The Social Security Administration recognizes that traumatic brain injuries could be a disabling condition. However, Newark residents may wonder how pervasive are TBIs in our nation and what causes them?
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, TBIs are a significant cause of disability in our nation. In fact, TBIs sent over 2.2 million people to the emergency room in 2010. Those who suffer a TBI can wind up with lifetime disabilities. A TBI can affect a person’s memory, ability to see and hear, movement and it could cause personality changes or depression.
What are some common causes of TBIs? According to the CDC, between 2006 to 2010, about 40 percent of TBIs were caused by falls. Falls particularly affected both the youngest demographic and the oldest demographic. For minors between zero to 14-years-old, over 55 percent of TBIs were the result of a fall. Moreover, for people ages 65 and up, 81 percent of TBIs were the result of a fall.
Approximately 15 percent of TBIs between 2006 and 2010 in our nation were caused by unintentional blunt trauma. This was especially true for minors under 15-years-old, where 24 percent of all TBIs were caused by a blunt trauma. Following that, 14 percent of TBIs were caused by motor vehicle accidents. Finally, assaults accounted for approximately 10 percent of TBIs in our nation.
However they are caused, those who suffer from a TBI could find that the effects of their injuries last a lifetime. Moreover, those who suffer from a TBI may find that the injury has disabled them to the point that they can no longer work, and they may even have problems taking care of their everyday tasks. When this happens, a person who has suffered from a TBI may want to pursue Social Security disability benefits for injury.
