Brain injury lawsuits are very valuable claims because the brain is arguably the most important organ in the human body. When damaged, quality of life suffers greatly. Thus, compensation must be great in order to provide justice. If you are looking for a high caliber brain injury lawyer you should read on. If you are having trouble focusing due to your brain injury it may be best to skip to the last paragraph and call our SuperLawyers “Top 100” lawyer to help you maximize your recovery.
A brain injury can affect the way a person perceives their surroundings, or the people close to them. A brain injury which is serious enough can also cause the death of a person if the injury serves to impair a vital function like breathing or heart rhythm.
What is a brain injury (BI)?
Our brain is the control center for our lives as living creatures. It is what allows us to
walk, talk, remember, think, breath, laugh, and cry. Our brain directs our bodies to perform all of
the functions which allow us to be alive. Some of the things that brain does, we ask it to do, like
throwing a ball, singing a song or brushing our teeth; those are “volitional” actions. Some
of our brain functions happen without us asking, like telling our heart to beat or our lungs to
breath. Those type of functions are “non-volitional”.
When our brain suffers an injury, it is possible that both volitional and non-volitional functions of the brain can be impaired. In some cases, the injury can be minor and result in little to no impairment; in others, it can be very serious and lead catastrophic injury or death.
A person’s brain has various sections (sometimes called Lobes) with each section responsible to control different parts of the body. For example, Temporal Lobe controls memory, language, hearing, and organization.
A brain injury comes in many forms and can have many causes. A brain injury will often affect the brain’s neuronal activity which in turn can affect any body function, activity, or cognitive process, like speech, memory, or emotion. The most common form of brain injury is a concussion. At Fairlie & Lippy we have handled a large number of concussion cases and are very aware of the special requirements for these cases, from the time of injury until the time the case resolves.
How does a person get a brain injury?
A brain injury can be either acquired or non-acquired. A “non-acquired” brain injury is
typically something that is hereditary, congenital or present at the time of birth. An “acquired”
brain injury generally comes about as the result of another source.
A brain injury that is “acquired” can be caused by a disease process, such as a tumor,
stroke, blood clot, or infection.
A brain injury that is “acquired” can also be caused by a traumatic event, such as an
accident, assault, lack of oxygen, or other external force applied to the head.
Any head injury should be taken seriously. Our brains have natural protection from our skulls which typically help us avoid injury. However, when we do sustain an injury to our brain, it can cause our brain to begin to swell, a condition known as “cerebral edema”. This is a serious condition because when our brain swells it can press up against the skull, which in turn can cause significant bruising, internal bleeding and further injury.
In this type of situation, time is of the essence; any delay in seeking or receiving prompt
medical attention or care can lead to further swelling and thus further damage and injury.
In many instances of brain injury, the longer a person goes without treatment, the more
significant the injury can become and in some cases, the injuries will cause permanent damage or
permanent loss even if they do not result in death.
What are some signs that a person has suffered a brain injury?
As mentioned above, a brain injury can occur in many ways and the resulting symptoms
can also be varied; however, when dealing with a potential brain injury, a person should be
aware of the following common signs:
Loss of consciousness, persistent headache or a headache that worsens, vomiting
or nausea, seizures or convulsions, dilation of one or both of your pupils, clear fluids draining
from your ears or nose, blurry vision or slurred speech, lethargy or sleepiness, dizziness or loss
of balance or disorientation, being unable to answer simple questions and even a change in mood
or personality can indicate a brain injury. If a child experiences a brain injury, they will often
seem fussy or inconsolable. They may cry persistently or not at all.
This list does not include every possible symptom and the severity of any symptom can
vary widely. Keep in mind that brain injuries can reveal themselves quickly like an immediate
loss of consciousness or they can take time to fully progress from minutes to hours. Therefore,
whenever a person experiences the above types of symptoms it can be a matter of life or death
and they must seek out prompt medical attention.
What to do if you suspect that a person has suffered a brain injury?
If you suspect that a person has suffered a brain injury, seeking medical attention is a
priority. Immediately call 911 or go the nearest hospital Emergency Department. Keep the
person calm. If possible, be prepared to relay to any medical provider how the injury happened,
if the person lost consciousness, and if so for how long, was the person’s speech or coordination
affected, did they suffer any whiplash motion to their head or neck.
Once at a hospital or medical center, a person who is suspected to have suffered a brain injury will likely be assessed with what is called a “Glasgow Coma Scale”. This test helps medical providers determine the
likely severity of a brain injury by rating responses to observations. The lower a person’s score
is the more likely that they sustained serious injury.
They will also likely undergo a CT scan or MRI. These imaging studies will help assess if there is any bleeding present within the skull. It is also possible that a patient may have a “Intracranial Pressure Monitor” ICP placed in their head. This device allows doctors to determine if the pressure within the skull is increasing and will need to be addressed to prevent further damage.
It is also possible that a person who suffers a brain injury will require surgery in order to
relieve the pressure on the brain. This procedure is referred to as “craniotomy”.
What is the recovery process from a BI?
Most people who suffer a serious brain injury will need to undergo rehabilitation. This
rehabilitation is typically designed to help a person regain whatever impairment they suffered
from the brain injury. Often this can include speech, coordination, memory, and activity of daily
living.
In some cases, persons who suffered brain injuries will need to take medications to
prevent seizures or medication to lower the blood pressure so as to reduce the pressure on the
brain. A person who has suffered a brain injury from a stroke will also be given medication to
prevent the blood from clotting and therefore making it less likely that they will continue to have
damage from blocked blood vessels.
What type of lawyer do you need?
There are over 80,000 practicing lawyers in the state of Pennsylvania. If you or a loved one have suffered a brain injury you want one of the very best lawyers to handle the case. Steven Fairlie has been recognized by SuperLawyers, as published in Philadelphia Magazine, as one of the Top 100 lawyers in the state of Pennsylvania – across all specialties. Call him for a personalized strategy session analyzing the strengths and weaknesses of your case – information you take with you whether you hire him or not.
