The National Institutes of Health, which track causes of injuries in the US, including among children, has found that “traumatic brain injury is the leading cause of death and disability in children.” What is a TBI? It’s an injury that disrupts the normal function of your child’s brain.
Traumatic brain injuries can be harder to diagnose in kids because, sometimes, children, especially infants and toddlers, have not yet developed the verbal or motor skills to let us know that something is wrong.
What Causes Traumatic Brain Injuries in Kids?
There are a variety of causes of traumatic brain injuries in kids. According to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, common causes of TBIs in children include:
- Falls, which account for 50.2% of TBIs in children, can include falls from unsafe playground equipment, slipping and falling on unmarked wet floors, or tripping and falling on unsafe objects on the ground or floor.
- Being struck by something, which results in 24.8% of traumatic brain injuries in kids and can include being hit by balls or other objects coming at them at high speeds.
- Being in a motor vehicle accident, which causes about 6.8% of TBIs in kids. Sadly, even if your child is properly restrained and in a child seat, he or she can still suffer a traumatic brain injury in a car accident.
- Assault, which results in about 2.9% of children’s traumatic brain injury cases. This includes infants who are victims of shaken-baby syndrome.
- Unknown causes, which account for 15.3% of TBIs in children. The reason so many causes of traumatic brain injuries are unknown is because it’s often so difficult for young children to tell their parents that something is wrong.
Do You Need a Traumatic Brain Injury Lawyer for Your Child’s TBI?
Not all traumatic brain injuries give rise to a personal injury claim that would require you to hire a lawyer with experience in handling TBI cases. But TBIs can have long-term debilitating effects. if you believe that your child’s traumatic brain injury may have been caused by someone else’s negligence, you should consult with a personal injury lawyer who has experience in handling traumatic brain injury cases.
If your child received a traumatic brain injury as the result of the negligence of a third party, your child may be entitled to receive compensation for:
- Medical expenses incurred and expected in the future.
- Lost wages
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish (all the bad emotions arising from the incident and the injuries), and
- Inconvenience (how the injury affects your child’s life on a daily basis)
If your child received a TBI by a negligent third party, my personal injury law firm can help you receive the fair compensation you and your child deserve.
What to Do If Your Child Receives a TBI
If you your child has suffered a significant blow to the head, you should see a doctor immediately to determine if your child suffered a traumatic brain injury. If you are given that diagnosis, it’s important that you follow your doctor’s orders exactly for the best possible recovery. Keep every follow-up appointment and have your child refrain from any activities your doctor recommends. Make sure to visit specialists and therapists as instructed, and keep a copy of your child’s medical records.
You should also consult with a traumatic brain injury attorney, like myself, if you believe the injury was caused by someone else’s negligence. During a free consultation with me, I’ll listen to the circumstances that led to your child’s injury, review medical records and expenses, and help you determine if you have a case. If you do, I’ll help to solve the problems arising you’re your child’s injury and fight for your child to ensure that she receives full and fair compensation for the traumatic brain injury.
Contact Me Today for Help
If your child suffered a TBI because someone else was negligent, I can help determine if you have a case. For a free consultation, call my personal injury practice today at (703) 813-6460 or fill out my online contact form.