Brain Injuries are Unique and Devastating
Brain injuries are different from any other type of injury. The consequences to the individual, family and friends are difficult and long-lasting after a brain injury, and frequently cause tremendous stress on everyone. The San Francisco brain injury lawyers at Abramson Smith Waldsmith, LLP have the skill and experience to help during these difficult times.
We work closely with our clients and their families to ensure they are receiving the appropriate care and their needs are thoroughly assessed. Each brain injury is unique and has different effects on the victim, many times with long-term consequences.
Brain Injuries Have Many Causes
A brain injury can occur from either direct physical trauma to the head resulting in nerve or tissue damage or from secondary factors, such as a lack of oxygen that causes swelling, hematomas or bleeds, or the disturbance of blood flow. Brain injuries can occur from closed head injuries or penetrating injuries to the brain.
Closed head injuries may be caused by trauma to the head or by rapid head accelerating or decelerating movements, such as whiplash or the “shaken baby syndrome.” This type of trauma can result in a “contrecoup injury” where swelling or bruising of the brain occurs on the side opposite the point of impact due to the brain rebounding against the inside of the skull.
Two-thirds of brain injuries are sustained by men, typically between ages 17 and 25 years old, presumably because they engage in riskier behavior and activities. Still, the most common cause of traumatic brain injuries is vehicular accidents, many of which were not caused by the fault of the victim. At Abramson Smith Waldsmith, LLP, our skill and experience in dealing with brain injury victims due to the negligence of others has a proven track record.
Regions of the Brain
Trauma to the brain can cause a disruption in brain function. The different areas of the brain control specific functions, and the location of brain damage determines the type of dysfunction that results. Traumatic brain injuries commonly occur to the following anatomical regions of the brain:
Symptoms of the Brain
Sometimes, brain injuries are difficult to diagnose, particularly when the individual did not lose consciousness. The symptoms may be delayed, particularly when an injury results in a brain bleed, i.e., a hematoma or hemorrhage. This is not uncommon. It is important to be aware of this because further delay in medical treatment can result in irreversible brain damage or death.
Many brain injuries do not improve over time, and some may even worsen. Age is a factor in the ability to recover from a brain injury. The human brain does not fully mature until approximately 22 years of age and injuries to a brain that is still developing, particularly to minors, can result in different outcomes than a similar injury to an older victim. Some patients, particularly young brain injury victims, experience brain “plasticity” effects and their neural pathways in their brains can rewire to gain some increased function, such as relearning how to speak.
The brain injury attorneys at Abramson Smith Waldsmith, LLP go the extra mile to ensure that our clients receive full and fair compensation for their injuries. We are known for our use of cutting-edge technology to demonstrate the injury and explain how it has affected our clients. We have received the national Law Technology News award for Most Innovative Use of Technology at Trial for our trial techniques. Our creativity in trial presentation separates us from other firms.
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For more information or to schedule an appointment with an experienced personal injury lawyer, please contact us.
