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Very few of us realize the amazing and intricate nature of our brain until it becomes injured or damaged. The brain is the most complex part of the human body. It is the seat of our intelligence, interpreter of the senses, initiator of body movement, and controller of behavior. The brain is the crown jewel of the human body.
What is a Brain Injury?
A brain injury is the result of a sudden, violent blow or jolt to the head. When someone suffers a head injury the brain is launched into the inside of the skull, resulting in possible bruising of the brain, loss of consciousness, tearing of nerve fibers and bleeding. As Virginia (VA) brain injury lawyers we know that individuals in Virginia who sustain brain damage and injury must have timely access to expert trauma care, specialized rehabilitation, lifelong disease management and individualized services and supports in order to live healthy and independent lives.
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Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major cause of death and disability in the United States and Virginia, contributing to about 30% of all injury deaths. Every day, 138 people in the United States die from injuries that include TBI. Those who survive a head injury, concussion or brain damage can face effects lasting a few days to disabilities which may last the rest of their lives.
A traumatic brain injury is a closed head injury and a unique type of injury because it is not readily visible. It is not like suffering a broken arm or facial laceration where the injury is immediately apparent. This is one reason hiring an experienced Virginia (VA) brain injury attorney is important if you feel you may have a brain injury. Sometimes a brain injury is not diagnosed for weeks or months after a closed head injury occurs, as it requires diagnosis by a trained, skilled medical doctor. The signs and symptoms of a damaged brain are very often not obvious and can include loss of consciousness and memory loss.
Who Can Suffer From a Brain Injury?
It’s not just adults that are affected by brain injury. Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is the leading cause of disability and death in children and adolescents in the U.S. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the two age groups at greatest risk for TBI are age 0-4 and 15-19. Among those ages 0 to 19, each year an average of 62,000 children sustain closed head or brain injuries requiring hospitalization as a result of motor vehicle crashes, falls, sports injuries (concussions), physical abuse and other causes. Among children ages 0 to 14 years, TBI results in an estimated in 2,685 deaths, 37,000 hospitalizations and 435,000 emergency department visits.
Our VA brain injury firm settled a case involving a young girl who suffered a traumatic brain injury in an accident involving a commercial truck. The firm attorneys who handled the case, Randy Appleton and James Lewis, recognized that their client was going to need a lifetime of care, so they were able to secure a $21 million structured settlement. Read Part Two of our brain injury series to learn about how CT scans and MRI’s are being used to identify and diagnosis closed head injuries.
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