Traumatic Brain Injuries & New York Slip And Fall Accidents | NY Premises Liability Lawyers

You might guess that the number one cause of traumatic brain injuries is motor vehicle accidents, but do you know the second most common cause of head injuries? The answer is slip and fall accidents. Especially for seniors, slips and falls can lead to serious brain trauma, coma, permanent disability, and even death.

In fact, according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), slips and falls that result in traumatic brain injury (TBI) lead to 56,000 hospitalizations and 8,000 deaths each year in the United States among those 65 years of age and older. More than that, 50 percent of all fatal fall deaths among senior citizens are caused by traumatic brain injuries and 8 percent of fall hospitalizations are for head injuries and brain damage. While the misconception remains that older adults are likely to break their wrists or hip during a fall, many suffer from debilitating head injuries.

These head injuries can result in physical issues, emotional issues, and mental problems - from changes in personality to problems with balance to cognition and memory problems. In addition, the median cost of a head injury from a fall is almost $20,000 and involves a hospital stay of 2 to 6 days.

The other age group most in danger of head injuries from falls are toddlers. These young children are susceptible to falls around the house, especially around staircases, windows, or furniture with sharp edges. It can be especially hard to diagnose and correctly treat a traumatic brain injury in a young child.

Even young adults and middle-aged people can suffer serious head injuries from falls. In fact, even a fall in which you do not lose consciousness could be life threatening or deadly.