With the NFL in the news over head injuries, it might seem like athletes are most at risk for traumatic brain injuries. But actually, car accidents are the number-two cause of brain injuries, right behind falls, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
A report from State Farm and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia found that in 2009-2010, 30 percent of teens involved in a car accident suffered an acute head injury. Among teens, car crashes are the number-one cause of fatal head trauma. Car crashes are also the leading cause of death in teens aged 15 to 19.
The study found that states with the strictest licensing laws for teens had the lowest rates of traumatic brain injury. States with stricter teen licensing laws include those with graduated licensing laws, which allow teens to start driving with restrictions that are lifted as they get older and more experienced. Many graduated licensing laws include provisions such as limiting the number of passengers in the car, prohibiting cell phone use while driving, requiring a certain number of driving hours to be completed with an adult, and restricting nighttime driving.
Bouchillon, Crossan & Colburn can help you with all kinds of personal injury claims in West Virginia, from car, motorcycle, or trucking accidents, industrial accidents, medical malpractice and more. If you or a loved one has been injured and is seeking a qualified personal injury attorney, contact our Huntington, West Virginia office to speak with an attorney about your case, or call 304-521-4636.