The National Institutes of Health reports that fifty percent of all traumatic brain injuries (TBI) occur due to direct trauma from vehicle collisions. Approximately twenty percent occur indirectly, from violence including gunshot wounds or child abuse. For older Americans, falls are the leading cause of TBI. Millions of Americans live with TBI-associated disabilities. TBI is a leading cause of death for Americans under age 45, and occurs every 15 seconds in the United States, potentially causing a loss of brain function that can affect cognitive and memory tasks, information processing, and the performance of motor and coordination functions.

Our highly complex brains are soft and float inside the skull, cushioned by cerebrospinal fluid that protects the brain from everyday bumps. A sudden and violent blow to the head can force the soft brain against the hard skull, tearing nerve fibers and sometimes causing bleeding within the brain. In fact, research from Sandia National Laboratories proves that TBI can occur within one millisecond after the head receives a violent blow.

Types of Traumatic Brain Damage

A contusion, or bruising of the cerebral cortex, affects the brain’s frontal and temporal lobes, responsible for long-term memory, speech and hearing.

Whiplash can cause severe stretching of the axons (nerves within the central nervous system), injuring the brain’s deep white matter (the arbor vitae).

Isotropic stress occurs from fast-moving pressure waves that occur during blasts and explosions. Soldiers are at high risk for this type of injury.
Do I Have a Brain Injury?

Common signs and symptoms of TBI include:
• Concussion
• Loss of consciousness
• Pupils are Equal and Reactive to Light (PERL)
• Focal neurologic signs
• Seizures
• Amnesia
• Encephalopathy

The experienced traumatic brain injury attorneys at Lusk, Drasites, Tolisano & Smith, P.A. in Cape Coral and Fort Myers, Florida have the resources and expertise to help you manage traumatic brain injury. Please contact us today to schedule your free initial consultation.