Why You May Need an Experienced Brain injury Lawyer
Summary by David Chester Ohio personal injury lawyer:
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is often a consequence of motor vehicle accidents. TBI’s range in severity from mild, moderate to severe and often require long-term medical care including rehabilitation. If you have been in a car, truck, or motorcycle accident it is important that you contact an experienced injury lawyer to find out what your rights are. Your accident lawyer will guide you through the process of a personal injury settlement. The personal injury lawyers at the Chester Law Group in Ohio can assist you through this difficult time to help you get your bills paid.
Article by Susan Ardizzoni Ph.D.:
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) often occurs with motor vehicle accidents which require immediate medical attention. TBI is also referred to as intracranial injury and occurs when external forces traumatize the brain during some form of accident. TBI’s are classified based on severity, whether you have a closed or penetrating head injury, and/or brain damage that is localized or widespread.
This also includes damage to the skull. Traumatic brain injury is a major cause of death and disability worldwide. About 50% of reported TBI’s occur from vehicle accidents and the rest primarily occur from falls and violence. Remember that it is important to wear seat belts and sport helmets where appropriate, stick to the traffic laws and take in educational coursework as new technologies are introduced into the vehicles you are driving.
Brain damage can be caused with a direct impact to the brain and spinal column or by changes in acceleration. TBI can occur at the instant of injury as well as what is called secondary injury.
Secondary injury involves a series of events that take place in time over days and months down the road. These processes include changes in blood flow around and within the brain and changes in pressure within the skull that occur from the initial injury.
TBI can cause a wide range of physical, cognitive, emotional and behavioral problems and the outcome of these effects range from permanent disability to death.
Advances in current technologies have improved diagnosis and treatment of TBI’s that have lowered the death toll and overly improved your prospects for recovery. New techniques in imaging systems such as CT scans, MRI scans, DTI scans, Pet scans and X-rays are providing greater resolution and allowing physicians to provide better interpretations and do so quickly. Your treatment may include medications and/or emergency surgery initially followed by physical therapy, speech therapy, and/or occupational therapy for proper rehabilitation.
Brain injuries are generally classified into mild, moderate and severe types. The Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) is the most commonly used system for classifying TBI severity. GCS is a scale that grades an individuals level of consciousness on a scale of 3-15 that is based on your verbal, motor skills as well as your eye opening reactions to various stimuli. Scale interpretation is listed below.
- A GSC number of 13 or above is considered mild damage
- A GSC number of 9-12 is considered moderate damage
- A GSC number of 8 or below is considered severe damage
The GSC number is limited in predicting outcomes. Therefore, other systems are used in conjunction with the GSC number that provides more information. These include the time length of post-traumatic amnesia (PTA) and loss of consciousness (LOC). The PTA and LOC times are listed below for mild, moderate and severe brain damage.
- Mild brain damage tends to occur with post-traumatic amnesia that occurs for less than a day and a loss of consciousness for 30 minutes or less
- Moderate brain damage has a post-traumatic amnesia for 1 to 6 days and a loss of consciousness between 30 minutes and 24 hours
- Severe brain damage has a post-traumatic amnesia greater than 7 days and a loss of consciousness greater than 24 hours
The GSC scale, post-traumatic amnesia times and loss of consciousness times are used along with any scans that have been taken to provide a more complete picture of brain injury. It is important that you get documented proof of your diagnosis as this will provide evidence for a legal settlement.
If you have been seriously hurt in a truck, car or motorcycle accident and experienced traumatic brain injury, you may be entitled to financial compensation for pain and suffering, medical bills and lost wages. These types of accidents often involve long-term inflammation and severe pain so you need to consider about continued medical care and loss of your ability to earn wages in the future.
The Chester Law Group is an Ohio personal injury law firm experienced in truck, car and motorcycle accidents involving brain and spinal injury and can guide you through a personal injury settlement. It is important that you consult with a brain injury lawyer before you attend a Defense Medical Exam (DME) and don’t ask a doctor for advice. Your brain injury attorney will advise you every step of the way.
Call the experienced Ohio personal injury attorneys at Chester Law Group today to get the help you want from people you can trust 800-218-4243.