The tragic death of Bob Saget in January put a sharp focus on Traumatic Head Injury (TBI). After the comedian died due to an untreated brain injury in an Orlando hotel room, it is apparent that head trauma should be treated seriously. What may seem like a headache, if left untreated, these situations can end in devastating conclusions.
Hawaii is the ideal vacation spot – an accommodating tropical paradise. However, since the islands bustle with tourists and residents, brain injuries are common in Hawaii. If you or a loved one has sustained a head injury, do not hesitate to contact the Honolulu traumatic brain injury attorneys at Kurzban, Kurzban, Tetzeli, and Pratt, P.A.
Something as simple as a bump, blow, or jolt to the head can cause a TBI, disrupting the brain’s normal functions. Medical professionals judge a TBI’s seriousness on a scale that ranges from mild to moderate and ultimately severe.
A mild TBI or a concussion can cause brief changes to consciousness and the victim’s mental status. Severe head injuries can result in a lengthy period of unconsciousness and memory loss. Of course, the most severe TBIs result in death, but the majority of TBIs sustained each year are of the mild variety.
A TBI’s effects may pass after a couple of days, or they can persist for the rest of your life. These effects can be a minor inconvenience or make a TBI survivor incapable of contributing either emotionally or financially to their family and community. Long and short-term symptoms of a TBI include:
Hawaii’s Department of Health reports the state’s most common causes for TBIs include:
Data from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services shows that both our awareness and the frequency of TBIs have vastly increased over the years. From 2006 to 2014, emergency-room visits, hospitalizations, and deaths related to TBI have risen by 53%.
In 2018, TBI-related injuries accounted for more than 223,000 hospitalizations. In 2019, an average of 166 Americans died each day from injuries related to a TBI. That is a total of more than 61,000 deaths yearly.
From 2015 to 2019, Hawaii averaged more than 4,800 TBIs annually. These injuries resulted in a yearly average of almost 3,500 emergency room visits and more than 1,300 hospitalizations.
Studies indicate TBI victims that need to be hospitalized result in an average seven-day stay, racking up approximately $50,000 in medical charges. Annually, Americans pay more than $48 million on hospitalization and costs associated with fatalities attributed to TBIs. A mere TBI-related emergency room visit can generate $3,200 in medical bills.
The Honolulu traumatic brain injury attorneys at Kurzban, Kurzban, Tetzeli, and Pratt, P.A. have a successful history representing the victims of TBIs against negligent property owners, motorists, employers, and doctors. We can negotiate and manage the litigation to recover the compensation you need to heal.
Contact us for a free consultation by clicking here or calling 808-736-5035.