Falls Are the Number One Cause of Concussion in Alberta

May 17, 2018, Kitchener, Ontario

Posted by: Robert Deutschmann, Personal Injury Lawyer

Although most of us associate concussion with sports and car accidents, it turns out that falls are the number one cause of concussions in Alberta. This is due to a sudden increase in slip and falls among seniors in the province. In a University of Alberta Injury Prevention Centre report released last month the overall risk for TBI from falls was greater than from sport related injuries.

The report found that concussion accounted for around 2% of hospital emergency room visits. The researchers also noted that this is just the fraction of head injuries that occurs annually. Most go unreported being treated at the doctor’s office or at home. It also found that the reason falls have taken the number one spot in TBI causation is the spike in senior falls.

Young people aged 10-29 sustain concussion most often from sports related injuries. The second spike however, the one involving the elderly was a surprise to researchers. As the average age of individuals continues to climb, and as the demographic is shifting, there are more and more elderly individuals. Falls in seniors are of particular concern because when they fall, they don’t simply bounce back up. Most elderly falls involve a hip, or elbow fracture along with a head injury. This is complicated by the fact that seniors are much more susceptible to brain bleeds which may take weeks or even months to become evident.

The diagnosis and treatment of all head injuries is vital to successful recovery. We know that in Canada a study of 3000 concussion patients found that 70% of people return to normal in a month or so, however 30% of TBI patients will suffer persistent post-concussion symptoms like physical and cognitive issues, psychological and behavioral changes. Rest continues to be the preferred treatment option for concussion. This rest includes taking a break from all brain work such as school and screen time. What makes this even more important is that we know second concussions occur more easily, symptoms last longer, and damage is more severe.

The top 5 causes of concussion in Alberta in 2016 were:

1. Falls – 25%
2. Sports related injury – 12%
3. Car accident/bike and off-road vehicle injury - 2%
4. Animal riding injury - 1%
5. Other (50% for all)

About Deutschmann Law

Deutschmann Law serves South-Western Ontario with offices in Kitchener-Waterloo, Cambridge, Woodstock, Brantford, Stratford and Ayr. The law practice of Robert Deutschmann focuses almost exclusively in personal injury and disability insurance matters. For more information, please visit www.deutschmannlaw.com or call us at 1-519-742-7774.

It is important that you review your accident benefit file with one of our experienced personal injury / car accident lawyers to ensure that you obtain access to all your benefits which include, but are limited to, things like physiotherapy, income replacement benefits, vocational retraining and home modifications.