It had to be one of the most depressing episodes ever on television. No matter how jaded a viewer may be this episode will send shivers up and down the viewer's spine. The episode in question was an old 1990s broadcast of UNSOLVED MYSTERIES. The episode dealt with a young woman who was riding a motorcycle who was the victim of a horrible "thrill crime". An unidentified driver of a pick up truck passed the girl on the road and threw an object out his window. The object hit the poor girl on the head and this led to a massive brain injury. Her odds of survival were very slim. However, the young woman did survive, but with she suffered a major closed head injury. The injury severely impacted her cognitive and motor skills. While extreme in nature this incident clearly depicts the unexpected nature of traumatic brain injuries. It also depicts the main reason for such injury: blunt trauma. Often, this trauma is associated with criminal and negligent behavior. This means the circumstances surrounding the case could require the services of a traumatic brain injury law firm. As much as we would prefer not to think of it, the fact remains the incidence of traumatic brain injuries is far more common than many would wish to admit. In fact, traumatic brain injuries remain the most common cause of death of in children and teenagers. This is because children and teenagers are often victims of predatory behavior such as the previous example of the young motorist. Other common examples would be the horrible "Myspace beating" that has appeared in the news lately.
Additionally, personal reckless behavior can often yield an incidence of TBI. For example, a number of traumatic brain injuries are the result of sports related accidents. This is most noticeable in contact and combat sports. Also, car accidents are a major reason with the reckless nature of teenage driving having quite a bit to do with it. (Although, honestly, teenagers are often the victim of reckless drivers as well) This is why extreme care must be taken when taking part in any activity that comes with the potential for a head injury. This, of course, could lead to severe head trauma which will require the aid of a skilled neurologist to reverse. Regardless of the level of skill of the neurologist, the ability to achieve neuro-recovery may be extremely difficult.
While preventive steps can usually be taken to avoid injuries (wearing a seatbelt, avoiding high risk activities, etc) the uncertain nature of traumatic brain injuries is what makes avoiding the incidence of these types of injuries next to impossible. However, one can decrease instances of such injuries by avoiding risky behavior whenever possible; and, in regards to criminal behavior, maintaining a heightened sense of awareness as a form of self preservation.
