Types of TBI

Since the brain is so integrated into the regulation of the body, injuries to this particular organ can be devastating and may result in lifetime disability or coma. In the United States alone, it is estimated that two million people will be hospitalized for a TBI each year. Of these two million people, survival rates and recovery will vary greatly depending on the severity of the individual’s injury, often attributed to the cause and part of the brain damaged. TBI manifests focally (affecting one area of the brain) if the head is struck directly by an outside force or diffusely (spreading to different parts of the brain) if it involves a noncontact injury of the brain moving within the skull. In the former, impact to the skull causes shock waves to spread through the brain, producing tissue damage. Ricocheting of the brain within the skull may result in a contrecoup injury (as opposed to a coup injury), in which damage occurs opposite the side of the head that was hit.

Prognosis of TBI Victims

Death from traumatic brain injury is not always instantaneous, and it is estimated that 40% of TBI patients will suffer from worsening conditions during hospitalization. It has been determined that this is not due to the primary damage dealt at the moment of trauma, but rather results from a secondary injury, or aftereffects triggered by the initial impact , such as brain swelling, fluctuations in blood flow to the brain, or damage to the blood-brain barrier.

Even if a TBI patient makes it to recovery, they are at risk for a number of complications physical and mental, emotional and behavioral. The most devastating of these is altered states of consciousness, such as coma or brain death, but also movement diseases like Parkinson’s, or post-traumatic seizures and epilepsy. Meanwhile, cognitive impairments like memory loss, and behavioral changes such as increased aggression, are often just as de-habilitating to individual’s family as they are the individual themselves, as oftentimes the victim of TBI can emerge with an altered personality.    

For more information as to how you can help protect your family, visit the website of Personal Injury Law Firm Wurtzel Law here.

This article is not intended as legal advice.

Car Accident Causes

Most car accidents boil down to simple driver error, such as when a driver does not yield the right of way, follows too closely to other cars, drives too fast, passes unsafely, or disregards traffic lights and stop signs.  However, car accidents that require you to contact a car accident law firm may be the result of:

• Distractions – driver’s attention is drawn from the roadway, increasing incidence of accidents; distractions may also be the result of distractions inside the automobile, like changing the radio station, or (commonly) talking or texting on a cell phone
• Inclement weather – conditions that diminish visibility, like rain or fog; conditions that reduce traction, like ice or water on the roadway; or windy weather.
• Defects in the automobile – a blown out tire; failed braking system; mechanical failures; and manufacturing defects.

Special Situations that Require Car Accident Law Advice

Many times, these above causes will result in litigation on your behalf by a car accident law firm.  However, there are special situations where you might require intervention by an attorney well-versed in car accident law, including:

• Hit and runs – where the driver of the at-fault automobile fails to stop.
• Automobile vs. pedestrian accidents – where a pedestrian is struck by a motor vehicle and receives bodily injury.
• Automobile vs. motorcycle accidents – operators of motorcycles often represent some of the most severe injuries in car accident law.
• Automobile vs. bicycle accidents – bicyclists are especially susceptible to becoming injured by a motor vehicle.
• Bus accidents – because occupants of a bus are typically unrestrained by a safety belt, injuries sustained while a passenger on a bus can be quite severe.
• Semi-truck/tractor trailer accidents – devastating accidents involving semi-trucks usually have dire consequences and many injuries.

Finding the Best Car Accident Law Firm

If you are the victim of a vehicular accident, you must seek out the most qualified car accident law firm for your case.  An experienced car accident law firm will act as an advocate for you with the at-fault insurance company or even your own insurance company.  It is during the crucial first weeks following an automobile accident that your actions will really count – including not giving a statement to the other party’s insurance adjuster.  Your car accident law attorney can work on your behalf to quickly recover lost wages, medical expenses, and more, while keeping the big picture in mind.  Your car accident law firm will examine your case thoroughly to make sure that you receive the maximum entitlement for your injuries, including compensation for pain and suffering and future income lost due to long term problems that the accident may have caused.