Children Particularly Prone to Brain Injuries

3/31/2010
Shapiro, Lewis & Appleton
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Children Particularly Prone to Brain Injuries

"March is Brain Injury Awareness Month and a good time to help protect young athletes from suffering long-lasting or permanent effects from concussions."

Dr. Joel Brenner, who directs the Sports Medicine Program at Children's Hospital of the King's Daughters in Norfolk, Virginia (VA), opened a March 9, 2010 Virginian-Pilot editorial with this true, but incomplete, statement. As a father of three -- one a high school wrestler -- and a lawyer who represents brain injury victims, I believe every month, every day, is the right time to protect our youngsters' developing brains.

I also know I am not alone in recognizing this. The Virginia General Assembly this year passed, and Gov. Bob McDonnell has indicated he will sign, legislation requiring expanded education about and care for concussions in high school sports. Contact sports and athletic pursuits such as cheerleading and gymnastics put children and teens at risk for suffering direct blows to the head and falling and hitting their heads. Car accidents are another leading cause of head and brain injuries, ranging from concussions to internal bleeding and skull fractures.

Severe brain injuries can lead to death or permanent disability almost immediately. Mild traumatic brain injury -- the category into which concussions fall -- can lead to problems that last a lifetime, especially when an MTBI is poorly treated or recurs. Not every brain injury can be avoided, but all must be guarded against and resolved to the extent possible.

EJL

Category: Brain Damage/Head Injuries

Labels: brain injury concussion depression head injury health care injury John C. lawyer mild traumatic brain injury slip injury traffic accident traumatic brain injury

About the Editors: Shapiro, Lewis & Appleton is a VA injury law firm whose attorneys focus on personal injury and accident law and have experience handling cases brought by victims of traumatic brain injury and closed head injuries. In fact, in 2000, our firm helped a plaintiff receive what was then the largest verdict ever in a Virginia brain injury case. Then in the year 2012 we won a $21 million brain injury verdict. We also have a blog in which we discuss only topics related to brain injuries and head wounds.

Rick Shapiro and James Lewis have been named to the National Million Dollar Advocates Forum since 2009 and listed among the Best Lawyers in America since 2008.Shapiro and Lewis have been named Virginia Super Lawyers for Personal Injury Law since 2008. Fewer than 5 percent of lawyers receive this professional honor. In addition, our firm was the first in Virginia to join Primerus, a select group of highly ethical and respected law firms. Our VA injury law firm has the highest rating of AV from Martindale-Hubbell, a national lawyer ranking organization, which means we have a reputation for preeminent legal skill.
We have offices in Virginia Beach and Hampton, VA, but we're ready to come to you anywhere in Virginia, including Norfolk, Chesapeake, Hampton, Suffolk and Newport News if you or a family member has been seriously hurt by someone else's carelessness. While not every case meets our criteria, we offer free initial confidential consultations. Call us toll-free at (800) 752-0042. If you cannot get through due to high call volume, please leave a voicemail so we can get back to you.

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