Causes of brain injury

The most common cause of brain injury is road traffic accidents, accounting for between a third and a half of all injuries. Other frequent causes include industrial accidents and assaults. Clinical (i.e. medical or nursing) negligence, usually but not always at birth, is another common cause, although the mechanism is different in that it is often caused by lack of oxygen (hypoxic or anoxic brain damage).

• About the brain
• Assessment of mental capacity