When a person suffers any type of injury to the brain, the road to recovery instantly becomes uncertain. Brain injuries can vary in severity from fairly minor—such as a concussion—to extremely serious traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)—such as one that leaves the victim in a vegetative state. A person could sustain a brain injury in a variety of circumstances, including in a car crash and other situations that could lead to a personal injury claim.
Historically, it has been very difficult to observe and track the recovery process after a brain injury, making it nearly impossible to know how long a victim will need to get back to “normal” or if a return to normal is even likely. Last year, however, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a new tech-based assessment tool that is already being used to aid in the diagnosis and monitoring of concussions. The assessment tool is called EyeBOX, and it seems to be poised to revolutionize the diagnosis and treatment of concussions in patients of almost all ages and from all walks of life. EyeBox is also proving to be valuable for personal injury attorneys in seeking compensation for those who have suffered concussions caused by another party’s negligence.
How Does EyeBOX Work?
EyeBOX was created and developed by a company named Oculogica under the direction of Uzma Samadani, M.D., Ph.D. In a 2015 Ted Talk, Dr. Samadani explained that among the most difficult parts of treating concussions was being able to determine whether a concussion had actually occurred and the level to which the person was still being affected by the injury. Such was the case for several reasons.
First, brain activity scans are at least somewhat helpful in diagnosing more serious traumatic brain injuries, but they are not as useful in diagnosing concussions or tracking improvement in patients with concussions and TBIs. In addition, medical professionals have historically relied on patients’ self-reporting regarding common concussion symptoms such as confusion, dizziness, and nausea.
With this in mind, Dr. Samadani and the Oculogica team worked to create an objective diagnostic tool that does not rely on a patient’s ability to explain their symptoms. The result was EyeBOX, a lightweight, battery-operated device that takes less than four minutes to produce an assessment. The technology behind EyeBOX analyzes a person’s involuntary eye movements while they watch a video on a screen. According to research documents, EyeBOX accounts for more than 100,000 data points to generate a score that provides crucial information about the person’s condition. If the EyeBOX detects abnormal eye movements, the data can assist in diagnosing a concussion and provide useful information about the severity of the injury.
How Can EyeBOX Help My Personal Injury Case?
In the realm of personal injury law, recovering compensation for brain injuries—especially concussions—has long been relatively subjective. Certain symptoms, such as dizziness, confusion, nausea, insomnia, and more, are commonly associated with brain injuries, but each person experiences symptoms differently. Therefore, it is often impossible to determine the severity of a brain injury based solely on a patient’s reporting of their symptoms. The severity of an injury is a critical component of any personal injury claim, which makes EyeBOX an important step forward for those who have suffered concussions.
If you were recently involved in a car accident or any other incident that left you experiencing the symptoms of concussion, your attorney can help you find a medical facility that offers EyeBOX testing. The results of your EyeBOX test can then be used to show that you are, in fact, suffering from a concussion, as well as how severe your concussion is. Using EyeBOX, your medical team can also track the healing process and help provide a prognosis for making a full recovery—all of which is extremely helpful in building a case for compensation.
Virginia Brain Injury Case Results Obtained by Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp
At Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp, we are proud to have secured hundreds of millions of dollars in verdicts and settlements for our clients, including many who suffered brain injuries. Let’s take a quick look at a few such cases:
- $5.5 million settlement for TBIs caused by a truck accident: Our team built a case for compensation for a family of four who all suffered various injuries in a Virginia Beach truck crash. The compensation package was centered around the needs of one of the children who suffered a severe TBI and will require specialized care for the rest of her life.
- $900,000 settlement for a child who suffered a brain injury due to oxygen deprivation when he nearly drowned in a pool: We secured this settlement for our client by showing that the owners of the rental property on which the incident occurred failed to comply with state pool safety laws. Multiple medical specialists were consulted in building the case as well.
- $340,000 award for a man whose traumatic brain injury was caused by a distracted driving crash: At arbitration, we successfully used MRI results to show that the man was still suffering from brain-injury related problems more than two years after his Fairfax County accident. The award included consideration for the man’s ongoing medical and personal care needs.
Contact an Experienced Virginia Brain Injury Lawyer
March is Brain Injury Awareness Month, and the skilled Virginia personal injury attorneys at Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp understand the toll that an injury can take on your life. If you have suffered a concussion or traumatic brain injury as a result of someone else’s negligence, we can assist you in seeking full compensation under the law—just as we did in obtaining a $600,000 settlement for our client who suffered a TBI in a Norfolk truck crash. Call (833) 997-1774 to schedule a free consultation with a member of our team today.
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- How Can a Virginia Personal Injury Attorney Help Brain Injury Victims?
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- A Concussion is a Brain Injury – Virginia Brain Injury Lawyer Explains