Traumatic head injuries occur when a bump, blow, jolt or puncture to the head disrupts normal brain operations. They range from milder cases, such as concussions, to more severe cases like paralysis. Traumatic head injuries are serious health issues in the Unites States, but learning how to prevent traumatic brain injuries can reduce your risk of sustaining one. If you do suffer from a traumatic head injury and need legal assistance, contact a Paterson personal injury attorney at the Law Offices of Peter N. Davis.
Always Wear a Helmet
Many people sustain traumatic head injuries by simply not wearing the appropriate protective gear. Always wear a suitable helmet when participating in any of the following activities.
- Riding a motorcycle, scooter, bicycle, skateboard or using roller skates
- Riding a snowmobile
- Playing sports like football, ice hockey, boxing, softball or baseball
- Horseback riding
- Snowboarding or skiing
Vehicle Safety
A disregard for vehicle safety guidelines can lead to serious traumatic head injuries. Never drive a vehicle if you are under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Wear a seat belt every time you drive or ride in a vehicle, and make sure your children are wearing the proper seat belt for their size and weight.
- Rear-facing car seats are generally appropriate for children from the time they are born until the age of two years. The seat should be buckled into a back seat using the car seat’s harness and should be used until your child outgrows the seat’s weight and height limits.
- Forward-facing car seats should be used for children, two to five years of age. Again, this seat needs to be buckled into a back seat with the seat’s harness.
- Booster seats are appropriate for children between five and nine years old or who have outgrown their car seats but still do not properly fit into the adult seat belts. These still need to be placed in the back seat, and they should be positioned so that your child fits into the adult seat belt.
- Adult seat belts should only be used for children once they fit diagonally across the child’s chest and horizontally across the upper thighs. They should not lay across the child’s neck or across the stomach. 57 inches is the recommended height for wearing an adult seat belt, and remember to keep children in the back seat until they are at least 12 years old.
Safety at Home
Keep your children safe at home too by taking certain precautions to prevent falls. Use safety gates at the tops and bottoms of stairs to avoid tumbles.
Keep seniors safe at home too by reducing the risk of falling. Improve lighting in the entire living space, and remove any tripping hazards on the floor. Install handrails on both sides of every stairwell, in the showers, bathtubs and next to toilets. Use nonslip mats in the bathtubs and showers as well to reduce the risk of slipping.
Let a Paterson Personal Injury Attorney Help You
Unfortunately, traumatic head injuries do still occur despite our best efforts to prevent them. If you have sustained a traumatic brain injury and believe you are entitled to legal representation, let a Paterson personal injury attorney at the Law Offices of Peter N. Davis help you. We’ve been representing the people of New Jersey for almost three decades!
