Philadelphia Brain Injury Attorneys

Property and business owners have a duty to properly maintain the premises under their control. If their failure to do so leads to the existence of a hazardous condition that causes a brain injury, they may be liable for damages.

Many Pennsylvania and New Jersey residents are victims of motor vehicle crashes every year, which are among the most common causes of brain injuries. Collisions involving cars, semi-trucks, motorcycles, commercial vehicles, boats, trains, and scooters may generate a significant blow upon impact due to their high rate of speed.

When an infant undergoes blunt force trauma or is subject to a particularly difficult birth, a spinal cord injury can result. Although spinal cord injuries are not especially common among infants, they can result in life-long damage and even paralysis. Sometimes spinal cord injuries occur in infants as a result of undiagnosed spina bifida.

Even with helmets and padding, bicyclists are vulnerable when they collide with a moving vehicle or large objects. The body isn’t protected by a steel shell as it would be in a car, so the impact is severe and may lead to brain injuries.

Participants in a wide variety of sports are at risk of developing a brain injury.

Violence is a common cause of brain injuries, and even a minor blow to the head can cause serious damage.

Military personnel and others dealing with explosives are at high risk of brain injury, as both the explosion itself and any impact on the ground or other surface can seriously damage the brain.

The CDC defines a TBI as a nondegenerative acquired brain injury. It can “result from a bump, blow, or jolt to the head or body — or a penetrating head injury — that disrupts normal brain function”. It often begins with a primary injury that occurs at the moment of such an impact, but it can be followed by secondary damage resulting from complications like intracranial hematomas, cerebral ischemia, edema, vasospasms, and hypoxemia.

There are a variety of common signs and symptoms you should look for if you are concerned whether a child has suffered a TBI. Be aware, however, that in addition to the conditions listed here, TBIs can present in various other ways so you should always seek a thorough medical evaluation to err on the side of caution.

According to the Mayo Clinic and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, you should always keep in mind that infants and very young children with brain injuries cannot communicate headaches, sensory problems, confusion, and similar symptoms. The most common signs and symptoms of pediatric traumatic brain injury that you should watch for include:

Physical Symptoms of Traumatic Brain Injury

• Headache(s)
• Sensitivity to light or sound
• Dilation of one or both pupils
• Nausea or vomiting
• Change in eating or nursing habits
• Loss of consciousness
• Fatigue
• Inability to awaken or other changes in sleeping patterns, such as trouble falling or staying asleep, or sleeping more or less than usual
• Dizziness
• Loss of balance and coordination, including trouble walking
• Ringing in ears
• Double or blurred vision
• Slurred speech
• Numbness or tingling in extremities
• Spasticity
• Muscle weakness
• Seizures

Cognitive Symptoms of Traumatic Brain Injury

• Feeling foggy or confused
• Slow thinking or processing
• Memory issues
• Inability to concentrate
• Poor judgment
• Falling behind in school

Emotional Symptoms of Traumatic Brain Injury

• Feeling more sad, nervous, irritable, restless, impatient, or fussy than normal
• Persistent crying and inability to be consoled
• Lack of motivation or interest in performing their normal activities
• Loss of interest in favorite toys or activities
• Inability to tolerate daily routines
• Emotional outbursts or unusually bold behavior

Each year, nearly 2.5 million people suffer a TBI, with approximately 50,000 resulting in death, and over 80,000 suffering permanent disability. The leading causes include:

• Falls (28%)
• Motor vehicle crashes (20%)
• Being hit by or colliding with an object (19%)
• Assaults (11%)
• Other — Spinal cord injuries, sports injuries, birth injuries, cerebral palsy, and
  medical malpractice/negligence (12%)

Source: The Brain Trauma Foundation & U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

In some instances, there can be lingering effects from TBIs which need to be evaluated and addressed on a case-by-case basis, which require professional medical diagnosis and care.

Note: Even seemingly mild injuries like concussions can cause symptoms that linger for decades, and it’s important not to dismiss the red flags that signal your child may be suffering from long-term post-concussion syndrome. They include:

• Cognitive Impairments — Problems may linger with memory, attention, and executive function.
• Behavioral Changes — The patient may exhibit long-term increased irritability, impulsivity, or emotional instability that affect their personal and social relationships.
• Physical Challenges — A variety of chronic ailments can include motor deficits, coordination issues, and chronic pain.
• Educational Impact — The patient may also experience difficulty with school performance and have a need for special educational programs and services.

Understanding the warning signs and services available for traumatic brain injuries can help ensure that your child receives the necessary care and support needed for their long-term recovery and well-being. And, in some cases, it can even prevent the injuries from occurring in the first place.

However, if your child has sustained a TBI — especially one with long-term consequences — you will need an experienced team of lawyers and medical professionals to investigate the case.

A detailed investigation is required to determine what caused the TBI. To do this, you need to collect facts and evidence related to the incident as well as consult with expert witnesses to ascertain if negligence was a factor or increased the risk of the injuries from happening.

Evidence must be securely stored in a secure location to prevent any tampering or destruction. Witnesses must be identified and interviewed, and any and all records must be obtained and reviewed.

In some cases, patients recover from mild head trauma injuries and return to their normal level of health and activity in relatively short order. In other instances, however, there can be lingering effects from more severe TBIs, which need to be evaluated and addressed on a case-by-case basis.

Note: Even seemingly mild injuries like concussions can cause symptoms that linger for decades, and it’s important not to dismiss the red flags that signal the patient may be suffering from long-term post-concussion syndrome. They include:

• Cognitive Impairments — Problems may linger with memory, attention, and executive function.
• Behavioral Changes — The patient may exhibit long-term increased irritability, impulsivity, or emotional instability that affect their personal and social relationships.
• Physical Challenges — A variety of chronic ailments can include motor deficits, coordination issues, and chronic pain.

Educational Impact — The patient may also experience difficulty with school performance and have a need for special educational programs and services.

Understanding the risks, warning signs, and services available for traumatic brain injuries can help ensure that the patient receives the necessary care and support needed for their long-term recovery and well-being. And, in some cases, it can even prevent the injuries from occurring in the first place.

However, if you or a loved one has sustained a TBI — especially one with long-term consequences — you’ll need an experienced team of lawyers by your side fighting for your rights to get you the compensation you deserve. As soon as possible after the injury is sustained, you will want to have your case evaluated by an experienced team of traumatic brain injury lawyers.