For more than thirty years, the Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA) has raised public awareness for Brain Injury Awareness Month in March each year. The theme for the 2018-2020 campaign is Change Your Mind.
The campaign is a platform for educating the general public about brain injuries and the needs of affected individuals and their families. It also works to de-stigmatize the injury, empower survivors, and promote support for injured individuals.
An acquired brain injury (ABI) is defined as any injury to the brain that is not hereditary, congenital, degenerative, or induced by birth trauma. There are two types: non-traumatic (caused by an internal force) and traumatic.
According to the BIAA, someone in the US sustains a brain injury every nine seconds. The leading causes of traumatic brain injury (TBI) include falls, motor vehicle accidents, head strike, unknown/other, and assaults. One out of every sixty people in the US lives with a TBI-related disability.
“The number of brain injuries in the United States is staggering: more than 5 million children and adults are injured each year. Research, treatment, and support speed recovery and help survivors return home, return to their jobs, and return to their lives,” said Brent Masel, M.D. Masel is the National Medical Director at the Brain Injury Association of America.
Regardless of the type of brain injury, affected individuals may experience memory loss, concentration/attention difficulties, slowed learning, depression, impulsivity, aggression, anxiety, fatigue, difficult with balance/motor skills, sensory loss, and seizures. Individuals may also have trouble with planning, reason, or judgment.
Looking for support after a brain injury? The BIAA offers a number of excellent resources.
If you or a loved one has been injured, contact the Schuerman Law office today. Schuerman Law has been working with personal injury claims for over 40 years. John Schuerman will compassionately advocate for injured individuals as well as their families while fighting for full compensation of their claims. Schuerman Law offers evening and weekend appointments in addition to home and hospital visits. Schedule a free consultation today by calling 1-800-274-0045.
