The Auto Accident TBI

The Brain Injury Association of America defines a traumatic brain injury, or TBI, as, “an alteration in brain function, or other evidence of brain pathology, caused by an external force.” Such an injury can be caused by direct trauma to the head, penetrating or non-penetrating, or when the head is suddenly and violently shaken. One of the leading causes of traumatic brain injury is automobile accidents. Second, only to falls (37%), automobile accidents account for 23% of all traumatic brain injuries in Oklahoma.

Oklahoma TBI Statistics

• From 2004-2009, a total of 27,306 traumatic brain injuries occurred among Oklahoma residents that were fatal or serious enough to require hospitalization.
• The highest rate of traumatic brain injury was among persons 65 years and older, followed by persons 15-24 years of age.
• Males were over 1.5 times more likely to be injured than females.
• Falls and motor vehicle crashes were the most common causes of traumatic brain injury, accounting for 37% and 23% of injuries respectively.
• Of the 27,306 traumatic brain injuries in 2004-2009, 5,492 (20%) were fatal.
• Males had a higher case fatality rate than females (24% and 14%, respectively).

For more information concerning traumatic brain injuries in Oklahoma, go here.

What are the Symptoms of a TBI?

The severity of any traumatic brain injury depends on a number of factors, including a person’s health, the type of blow or force exerted on the head and the direction of force striking the head. Regardless of how the injury was incurred, the symptoms of a TBI generally fall into three basic categories:

• Physical – These include headache, vomiting, weakness, dizziness, blurred vision, sleep disturbance, sensory loss, problems with coordination or balance, or any seizure activity.
• Cognitive – These include problems with maintaining focus or attention, concentration, memory loss, speed of processing, new learning, planning, reasoning, judgment, self-control, self-awareness, speaking or abstract thinking.
• Behavioral/emotional – These include depression, anxiety, agitation, irritability, and impulsive or aggressive behavior.

These are not exhaustive lists, and any combination of these or other symptoms may be observed immediately following an accident or after some time has passed. If you have been involved in an automobile accident, always submit to a full medical examination to check for possible traumatic brain injury.

Have you or a loved one suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI) as the result of an automobile accident? The experienced attorneys at Edwards & Patterson Law can complete each step of the claims process in order to gain you the compensation you deserve. If you have suffered a TBI in eastern Oklahoma, or in Tulsa or McAlester, contact us for a free consultation. We are here to see that your case is represented fairly in the courts.