Brain Injuries
If I have suffered a brain injury, should I contact an attorney?
Yes. It is important that a lawyer be contacted to evaluate your case as soon as possible. Often, the circumstances of an accident or injury must be investigated promptly or valuable evidence is forever lost. In addition, there is a...
How many people suffer brain injury each year?
It is estimated that 8 million people sustain brain injuries each year in the United States. At least 2 million of those injured will be permanently impaired. After a brain injury, things that once were easy and familiar become strange...
What are cerebral contusions?
Cerebral contusions are bruises on the brain caused by the brain striking the wall of the skull. A severe contusion will involve swelling of the brain. If swelling is severe, these injuries can cause a severe headache, dizziness, and vomiting....
What types of medical exams are conducted to determine a brain injury?
Patients with brain injury require frequent assessments and diagnostic tests. These include: Neurological Exam: A series of questions and simple commands to see if the patient can open their eyes, move, speak, and understand what is going on around them....
What happens after a brain injury?
After a brain injury, a variety of other damages may occur including: Hematoma (epidural, subdural and/or intracerebral) Brain swelling/edema Increased intracranial pressure Cerebral vasospasm Intracranial infection Epilepsy Coma (There are degrees of comatose states. These degrees are quantified in what...
How is brain injury diagnosed?
A diagnoses can be made when there is evidence of gross damage to the brain, such as hemorrhaging, swelling or contusions. These physical findings are detected by CAT-scan (CT scan) or Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). Where the damage is minimal,...
Who is most at risk for sustaining a brain injury?
Anyone can incur a brain injury. However, statistics show that males are two times more likely than females to sustain a brain injury. The highest rates of brain injury typically occur in males ages 15-24. Individuals who have already sustained...
What are some of the effects of brain injury?
Cognitive effects: Short term memory loss Trouble concentrating Difficulty with communication Spatial disorientation Impaired judgment Unable to do more than one thing at a time Physical effects: Seizures Muscle spasticity Double vision or blindness Loss of smell or taste Speech...
What are the most common causes of brain injury?
Motor vehicle crashes – roughly 1/2 of all injuries Firearm-related incidents Slips and falls Violence-related injuries – abuse, Shaken Baby Syndrome Recreational Accidents – bicycle falls, playground equipment falls, all-terrain vehicle accidents
What is traumatic brain injury?
Traumatic brain injury is an injury to the brain caused by an external physical force. This force may produce a diminished or altered state of consciousness, resulting in an impairment of cognitive abilities or physical functioning. It can also result...
