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Brain Injury Lawyer

There are several kinds of brain injuries, including traumatic brain injury (TBI) and acquired brain injury (ABI). Brain injury can occur when an individual suffers a stroke, infection, poisoning, substance abuse or drug overdose, hypoxia (lack of oxygen to the brain), a vehicular accident, a fall, a wound from a bullet, or being struck on the head by something.

Traumatic brain injury can be further broken down into two categories open head injury, closed head injury, and deceleration injuries. Open head injuries can be caused by bullet wounds or an object which penetrates the skull. Closed head injuries, which result from falls or car accidents, do not include skull penetration. Lastly, deceleration injuries occur when the body is shaken (as in Shaken Baby Syndrome) or stops very suddenly, causing the skull to cease movement but the softer brain inside the skull to continue moving. This leads to the brain slamming back and forth inside the skull, and then to neuron death. In addition, blasts are considered one of the leading causes of brain injury among front-line military personnel.

Acquired brain injury takes place at a cellular level within the entire brain, rather than being affected at a localized point, as is usually the case with traumatic brain injury. Acquired brain injury can also be defined as an injury which is not congenital or hereditary, and which occurs after birth instead of during the birthing process. This type of injury may occur as the result of hypoxia, which is when the brain is deprived of oxygen; heart attack, stroke or aneurysm; near-drowning; strangulation or choking; seizure disorders; venereal diseases and AIDS; and toxic exposure. Carbon monoxide poisoning, for example, is one of the causes of acquired brain injury. There are many more potential causes of brain injury, and only a qualified medical professional can diagnose brain injury.

Because the brain is such a complex organ, the way an injury to it may affect an individual is hard to predict. Nevertheless, some common symptoms of brain injury have been identified, and include dizziness, vision problems, coordination problems, memory loss, confusion, changes in mood or behavior, slurred speech, balance and movement problems, difficulties with motor skills, difficulties with speech or hearing, and sleep issues.

The possibility of rehabilitation, also, varies widely from patient to patient, and of course depends heavily on the nature and extent of the injury itself. The brain does have a remarkable ability to adapt, and to relearn functions and procedures. Physical and occupational therapy can play an important role in the rehabilitation of a brain injury patient, and some individuals have been very successful in returning to their previous cognitive and functional state after their brain injury. Others may require varying amounts of assistance and care, and may suffer from a reduced quality of life.

It's estimated that traumatic brain injury is one of the leading causes of death for people under the age of 45 in the United States, and an additional five million Americans are living with the consequences of a non-fatal traumatic brain injury. According to the Centers for Disease Control, 1.4 million people sustain a traumatic brain injury each year in the U.S.; of those, 50,000 die and 235,000 are hospitalized.

If you are one of these people who has experienced a brain injury, whether it was during a car or motorcycle accident, as a result of playing sports, or as the result of an assault, you may have a number of questions. You're undoubtedly concerned about the medical care you must undergo, the level of functioning you may regain, and of course the cost of treatment. You may also be wondering whether another person or company's negligence led to your traumatic or acquired brain injury. It might therefore be a good idea to speak with a qualified attorney who can assist you in sorting out the legal aspects of your brain injury. You may be entitled to compensation for the damages you sustained during a car accident, for example. Other scenarios in which negligence may have contributed to your brain injury could include a slip-and-fall accident, an accident in the workplace, or the use of a defective product, such as a medical product or medication. If you feel that you may have been injured as the result of negligence, contact an attorney today to find out if you have a valid claim.