San Francisco Traumatic Brain Injury Attorneys
Sacramento Head Injuries Lawyers
Types of Brain Injury
- Closed head injuries are traumatic injuries in which the skull is not penetrated. Closed head injuries result from rapid movement of the brain within the skull, which most commonly occurs in motor vehicle accidents - car wrecks, truck accidents, motorcycle and even bicycle accidents where the cyclist is hit by a car and thrown to the pavement. Closed head injuries (including concussions and whiplash injuries) result in swelling and bruising of the brain and microscopic tears in brain tissue when the brain hits the inside of the skull.
- Traumatic brain injuries typically involve skull fractures or objects entering the brain cavity. These can happen with car accidents, but they can also happen with falls from heights and explosions.
- Another type of brain injury is caused by lack of oxygen (near drownings) or disturbance of blood flow (massive bleeding or stroke).
The Location of Brain Injuries
The different areas of the brain control specific functions in the body so the symptoms a person experiences signal the parts of the brain that have been injured:
The Challenges of Diagnosing a Brain Injury
Unlike fractures or spinal cord injuries, brain injuries are often not immediately visible. If the injured person did not lose consciousness, a closed head injury or concussion can get overlooked. A brain bleed (hematoma or hemorrhage) may not result in easily identifiable symptoms for many hours. The injured person may have suffered permanent brain damage by that time.
The Challenges of Living With a Brain Injury
A brain injury can affect short- or long-term memory, cognitive ability, personality, self control and ability to manage emotions. Family members sometimes say the person is no longer him or herself. Injured persons may or may not know the full extent of the changes that have occurred. If they do, they may experience depression or feel angry that they cannot do the things they once did.
Age is a factor in the ability of the brain to recover. The human brain does not fully mature until approximately 22 years of age. Children and young adults often experience better outcomes than older adults with the same brain injury. This is due to brain "plasticity" - the neural pathways in younger brains have a greater ability to rewire to regain function.
The difficult truth is, however, that many brain injuries do not improve over time, and some worsen. In order to deal with the effects of a brain injury, it's important that the injured person or the family of the injured person have the financial resources for treatment, therapy, and nursing care.
Securing Full and Fair Compensation for the Victims of Brain Injuries
Each brain injury is unique and has different effects on the victim. The brain injury attorneys at Abramson Smith Waldsmith, LLP, work closely with clients and their families to ensure the client's medical condition has been thoroughly assessed and he or she is receiving appropriate care.
We go the extra mile to ensure that our clients receive full and fair compensation. 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 sets us apart from other firms.
Contact Us
For more information about traumatic brain injuries or to schedule a free initial consultation with an experienced personal injury lawyer, contact Abramson Smith Waldsmith, LLP. Or call us at 415-421-7995 or toll free at 888-745-2988.
