What Are Some Common Causes of Brain Injuries?

Brain injuries often cause damage that can change the victim’s personality, behaviors, emotional regulation, and more. Sometimes this kind of injury happens to babies at birth, while others are caused by accidents or illnesses later in life. Brain injuries are either traumatic or nontraumatic based on how they occur. Dealing with a brain injury of either variation can be expensive and complicated. Treatments and rehabilitation can go on for years to help the victim regain the ability to carry out activities of daily living. Caring for a brain injury patient can be very hard on family members as well.

Traumatic Brain Injuries

Sometimes people think of traumatic brain injuries as catastrophic blows to the head that break open the skull. However, sometimes these injuries don’t even break the skin. The victim may not even lose consciousness. Here are a few of the most common causes of traumatic brain injuries:

• Car accidents are one of the most common causes of traumatic brain injuries in people of all ages.
• Falls cause many traumatic brain injuries, especially in older adults.
• Violent attacks, especially involving guns, cause a significant number of traumatic brain injuries.
• Soldiers can suffer traumatic brain injuries in battle, particularly in explosions.

Nontraumatic Brain Injuries

Nontraumatic brain injuries may also be called “acquired brain injuries” or ABIs. This type usually occurs because of disease or other conditions inside the body. Here are some of the most common causes of nontraumatic brain injury:

• Strokes are by far the leading cause of nontraumatic brain injuries.
• Conditions that cause a lack of oxygen to the brain, such as choking, can cause nontraumatic brain injuries.
• Tumors in the brain are a source of nontraumatic brain injury.
• Cancer, infections, and inflammation of the brain cause significant numbers of nontraumatic brain injuries.

How Can a Lawyer Help with a Brain Injury Case?

Both traumatic and nontraumatic brain injuries can result from the negligence or misbehavior of another person or entity, such as a corporation. For example, if you or a loved one suffered a traumatic brain injury in a car accident where the other driver was at fault, you may be able to recover damages. If a factory in your neighborhood pollutes the air and causes brain tumors, you may seek to hold the company responsible. Every case is different based on the circumstances and facts. If you believe your situation may qualify, contact an experienced and knowledgeable brain injury lawyer, like a brain injury lawyer in Phoenix, AZ, to help you explore your options.

Thanks to Kamper Estrada, LLP for their insight into the kinds of accidents that can cause a traumatic brain injury.