Foreign Accent Syndrome: Rare Head Injury Malady

Virginia (VA) Medical Malpractice Lawyers
Offices in VA Beach, Hampton & Elizabeth City, NC 
 

Traumatic brain injuries can leave its victims with a wide range of serious, life-changing, and sometimes odd disabilities and conditions. Just ask 45-year-old Robin Jenks Vanderlip, a Fairfax, Virginia woman who suffered a head injury after falling down a flight of stairs two years ago. When Vanderlip awoke, she was speaking with a Russian accent, to the surprise of everyone, including herself. Vanderlip doesn’t remember every visiting Russia, having an interest in Russia, or even hearing the accent before her fall injury took place.

Virginia health professionals determined that Vaderlip suffered from a very rare condition that affects brain injury victims after an accident: foreign accent syndrome. Since its acceptance in 1941, there have been 60 reported cases of foreign accent syndrome – all in relation to severe brain trauma, such as car crashes, migraines, falls, and other accidents. In many cases, sufferers of foreign accent syndrome do not recover their normal voice, with some sufferers keeping their accents for decades.

Injury victims understand all too well how a serious accident, such as a slip and fall or a car accident, can change their lives forever and foreign accent syndrome is an apt example of this fact. While some wounds heal and some pain can be forgotten, head injury symptoms and consequences can last a lifetime and can change the scope of your life in utterly unexpected ways.

If you have suffered serious consequences of a head injury in Virginia – even if they differ from foreign accent syndrome, it is important to speak with an experienced head injury lawyer about your case.

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. 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.

About the Editors: Shapiro, Lewis & Appleton is a Virginia injury law firm whose attorneys focus on personal injury and accident law and have extensive experience handling medical malpractice and doctor mistake cases. Please take a few moments to review our medical malpractice case results. We have offices in Virginia Beach and Hampton, VA, but we're ready to come to you anywhere in Virginia, including Norfolk, Portsmouth, Chesapeake, Newport News and Suffolk, VA, if you've been seriously hurt by the carelessness of a doctor, surgeon, nurse or pharmacist.

Rick Shapiro and James Lewis have been recognized as among the Best Lawyers in America since 2008. Also, Rick and Jim have been named Virginia Super Lawyers for Personal Injury Law since 2010. Fewer than 5 percent of lawyers are chosen for this professional honor.

Members of our VA personal injury law firm have also been selected by the National Million Dollar Advocates Forum since 2009. In addition, we were the first injury law firm in Virginia to join Primerus, a select group of highly ethical and respected law firms. Our VA medical malpractice 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 offer free special reports on the Top 10 Tips from a Medical Malpractice Insider and the top five surgical errors you must know about. 

While not every injury case meets our criteria, we offer free initial confidential injury case consultation, so 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 return your call.