Chelsea Travers, of CareMeridian was kind enough to write for me a guest post about CareMeridian, a TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury) facility, that has locations throughout the western United States.  Here it is:

Car Accidents – Leading Cause of Brain Injury

“While there are various types of brain injuries, traumatic brain injuries (TBI) refer to those caused by a sudden physical force to the head. In the United States there are over one million TBI injuries suffered each year. A significant number of them turn fatal. Most of them cause irreversible effects on the patient suffering the injury.  One frustrating part of TBI incidents is that many of them could have been avoided.

“While TBI incidents are most commonly associated with falls, motor vehicle accidents make up the second largest amount. Accounting for roughly 20% of TBI incidents, approximately $20,000.00+ people suffer a TBI as a result of a motor vehicle accident each year in the United States. Interestingly enough, another statistic suggests that teenagers between the ages of 15 and 19 are at the highest risk of suffering a TBI. This just happens to be the age when individuals are just starting to drive. It is reasonable to assume that there is a correlation between young drivers and TBI. Ultimately, a lot of TBI incidents can be avoided with proper driver’s education and teenagers adopting safe driving habits.

“CareMeridian is a TBI rehabilitation facility. They specialize in helping patients recover from a TBI. While facilities such as this one are designed to help patients recover from their injuries and return to a normal life, the reality is that many of them do not. Medical professionals that work in the field would agree that the biggest deterrent to TBI incidents is prevention. Please remember to drive safe!”