The brain controls everything that we do and every aspect of who we are as a person.
It is for this reason that a head injury is different to any other type of life changing injury, as it can impact on the person’s life in many ways, including physically, psychologically and socially.
An injury to the brain can therefore have devastating consequences for individuals and their families, affecting every aspect of their life. A brain injury can affect anyone at any time and the statistics below show that unfortunately, admissions to hospital as a result of an injury to the brain are only increasing.
Headway
Headway is the UK-wide charity that works to improve life after acquired brain injury (ABI).
ABI is a term used to describe any injury to the brain which is sustained since birth, excluding neurodegenerative conditions such as multiple sclerosis or motor neurone disease. The most common forms of ABI are following a traumatic brain injury (TBI), such a head injury following an accident, or a stroke.
Headway is a national charity which offers support and services required for survivors of brain injury to lead healthy, social and fulfilling lives as far as possible.
The charity works incredibly hard to raise awareness and campaign to provide invaluable services and create opportunities for people to make the most of their abilities and skills.
The effects of brain injury are long term, and the services provided by Headway are able to support individuals from the moment their life changing injury occurs, and for the rest of their lives.
Through a range of services run from its Nottingham base and a network of more than 100 groups and branches across the UK, Headway provides support, services and information to brain injury survivors, their families and carers, as well as to professionals in the health and legal fields.
We at Bolt Burdon Kemp work closely with Headway, in order to support the valuable work that they do. Bolt Burdon Kemp is on the panel of solicitors recommended by Headway for those seeking legal advice in respect of their brain injury.
In 2015, Headway produced a set of statistics on all ABI related hospital admissions in the UK, using actual hospital admission statistics. These include all ABI’s, including head injuries, strokes, brain tumours, encephalitis, and a variety of other conditions.
It is clear from the results that the number of people suffering an ABI in the UK has increased in recent years, meaning that the need for rehabilitation and support is greater than ever.
Key highlights:
- 356,699 UK admissions to hospital with ABI in 2019-20. This is an increase of 12% since 2005-6.
- 158,255 admissions to hospital with a head injury in 2019-20. This is an increase of 3% since 2005-6.
- 977 ABI admissions per day to UK hospitals in 2019-20, which equates to 1 admission every 90 seconds.
- 433 head injury admissions per day to UK hospitals in 2019-20.
- 376 stroke admissions per day to UK hospitals in 2019-20.
- Every 3 minutes someone in the UK is admitted to hospital with a head injury.
- Every 4 minutes someone in the UK is admitted to hospital with a stroke.
- 1.3 million people in the UK are living with the effects of a long-term brain injury.
- 10,000 – 20,000 severe traumatic brain injuries occur every year in the UK.
- Men are 1.5 times more likely than woman to be admitted to hospital with a head injury.
- There has been a 28% rise in female head injury admissions since 2005-6.
- Highest rate of brain injury occurs between the ages of 15-24 years and those over 75 years of age.
Causes of brain injury
- 50% caused by road traffic accidents, which includes cars, motorbikes, bicycles, lorries, and pedestrians hit by vehicles
- 21% cause by falls, trip and slips, which can occur at home, the workplace or in the street
- 12% caused by physical assaults, which includes assaults in public places and domestic violence
- 10% caused by sports, particularly high impact activities such as football, rugby, boxing, skiing and extreme sports
- 7% caused by other incidences
At Bolt Burdon Kemp, we represent those individuals who have suffered a brain injury as a result of the negligence of another.
We regularly represent survivors of brain injury who have been involved in accidents. We have vast experience and close working relationships with brain injury case managers, rehabilitation providers and therapists who can also provide our clients with the help and support that they need. Our specialist team of solicitors understand how important it is to access immediate and ongoing support for our clients who have suffered a brain injury, and their families, to ensure their futures are safeguarded as best as possible to rebuild their life post injury.
