Understanding Brain Injuries
Upstate New York Brain Injury Lawyers
Understanding the Needs and Challenges of Brain Injury Victims
One of the most common causes of serious brain injury is trauma from a significant fall or a motor vehicle accident. Trauma to the brain (traumatic brain injury, or TBI) can cause bleeding, bruising and swelling of the brain, tearing of brain tissue, shearing of the brain stem and damage to nerves. Anoxic brain injury occurs from a lack of oxygen, which may occur during childbirth, while under anesthesia or during a stroke or heart attack.
Signs of brain injury include:
- Vomiting or nausea
- Loss of consciousness
- Inability to awaken from sleep
- Headache/dizziness
- Loss of control, function, movement or weakness of any extremity or muscle group
- Confusion or agitation
- Sensory changes
- Mood, behavior or personality changes
- Loss of coordination
- Changes in thinking ability
- See also, the Trauma Triad
Brain Mapping Types of Brain Injury
Doctors can pinpoint the location of a brain injury by its affects on motor or sensory function and, conversely, they can predict the physical consequences of a brain injury based on the area of the brain that has been damaged.
- The brain stem (hindbrain) is responsible for involuntary functions like breathing, coughing, swallowing, heartbeat and circulation, body temperature, hunger and consciousness
- The cerebrum (midbrain) allows for control and coordination of body movements. It allows the body to perform the task without conscious effort
- The cerebellum (forebrain) allows us to learn, reason, imagine and create, as well as governing our emotions and behavior
Every brain injury has consequences. It's important to seek expert medical review. At Powers & Santola, LLP, our personal injury attorneys work with a variety of medical experts to ensure our clients receive a thorough medical assessment.
- A neurologist can conduct an ultrasound, MRI, CT scan, SPECT scan or PET scan. EEGs are of limited value, as they only measure surface activity of the brain.
- Formal neuropsychological testing can identify learning and thinking disorders.
- Neuro-ophthalmologists conduct vision testing
When we present your case at trial or in settlement discussions, we will have all the documentation needed to back up your claim.
Contact Us
To learn more about how a personal injury lawyer at Powers & Santola, LLP, can help you achieve financial recovery for a brain injury, contact us online or call toll-free at 866-689-9692 to schedule a free initial consultation.
