By Chattanooga Personal Injury Attorney on March 21, 2012 -
The month of March is Brain Injury Awareness Month, which was created to increase awareness of the causes and consequences of brain injury and emphasize the need for prevention. In addition, this important awareness month underlines the need for brain injury research, education, and advocacy on behalf of those who are currently living with a brain injury. This year, in honor of Brain Injury Awareness Month, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is encouraging parents, coaches, school professionals, trainers, and athletes to take action to reduce the risk of a traumatic brain injury (TBI) for those who participate in sports.
The CDC estimates that 3.8 million sports and recreation-related concussions occur in the U.S. annually, and emergency rooms treat approximately 170,000 sports and recreation-related traumatic brain injuries among children each year. The latter figure is on the rise, with the number of these types of treated injuries increasing 60 percent over the last ten years among children and adolescents. The most common activities involved were bicycling, basketball, soccer, football, and various playground activities.
Though this increase may be a result of the growing public awareness of TBIs and the need for medical attention if one is suspected, the CDC still wants to continue to increase the public’s knowledge about this life-altering injury. The organization is developing guidance for healthcare professionals on the diagnosing and treatment of mild TBI in children, and information for families, athletes, and athletic professionals on how to properly prevent, recognize, and respond to concussions is available by visiting http://www.cdc.gov/concussion.
A brain injury can permanently impact the life of a victim and can result in costly medical care and rehabilitation. Therefore, if the brain injury was caused due to the negligence of another person, it is crucial a brain injury victim and his or her family understand their legal right to pursue compensation from the at-fault party. The brain injury lawyers in Tennessee with Massey & Associates, P.C. have the knowledge and experience to help you obtain the compensation you deserve. Please call (423) 697-4529 for a complimentary consultation.
By Chattanooga Personal Injury Attorney on October 18, 2011 -
Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) affect approximately 1.7 million people per year, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). These injuries range from mild “bumps on the head” to severe and even fatal brain damage and head injuries. In order to help people better understand the nature of traumatic brain injuries and be better prepared to deal with them if they happen, the CDC offers the following statistics about these serious and often life-changing injuries.
Of the estimated 1.7 million TBIs suffered each year, 1.365 million, or 80%, of the injured are treated by a hospital emergency department and sent home without staying in the hospital. Another 275,000 injured people are hospitalized after a traumatic brain injury, and these injuries prove fatal in about 52,000 cases each year. The CDC can only estimate the true number of traumatic brain injuries that occur each year, because there is no way to track the number of people who suffer brain injuries but who never seek medical care.
Although 75% of traumatic brain injuries are mild injuries like concussions, severe TBIs are involved in nearly one-third, or 31%, of all injury-related deaths in the United States each year. Sometimes, the brain injury is the primary cause of death, and sometimes it is merely one of several injuries that all together claim an injured person’s life.
TBI is most common in toddlers and in elderly people over age 65. Males in all age groups are more likely to suffer traumatic brain injuries than females, but a TBI can happen to a person of any age and gender.
Traumatic brain injuries can cause serious, even life-long disabilities. If you or someone you love has suffered a TBI, please don’t hesitate to contact the experienced Chattanooga brain injury attorneys at Massey & Associates, P.C. For a free consultation, call us today at (423) 697-4529.
By Chattanooga Personal Injury Attorney on July 20, 2011 -
Brain injuries in Tennessee result from a wide range of scenarios, from car crashes to slip-and-fall accidents to medical malpractice. Severe brain injuries can cause paralysis, memory loss, loss or reduction in motor skills or speech abilities, and other life-altering consequences.
To help survivors deal with the emotional impact of a traumatic brain injury, the Tennessee Department of Health offers a list of support groups for Tennessee residents who have suffered a serious brain injury. Brain injury support groups in the Chattanooga area include:
- Siskin Rehab Hospital holds three separate support groups: one for survivors in general, one specifically for military veterans, and one for young adults. The first two sessions are held the fourth Monday of every month, from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., and the young adult session is held the third Tuesday of every month from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Sessions are generally held at the hospital.
- Wesley United Methodist Church in Cleveland also hosts a brain injury support group on the third Monday of every month. The group meets from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
- Fort Oglethorpe Methodist Church, just across the border in Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia, hosts a support group as well, every second Thursday from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Similar support groups meet throughout Tennessee, and they provide help for those struggling to adapt after a traumatic brain injury. If you have sustained a brain injury in an accident that was caused by another person’s negligence, the experienced brain injury lawyers in Chattanooga at Massey & Associates can help you understand your legal rights and options. We will fight to help you hold any negligent parties accountable for their actions. To learn more, call Massey & Associates today at 423-697-4529 for a free consultation.
