The Perecman Firm, is proud to show our support for national Brain Injury Awareness Month 2020! An annual awareness campaign led by the Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA), Brain Injury Awareness Month provides the public with information they need to better understand traumatic brain injuries (TBI), their impact on victims and families, and what’s currently being done in the field of brain injury treatment and rehabilitation. The theme for this year’s month of observance is: Change Your Mind.
Change Your Mind
The #ChangeYourMind initiative has been part of the BIAA’s educational efforts since 2018, and has been a driving force behind the organization’s mission to:- De-stigmatize brain injuries;
- Empower brain injury victims and caregivers;
- Promote resources and support available to those living with TBI;
Brain Injury Facts
As a law firm that has represented numerous individuals and workers in the wake of preventable brain injuries, The Perecman Firm knows how TBIs can complicate and devastate lives. Because brain injuries and their symptoms are so unpredictable, and because they have the potential for serious and life-altering outcomes, we always encourage victims to seek personalized medical evaluations as immediately as possible. According to the BIAA, someone in the U.S. suffers a brain injury – defined as a traumatic injury to the brain which is not congenital or degenerative – every 9 seconds, and over 3.5 million children and adults suffer brain injuries each year. With roughly 1 out of every 60 people living with a TBI-related disability nationwide, brain injuries account for as many as 2.5 million injuries, 2+ million hospitalizations, and 50,000 deaths annually. Though brain injuries can result from many different types of accidents, there are some common causes – many of which relate to cases handled regularly by our team:- Workplace Accidents: Worksites see a range of accidents which commonly result in brain injuries, including falls, being struck by falling objects, caught in / between accidents, electric shock, and other forms of traumatic injuries. Because a blow to the head is not the only way to suffer a TBI, explosions, especially in industrial settings, can also cause serious brain injuries.
- Motor Vehicle Accidents: Motor vehicle accidents are among the most common causes of brain injuries. This includes commercial truck accidents, standard car accidents, and pedestrian and bicycle accidents – which pose the greatest risks for severe TBIs. Even when motorists and passengers don’t physically suffer a hit to the head, considerable force and sudden movement of the brain within the skull – which can occur with whiplash injuries, can be enough to cause trauma to the brain.
- Falls: Falls have been identified as a top cause of brain injuries, occurring at work, home, and nearly anywhere people may venture. From slip and fall accidents at places of business to work-related falls involving construction accidents and incidents in other industries where laborers perform work from heights, falls put victims at risk for concussions (referred to as mild TBIs) and severe brain injuries.