What are the Leading Causes of Brain Injury?
Approximately one half (48%) of all Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) cases are caused by motor vehicle accidents. Other major causes of TBI include falls (21%), non-firearm assaults (12%), sports/recreational activities (10%), and firearms (6%). However, in urban areas, which tend to have higher rates of crime, assaults make up a greater percentage of TBI cases, in some surveys as much as 40%. In addition, substance abuse appears to be major contributing factor in over 50% of head injuries sustained in the United States. For example, Rimel and Jane (1983) found that 52% of their sample of head injured survivors were legally intoxicated at the time of injury, and 29% had previously received substance abuse treatment.
