Get the facts about TBI

Traumatic brain injury is one of the most significant causes of disability in the United States. According to the most recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 13.5 million Americans can no longer work because of the impact of a TBI.

These statistics illustrate the wide-ranging effects of TBI on patients and their loved ones.

Emergency visits and hospitalization

TBI causes 20 times more hospitalizations each year than spinal cord injuries do. The CDC reports that emergency room visits, hospitalizations and deaths associated with TBI increased by 53% between 2006 and 2014.

Brain injuries disproportionately affect men, who represent nearly 79% of these types of accidents. Sports and recreational accidents cause 21% of TBIs among children and adolescents. Adults who are older than 75, young adults and very young children have the highest age-based risk for TBI accidents.

Long-term disability and death

About 90,000 Americans experience long-term or permanent disability associated with TBI. About 50,000 TBI-related deaths occur each year, with head injuries representing 34% of trauma fatalities.

Individuals and families affected by TBI collectively accrue $76.5 billion a year in health care and other related expenses. In addition to lost wages caused by disability, the injured person may require long-term medical care to cope with the physical, emotional and cognitive limitations caused by a TBI.

Virginia families can seek legal restitution after a TBI caused by another’s negligence, whether in the road or at the workplace. After the incident in question, state residents have two years to file a claim for financial damages.