Virginia Head Injury Lawyer: Silent Epidemic of Brain Trauma Injuries | Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp

Here’s a shocking fact: an estimated 1.5 million Americans suffer a traumatic brain injury each year. Even more shocking? Many of these injury victims will struggle with permanent effects of the injury, including cognitive issues, memory problems, motor skill problems, and disabilities. Yet doctors say that head injuries are largely a silent epidemic, despite its prevalence and despite its serious consequences.
Why a silent epidemic?

  • Traumatic brain injuries are hard to see. A broken leg is easy to understand. Brain damage can be subtle, and it can appear at first like no injury has taken place at all. 
  • It’s hard to accurately diagnose a head injury. Just as it is hard for anyone to see and understand a brain injury, it is difficult for doctors to see, understand, and treat these injuries. 
  • It can be difficult to link head injuries with future disabilities. Some head injury symptoms may not appear for hours, days, or even weeks. At the same time, head injury victims and their families may not connect a head injury with consequential health issues.

The Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute is trying to change some of these perceptions – and trying to expand our knowledge of what causes these injuries and how best to treat these injuries. Currently, the organization is using Functional MRIs (FMRIs) to track the healing process that the brain undergoes in the days and weeks after a minor head injury, such as a concussion. Participants, all of whom have suffered a concussion in the last ten days, are asked to complete simple tasks as researchers map their brain activity. Scientists hope that the study will help them understand how the brain heals itself and how doctors could harness that power.

Norfolk traumatic brain injury attorneys

Have you or a loved one suffered a traumatic brain injury in an accident that you believe was caused by negligence? These injuries can have serious consequences, including high medical costs, permanent disabilities, and loss of income. If your accident was not your fault and should have been prevented, it is important that you speak with a Virginia head injury lawyer about your case. The attorneys at Shapiro & Appleton& Duffan are happy to meet with you regarding your accident at a free, confidential meeting. Call us today.