Brain Injury Could Be a Risk Factor for Homelessness

Few injuries are as devastating as a traumatic brain injury. These injuries often result in auto and motorcycle accidents, workplace accidents or slip and fall accidents. However, the results of a new study point to yet another disturbing consequence of a brain injury – homelessness.

Earlier studies have indicated that homeless people are at a much higher risk of traumatic brain injury compared to the general population. However, although researchers were able to identify that homeless people have higher rates of TBI, there had been no detailed review of the available information. The researchers conducted a review of all the scientific studies that have been conducted on homelessness and traumatic brain injury, and probed the link between the 2. The results of the analysis have been published in the Journal BMC Public Health.

They found that out of the subjects in the studies, between 8% and 53% -mostly men -had suffered a traumatic brain injury. The researchers found that in most cases, persons had suffered a brain injury just before they became homeless. This seems to indicate to Houston brain injury lawyers that a traumatic brain injury is a predictor for homelessness.

The analysis had more bad news. The study found that traumatic brain injury contributes to chronic homelessness, because the individual is not able to access the resources necessary to become solvent again. A traumatic brain injury can affect a person’s mental condition, contributing to memory loss, lack of coordination, lack of concentration, cognitive impairment and other effects that can reduce a person’s ability to better his situation in life, thereby ensuring that a person remains homeless and on the streets.

The Houston brain injury lawyers at Schechter, Shaffer & Harris, L.L.P., Accident & Injury Lawyers represent persons who have suffered brain injuries across Texas.