Concussions suffered in youth sports are rightly receiving more attention than ever before. After all, the research evidence on the ill effects that head injuries can cause continues to grow.
But Tampa Bay brain injury lawyers also know that car crashes remain a very serious problem for teenagers. In fact, a recent report found that among teenage drivers and the passengers in their vehicles, there were a combined total of more than 55,000 serious injuries in 2009 and 2010.
Of those injuries, 30 percent involved severe head injuries. The injuries included not only concussions, but also skull fractures and traumatic brain injuries (TBI).
The report was based on research conducted by the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and State Farm Insurance.
Further evidence of just how dangerous teen drivers can be comes from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. According to the CDC, car accidents are still the main cause of death involving TBI among teenagers between the ages of 15 and 19.
Even if a teenager survives a crash, a head injury often has serious implications for his or her quality of life. "Since full recovery from serious head injuries is often not achievable, there can be a significant life-long impact from these injuries on teens and their families," said Dr. Dennis R. Durbin, the lead author of the report by Children's Hospital and State Farm.
Young people tend to think they are invincible. As Dr. Durbin points out, however, "the brain is the organ that is least able to heal, so prevention is the best medicine."
Source: "Car Crashes Are The Leading Cause Of Fatal Head Trauma Among Teens," Jim Gorzelany, Forbes, 4-2-12