The brave men and women who serve in our military make the decision to do so despite knowing the serious risks they face. Whether stationed domestically or abroad, active duty service members put their health and their lives on the line – especially when it comes to traumatic brain injuries. In fact, TBI among military veterans – and especially those who served in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars – has become one of the most concerning health issues when it comes to military.
As a personal injury law firm that is uniquely committed to serving military veterans who sustain new injuries and worsening of their conditions in preventable civilian accidents, Biren Law Group has extensive experience helping veterans who have struggled with TBI. Brain injuries have become a major focus for the VA for a number of reasons, and statistics paint a clear picture as to why.
Below, we take a closer look at TBI data from the Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center:
- TBI is common among veterans – Traumatic brain injuries have become one of the most common and most concerning health issues among veterans, as they can affect nearly anyone during times of both peace and war. Veterans who sustain TBI (ranging from concussions to moderate and severe brain injuries) commonly do so as a result of falls and motor vehicle accidents, just as those factors cause many brain injuries to civilians. However, they can also sustain brain injuries due to live rounds, land mines, mortars, rocket propelled grenades, and improvised explosive devices (IEDs). The VA reports that over 200,000 veterans from all conflicts have a TBI diagnosis.
- “Signature Wound” of Iraq & Afghanistan veterans – Although TBI is common among military members engaged in all types of service, it has become the “signature wound” of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars (Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom) because the incidence of TBI in these conflicts is statistically much higher than in previous military operations. While reporting issues make the true number of TBI victims difficult to determine, statistics have shown that in 2011, more than 32,000 service members sustained a TBI. Blast injuries – such as those involving IEDs – are noted as the primary mechanism of TBI among these veterans.
- TBI & Related Conditions – Brain injuries have been associated with a number of other physical and mental conditions in both veterans and civilians. This includes increased risks of neurological diseases like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), especially among victims who sustained repeated head trauma. Brain injuries are also also strongly associated with PTSD, especially if initial injuries are tied to traumatic events, such as explosions, attacks, and serious injuries sustained in military service.
Due to the prevalence of brain injuries among American veterans, their needs for adequate care and service from agencies like the VA are profound. Many veterans struggle with lasting TBI symptoms, which can range from headaches and dizziness to psychological symptoms that involve changes in behavior and mood, difficulties with attention and memory, and disrupted sleeping patterns. These symptoms can pose extreme challenges in the lives of veterans and their families post-service, and can be worsened when veterans are involved in preventable accidents as civilians. As we have noted on our website in relation to military veterans and special damages in personal injury cases, illustrating the impact new injuries have on pre-existing, service-connected injuries like TBI becomes critical to helping vets and their families secure the compensation they need to address unique issues most civilian victims do not face in their personal injury cases.
Support for Veteran Accident Victims
Over the years, Biren Law Group has become intimately involved in supporting initiatives and organizations that help veterans obtain the service and resources they deserve. This includes our continued support of organizations like the MVAT Foundation, and our hosting of events that feature TBI survivors and experts who share their insight and held raise support for these struggling vets.
As personal injury attorneys who serve Los Angeles and the surrounding areas of Southern California, we have dedicated ourselves to helping injured veterans when they face unique and challenging issues involving pre-existing injuries and new accidents, including motor vehicle accidents, motorcycle accidents, and other preventable accidents that can create disruption in their recoveries and a worsening of symptoms.
If you have questions about a personal injury case involving a veteran with pre-existing injuries like TBI or PTSD in the Southern California area, you can be confident about placing your trust in a firm that has unique experience in this field. Biren Law Group is standing by to take your call, discuss your case and rights, and explain how we can help you through the legal journey ahead while addressing the unique issues you or your loved one faces as an injured veteran during a FREE and confidential consultation. Contact us today to learn more.