10. Losing Faith in George Michael’s Ability to Travel in Cars
In May 2013, he was the passenger in a car accident leaving him with head injuries and keeping him in the hospital for two weeks. He was released and kept under observation.
The reason for observation after a head accident is that such an incident can result in a traumatic brain injury (TBI).
This severe condition can cause impairment of the senses or cognitive ability lasting from a few minutes to years. Symptoms can include loss of memory, decreased reasoning ability and impairment of movement and coordination.
The Center for Disease Control reports that automobile accidents are the third-largest cause of TBIs. When fatalities were considered, 26 percent of those caused by TBI were due to auto crashes.
Mr. Michael’s gender could have worked against him, since the CDC’s studies show men three times as likely to die from TBI as women. On the other hand, his age was an advantage, since children and the elderly are most vulnerable to TBI.
When head injury happens, time is important. The victim should receive medical attention beginning immediately after the injury and continuing for several days. The full effects of such an injury may not be apparent until sometime after the incident, so victims of head injuries should be observed to detect amnesia or nerve impairment.
