All parents dread the idea of their child suffering even a minor injury even though that’s just part of childhood. However, a study just released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that over 1.8 million American children (approximately 2.5 percent) suffer a traumatic brain injury (TBI) before they reach their 17th birthday.
The data in the survey was based on the National Survey of Children’s Health from 2011 and 2012. It reflected parental reporting of their children’s TBI for which they sought emergency room treatment. Therefore, the actual numbers could be significantly higher.
The study shows that the rate of reporting increased with children’s ages, with the greatest between the ages of 15 and 17. Reporting for white children (boys, specifically) and those with private health insurance were highest.
A TBI in childhood can cause a child to have a higher rate of learning, behavior, emotional and physical conditions than their peers who have no reported TBI. These conditions include attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), learning disorders, developmental delays, language and speech issues, anxiety and joint, bone and muscle problems.
In their report, the CDC team said that these findings indicate that the rate of ER visits in the aftermath of a TBI and the “risk for long-term adverse effects creat[es] a large public health concern.”
When a child or someone of any age suffers a TBI as the result of someone else’s negligence or actions and they’re pursuing a civil lawsuit, it’s essential to understand the full extent of the medical treatment and other care that they may have to pay for as a result of their injury to seek adequate compensation. Your Michigan attorney can help you work to seek the appropriate compensation.
