Traumatic Brain Injuries and Our Mental Health
The correlation between our brain’s physical condition and mental health is extremely significant. A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is caused by impact and trauma from an external force to the head and meets the threshold for various medical and legal definitions of a catastrophic injury.
One bad hit, fall, or twist can cause irreparable damage to the brain and without proper treatment, TBI can cause lifelong physical and mental health disabilities. It is important to highlight brain trauma in May, during Mental Health Awareness Month, because mental injuries can be subtler than physical ones and may require psychological intervention to address symptoms such as depression and neurological challenges.
With the arrival of spring, employees and families will spend more time outdoors, increasing the risk of injury. Understanding who in North Georgia, Canton, Cartersville, and statewide is at the highest risk for TBI, their causes, and where they occur most will help prevent such catastrophes from happening to you and those nearby.
TBI Causes and Locations
Construction sites are widely recognized as the most common settings for TBI. Naturally, construction workers are at the highest risk for falls from roofs, ladders, scaffolds, and other machinery, as well as being struck by a heavy object. The Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA) lists the leading causes of TBI in five categories:
- Falls: 47.9%
- Being struck by, or against: 17.1%
- Motor vehicle collision, trucking accident, or motorcycle accident: 13.2%
- Unknown or uncategorized: 13.2%
- Assaults (criminal activity): 8.3%
Pritchard Injury Firm has represented TBI victims from all walks of life, and we believe that sports injuries would likely be included in categories #2 or #4. Though helmets and protective gear can decrease the odds of catastrophic injury, all professional and non-professional athletes run the risk of suffering TBI due to the nature of contact sports.
Ultimately, anyone can be a victim of TBI at nearly any time, and negligent parties – whether they are construction companies, municipalities, or private individuals – should be held accountable for negligence, malice, or recklessness.
Traumatic Brain Injuries and Mental Health In Georgia
TBI victims may experience decreased cognitive function, changes in behavior or personality, loss of motor skills, language difficulties, memory loss, or even death. This widely-accepted correlation certainly contributed to recent data from the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI):
- 1 in 5 U.S. adults – 51.5 million people – experience mental illness each year, but less than half get treatment.
- Approximately 1,405,000 adults in Georgia have a mental health condition. That’s more than twice the population of Atlanta.
- 4,911,327 people in Georgia live in a community that does not have enough mental health professionals.
Georgians are struggling to get the help they need. NAMI reports indicate that of the 391,000 adults in Georgia who did not receive needed mental health care, 45.4% did not because of cost. Resources are available, such as NAMI Georgia, which is locally based in Metro-Atlanta and available to help anyone in crisis.
TBI Legal Resources in Georgia
Many TBI cases were either preventable or caused by the negligence or actions of another person. The days and weeks after a TBI can be jarring. You and your loved one might not know what steps to take, and you might not even be considering a lawsuit. However, the sooner you reach out to an attorney, the better.
A brain injury lawyer can help. Advocates at the Pritchard Injury Firm understand the pain and suffering caused by TBI and the compensation a victim might be entitled to in the way of physical and mental health treatment. We are well-versed in recovering the maximum awards that victims and their families need for wage loss, treatment, and support.
Contact a Traumatic Brain Injury Lawyer Today
The traumatic brain injury lawyer at our firm can meet with you for a free consultation. Please contact Pritchard Injury Firm today. Our compassionate legal guidance has helped countless people in their darkest hour get the money they need to move forward.