These statistics from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) show the impact of head injuries in the United States in a single year: 50,000 people lose their lives, 280,000 people are hospitalized, and 2.2 million people are treated by emergency rooms. The magnitude of these numbers is worthy of discussion, particularly since a traumatic head injury can result from car accidents, slip and fall accidents, and assaults.
Head Injuries Pose Potential for Long-Term Consequences
While a head injury can have immediate repercussions for victims, including headaches, temporary memory loss and feelings of sleepiness, they should not ignore the long-term consequences. Even those victims who suffer very mild symptoms of a head injury after a car accident need to use caution; repeated head trauma has been associated with a higher incidence of Parkinson’s Disease and Alzheimer’s Disease. Those who experience symptoms of severe head injuries immediately after an accident can suffer from:
- Problems with thinking – some victims are unable to use their power of reasoning and may have long or short-term memory problems.
- Problems with sensation – it is possible to have difficulty maintaining balance and vision problems after a head injury.
- Problems with language – victims often have problems communicating and in some cases comprehending language.
- More serious problems – in cases of more serious head injuries, victims may also be depressed, suffer from weakness in their legs and arms, and show signs of aggressiveness.
These are only some of the potential problems that a victim of a head injury can face, and none of them should ever be taken lightly.
