TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY

A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is defined as a blow or jolt to the head or a penetrating head injury that disrupts the function of the brain. Not all blows or jolts to the head result in a TBI. The severity of such an injury may range from “mild,” i.e., a brief change in mental status or consciousness to “severe,” i.e., an extended period of unconsciousness or amnesia after the injury. A TBI can result in short or long-term problems with independent function. Unlike other injuries, the full impact of a brain injury may take years to realize.

According to the Brain Injury Association of America, 1.4 million people sustain a TBI each year in the United States. Of those, 50,000 people die, 230,000 are hospitalized, and 1.1 million are treated and released from an emergency department. Falls are the leading cause of TBI (28%) followed closely by motor vehicle crashes (20%). Males ages 0-4 and 15-19 are 1.5 times more likely than females of the same age groups to sustain a brain injury.

The Brain Injury Association of Arkansas recently posted a Traumatic Brain Injury Services Resource Manual to their website. This manual has been compiled for people who are living with TBI, their families, caregivers and professionals, such as case managers and discharge planners. It has been developed to list, on a county-by-county basis across the state of Arkansas, what services are available to help TBI survivors lead satisfying lives within the community.

Unfortunately, many have not received, and will not receive, adequate compensation for their traumatic brain injuries because they did not have proper representation. A lawyer representing a person and their family for traumatic brain injury should possess knowledge, education, and experience in this area of litigation. The lawyers at Taylor King Law are experienced with representing people with brain injury, head injury, concussion, and coma; and are committed to being “on your side, by your side.”