A) “Serious bodily injury” means an injury to a person, including the driver, consisting of a physical condition that creates a substantial risk of death, serious personal disfigurement, or prolonged loss or deterioration of the function of a body member or organ. Often, traumatic brain injuries occur due to car accidents, which cause brain damage through blows to the head or perforating injuries to the brain. Victims of high-speed collisions can hit their heads against the steering wheel, windshield, or side windows. A sudden shake of the head can cause a closed head injury, such as a concussion, and possibly cause more permanent forms of damage to the brain.
Every year, traumatic brain injury causes the death of 50,000 people and a long-term disability of 80,000 to 90,000 more.