuries?: Traumatic brain injuries can be sustained in a number of ways, but the most common causes are blows to the head caused by motor vehicle accidents, falls, assault and sporting accidents.  Acquired brain injuries are frequently caused by lack of oxygen or blood flow to the brain by almost drowning, strangulation, choking, heart attack, strokes and exposure to toxic gases or chemicals.

How is brain injury diagnosed?: Diagnosis depends primarily on the type of trauma.  When the patient has sustained minor trauma, a physician can diagnose the patient physical examination.  The physician should monitor the patient carefully to make sure that the patient does not exhibit symptoms of a more serious brain injury after the initial trauma.  For moderate to serious trauma, a physician may administer a CAT scan, MRI, SPECT or PET scan to assess the damage.

How many people die per year from traumatic brain injuries?: According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), an estimated 1.7 million people sustain traumatic brain injuries (TBI) every year.  Of them, 52,000 die, 275,000 are hospitalized and nearly 80% are treated and released from an emergency department.

How can I cope with a brain injury?: Depending on the severity of the brain injury, brain injuries can seriously impact one’s way of life.  If a person sustained a serious brain injury, she requires physical and neurological rehabilitation as well as psychological counseling.  For more information on how to treat and recover from brain injuries, please visit those sections of our website.

Contact York Law Firm

If you or your loved one has suffered a brain injury due to someone else’s negligence, recklessness or intentional wrongdoing, contact York Law Firm today.  We work tirelessly to obtain justice and will work diligently to make sure you get the compensation to which you are entitled.