Brain Injury

Brain Injury Statistics

Of all types of injury, those to the brain are the most likely to cause permanent injury or death.

Causes. About 50-60% of all brain injuries are caused by motor vehicle accidents. Falls and acts of violence cause the majority of the remaining brain injuries.
Incidence. A brain injury occurs every 15 seconds in the United States. It is estimated that up to two million people suffer this type of injury in a year.
Prevalence. Of the two million people injured each year, up to 100,000 will die. Another 70,000 – 90,000 people will suffer long term, permanent injury.
Age. Brain injury is the leading cause of death in children and young adults in the United States. Two-thirds of the people who suffer brain injury are under the age of 34, with the majority of those being between 16 – 24 years of age.
Gender. Most studies suggest that men are twice as likely to suffer a brain injury as women.
Cost of brain injury. For an individual, the lifetime costs of caring for a head injury survivor are estimated to be between $4 – $9 million.