Chicago Brain Injury Lawyer Blog

Traumatic brain injuries are caused by the head taking a severe pounding via contact with a hard object. That fact led some brain injury researchers to consider a bizarre question: why don’t woodpeckers get brain damage? As everyone knows, the woodpecker is a bird that finds its sustenance by pounding their heads repeatedly against hard objects. If any other animal—including humans—engaged in such conduct, they would be left with severe injuries. But woodpeckers are not harmed at all.

What is it about this animal that protects them, and can we harness that power to protect ourselves from similar injury from collisions?

These are questions that scientists have been trying to puzzle out for some time. It has not been an easy biological endeavor to figure out exactly what give these curious birds their resilience. In the past various theories have been floated about, including claims of powerful facial muscles and peculiarities with the pecking technique. However a new study seems to have pinpointed a more likely reason—the specific design of the bird’s skull and beak. The full study can be viewed here.

To get at the mystery of the animal’s situation, researchers compared the spotted woodpecker to a similar bird that does not drill into trees—the Mongolian skylark. They used advanced imaging techniques to compare all facets of the animals’ bodies in detail. What they found was that microscopic difference in the woodpecker’s skull seems to give the animal the ability to have its skull to withstand forces 1,000 times greater than gravity (1000 g’s). Our Illinois brain injury attorneys know that human’s cannot withstand anywhere near that force. Even one-tenth of that (100 g’s) is considered potentially lethal for humans.

The study found that the key to the animal’s resilience was a spongy layer of bone around the brain. The bone is made up of a unique tissue called trabeculae. The tissue acts as a tightly woven armor mesh. The Mongolian skylark has the same tissue, but it is not woven as tightly, providing far less protection. The woodpecker’s beak also plays a partial role in its protection. The beak is made of trabeculae that “deforms” in small ways when making contact. The beak therefore absorbs some of the blow that would otherwise make it to the brain.

While this information may seem more interesting than useful, our Chicago brain injury attorneys appreciate that there very well may be much to learn from this research. In fact, the biological experts themselves explained that they hope the new information will play a role in developing better protective headgear for people.

They specifically noted that millions of traumatic brain injuries are caused each year by excessive head trauma that the brain cannot absorb. This occurs even in situations where helmets are worn—like in football games and on bikes. Our current technology is nowhere near perfect in crafting helmets that prevent all head injuries. New bio-inspired designs and material may one day be useful in improving the prevention capability of this equipment.

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Pediatricians Say Boxing Not Safe for Kids & Teenagers

Former Illinois Athlete Files Brain Injury Lawsuit Against Eastern Illinois University

Traumatic brain injuries are a risk for all age groups. Car accidents, falls, and similar occurrences where blunt force is possible are the leading causes of these injuries. The elderly are prone to falls. Teens and children are often in car accidents. From those in nursing home to newborns, these injuries can truly strike anyone.

However, in popular consciousness, the young are more at risk for these TBIs. That is because while seniors often suffer TBIs, they have many other health risks which are actually more likely to occur. On the other hand, children and teens have few health risks other than accidents where blunt force is an issue. In other words, as a percentage of overall injury types, it is the youth who face the gravest traumatic brain injury risk. Also, the consequences for young brain injury victims often seem particularly severe, because they can lead to problems that last for decades.

That is not to say that it is impossible for children and teens to bounce back from these injuries. Our Illinois brain injury lawyers know that many local victims have made great recoveries from situations with uncertain outlooks. It is important never to underestimate the ability of some TBI victims to recover. For example, a story this week from News Net 5 profiles a teen who suffered a traumatic brain injury during a snowboarding trip a year ago. The student was on a trip to a ski resort with friends and their parents in what was supposed to be a fun getaway.

The group hit the slopes as soon as they arrived. The teen is an avid snowboarder and he was on a run that shouldn’t have posed any trouble to him. His friends went on the run with him, but they became worried when he did not make it to the bottom of the hill. A search ensued and the young man was eventually found unconscious lying on the ground near some trees. He suffered a traumatic brain injury, and has no recollection of what happened.

The teen is lucky to be alive. Because of the weather, it was difficult for a helicopter to make a landing. Instead, he had to be rushed to a hospital in an ambulance. Doctors determined that he had fractured his skull and suffered significant brain damage. His parents were told that it was unlikely he would survive through the night. Fortunately, he did make it. He ultimately spent five weeks at the hospital.

Throughout the ordeal he was given rehabilitation. When he was released from the hospital, his parents (who are both coaches) worked with him relentlessly on his recovery. He had to relearn how to talk, eat, walk, and perform basic tasks. After eleven weeks of rehabilitation, the teen was able to walk, talk, and eat on his own again. Now, a year later, he is still in therapy—still trying to get back to complete self-sufficiency. Amazingly, he was able to get back to school for the start of the year last fall. His story is a reminder that, no matter what, those who have suffered these injuries to push themselves each day to recover as much as possible.

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Car Accident Brain Injury Victim Works to Help Others

Motorcycle Passenger Dies from Brain Injury Suffered in Accident

Our Chicago brain injury attorneys have often shared how traumatic brain injury risks are highest for the youngest and oldest community members. Research data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have repeatedly made this point. Those under four years old and over seventy five years old are particularly at risk for suffering severe head trauma. In both groups the two most common causes are falls and automobile accidents.

For seniors, falls are particularly risky.

It is no wonder why.

Seniors often face mobility problems as well as more bone, joint, and muscle issues. A lifetime takes a toll on the body. Tumbles that a younger person would be able to recover from might prove particularly serious for seniors.

For that reason it is incumbent upon all those who are in a position to help prevent seniors from falling from acting reasonably to do so. Similarly, those who have an obligation to maintain premises frequented by seniors have a duty to keep the location reasonable safe to eliminate preventable falls. Unfortunately, every Illinois brain injury lawyer at our firm understands that many care centers and property owners fail in these regard. At times that failure results in real harm to local seniors.

For example, last week two Illinois injury attorneys at our firm settled a lawsuit on behalf of the family of a senior who died after suffering a brain injury in a fall. In the case an 87-year old man was leaving an adult day care facility in the Chicago area. The man was getting ready to board a bus which was supposed to take him home. The senior had mobility problems, and so his care plan specifically called for caregivers at the adult day care center to provide assistance at these times. When the accident occurred, in mid-July in 2010, the man did not have any help from caregivers at the adult day care center.

The lack of assistance was not the only factor that contributed to the man’s fall and brain injury. The curb ramp at the location was also unsafe and dangerous. Investigations into the fall reveal that the curb ramp dimensions violated building codes—the longitudinal slopes and side slopes exceed allowable ratios. The ramp was also lacking markings which would have indicated its size, location and configuration.

All together the lack of assistance and dangerous ramp led the senior to fall as he was trying to enter the bus. The fall caused him to strike his head hard on the ground, leading to a serious brain injury. As often happens in these serious senior falls, the man’s condition deteriorated quickly. He passed away five days after the fall.

Two of our attorneys, John J. Perconti and Scott J. Richard filed suit against the adult day care center for negligence and the corporations responsible for the maintenance of the curb. Last week an agreement was reached between the parties to settle the matter without the need to go to trial. The defendants agreed to pay $1.2 million for the incident. Half of the settlement is to be paid by the adult day care center and the other half will be paid by the companies owning and maintaining the premises.

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Victim Dies in Bus/Van Accident

The New Role of Video Cameras in Chicago Nursing Home & Injury Cases

One of the most common—and potentially harmful—forms of medical malpractice is the failure to timely diagnose a medical condition or a delay in diagnosing the condition. In many medical situations, time is of the essence. If a medical professional medical provider does not act reasonably when a patient comes in, and a condition is not identified that should have been identified, then medical malpractice may have occurred.

This type of mistake perhaps receives the most publicity in cancer cases. Of course, catching cancer early is crucial, because the more time that cancer has to spread the harder it is for caregivers to control it and save the patient’s life. However, failure to diagnose lawsuits can also be filed in many other contexts—including when traumatic brain injuries are involved.

In fact, a failure to diagnose a TBI was at the heart of a medical malpractice lawsuit (and settlement) that was profiled this weekend in the Contra Costa Times. The suit was filed a year and a half ago by a man who was staying at a public rehabilitation center. While there took a pretty tough fall in the bathroom, hitting the bathroom floor hard. Caregivers at the facility claim that they conducted an evaluation after the fall and determined that he did not show any sign of injury. That is why they apparently discharged the man. However, after arriving home, it became clear that something was wrong. Eventually his family was forced to rush him back to the hospital where he was finally diagnosed with having suffered a traumatic brain injury. He had bleeding on the brain that required extensive medical care to correct.

Following the accident, the man filed a medical malpractice lawsuit against the rehabilitation facility claiming that they did not conduct a thorough examination to ensure that he was safe to be discharged. Part of the complaint included allegations that the staff members at the facility were negligent in their examination due to the fact that the accident occurred near the holidays and they wanted to leave.

According to the story it now appears that the city, which is responsible for the conduct of the public rehabilitation facility, is seeking to settle the lawsuit. The Board of Supervisors will vote on the reported settlement this week. As it is currently proposed, the settlement would include $2.3 million to the patient, an assumption of a Medi-Cal lien of roughly $200,000, and excusing the man’s $635,000 hospital bill.

It is encouraging that the negligent facility in this case appears poised to step up and accept responsibility for their conduct in this case. Beyond providing redress for the man in this case, the suit has also spurred changes at the facility. Part of the settlement includes demands that the country health officials provide a corrective plan of action. The plan will survey how the hospital conducts patient assessments to prevent injured patients from being sent home improperly. Hopefully these protocol changes will spare future victims the same suffering that the man in this case experienced.

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Family of Injured Boy Seeks Approval of $30M Award in Birth Injury Lawsuit

Doctor’s Failure to Treat Jaundice Causes Baby to Suffer Cerebral Palsy Birth Injury

When a child suffers a traumatic brain injury odds are it occurred in one of two ways: an automobile accident or a fall. These two situations account for a large majority of head trauma affecting youngsters. All efforts seeking to limit the occurrence of these injuries must take a hard look at those particular accidents and ways that they can be prevented.

Much focus has already been given to car safety. The use of seatbelts, proper child safety restraints, and basic safe driving techniques are all absolutely essential. In addition, car manufacturers have been encouraged—through a variety of means, including injury lawsuits—to make important changes to the design of vehicles that make them much more secure for travelers. All of these efforts should be applauded. In addition, each Illinois brain injury attorney at our firm believes that we can continue to do more to promote safety behind the wheel, a step which will go a long way to limiting brain injuries in youngsters and adults alike.

A bit less attention has been focused on preventing falls. That is likely because falls come in a range of different forms. For example, Devon News published a heartbreaking story this week about a fall that a toddler took off a apartment balcony. The young boy was just shy of his second birthday when he apparently fell 300 feet to a cement area below. He suffered a severe brain injury as a result of the fall, and he ultimately did not survive. An investigation into the tragedy following the accident has shed more light on exactly what happened. The young boy was apparently on a chair near the balcony looking down. The child’s brother was on the ground below. The toddler was apparently calling to his brother from the balcony when he apparently lost his balance and tumbled over the railing.

Our Chicago traumatic brain injury lawyers remind all local residents of the necessity to ensure all spaces like balconies are safe and secure. Accidents may always happen, but there are certain steps that can be taken to minimize the risk of one of these deadly falls occurring. For example, supervision is vital for children who are not old enough to fully understand the risks of high spaces and hard surfaces. On many occasions it is prudent to have doors locked and access to the balcony restricted in case younger children try to get out onto the area without adults being made aware.

Safety considerations also apply to those who manage public spaces or rent apartment where balconies are involved. Railings should always be the proper height. The stability and soundness of the balcony should also be guaranteed. In Chicago, for example, there are frequent problems with large balconies that are left in disrepair. Landlords often do not fix these balconies. Tenants and guests can unsuspectingly face serious injury if the balcony collapses. In those cases, the legal system allows victims (and their families) to seek legal recourse to hold those wrongdoers accountable for their negligence.

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Levin & Perconti Attorneys Obtain $975,000 Wrongful Death Settlement for Client

Deadly Balcony Accident

Misconceptions abound about the frequency of personal injury lawsuits, their overall success rate, and the average amount awarded following a verdict or settlement. The sad truth is that many community members mistakenly believe that lawsuits are filed more frequently than they are, that plaintiffs win much more often than they do, and that the average size of the award is much larger than it actually is. Disconnect between perception and reality has many troubling consequences. For one thing, it allows incredibly ill-informed policy proposals to advance that take away rights from injury victims. In addition, the ignorance of reality of these issues leads to unfair and incorrect criticisms of victims who happen to file these injury lawsuits.

This sad reality was recently exhibited in a Missoulian article where a brain injury lawyer wrote in to defend his client who had been savaged in online comments. The victim had recently reached a $100,000 settlement following a bike accident that caused him to suffer a serious traumatic brain injury. The man was riding his bike to work when he hit a patch of ice that had not been properly cleared, causing him to slam into the pavement. He lost his job after the accident, because the injury made him unable to perform his duties.

Following the settlement an interview with the head of the Park District which was named in the suit was published. Many commentators proceeded to savage the injury victim following that interview. In large part because of the continued misperceptions about the civil justice system as it relates to these cases, the man was subjected to vitriolic comments by his fellow community members. He was bombarded simply because he used the civil justice system to reach an agreement with those whose negligence has caused him severe harm.

The victim’s attorney recently explained that many of the most basic facts about the case were misrepresented in the interview with the Board president and echoed by community attackers. For example, it was suggested that the man was riding a motorized bike which contributed to the accident; a fact that was simply untrue. It is surprising that such a simple (and easy to disprove) error was made and believed. Similarly, the Park president completely contradicted the considerable investigation was done at the site and it was found that there was no other navigable part of the sidewalk that had been properly cleared. The President suggested otherwise in his interview.

Also, the attorney was disturbed that so many community members would immediately assume that the victim was not actually hurt. In truth, the man suffered significant injury, as the impact broke his bicycle helmet in two places. He has cognitive difficulties and in still in vocational rehabilitation a year after the accident. It is disappointing that, in large part because of the misperceptions about the legal system, this victim not only has to deal with the consequences of his injuries but defend them against community members who make snap judgments about the harm he actually experienced. We all need to work to educate residents about the truth of the civil justice system.

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Bike Struck By Car Recovers $675,000 in Brain Injury Lawsuit

Levin & Perconti Recover $975,000 in Wrongful Death Case Resulting from Fall from Balcony

Sports head injuries are a hot topic among child safety advocates. Most of the attention on the issue has been focused on helping athletes who play sports like football, soccer, hockey, and similar games. Obviously, our Chicago injury attorneys know that it is vital for those involved in these games to keep these players safe. Another youth and young adult pastime may also present significant risk of head injury, and it is getting less attention that that currently devoted to team sport athletes. Skateboarding injuries continue to affect many families across the area. Often families are unaware of the significant risks presented by these injuries—they can be fatal.

Just this week the Badger Herald reported on an advocacy campaign being waged by a family following the death of their son from a brain injury suffered after a skateboarding accident. According to the young man’s family, the victim enjoyed motorcycle riding and longboarding. He was always very careful to wear a helmet when he was on his motorcycle, but he did not always do so when on the board. One night several years ago he was on his longboard, when one of the wheels stuck to the underside of the board and sent him flying off of it at a speed of about 20 miles per hour.

The victim suffered serious injury upon hitting the ground. His skull was cracked completely across the back of his head, and his brain connected with his skull in at least four different locations. In the week after the accident, the young man’s brain swelled into his brain stem, making it impossible for him to perform basic functions (including breathing). The man went unconscious and ultimately died ten days after the longboarding accident.

Since the tragedy, the man’s parents have worked tirelessly to raise awareness about the possibility of suffering one of these head injuries. They believe that if more boarders wore helmets, then many of these situations would be prevented. The family eventually created a foundation with a main goal of passing out helmets to boarders in the area. The family hands out free helmets to all those who fill out a one-page contract promising to wear a helmet at all times. The group is part of a growing pro-helmet trend across the country in many fields from the boarding community and extreme sports participants.

The group has grown from a grassroots team to the largest of its kind in the United States. The foundation is now looking to sponsor longboard races in the hopes of sharing the pro-helmet message and delivering more safety products. So far the organization has given out over 3,600 helmets, but they hope to expand well beyond that total in the coming months and years. The founders know that there remain many participants in these activities that do not appreciate the dangers they face when they do not take the risk of head injury seriously.

Helmets continue to be one of the simplest ways for local resident to avoid falling victims to an Illinois brain injury caused by bike riding, skateboarding, longboarding, roller blading, and similar activities. The Chicago brain injury lawyers at our firm hope that more residents heed the warning presented by tragic cases like this one. The injuries occur frequently, have serious consequences, and often can be prevented.

In Other News: Two of our companion blogs--The Illinois Medical Malpractice Blog and Illinois Injury Lawyer Blog--were nominated for inclusion as one of the Top 25 Tort Blogs of 2011. The award is part of the LexisNexis project which seeks to feature blogs that set the standard in certain practice areas and industries. The voting to narrow down the field is currently underway, and we would love to have your vote. All you have to do is add a comment at the end of the post about the Top 25 bogs.

Please Follow This Link To Vote: Vote for Our Blog. Thanks for your support!

See Our Related Blog Posts:

Walk Draws Crowd to Raise Awareness for Traumatic Brain Injuries

Soldiers Brain Injuries from Blasts in Afghanistan Take A Toll

According to This is Plymouth, a new brain injury lawsuit was recently filed by a man after a fall at a hotel left him fighting for his life. According to the report, the victim was visiting a room in the hotel with his partner. The victim was walking down outside stairs from the second to the first floor of the hotel. He was at the top of six steps when the man fell and hit the concrete below. Per documents filed with the court initiating the claim, the victim claims that the hotel floodlights were not working properly, making it impossible to see the steps. In addition, a handrail was apparently not installed, a hose was lying across the stairs presenting a tripping hazard, and slick, wet leaves had accumulated on the steps.

As a result of the accident, the man has been left with sensory and memory problems. Doctors also explain that he is at risk of developing epilepsy and dementia as a result of the significant head trauma he suffered in the fall. All told he needed two major operations, had a titanium plate inserted into his head, and required months of rehabilitation. Following the accident and its aftermath the victim was unable to continue working as a quality services manager.

As this case demonstrates, the consequences of these injuries are far reaching. Many victims are ultimately unable to continue working as they did before, either because mental or physical complications from the injury prevent them acting as before. Of course, losing one’s job is a significant injury, and victims often spend years trying to get their lives back to working as it was before the loss Often the full scope of consequences of these accidents is not appreciated by community members until they or a loved one is forced to deal with it themselves.

Beside car accidents, falls are the second biggest cause of brain injuries in our area. As in this case, it does not necessarily take a fall from a significant height to cause significant damage. Here the man only fell down six steps. However, depending on the material and the specific parts of the body in which contact is made during the fall, the results can be serious. Some community members may also have particular vulnerabilities to falls. For example, many seniors have medical conditions which may make them at risk of suffering greater injury from a fall than others might have suffered. In virtually all civil matters, a legal principle known as the “eggshell plaintiff” rule would apply in these situations. That means that the negligent party takes the victims as they are, not as a “normal” victim would be. In other words, if an elderly person is seriously injured in a short fall that may have been harmless if it happened to a young person, the party responsible for the fall is still required to pay for the damages actually suffered by the elderly victim. It is irrelevant that the damage was greater specifically because of the victim’s unique vulnerabilities.

Our Chicago injury lawyers know that getting basic emergency medical care is only the beginning of the recovery process. With many brain injury victims, that recovery process lasts a lifetime. Whenever one is injured in one of these accidents which could have been prevented had others acted properly, they should get in touch with out brain injury lawyers to learn about how the law applies in their situation.

In Other News: Two of our companion blogs--The Illinois Medical Malpractice Blog and Illinois Injury Lawyer Blog--were nominated for inclusion as one of the Top 25 Tort Blogs of 2011. The award is part of the LexisNexis project which seeks to feature blogs that set the standard in certain practice areas and industries. The voting to narrow down the field is currently underway, and we would love to have your vote. All you have to do is add a comment at the end of the post about the Top 25 bogs.

Please Follow This Link To Vote: Vote for Our Blog. Thanks for your support!

See Our Related Blog Posts:

Bike Struck By Car Recovers $675,000 in Brain Injury Lawsuit

Levin & Perconti Recover $975,000 in Wrongful Death Case Resulting from Fall from Balcony

Brain injuries can wreck havoc on the lives of their victims, not least of all because potential cures are few and far between. Our Illinois brain injury attorneys know that unlike other injuries, much mystery surrounds most brain injuries, and many victims have a difficult time coping with the effects that the harm has on their lives. For example, this weekend The Telegram reported on one family that admitted they are having a hard time finding the support they need to get on with their lives after the injury.

The family’s trouble began when a 50-year old father of three fell over a step earlier this year, suffering a severe cut on the head and internal bleeding on the brain. The injuries were serious, and surgery needed to be performed to relieve the pressure on the brain caused by the internal bleeding. However, the surgery was not able to prevent complications from developing. Since the accident the man has had memory problems and is often confused. He is now a permanent wandering risk, and can virtually never be left alone, otherwise he risks hurting himself. Because he is single and all his children are under the age of sixteen, the man’s sisters were required to move him into an assisted-living facility, because they could not ensure his safety if he lived alone.

Unfortunately, most of the other patients at the assisted living facility were older individuals with Alzheimer’s and dementia. Upon living at the facility the man’s condition actually deteriorated. He began mimicking the residents. His family let his caregivers know that they were concerned that the victim was not getting any mental stimulation and that his recovery was affected as a result. The man was eventually able to be transferred to a different ward where he is allowed more freedom. His condition seemed to be improving , but he recently suffered another fall and hip fracture that require even more rehabilitation.

The family has voiced their concern that there is no proper location for this recovery where he can be placed among his peers. Long-term care facilities for seniors are rarely an appropriate location for young residents with brain injuries to receive therapy. The family wants the man to receive actual therapy in an effort to stimulate his mind and return some of its function. However, as of now the family has not been able to access the therapy services they need.

Our Chicago injury attorneys know that Illinois brain injuries are some of the most tragic accidents affecting local residents, because the consequences are very difficult for entire families to deal with. In many cases, these injuries are caused by the misconduct of others. They are caused by unsafe drivers, falls while on unsafe premises, and preventable sports injuries. When another person or business is negligent leading to the injury, it is reasonable for the victim and their family to pursue legal action to ensure that the victim will have access to all the medical and rehabilitative services possible to recover.

In Other News: Two of our companion blogs--The Illinois Medical Malpractice Blog and Illinois Injury Lawyer Blog--were nominated for inclusion as one of the Top 25 Tort Blogs of 2011. The award is part of the LexisNexis project which seeks to feature blogs that set the standard in certain practice areas and industries. The voting to narrow down the field is currently underway, and we would love to have your vote. All you have to do is add a comment at the end of the post about the Top 25 bogs.

Please Follow This Link To Vote: Vote for Our Blog. Thanks for your support!

See Our Related Blog Posts:

Car Accident Brain Injury Victim Works to Help Others

Motorcycle Passenger Dies from Brain Injury Suffered in Accident

The Chicago brain injury attorneys at our firm have worked with local victims whose head trauma resulted from a wide range of incidents. Brain damage can be caused by oxygen deprivation—such as during a birthing error—or when a victim suffers severe head trauma. One of the most common ways that an adult suffers head trauma is after a fall.

That appears to be what happened in the case of one college student who was recently awarded $4.1 million by a jury following a brain injury lawsuit. As reported in Commercial Appeal, the award was a long-time coming for the plaintiff, who is now thirty years old. He was injured when he was at a school-sponsored event in 2005. The student was at a senior art exhibit at an art gallery near the school when the accident occurred. The university had rented the gallery to display student artwork. Many questions remain about the accident, because there were no witnesses and the victim has no recollection of the accident. All that is known is that there was an open elevator shaft on the first floor of the gallery. The young man was found moaning at the bottom of the shaft after falling at least fifteen feet from the first floor to the basement.

Following the accident the victim was forced to have a large section of his skull removed to allow the swelling in his brain to subside. He was forced to wear a helmet to protect his head from further injury. The man’s life has still not fully gotten back to normal. Once a promising art student, he now struggles to complete his artwork as before. He filed the elevator accident lawsuit after his recovery was underway, and the jury in the case recently decided in his favor.

Both the university and the gallery owner shared blame for the tragedy. Our Chicago brain accident lawyer knows that this joint liability is common in many tragic accidents where multiple causes combine to lead to the injury. While the man in this case should eventually receive the sum awarded, the legal wrangling around this case is not concluded. There is a second phase to the case that will be heard soon related to an indemnification agreement between the university and the art gallery. Specifically, the art gallery owner is contending that the university signed an indemnity waiver when renting the space which requires the university to pay the art gallery’s portion of the award. The jury had determined that the university was 65 percent at fault, the art gallery was 30 percent at fault, and the victim was 5 percent at fault. In the trial’s second phase, the judge will decide if the indemnity clause was indeed agreed to and whether or now it applies in this situation.

Our Chicago injury attorneys are glad that this victim will likely receive the compensation he needs to pay for past medical problems and get on with his life as much as possible. However, as they second phase of the case demonstrates, it is often a long, drawn-out and arduous process before victims finally receive the redress to which they are entitled. Hopefully the resolution can be reached as quickly as possible.

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Walk Draws Crowd to Raise Awareness for Traumatic Brain Injuries

Soldiers Brain Injuries from Blasts in Afghanistan Take A Toll

Through years of working with victims of traumatic brain injuries, our Illinois head injury attorneys have come to appreciate the unique, life-altering damage that these accidents can have on individuals and their families. Unlike some other forms of injury which often heal properly and without permanent impairment, brain injuries often affect the lives of victims forever. The suffering that so often comes with these accidents makes it imperative that all those in a position to prevent potential head injuries should take reasonable steps to do so.

For example, the severe yet unique consequence that can follow these accidents was clearly revealed by a new ABC News profile of a family dealing with the aftermath of one of these incidents. The victim in this case was a 46-year old former NFL player and aviation entrepreneur. Three years ago, while walking in his office to the bathroom, he slipped on wet cleaning oil. The man‘s head landed hard against the floor after the impact. He was rushed to the hospital, but the damage was already done. It didn’t take long before his family realized that the injury had left him with severe memory problems. Essentially, the man had forgotten literally everything about the first 46 years of his life.

Doctors eventually diagnosed him with retrograde amnesia, which signifies the loss of memory of things before an injury. This is the opposite of anterograde amnesia which limits the victim’s ability to acquire permanent new memories after an accident. Our Illinois head injury attorneys know that both types of amnesia are rare, though possible for those who suffer any type of brain injury. Any time that oxygen is deprived to the brain, there are long-term, serious consequences. All forms of amnesia are somewhat mysterious, and medical professionals are still learning how it arises and what, if anything, can be done to treat it. Experts explain that in its “purest form,” retrograde amnesia can create “dense” memory loss in a patient who keeps their intelligence, reasoning, and language function. It occurs following damage to the patient’s temporal lobe or encephalitis.

The man in this case didn’t remember anything about his family, anything about his children, his wife, or his past career as a professional football player. However, he was able to understand written and spoken words, and he did retain some skills—like bike riding. His case is more severe than most, and doctors believe that it is permanent.

At first, the medical professionals thought that the slip and fall simply caused a concussion and that the memory loss was temporary. He was sent home from the hospital after three days. However, as his memory continued to deteriorate and he continued to feel disoriented, the victim went back to the doctor and had a brain scan performed. The scan discovered that the man had no blood flow to the right temporal lobe of his brain—the place where memory is stored. The family is working hard to piece their lives back together, but every day remains a struggle.

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Facts on Traumatic Brain Injury

Personal Injury Lawsuit Filed After 15-year old Injured During Deliveries

The Times-Herald Union reported this week on developments in the case of a woman who has just been released after spending seven months in the hospital to recover from a traumatic brain injury that she suffered last year. Our Illinois brain injury lawyers know that when not fatal these accidents often leave victims’ lives forever altered—that appears to be true in this case as well.

The 42-year old single mother of three was at her then-boyfriend’s house when she suffered the mysterious injury. The accident occurred early one morning, around 2 a.m. However, her boyfriend did not call 911 or otherwise seek out immediate professional assistance. Instead the man called his own parents. They drove to the home and then together they all went to the hospital. The woman was unconscious at the time. She was thrown into unconsciousness for eight weeks, and spent several more months in the hospital recovering before being released to her parents this week.

She will continue to need around the clock care. As a result of the accident, her short term memory is severely hampered. In essence she is trapped in a world three years old. She struggles to recognize her children and must be told every week that her grandmother has passed away. However, she is capable of pointing out the names and faces of childhood friends and can recall events from her distant past. Doctors initially advised her family that she would likely not survive the accident, so they remain grateful that she has pulled through, even though it is not without permanent disability.

While she was recovering, her family fought hard to understand what exactly caused their daughter to suffer the brain injury. Her boyfriend claimed that the woman slipped and fell on his icy driveway. However, upon further examination the doctors began to question that story. One involved doctor explained that the amount of head trauma suffered by the woman was inconsistent with a fall onto ice below. She noted that “in a slip and fall, you usually will see concussive damage.” The damage experienced by the victim in this case was similar to those experienced following a fall from a high distance or another type of accident.

Police investigated the situation for weeks but have yet to file any criminal charges. However, earlier this year the family of the victim filed a personal injury lawsuit against the ex-boyfriend explaining that the boyfriend contributed to the severe accident by dropping her on the ground. The suit claims that the man was drunk at the time. In addition, the suit claims he was negligent in not calling 911 immediately. Further, the suit alleges that the boyfriend made the situation worse by withholding facts from medical professionals that would have been pertinent to her treatment.

The Illinois personal injury attorneys at Levin & Perconti have decades of experience helping families in this and similar situations uncover the roots cause of these mysterious accidents. Sadly, wherever these accidents occur—at home, in a hospital, or beyond—those responsible often do everything in their power to deflect accountability. That is why it remains important for victims and their families to have access to the civil justice system to ensure the truth wins out.

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Our Illinois brain injury attorneys recently learned about a lawsuit in which the victim and her family are suing her former university, the state school board, several companies associated with a fraternity, the young girl’s sorority, as well as multiple other people in connection with the brain injuries that the young woman sustained in a fall that occurred two years ago. The brain injury lawsuit alleges that the sophomore student was a sorority sister that was at a party, with her sorority, at a fraternity house when she fell from three flights up out of a window. The brain injury lawsuit is against the fraternity for failing to keep the fraternity house safe enough to prevent people from falling from the windows and also for allowing underage students to drink on the premises without questioning them about whether they were of legal drinking age.

According to The Standard-Examiner, the young girl was laying in a bunk bed that belonged to a member of the fraternity, with the fraternity brother, that was pressed right up against the window when she fell the three stories, and the window did not have any preventative measures on it to ensure that someone would not easily fall out of the window. The brain injury lawsuit also alleges that the fraternity and its members did not do anything to keep underage people from drinking in the house, and acted negligently in allowing minors to consume alcohol on the premises.

The brain injury lawsuit is not only against the fraternity, but includes the university that the students were enrolled in , since they require students to live on campus and therefore were negligent in allowing the unsafe windows in the fraternity house, and that the university owed the students a duty of care that included making sure that all windows were protected and safe to be around. The young girl’s sorority was also named in the brain injury lawsuit because the sorority has a policy that they will monitor and make sure that underclassmen do not consume alcohol, and in this particular case there is no evidence that any of the older sisters attempted to stop the underage sorority sister from drinking on the night the brain injury occurred.

The victim’s injuries include a traumatic brain injury, as well as other physical injuries, and she has been working hard ever since the fall occurred to learn how to speak and walk again, and is trying to get back to having a normal lifestyle. The brain injury lawsuit seeks damages for the girl’s medical bills, for travel expenses (since her parents did not live in the area), and for other pain and suffering damages associated with the terrible incident.

If you or a loved one suffered a brain injury as a result of the negligence of another, or of a group of people, please contact our Illinois personal injury attorneys to find out what options you may have available to you to receive compensation from the parties that are responsible for your personal injuries. Our Chicago brain injury attorneys have helped clients out all over Illinois, and are here and ready to hear about what has happened to you and help you get the justice that you deserve.

Our Illinois brain injury attorneys recently read about a lawsuit in which a man who suffered brain injuries after falling while trying to help out a police officer recovered a little over a million dollars in connection with his injuries. The man was working at a pet store nearly three years ago when he helped a local police officer investigate the burglary of a bunch of puppies from the pet store in which he worked. According to Mercury News, while he was helping the officer he was on the roof of the store and fell through the skylight on the roof and fell 15 feet to the ground below. The fall caused the man to suffer a skull fracture, which led to severe brain injury as well as other physical injuries. The lawsuit is against the police officer the man was assisting, the city in which the incident happened, and the owner of the complex in which the store was located. The lawsuit sought damages for the permanent brain injuries the man suffered as a result of the fall. He must take anti-seizure medication for the rest of his life because of the damage to his head. The personal injury lawsuit was settled shortly before it was scheduled to go to trial, and the man injured will receive a total of $1.1 million dollars, part from the city and part from the complex in which the pet store was located.

This type of permanent brain injury is an open brain injury in which the skull was cracked, and in this particular case is resulted in permanent damage and the patient will need to take medication for the rest of his life. It is likely that the reason that the man has to take medication for the rest of his life is to make sure that the brain does not swell and that the cranial pressure does not become more damaging to his head. This type of injury is common with a blow to the head, which can occur when a person falls a long distance, like the man did in this lawsuit. A closed head injury, as oppose to this type of open head injury, occurs when there is a brain injury but the skull is not cracked open.

The victim of the head injury recovered damages not only for the medical bills and costs associated with the accident itself, but also for the pain and suffering and damages that he will continue to suffer as a result of having to deal with a permanent head injury for the rest of his life. This type of compensation is often available to victims of brain injuries that suffered their injury at least partially because of the negligence of another, and is a way in which to try to help make the person feel as close to whole again after their injury.

If you or a loved one was injured in a fall and feel that the fall was at least possibly caused by the negligence of another, please contact our Chicago brain injury attorneys today. Our Illinois personal injury law firm is here to help you recover the compensation you deserve and have helped out victims of brain injuries all over the state of Illinois.

Our Chicago injury lawyers know that with the summer months upon us, one of the most popular outdoor activities during this scorching season is to take a dip in a swimming pool. Whether you own one yourself or visit your local community pool, it is a great way for people of all ages to have fun in the sun. Regrettably, sometimes this fun could turn fatal or cause serious brain injury if proper pool safety precautions are ignored.

While not all swimming pool-related accidents result in fatalities, another common injury that may result is a traumatic brain injury. According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stoke, a traumatic brain injury is defined as a form of acquired brain injury that results when a sudden trauma causes damage to the brain. This kind of brain injury can result when the head suddenly, as well as, violently hits an object – or when an object enters the skull and punctures the brain. Pool related brain injuries can result from diving accidents, or even from slip-and-fall accidents that result around pools. Diving is one of the most common causes for neck, spinal, and brain injuries in pools. According to EnjoySwimming.com, a diver can sustain these types of injuries when diving into a too-shallow pool, diving into water they are unfamiliar with, as well as, using incorrect techniques. Injuries, such as those to the brain, may quickly result if a diver fails to heed caution that results in a collision with pool walls.

Our Chicago brain injury attorneys strongly recommend that people of all ages use the utmost caution during these summer months. Tragic swimming pool related injuries can arise from any situation and we strongly recommend using the proper pool safety provided by PoolSafely.gov. It is encouraged that; adults should always pay close attention to their children and be alert while they are in and around the pool, teach children basic water safety tips, and finally install proper equipment and markings for their residential pool to prevent any accidents.

The Roanoke Times recently reported on a lawsuit filed against a nationally recognized university for inadequate facilities and lack of supervision after a 15 year old sustained a traumatic brain injury playing basketball at a summer camp hosted by the university.

The camper’s parents are suing the university and the organization who organized the camp for $2.5 million. The camper’s family incurred large medical bills as a result of his injuries and although, the camper has recovered, he is still at risk for future injuries and other health issues.

According to the lawsuit, the 15 year old suffered a brain injury when he was thrown from the court during a game and struck his head on a wall. The parents of the child are claiming that the wall should have been properly padded. To read more about this brain injury lawsuit, follow the link.

Unfortunately, sports related brain injuries are not uncommon. According to the medical journal, Pediatrics, 375,000 children and teenagers are treated in hospital emergency rooms each year for basketball-related injuries. Four percent of those injuries involved head trauma. Follow the link to learn more about this brain injury study.

Basketball is not the only sport where players are at risk for brain injuries. According to Pediatrics, basketball only accounted for 9 percent of all sports related concussions among youths. Football, soccer, hockey, and baseball are all sports where players are at high risk for brain injuries caused by head trauma. Click on the link in order to learn more about sports related brain injuries.

Continue reading "15 year old sustains brain injury playing basketball" »

Xfinity News reported last week on a deadly Chicago accident at a local amusement park that took the life of a young 3-year old boy from Dolton, Illinois. The current available explains that the local tragedy struck at a park known as “Go Bananas.” The facility is in Norridge, Illinois—a small village on the northwest side of Chicago near the O’Hare airport.

Reports indicate that the innocent boy was at the park last weekend with his family for a weekend activity. He eventually got on a roller coaster known as “Python Pit” with his twin brother. The two siblings were both in a car near the front of the train-like seating carts. According to local authorities, the accident struck when the boy slipped underneath the safety bar that was supposed to latch on top him. For whatever reasons, the latch did not secure the children to the seat beneath.

After slipping underneath the latch and out of his seat, child fell into the mechanics of the ride below. He suffered serious head injuries in the fall; emergency medical personnel were unable to save the child. The general manager of the amusement park explained remorse for the accident and is working closely with authorities in the investigation.

Unfortunately, accidents involving mechanical equipment, amusement park rides, and inadequate safety inspections are far too common. Fatalities like this often result in Chicago wrongful death lawsuits. Local law provides several legal options to the families of those killed because of inadequate safety conditions or any other negligent acts such as this. It is important for those who lose a loved one to come forward and assert their legal rights.

Continue reading "Chicago Child Killed After Suffering Amusement Park Head Injury" »

The Star Press recently reported on a lawsuit that was filed against a local horse track and casino after a 71 year old man fell and died as a result of his injuries. The man allegedly tripped over some obstruction or defects before falling to the ground. After his fall, the man suffered from a traumatic brain injury (subarachnoid hemorrhage) causing his death.

A subarachnoid hemorrhage is bleeding in the subarachnoid space. This is the area between the brain and the thin tissues that cover the brain. Unfortunately, this is the most common type of brain injury caused by falls. In fact, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, most injury-related subarachnoid hemorrhages are seen in the elderly who have fallen and hit their head.

The main symptom of this type of brain injury is a severe headache. This headache typically starts suddenly and is worse towards the back of the head. A victim may also feel a popping or snapping feeling in the head before the headache begins. Brain injuries from falls are not limited to the elderly. For example, recently, a child suffered a brain injury after sustaining a fall at day care.

Continue reading "Man suffers brain injury after falling at a local horse track and casino" »

Injuries to children, especially those that could have been prevented, are often the most tragic. According to Itemlive.com, a 2-year-old boy will likely suffer long-term development issues as a result of a brain injury and fractured forehead bone.

One Massachusetts boy suffered a brain injury after falling from his daycare center’s second-story porch. Luckily, he has awaked from a comatose state and has started early stages of intervention common for children who suffer brain trauma.

The boy’s family initiated a personal injury lawsuit against the daycare’s owners and operators. They attribute the boy’s injuries to the daycare’s negligent and reckless actions. Their complaint alleges the second-story porch had rotten wooden slates and inadequate barricading. The plaintiff claims the state had previously deemed the porch structure dangerous and forbade children access to the structure. Moreover, the boy was unsupervised at the time of the fall. The attorney hopes to win a settlement for this personal injury that will pay for medical care and ongoing treatments.

Under Illinois Law, the family would have a strong premises liability lawsuit against the daycare. In premises liability cases, plaintiffs must show the owner did not maintain the property or created the dangerous conditions; that the owner was aware of the issue, but failed to notify others; or that the owner was negligent in regards to the child’s safety.

According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, young children are often victims of traumatic brain injury. The Centers estimate 1.7 million people sustain a traumatic brain injury each year. Within this population, those most likely to sustain such injuries include: children ages 0 to 4, teenagers 15 to 19 years, and adults 65 years and over. Likewise, falls are the cause of 35.2% of all traumatic brain injuries. For children ages 0-14 years, falls are reported as the cause of half the recorded traumatic brain injuries.

Continue reading "Family files lawsuit after child suffers brain injury in fall at day care" »

Fox 59 reported that a 20 year-old woman was critically injured after falling while sledding in Indiana. The victim suffered a brain injury from the accident. The victim's mother described the injury as a “basal skull fracture” that required surgery to reduce the swelling. The victim is currently in a medically induced coma, and will remain as such for the next two weeks.

When sledding is mentioned in conversation it is typically thought of as a relatively “safe” activity. Perhaps our perception of the sport needs to change. Sledding can be extremely dangerous, as evidenced by the tragedy that the victim and her family now face. A combination of high speeds, hard ice, and frequent falls is undoubtedly a dangerous one.

Like most young adults who go sledding, the victim was not wearing a helmet when her accident occurred. Her mother is urging young adults and parents to learn from this tragedy and wear a helmet when sledding. She hopes her daughter's accident will be a “wake-up call” to parents to make their kids wear helmets while sledding, "It could save a life." There is a sign at the top of the hill that states "Sled at your own risk" but the victim's parents said they feel more should be done to educate the community of accidents taking place on the hill.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, parents should promote safe sledding from an early age. People should sled in remote areas away from cars and other vehicles. Young sledders should be supervised by adults, and sledders should always travel feet first, not head first, to prevent serious brain injuries. As mentioned above, the AAP also encourages helmet use and recommends sledders use steerable sleds.

Continue reading "Woman Suffers Brain Injury in Sledding Accident" »

Ice skaters, skiers and snowmobilers rejoice as snow continues to fall this winter season. But it is during these snowy months when winter sport enthusiasts become at high risk for brain injury.

Those participating in winter sports should wear a helmet to prevent head injuries. While helmets do not prevent concussions, they do protect the skull from factures. A report found that helmets reduce the risk of head injury among skiers and snowboarders by 35 percent.

Even pedestrians need to be cautious over the winter. Icy surfaces can cause pedestrians to slip and fall. The winter can also create dangerous driving situations for cars and trucks.

Although most head trauma accidents are minor, it’s important to be cautious following a head trauma to prevent further personal injury. Brain inury can cause the brain to swell, damaging brain and nerve tissues.

A victim of a head trauma should be carefully observed for early signs and symptoms of brain injury. Signs and symptoms can develop hours or even days after a head trauma. Early symptoms include severe headache, confusion, loss of balance, vomiting, slurred speech, and seizures.

Immediate treatment is necessary to determine if a victim is suffering from more severe symptoms such as uneven pupil size, convulsions, or blurred vision. These symptoms can be long-lasting or permanent in some cases.

Continue reading "Winter conditions increase the risk of brain injury" »

ABC News followed up on a brain injury case in Northern California where a man was awarded $6.4 million after being injured while getting on the bus in April of 2008.

The case involved a disabled man who was injured while being lifted onto a bus in Roseville, California. As he loaded the bus, his wheelchair rolled backwards off the ramp. The man fell 6 feet and hit his head, causing severe brain injury.

The city’s public transportation company was ordered to pay 83% of the $6.4 million verdict, while the city was ordered to pay the remaining 17%.

Falls on public transportation can be the result of improper safety measures. In Chicago, many of the city’s buses and trains are operated by the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA).

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), falls are among the three main causes of brain injury in the United States and they are the leading cause of traumatic brain injury among people 65 and older.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that approximately 1.4 million people suffer traumatic brain injuries each year in the United States and about 50,000 people die from traumatic brain injuries.

Continue reading "Jury Awards $6.4 Million For Brain Injuries Sustained While Getting On The Bus" »

The Connecticut Post recently discussed a new lawsuit filed against a negligent contractor by two bridge workers, one who suffered a brain injury following a damaging accident at a work site.

The suit claims that the contractor in charge of the construction of a bridge support system on Interstate 95 was recklessly negligent during the process last October. The construction required the use of a steel reinforcement cage in which concrete would then be poured. This process is known to be dangerous, because the cage itself is unstable and capable of falling if not properly supported. The safety measures to protect against that risk is a simple one that is relatively inexpensive.

Because of the known risk, it is common practice for the steel cages to be secured to concrete blocks using metal cables. Those securing cables are obviously not to be removed until the work is complete and the risk of collapse is removed. However, in this case, the concrete blocks and metal cables were removed in the middle of the construction, making the structure highly susceptible to a fall while workers were still using it. A field engineer even warned to contractor about the situation, noting that the cage was literally swaying in the wind.

Unfortunately, the cage ultimately collapsed while several workers were in the area. One member of the construction crew, Fernando Fernandez had the cage fall directly on top of him. As a result, he suffered critical injuries, including a traumatic brain injury, cortical blindness, bone fractures, and organ damage. The brain injury led to complications, like functional deficits. A second worker was also hurt in the accident, suffering a series of injuries.

The lawsuit claims that the contracting company failed in its basic duty to abide by standard safety regulations. Our Chicago brain injury attorneys at Levin & Perconti have worked with many victims and their families following accidents such as these. Debilitating brain injuries are often the result of improper safety measures at dangerous work sites. No one should be forced to work in an area that poses a clear risk of harm like that suffered by the construction crew in this case. If you or someone you know may have fallen victim to this type of error, please contact a brain injury lawyer today.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) just released a report showing that each year in the United States, an approximate 1.7 million deaths, hospitalizations and emergency department visits involve a traumatic brain injury. The report, “Traumatic Brain Injury in the United States: Emergency Department Visits, Hospitalizations, and Death”, focuses on four years’ worth of data to conclude that 52,000 deaths, 275,000 hospitalizations and nearly 1.4 million emergency department visits occur every year in this country. Traumatic brain injury contributes to 30.5% of injury-related deaths in the Unites States, and the leading cause of traumatic brain injury is falls, followed by road traffic injury.

According to the CDC, a traumatic brain injury is the result of a “bump, blow, or jolt” to someone’s head that disturbs the brain’s regular functioning. Dr. Richard C. Hunt of the CDC was also quoted by UPI.com as explaining that traumatic brain injury can result in short-term or long-term consequences affecting person’s thinking, perception, language or emotions. These consequences may not be quickly noticeable. The Chicago personal injury attorneys at Levin & Perconti also understand that 5.3 million Americans, at a minimum, live with disabilities resulting from traumatic brain injury, and that consequences of a traumatic brain injury can be severe and life altering.

Furthermore, falls are one of the most common causes of brain injuries among older Americans. CDC analysis shows that one in three Americans ages 65 and older falls every year and that 30% of these falls require medical attention. Falls represent the main cause of injury deaths and nonfatal injuries for this age population. We represent clients in cases involving falls in hospitals, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers and assisted living facilities throughout our state. Our Illinois medical malpractice attorneys work hard to represent those who have suffered a traumatic brain injury as a result of someone’s negligence. For example, we recently reached a $3.3 million settlement on behalf of the family of a patient who died from severe head trauma and a subdural hematoma after a hospital negligently failed to prevent the patient from falling and hitting their head, even though the hospital knew of the patient’s risk for falls.

A 42 year old man was leaning against a railing on an elevated walkway when the railing gave way and the man fell to the ground. According to the story as reported in the New Jersey Law Journal, the shopping center was aware of the broken railing. In fact, it had broken the day before and the shopping center used wire to hold it together and neglected to post any warning signs. Due to the property owner's negligence, the man suffered a closed head injury which caused him to become disoriented, behave childlishly and lose control of his bladder. A closed head injury is a trauma in which the brain is injured as a result of a sudden, violent motion that causes the brain to knock against the skull. Closed head injuries can affect cells and tissues throughout the brain or damage can occur in one area. The victim also fractured vertebrae, dislocated his shoulder, and lost hearing in his left ear. He had to give up his job due to the shopping center’s negligence. The shopping center does not dispute that the improperly repaired railing caused the accident or that a brain injury caused the victim’s mental problems. The shopping center is liable to the injured victim because of premises liability which provides that when an accident or injury occurs to a visitor on another person's property, the owner of the property may be liable (legally responsible).

The Chicago personal injury attorneys at Levin & Perconti represent individuals and families in cases involving serious brain injuries. Traumatic brain injuries can happen in a number of ways- in automobile accidents, participating in sports activities, through medical malpractice and even in a fall. The Brain Injury Association of America estimates that every year, 1.4 million people sustain traumatic brain injuries. While not all injuries can be avoided, there are steps people can take to protect themselves. For instance, we always recommend defensive driving to prevent car accidents. We also recommend that people wear helmets when participating in sports such as skiing, biking and football. If you believe that a loved one has a suffered a brain injury as a result of someone else’s negligence, please feel free to call Levin & Perconti to speak to a brain injury lawyer.

A city council has agreed to pay $2.2 million to the family of a 14-year-old girl who was chocked by playground equipment. The 11-year-old girl was found unconscious hanging by the neck from a rope tied to a playground ride. She suffered an irreversible brain injury and remains in a vegetative state. The girls sued the police department because its officer who responded to the incident concluded that the victim was dead and did not attempt to resuscitate her or remove her from the rope. Instead the officer, after determining the girl had no pulse, began taking pictures of her as she was hanging by her neck. He then directed medical first responders not to disturb what he thought was a crime scene. The girl’s lawyers argued that these actions prevented her from being resuscitated for six to eight minutes until the paramedics arrived at the apartment. The delay made her brain injury much worse than it might have been. The parents will receive part of the brain injury settlement, but the largest portion will go to the victim’s special needs trust. The girl had suffered permanent brain damage and requires 24-hour medical care and lives in a skilled nursing facility. Her doctor estimated that she will live about 16 more years. To read more about the brain injury settlement, please click the link.

A school district has settled a brain injury lawsuit filed by a former student who was injured when he leaped from a file cabinet at the teacher’s request. The district will pay $700,000 to the injured student. The brain injury lawsuit alleges that the student jumped from atop the cabinet to grab an exposed beam in the ceiling at the encouragement of his teacher. The student jumped to get something from an exposed I-beam, missed and hit his head on the ground. He suffered a concussive brain injury and now suffers chronic headaches that affect his short-term memory and ability to concentrate. The brain injury lawsuit contended that the victim suffered permanent damage and required an individualized education plan to continue his schooling. To read more about the brain injury settlement, please click the link.

While performing as a pirate in a mock sword fight, Mark Priest, slipped on a wet spot on the stage and suffered a brain injury. Besides a traumatic brain injury, he also suffered a broken vertebra in his neck and a laceration to his head which required 55 stitches. He was taken immediately to the hospital and the doctors believed that he was recovering well. Only a few days later, Mark died from the head injury he suffered. To read more about his fall and brain injuries, click here.

US skier Cody Marshal is in critical condition after suffering a traumatic head injury. Cody was sliding down an escalator railing when he fell 20 feet and suffered a head injury. The accident occurred at 11:30pm and he was with teammates at the time. He is now at University Hospital in Salt Lake City and is listed in critical condition. To read more, click on “Head Injury Leaves U.S. Skier Hospitalized”

A 22 year old man was killed yesterday when he jumped off the North Avenue Pier causing serious head injuries. The accident took place at 4:19am in Chicago, Illinois. The man was believed to be intoxicated at the time he jumped. He dove into the shallow end of the water and died soon after. The Chicago police believed he had a head injury and a broken neck from the dive. To read more about this fatal “brain injury” click here.

An Illinois woman died on Saturday, from a traumatic brain injury, when she fell out of a Pedicab while on vacation. The fall caused severe brain damage. The woman was visiting San Diego for a National Education Conference. The vehicle made a sudden move, causing the woman to fall out and causing a serious brain injury. For more information on this fatal brain injury click here

A 43 year old woman fell off a golf cart last week and it caused a serious brain injury. The woman had been drinking and standing on the cart, when the cart hit a city street, she fell and landed on her head causing the brain injury. The leading cause of brain injuries are falls. The woman never regained consciousness and her family took her off life support. To read more click here “brain injury”

A young college student was in Texas visiting a friend at Southern Methodist University last weekend, when he was atttacked casuing a brain injury. As he left a concert that he attended with his friends, he was sucker-punched in the head causing a brain injury. The punch went straight to his head and the man hit the ground, slamming his head into the concrete causing a brain injury. The man’s brain injury is currently bleeding and swelling, which has led to the man being placed in a medically induced coma. The police are still looking for the individual who caused the man’s brain injury. To read the entire article click here “brain injury”

Summer is approaching and with this more people will be traveling and participating in sporting activities. This increase in activity brings with it an increased risk of traumatic brain injury. People became more aware of the seriousness of brain injuries this winter when Natasha Richardson died after a skiing accident. In the hours after her accident, she felt okay, but soon fell into a coma from which she never recovered. Her death highlighted the importance of seeking treatment any time the symptoms of brain injury appear. If you or a loved one suffers a head injury in an accident, watch closely for any symptoms such as nausea, headache, ringing ears or extreme tiredness. It is better to be too cautious when these symptoms occur. You should seek medical treatment sooner, rather than when it’s too late. Additionally, be proactive in preventing head injuries from occurring in the first place. If you are playing a sport or riding a bike or skateboard, wear a helmet. Also, always wear your safety belt to avoid head injuries if you are involved in a car accident. Safe practices and knowledge of the signs and symptoms of brain injuries may help lower the risk for serious injury or death. To read more about the symptoms of brain injury, follow the link.

According to the Centers For Disease Control, each year, 1.4 million people suffer a traumatic brain injury in the U.S. These injuries can occur in such incidents as falls, motor vehicle and assaults. Diagnosing a traumatic brain injury early can help to reduce the risk of serious injury or death. What should you look for? The CDC has identified some signs and symptoms of brain injuries to help people recognize them early. Signs and symptoms may include:

-Persistent head or neck pain
-Trouble remembering and concentrating
-Always feeling tired
-Dizziness and light-headedness
-Nausea
-Ringing in the ear

These are just a few of the symptoms of traumatic brain injury. To read to entire list, visit the brain injury information page on the CDC’s website.

A beloved firefighter died recently after suffering a traumatic brain injury. According to a report, the firefighter had a seizure at the firehouse and fell, hitting his head. The report did not offer specific details of the fall, but the firefighter was taken to a local hospital where survived for ten days. His condition did not improve and he died as a result of brain injury on April 21. To read more about this brain injury death, follow the link.

An op-ed published by the New York Times draws attention to the fact that people do not know a lot about traumatic brain injury. Until the recent death of actress Natasha Richardson, many people had not realized the devastating effects a brain injury can have upon a person. According to the article, sports facilities where people could have a higher risk for brain injuries do little to educate staff about how to respond to brain injuries. The article also points out the lack of government funding for brain injury research.To read the full article on traumatic brain injury, please follow the link.

A man has filed a lawsuit against a bar employee for battery after an incident in which the man suffered brain injury and blindness. The two men got into an altercation after the bar patron tried to go back into the bar to retrieve his coat. An argument ensued and the bar employee struck the patron outside of the bar. The man fell and hit his head on the pavement, resulting in brain damage. Attorneys for the bar have argued that the employee was not working that night so the bar should not be at fault. The case is scheduled to be heard in court later this spring. To read about this alleged case of brain injury, follow the link.

After falling down a flight of steps, a young 18 year old suffered a severe brain injury resulting in an 11 day coma, six weeks in the hospital, and five months in occupational therapy. He suffered damage to the front, back, left, and right sides of his brain. The college player underwent two head surgeries within the next three days after his injury. The man has recovered tremendously but still suffers from memory loss.

For the full story, click here.

Epilepsy is a neurological disease typified by recurring seizures and abnormal brain activity. 1 out of 100 people are affected by epilepsy, and it causes about 50,000 deaths per year. The seizures caused by epilepsy can cause traumatic brain injury, having effects such as developmental delays, depression, and even death. US soldiers in Iraq who suffer from traumatic brain injuries are at a great risk for developing epilepsy. Based on the severity of the condition and it’s prevalence in society, much more research is needed on the subject. For more information, click here.

An 11 year-old recently passed away after falling off a truck in a parade. She suffered serious head wounds in the truck accident fall.

For the full article.

A woman affected by her husband’s brain injury recently wrote a touching piece in an article. Four years ago, her husband fell 9 feet from our sleeping lost, suffering a traumatic brain injury. His short-term memory and ability to reason were so damaged that he could not remember anything that happened since his fall and could never be left again. While the brain injury radically transformed their marriage, their love remained the same.

For the full article.