Chicago Brain Injury Lawyer Blog

Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords is likely the nation’s most famous traumatic brain injury victim. The tragic attack that caused her injury as well as her public recovery has led many Americans to truly see the impact of these injuries first-hand. Of course our Chicago brain injury lawyers know that this publicity is incredibly helpful as a way to focus attention on a problem that plagues hundreds of thousands of community members every year. Just last week the First Lady announced a large new initiative which seeks to provide increasing resources to medical professionals who are working both to prevent and treat traumatic brain injuries. If these trends continue hopefully very important advances can be made to actually help improve the lives of victims.

Yet, with all the publicity surrounding Congresswoman Giffords’s situation, many observers might get the wrong impression about the resources available to other brain injury victims—those without the platform, publicity, or resources of Giffords. The sad truth is that many (most) victims of traumatic brain injury have nowhere near the quality of care provided to the Congresswoman. In the aftermath of the tragedy the very best brain injury care was provided to Giffords. Then, in the weeks and months after the event, the top of the line full spectrum of treatment, rehabilitation, and therapies have been provided which have allowed her to make what seems to be a miraculous recovery. She still faces many challenges, particularly when it comes to communication, but it is unmistakable that she has made progress that no one would have thought possible from someone who received a gunshot to the head only a year earlier.

Now Congresswoman Giffords is taking her experience to the public policy arena by championing proper brain injury treatments for all those in similar situations. She fully understands that most community members do not have nearly he access that she does to prolonged, quality treatment and therapy. Instead, as so many local families have explained to our brain injury lawyers, insurance companies usually only cover the bare minimum of stabilization care. Few families are able to secure permanent therapy which, as Congresswoman Giffords case shows, is absolutely essential to allowing an injured brain to recover as much as possible.

A Tucson Sentinel story this week noted that the average American with one of these injuries faces two problems: lack of information about the best courses of treatment and a lack of resources to have access to those courses of treatment. The costs alone can be staggering. As a new research project from the National Institute of Health explained, treatments for a single brain injury victim can run as high as $2 million to $4 million. When the injury is caused by the negligence of another, it is obviously appropriate for those costs to be borne by the one who created the problem. That is where the civil justice system comes into play.

As it stands now, according to the Brain Injury Association of America president, what treatment a victim receives is heavily dependent on “your state, insurance plan (or lack of one), hospital and the people advocating for you.” For example, while most insurance plans cover the life-saving surgeries often needed directly after an accident, fewer cover the prolonged rehabilitation which is necessary for mental and physical recovery.

See Our Related Blog Posts:

Mother of Brain Injury Victim Vents: Not Everyone Has Resources of Congresswoman Giffords

Congresswoman Giffords Case Highlights Traumatic Brain Injuries

Our Chicago injury lawyers were shocked last summer when word spread about the horrific stage collapse at the Indiana State Fair. The popular country music duo Sugarland was set to perform in South Bend last August at the outdoor venue, and a large group had gathered near the stage and in the bleachers in anticipation of the show. Tragically, due to high winds, the temporary stage on which the concert was supposed to take place collapsed before the show began. The results were catastrophic. Four people were killed, including Illinois residents, and at least forty four others were injured—many of them seriously. Many of those hurt suffered serious brain injuries in the tragedy. Traumatic brain injuries are common in accidents such as this, which involve large heavy objects making contact with the head of the victim.

Expectedly, at least fifty different plaintiffs have filed lawsuits against various defendants in the aftermath of this tragedy. For example, one twenty-one year old victim filed a brain injury lawsuit after she was hurt in the event. The young woman spent several days on a ventilator, broke her collarbone, broke several ribs, punctured a lung, and suffered brain trauma after being hit by falling stage equipment. The victim is still undergoing therapy and admits that her road to recovery is a long one.

Many other legal actions have been commenced by the various individuals hurt in the accident and the families of those killed. When large scale accidents like this occur, there are quite a few tricky legal issues to sort through. For one thing, many different defendants are usually named, because there are usually multiple acts of negligence which leads to the harm. For example, in this case, there are at least thirteen named defendants. Those defendants include the band itself, the state government which put on the fair, the companies involved in building the stage, promoting the event, and various others.

Our Chicago brain injury lawyers know that as the case unfolds a variety of things may happen. A closer look at the evidence could reveal that some of those parties actually were not liable for the tragedy and could not have prevented any harm. If that is uncovered those defendants may be dismissed from the suit. On the other hand, it could become clear that many different parties failed to act reasonably, with each breach leading to at least partial blame for allowing the victims to suffer injury. It will likely need to be determined which entities had the power to stop the concert due to the high winds. The state officials who were running the show probably could and should have understood the risks posed to concert-goers because of the weather and canceled the event. Similarly, the contract signed between the band and the event organizers suggest that the band actually had the final say on whether or not the event was to proceed. Possessing the power to cancel the event and failing to do so may mean that the band bears some responsibility.

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Lawsuit Filed After Inmate Suffers Brain Injury

New Technology Aims to Help Victims of Traumatic Brain Injuries

Brain injury victims and their families need support. In ways that cannot be compared with other injuries, the victims of head trauma often have their lives turned upside down, affecting all those around them. It is one thing to suffer broken bones, cuts, or other problems that have physical consequences for the victim. It is another to suffer mental problems such as changes in memory, personality, communication, and other life skills. It is not an exaggeration to say that many families have reported that their loved one often seems like a “different person” after their injury. The changes can be tough to deal with, and as with other tough situations, it is often helpful to have the support and camaraderie of others who have gone through the same thing.

But, as our Chicago brain injury attorneys have previously discussed, it is often difficult for the victims of these injuries to find the resources they need to help deal with the situation. Support groups are few and far between. That is why our Chicago injury lawyers were pleased to read this week in the Meridian Booster about one brain injury support group that is recently celebrating its Twenty Fifth Anniversary. The Lloydminster and Area Brain Injury Society (LABIS) gathered this week to honor the occasion—marking a quarter century of providing support to victims of these injuries and their families.

According to the report, 60 people made it to the event, which featured a keynote address by one brain injury victim who explained the multitude of challenges he has had to overcome since his injury. The current executive director of the organization was also honored for her ten years of service to the group. One of the brain injury support group’s founders was on hand to receive an award as well. It was explained that the founders started the body after having family members who suffered head trauma. The duo began running a recreation program for all those in the area who had suffered brain injuries. Initially the organization provided these services once a week. However, the popularity of the activities continues to grow, and now the group provides three days of recreational activities every week. These activities are free for participants and funded by government grants and fundraising. Besides helping the injury victims, the programs are also intended to provide respite for the victim’s caregivers.

The interaction is seen as an important part of the healing process for victims. The group’s executive director explained that “it gets them out with their peers and out into the community. It’s social recreation with a rehab component.” The Chicago personal injury attorneys at our firm know that it takes a community to recover fully from many brain injuries. We honor this organization for its longevity and hope that many other groups follow suit. It is particularly important for those hurt by the wrongdoing of others to know that resources are available to seek accountability, provide personal support, and in other ways help the victims get on with their lives.

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!

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Brian Injury Lawsuit Filed After Bridge Accident

Construction Accident Causes Brain Injury

The Mail-Tribune reported late last week on a new brain injury lawsuit that has been filed by the mother of a teen athlete following a football head injury. According to reports, the mother claims that her son was playing in a junior varsity football game for the local high school when he suffered a concussion. The boy, a sophomore at the time, was hit hard in the first quarter and then again in the second quarter. The teen was shaken up by the incident. He told his coaches that he thought he had suffered a concussion. However, those charged with looking out for the player’s health—coaches and administrators—failed to act appropriately in response to the injury. They were playing their cross-town rivals and did not want to lose their player, so the boy’s coaches sent him back into the game. He was told to “try to stick it out.”

Eventually, after going back into the game, the player was hit hard again. This time as he was going back to the sidelines he collapsed and began to have seizures. He also began to vomit. An ambulance was called and the child was rushed to a nearby hospital. He had suffered a serious sports head injury. When he arrived at the medical center he was sent to intensive care and eventually placed in a medically induced coma. As a result of the trouble the now seventeen-year old teen suffered severe brain damage. He had suffered multiple concussions, including a “Grade 3” concussion. He also was diagnosed with post-concussive prolonged seizures, cognitive changes, sensitivity to light, vertigo, headaches, and a variety of other daily symptoms. Doctors have repeatedly explained that the overall injuries are permanent and will have a lifelong impact on his life.

The suit filed by the victim’s mother following the incident alleges that the involved coaches were negligent in failing to recognize the boy’s injury and demanding his removal from the game. At the very least, claims the suit, the coaches could have had the child examined by the qualified athletic trainer that was on the field and available at the time of the injury.

Sadly, accidents like this continue to happen, even though awareness of the dangers of concussions has increased steadily. No longer can coaches and administrators claim that they simply didn’t know that a child suffered a concussion. Particularly in sports where there is contact—like football, hockey, soccer, boxing, and others—it is incumbent upon coaches and administrators to ensure proper screening procedures are in place so that those injured received the treatment and rest they need.

Continue reading "Football Brain Injury Lawsuit Filed By Mother of Hurt Player" »

Our Illinois brain injury lawyers know that besides being one of the most dangerous injuries to sustain, head trauma can also be difficult to detect. Unlike other types of harm that are immediately identifiable, many brain injuries are not readily apparent. The brain injuries can cause deterioration over time if not treated. Fortunately, there continue to be new medical advances that allow professionals to detect these earlier and provide treatment to prevent further harm. It is vital for all those in a position to prevent, identify, and or treat these injuries to do everything in their power to do so.

Market Watch reported on the new Illinois brain injury lawsuit which we previously discussed that suggests the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) may be failing to protect players from suffering head injuries and getting the medical help that they need. The class-action lawsuit specifically alleges that the NCAA is neglecting its duty to protect college football players from concussions. The complaint filed this week in the case claims that the governing body of the NCAA has not done enough to discourage coaches from teaching tackling methods using the head and failing to screen for head injuries. In addition, the class-action lawsuit claims that the NCAA was failing to provide necessary financial support to those players who need medical assistance after they leave school.

We have long-reported on the steady stream of evidence that concussions occur much more frequently than many believe, and that many of the head injuries are never detected. High school and college athletes in certain high-impact sports—like football—are particularly likely to suffer concussions. When not detected, and therefore not properly treated, the long-term consequences can be severe. For example, experts have linked the head trauma to permanent brain damage, depression, early-onset Alzheimer’s, dementia, and other conditions.

The suit claims that while the NCAA implemented safety measures in the 1970s to address the issue, they have not adequately enforced those measures. Student-athletes are suffering as a result. The athletes initiating the suit claim that they want to force the NCAA to institute a medical monitoring program. The goal would be for the program to gauge the long-term effect of head trauma on athletes, and then allow those athletes to receive compensation for all of the medical costs associated with the injuries sustained while they were in college.

Our Chicago injury attorneys are well versed in the consequences of concussions. Far too many athletes face life-long problems because of injuries that they sustained while playing sports in school. It is incumbent upon all those involved in the safety of these players to do everything in their power to prevent the injuries, and provide all the necessary treatment when an injury does occur. If you or a loved one may have suffered one of these injuries that might have been prevented, please give our office a call and see how we might be able to help. The civil justice system can provide redress for the victims of these injuries and their families to provide for both the short and long-term consequences.

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Pediatricians Say Boxing Not Safe for Kids & Teenagers

Former Illinois Athlete Files Brain Injury Lawsuit Against Eastern Illinois University

Our Chicago brain injury attorneys are excited to hear that the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center has started using a new brain injury machine that was designed to help diagnose and help treat traumatic brain injuries and post traumatic brain injuries. This new machine uses a combination of MRI scanning and PET scanning which can show any problems or anything that is abnormal (MRI) and then check on the metabolic activity of any of these problems (PET), and this new machine is called a Biograph mMR. The ability to determine if something is wrong in the victim’s brain and what the problem in the brain is doing can greatly help doctors figure out what exactly is wrong with a patient and help determine what the best next step should be in order to help the patient recover as fully as possible. The goal is to help doctors diagnose more quickly, hopefully catching certain problems very early on. According to Next Gov, this new machine and technology are also safer than other forms of traumatic brain injury treatments.

This new device was recently approve by the Food and Drug Administration and has just recently started to be used to help patients. In addition to helping with traumatic brain injuries, the machine also aims to help with the diagnosis and treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder. The ability to help out with post-traumatic stress disorder is hopefully something that can be used to help with troops that have suffered from this problem, and to help them get better.

Traumatic brain injuries are often times caused by a fall or a hit to the head or some other incident that causes the brain to be jarred and hit into the skull. This type of brain injury may be slight or may be very severe. Traumatic brain injuries can be permanent and can require a great deal of medical care and rehabilitation for the victim of the injury. The hope with this new machine is that with certain traumatic brain injury cases the doctor may be able to better understand what exactly was happened and what exactly is wrong, and hopefully the victims may be able to recover more fully from their injury if more is understood about what is wrong.

Our Chicago brain injury attorneys are so happy to hear that this new technology may be able to help victims of traumatic brain injuries and their families get their loved one back to more of who they were before the injury. We have seen many families suffer with the effects that a traumatic brain injury can have on the family, and hope that this new machine can offer help to many of these families.

If you or a loved one suffered from a traumatic brain injury that was the result of another person’s negligence, please contact our Illinois personal injury lawyers today to talk about what options may be available to you. We have helped clients recover millions of dollars in damages in connection with their traumatic brain injury lawsuits, and can help your family receive the compensation that you deserve for all that you have suffered through.

Our brain injury attorneys were interested to learn about a case in which a professional baseball player has been sued by his friend after the friend fell off of the player’s back deck at his house and suffered from severe physical injuries as well as a traumatic brain injury. According to The Houston Chronicle, the brain injury lawsuit names not only the baseball player, who plays for the Atlanta Braves, but also names the building contractor and the home inspector as parties. The personal injury lawsuit alleges that the negligence on the part of some or all of the parties made the deck railing unsafe for people to lean against, and in turn led the victim to suffer all of the physical injuries that he did.

The victim in this brain injury lawsuit was friendly with the player and was over at his house and was hanging out on the deck, which was on the second story of the house. He claims to have leaned on the railing and fallen through the railing, and fell around fifteen feet to the concrete ground. As a result of this fall, the man suffered the traumatic brain injury, and other physical injuries including fractures to his spine. The victim alleges in the lawsuit that the fall would not have happened if the railing had been installed properly and therefore that all of his injuries are because of the negligence on the part of someone responsible for the building of the house, the deck, and the railing.

Traumatic brain injuries are brain injuries that occur from some type of event, where the head is hit or jarred. This type of injury is different from a brain birth injury or a brain injury that is the result of an illness. Traumatic brain injuries are typically associated with a traumatic event, often times a fall, like in this specific personal injury lawsuit. A traumatic brain injury could result in all different types of physical issues for the victim, and depends on what part of the brain was affected, and upon how serious the injury was to the head that led to the brain injury. Depending on the severity of the traumatic brain injury, the recovery process may vary. In very serious cases, the victim may face a lifetime of therapy and recovery. In this type of personal injury case, the medical bills may be very high and many victims have trouble covering these costs, especially since they may be unable to work as a result of the severe head injuries.

If you or a loved one suffered from a traumatic brain injury as the result of someone's negligence and have ongoing medical bills and continuous pain and suffering from the injury, you may have a possible personal injury negligence lawsuit that can be filed against the parties responsible for the personal injury. Our Chicago based personal injury lawyers have helped clients all over Illinois with their personal injury and brain injury lawsuits and have recovered millions of dollars for the clients in order to help compensate them for what all they have been through.

Brain injuries can occur from a large variety of events and may result from an incident where the victim suffers a blow to the head, but also may result from an incident where the victim is injured but the injury is not to the head itself but the overall damage to the victim causes brain damage. Our Chicago brain injury attorneys have helped out victims, and their families, of all types of brain injury receive compensation for these brain injuries when they were caused by the negligence of another. The person causing the injury could have been a doctor that failed to act appropriately given the situation, could be a stranger to the victim that caused an accident in which the victim was injured, could be an employer that allowed conditions to get to a point where the victim was injured on the job, or could be anyone else that acted in a way where their negligence led to the victim’s injury.

One specific type of brain injury is referred to as a traumatic brain injury. This encompasses brain injuries that the victim acquires during their life (not ones they are born with) and refers to those injuries where either an object pierces the skull and enters into the brain, or where the victim’s head strikes or is stricken by an object. According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke’s website, the term traumatic brain injury does not only refer to severe and permanent brain injuries that were caused by a piercing or a striking, but also refers to minor injuries associated with this type of injury.

If you or a loved one suffered an injury to your head and maintained consciousness, or felt that the symptoms were not severe enough to worry about, you may still have suffered a traumatic brain injury. Other symptoms may include headaches, confusions, dizziness, lethargy, memory problems, blurred vision, as well as a range of other similar symptoms. So even if you feel that your injury may not be too severe, if you are experiencing these symptoms it is best to see a doctor to check you out and make sure that you are okay. Often times with traumatic brain injuries the victim will need surgery to remove ruptured blood vessels or bruised brain tissue, so please check with your doctor if you think you may have suffered from a traumatic brain injury.

Often times, a brain injury lawsuit will not only seek damages for the medical expenses that resulted from the incident but will also ask for pain and suffering damages when the victim’s life and lifestyle have been affected in a way where they are no longer able to enjoy life in the same way that they did before the injury. Our Illinois personal injury law firm has helped out victims of traumatic brain injuries, that resulted from another person’s negligence, all over the state of Illinois. Our Illinois brain injury attorneys have seen all types of brain injuries (traumatic and non-traumatic brain injuries) and are here to help you or your loved one receive just compensation for all that you have suffered through as a result of the brain injury.

Our Chicago brain injury attorneys, Steven Levin and Margaret Battersby, recently reached a $17.7 million settlement on behalf of a client who suffered severe brain damage as a patient at a Chicago hospital. The client is a former police officer who was in the hospital as a result of an injury that he suffered while on the job. The client was hospitalized in the neurosurgical unit of the hospital for his head injuries, and because of negligent nursing care while in the unit he suffered further serious brain damage that caused him to suffer from quadriplegia.

The brain injury lawsuit alleged negligence on the part of the nurses who were in charge of caring for our client. Hospital staff did not properly monitor our client’s intracranial pressure during a test of a drain that was in place to drain the excess fluid build-up following his stroke from his initial injury. As a result of this failure, his intracranial pressure rose to dangerous levels, but his physician was not notified by the nurses of the increase in pressure until the damage had already been done. As a result of this delay, he suffered an irreparable brain injury.

The brain injury lawsuit was filed in 2005. Our Chicago personal injury attorneys reached a settlement days before this case went to trial. With this brain injury settlement although the victim will never be fully compensated for what has been done to him, the compensation will allow him to receive lifetime medical care and will enable his family to purchase advanced assistive technology to help him communicate.

Continue reading "Levin & Perconti Recover $17.7 M for Client in Brain Injury/Medical Malpractice Case" »

Our Illinois personal injury attorneys were sad to hear about an Illinois motorcycle accident, which left one passenger dead and two others seriously injured. The motorcycle accident occurred this past weekend when one motorcycle attempted to make a u-turn and struck another motorcycle that was heading in the other direction. The drivers of both motorcycles were injured, and the passenger of the motorcycle suffered serious brain injuries. According to the State Journal-Register, none of the riders were wearing helmets at the time of the motorcycle accident and the young woman that died as a result of her injuries suffered severe head injuries after she was thrown of the motorcycle during the accident.

Our Chicago brain injury attorneys strongly encourage all motorcycle drivers and riders to always wear a helmet whenever they are on a motorcycle. Given the danger of severe head injuries in a motorcycle accident, the importance of wearing a helmet is very high, and wearing a helmet will hopefully keep tragedies like this from occurring again. Though the state of Illinois unfortunately does not require helmets when driving or riding on a motorcycle, it is something that each motorcycle driver or passenger should definitely choose to do themselves anytime they get on a motorcycle. While you or a loved one may feel that you are very safe on a motorcycle and will not get into an accident and therefore do not need a helmet, it is important to realize that not everyone else out there on the road may be as careful, cautious, and skilled of a driver and could cause an accident that you may be unable to avoid.

Unfortunately, the overall usage of helmets has been decreasing greatly in recent years and a 2010 study showed that only 54% of drivers and passengers wear a helmet when riding a motorcycle. This incredibly low percentage of helmet usage even includes those states where wearing a helmet is required to ride a motorcycle. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, as of 2010 only 20 states and the District of Columbia required helmets on motorcyclists. It is upsetting that so many states do not require helmets, because helmets can offer so much protection when a person is thrown off of a motorcycle and can protect against traumatic brain injuries and even against fatalities.

So even if the law does not require it and you feel that you are a safe motorcycle driver, please remember that others may cause an accident and that a helmet can make the difference between life and death. If you or a loved one have suffered a brain injury as a result of another driver’s negligence and feel that you may have a case against that person, please do not hesitate to contact our Chicago personal injury lawyers today to discuss what has happened to you or your loved one and what options may be available to you.

A lawsuit was recently filed after a police officer ran an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) into two pedestrians that were walking along the beach in Florida, one of which suffered a traumatic brain injury as a result of the accident. Our Chicago brain injury attorneys found this lawsuit particularly interesting because the lawsuit alleges that the police officer responsible was on-duty at the time of the accident and had been served alcohol all night at a local hotel. According to Fox News, the lawsuit names both the hotel and the officer as defendants and the lawsuit was filed on behalf of the victim who is still in serious condition and is likely to require years of rehabilitation.

The police department fired the cop responsible for the accident immediately following the accident and the officer also faces criminal charges for driving under the influence as his blood alcohol count was reported to over the legal driving limit for Florida even five hours after the accident. The police department also stated that they will look into whether police officers are being served while on duty regularly and try to make sure that nothing like this ever happens again. The lawsuit also alleges that the hotel that was named as defendant was known to serve on duty police officers. The hotel will not discuss the lawsuit other than to say that they did not serve any alcohol to the officer while he was on duty that night. The representative of the victim says that they plan to sue the City of Miami Beach as well, but state law requires a six month waiting period to sue the city so that lawsuit has not yet been filed.

One victim of the accident suffered only minor physical injuries, but the woman who the lawsuit is filed on behalf of suffered physical injuries as well as a traumatic brain injury. The brain injury has left her with memory loss, trouble concentrating, partial paralysis and difficulty speaking. These types of injuries are common with a brain injury, and often require years and years of painful recovery and can end up costing millions in damages. Since our brains control who we are, brain injuries can often be as devastating long term, and sometimes even more devastating, to a family than physical injuries because they can change the personality of the person injured. Given how much a brain injury can affect the victim permanently and affect their family, damages other than just medical costs associated with the accident are often sought to try to help and compensate for all that has been lost. In this accident, the victim is the mother of a one year old baby and it is unknown when she will be able to care for the baby again.

Unfortunately, this is an example of a brain injury lawsuit caused by a careless accident that could easily have been avoided, which is often the case when someone chooses to act negligently and ends up seriously injuring another. Our Chicago personal injury law firm has helped out people all over the state of Illinois recover damages for injuries caused by the negligence of others, and not only for their medical costs but also for pain and suffering and lost wages and other damages resulting from the accident. If you or a loved one have suffered a brain injury as a result of the negligence of another, please contact us immediately to discuss your options.

Our Illinois injury attorneys recently read a report on CtPost.com about a lawsuit filed on behalf of a 14 year old girl who sustained a traumatic brain injury and memory loss after being struck in the head during her high school gym class. The injury occurred as a result of being struck in the head with a tennis ball during a gym class game of “tennis/baseball.” The game required that the students play baseball with the use of a tennis racquet and tennis ball in replacement of a bat and a baseball. The plaintiff contends that in a game that consisted of both upper and under-classman, the batter hit the ball as hard as he could –ultimately striking the plaintiff in the head causing severe brain injury.

The young woman’s neuropsychologist confirms that the 14 year old did indeed suffer traumatic brain injury including: permanent damage to the right hemisphere of the brain, persistent post concussion syndrome, contusion to the right eye, as well as, consistent headaches. In the lawsuit filed against the school district, the plaintiff is seeking $15,000 in damages to cover medical, hospital, and therapy expenses. The plaintiff’s lawyer asserts that school district’s gym teachers acted careless and negligent for allowing students to participate in such a dangerous game in the small confinement of half a gymnasium.

An injury to the brain of any sort can prove to be traumatic. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a traumatic brain injury occurs when an injury to the head disrupts normal brain function. These sorts of traumatic brain injuries can range from “mild” being a brief change of mental status or conscious – or “severe” being an extensive phase of unconsciousness after the injury to the brain. The CDC confirms that a traumatic brain injury can cause many short term, as well as, long term effects. These effects vary from changes affecting memory, reasoning, communication, and even personality changes.

Our Chicago brain injury attorneys have helped the victims of traumatic brain injuries across the state seek legal compensation for the damages incurred. When someone suffers a brain injury as a result of another person’s negligence, the victim and their families have the right to recover economic and non-economic damages including: medical expenses, loss of wages, pain and suffering, disability, as well as, disfigurement.

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.

Many community members are aware that backyard trampolines have been particularly popular over the past several years. Starting in the 1990s, many families began getting these pieces of exercise and recreational equipment, often for their children to enjoy. Lately locations similar to amusement parks have begun sprouting up based on entire rooms filled with trampolines. These “trampoline parks” first gained popularity on the West Coast and are now scattered in a few areas in the Midwest, including Chicagoland. These parks are often in warehouses and include trampolines scattered in a checkerboard fashion across the facility.

A recent report in the Chicago Tribune about these trampoline parks explained the growing popularity of these locations as well as concerns being raised about their safety. Some safety advocates are arguing that these parks pose an unacceptable risk of participants suffering a Chicago brain injury. A Carol Stream based trampoline park has had an ambulance called 16 times since the facility opened in November. One of those victims was a 13-year old girl who fell on her head, reported tingling in her arms, had difficulty breathing, and was eventually discovered to have fractured her neck.

In the last two decades at least 11 people have been killed in trampoline accidents. But a staggering 100,000 trampoline injuries are reported each year nationwide. In fact, Central DuPage Hospital has already reported that they have seen a noticeable increase in traumatic injuries since the nearby park opened, including broken legs, arms, and a head injury.

Currently, Illinois state agencies do not regulate these parks as they do other amusement parks. The Department of Labor explains that only facilities that have moving apparatus are under the regulatory guidelines of the state. In their stead the regulation of these spaces is often done by local governments which frequently have little oversight of the process.

Continue reading "Chicago Brain Injuries May Increase Due to Trampoline Parks" »

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" »

The Seattle Times recently reported on a $10 million settlement in favor of a man who is now paralyzed after he sustained a traumatic brain injury.

The incident occurred on May 10, 2009 when the victim was being chased by two men who turned out to be deputies for the county. During the incident, the victim was thrown into a wall by one of the deputies causing catastrophic brain injuries. The victim is unable to speak and will be bedridden for the remainder of his life. The $10 million settlement will not only help pay for future medical expenses but it was also aid the victim’s family as they deal with the financial and emotional consequences.

According to the IBIA (International Brain Injury Association), one million Americans are treated and released from hospital emergency departments as a result of traumatic head injury each year. The symptoms of someone suffering from traumatic brain injury vary and can develop and change over time. Symptoms of traumatic brain injury also range in severity from blurred vision to inability to perform motor functions.

Most traumatic brain injuries are caused by head trauma. Recently, a Chicago area woman suffered a severe brain injury in a sledding accident. The medical community is also constantly working to improve this area of medicine. A recent study on brain injuries suggested that certain behaviors, such as consuming fish oils, may protect the brain against injury.

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A high school senior from San Marcos, California has been in a permanent vegetative state since his 2007 brain injury. The high school senior, who played football for the high school, suffered a traumatic brain injury after collapsing during a school football game. Evidence in a pending lawsuit against the school district suggests that the school was aware of the student’s health problems and that his injury could have been avoided.

An assistant student trainer at the school has come forward and stated that the senior football player had complained to the school’s athletic trainer about headaches in the days before his injury.

Under oath, the assistant student trainer stated in a deposition that the injured senior complained about severe headaches to the school’s athletic trainer and had even skipped a few practices the week before his injury. The assistant student trainer also stated that, on the day of the game, the injured senior asked the school’s athletic trainer if he could sit out for the first part of the game. According to the student trainer, the injured student even told the athletic trainer that he was having trouble seeing the football.

The assistant student trainer also claims that the school’s athletic trainer brought these health concerns to the head coach of the football team. Regardless of these warning, the coach had the senior play right away. He collapsed 45 minutes into the game.

For more on this story, please visit the San Diego Union Tribune.

While the cause of the senior’s brain injury is unreleased, trauma, such as a concussion or contusion, is one of the leading causes of PVS (permanent vegetative state). According to the Times, high school football players suffer 43,000 to 67,000 concussions per year.

Continue reading "High school senior suffers brain injury while playing in a school football game" »

The Quad City Times recently reported on a trial involving an injured plumber. A Scott County jury recently awarded a couple in Coal Valley, Illinois $3.6 million in a brain injury lawsuit.

In 2006, a plumber was working in a trench as sewer and water service was being installed for a home under construction in Davenport. The trench collapsed when a skid loader drove too close. Rescue efforts successful dug the unconscious plumber out of the collapsed trench but the plumber suffered permanent brain damage in the work related accident.

The skid loader was being operated by an employee of Alliance Concrete Construction LLC of Davenport, Illinois. At trial, the injured worker and his wife were seeking damages from Alliance for lost wages and past and future medical expenses.

During the trial, the plumber’s wife took the witness stand and testified about dramatic changes in her husband’s behavior since his accident. She testified that since his brain injury, her husband suffers from severe nightmares that have caused the couple to sleep in separate beds at night.

The jury awarded the wife $300,000 for loss of consortium. Loss of consortium refers to the deprivation of the benefits of a family relationship due to injuries.

The defense attorney for Alliance argued at trial that the injured worker was at least partially responsible for his own injury because he failed to use a trench box and other safety precautions. The jury found the plumber 40 percent at fault. As a result of the plumber’s own negligence, he was awarded $1.8 million of his $3.6 million verdict. In Illinois, if an injured party is partially at fault for his or her injuries, then the total recovered amount may be reduced in proportion to the degree that the injured party was at fault.

For the full article on this brain injury case, see the Quad City Times.

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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" »

According to PRWeb, a jury verdict awarded $12.2 million in damages to Emily Liou, a San Mateo County 17 year old who suffered a traumatic brain injury in a car-pedestrian accident. The accident occurred on March 28, 2006, as Emily was walking home. She had just left her friends after singing Karaoke. As she was crossing El Camino Real in a marked crosswalk, a woman with her child driving a Toyota sedan, struck Emily knocking her to the ground. The resulting injuries left Emily in a permanent vegetative state.

According to her attorney, “Emily was struck in a marked crosswalk located at the crest of a rise in the road, which does not come into view until a driver is about 100 feet away. Additionally, the crosswalk is located at an ‘uncontrolled’ intersection, meaning that there are no lights or stop signs controlling vehicular traffic. El Camino Real, which Caltrans (the California Department of Transportation) calls State Route 82, is among the busiest roads on the peninsula.”

Discovery during the case produced the following information -- within the past 15 years, three other pedestrians had been killed in the same crosswalk. The trial lasted four weeks. The jury found that the California Department of Transportation was 50% at fault and divided the remaining fault between the driver (30%) and Emily (20%).

According to Brainandspinalcord.org, brain injuries 20% of traumatic brain injuries are caused by motor vehicle accidents. In addition, 15-24 year olds face the highest risk of traumatic brain injuries due to vehicle accidents.

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In the summer months there are an increased number of motorcycles on the road and with this, the number of injuries and fatalities among riders increases. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, 40% of motorcyclist deaths in 2008 occurred during June-August, compared to only 9% during December-February. They also reported that helmets are about 37% effective in preventing motorcycle deaths and about 67% effective in preventing brain injuries.

Brain injuries can be life altering and severe. Even if you suffer a minor brain injury such as a concussion, it can render you inoperative for some time. According to Dr. Angela F. Gardner in The New York Times, “Every concussion increases the likelihood that you will have an injury to the brain if another concussion occurs.” In addition, “You don’t have to be going fast to hurt your brain.”

Many states, including Illinois, do not require riders or passengers to wear helmets. However, your chance of survival in a motorcycle accident begins with wearing one. The Illinois Department of Transportation offers additional safety tips on their website. These tips include staying out of trucks blind spots, driving defensively and cautiously, wearing high visibility clothing and performing proper maintenance and safety checks on your motorcycle.

Our Chicago accident attorneys at Levin & Perconti recommend that all motorcyclists wear helmets and remember these safe riding tips to avoid brain injury or death. Riding a motorcycle can be an exhilarating experience, but it is important to take these precautions to ensure your safety.

Reuters reports that a University of Illinois researcher has helped create a new brain implant made of silk and tiny electrodes and helped conduct studies assessing its effectiveness. Because the silk is biodegradable and water-soluble, it dissolves on the brain, leaving the electrodes in place and allowing the device to record brain signals more accurately than other brain implants and minimize damage to the brain. The silk brain implant also could have application to people suffering from serious brain traumaor a neurological disorder such as epilepsy or a spinal cord injury.

The Chicago brain injury lawyersat Levin & Perconti think these new findings are of particular interest to clients who have suffered spinal cord injuries as a result of the negligence of others. These injuries can occur from motor vehicle accidents, slip and fall incidents, and workplace accidents, or because of mistakes by health care providers, such as by failure to relieve spinal cord compression. As The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke explains, spinal cord injuries often begin with sudden, serious blows to the spine that fracture or dislocate vertebrae. This can compress the spine. Spinal cord injuries destroy the nerve cell extensions that carry signals between the brain and body, and when a person suffers a severe spinal cord injury, they can become completely paralyzed. However, people that suffer from less severe spinal cord injuries still retain some ability to convey messages from their brain to their body.

The silk brain implant can help both categories of people affected by a spinal cord injury. As Reuters reports, the silk brain implant has the potential to reroute signals from the brain to prosthetic devices, enabling people with spinal cord injuries to move independently once again.

The Chicago City Council approved a $3 million settlement on behalf of a woman seriously injured when the car she was riding in was hit by a stolen vehicle during an unauthorized police chase, the Chicago Sun-Times reports. The stolen vehicle was driven in excess of more than twice the speed limit when it slammed into the woman’s vehicle, and the collision was so strong that her body was thrown from the car and landed on the ground forty feet away. Doctors had to place the Chicago woman in an induced coma for two days and she was in the hospital for over two weeks. The woman suffered permanent brain damage as a result of the crash.

Mayo Clinic reports that half of all traumatic brain injuries occur as a result of car, motorcycle and bicycle collisions. When the head is struck too strongly, such as can occur in a collision, the brain can slam against the inside of the skull and cause bruising of the brain, bleeding, and torn nerve fibers. Sudden braking or stopping as a result of a car collision can also cause this to happen. A traumatic brain injury can be fatal. When serious brain injuries are not fatal, the consequences can still be severe. Traumatic brain injury can cause cognitive impairment, affecting a person’s thinking and reasoning skills, memory, and multitasking ability.

To help prevent against serious brain trauma, always wear a seatbelt while driving in a car. Motor vehicle collisions are sometimes unpreventable, but by taking the extra precaution of wearing something as simple as a seatbelt or child booster seat, lives can be saved and people can take steps toward recovery, whether by medical intervention, lawsuits, or both.

An eighteen month old girl is now in a persistent vegetative state after becoming trapped in a trunk marketed as a toy chest after the lid slammed shut on her. According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the girl’s parents filed a products liability lawsuit because the store sold the trunk knowing the trunk was dangerous for children because the trunk’s lid could suddenly collapse. The girl’s head and neck became trapped in the trunk after the lid suddenly fell, causing her to suffer an anoxic brain injury. Anoxic brain injury occurs when there is an absence of oxygen in the brain, such as by prolonged suffocation, and the lack of oxygen causes brain cells to die. This serious brain injury can result in spastic quadriplegia, mental retardation and loss of speaking skills.

The Courthouse News Service explains that Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) statistics show that at least 45 children had already died or suffered serious brain injuries as a result of the trunk lid falling on their heads or necks or trapping children inside. The CPSC is a government agency that has proposed standards to protect children from dangerous products and prevent these brain injury incidents from occurring. If a product marketed for toy storage does not have lid support, the CPSC states that a label should be placed inside the lid warning of the dangers of suffocation.

Lawsuits are an effective way to tell manufacturers and retailers that their unsafe and unreasonably dangerous products will not be tolerated by consumers. Our Chicago personal injury attorneys encourage families to visit the CPSC website for updates on how to protect yourself and your loved ones from serious injury or death. If you have been a victim of brain injury caused by a defective product, you may be entitled to seek compensation for your injury or loss. Fill out our online contact form and one of our experienced lawyers will respond to you soon.

The jury in a medical malpractice trial, recently awarded $12 million for a hospital’s delay in evaluating and transferring an air rifle victim.

According to the Pasadena Star News, twenty-two-year old, Jessica Ramirez, was shot with an air rifle and the pellet entered her brain. Nevertheless, she remained conscious after the shooting and was able to ask for help. She was immediately taken to the hospital, which in turn sent her to another facility for surgery to remove the pellet. However, staff waited 5 hours before transferring her. At trial, the neurosurgeon who removed the pellet testified that, had he been allowed to operate sooner, her outcome would have better. Instead, her injury progressed into a traumatic brain injury that has left her in a persistent vegetative state.

More than $10.6 million of the award was for Jessica’s future medical care.

In many cases, especially those involving brain injuries, prompt evaluation and treatment is necessary to prevent treatable injuries from resulting in permanent damage or death. When doctors, hospitals, and other medical professionals fail to respond in a timely manner, they place their patient’s lives at risk. When this risk results in harm, they can be found liable for medical malpractice.

Click the following link for the full account of this traumatic brain injury verdict.

A young woman was driving down the road in Crystal Lake when she encountered a horrific automobile crash. This crash fractured her spine in three places and she suffered a traumatic brain injury. Many of the doctors thought that she would be paralyzed. However, the victim has a positive outlook and has been passing milestone after milestone. She recently entered Pioneer Center’s Traumatic Brain Injury program, which includes vocational training. She now has to relearn basic tasks which include walking. The victim continues to have some facial paralysis. She has also filed a brain injury lawsuit seeking $50,000. She is looking forward to speaking with children about the importance of safe driving. Hopefully she will in turn prevent brain injuries. To read more about the woman’s struggles, please click the link.

An employee for Horner Electric died after he suffered a traumatic brain injury while at work. According to Justice News Flash, police believe that the man suffered a brain injury that caused him to either fall or become crushed by the moving parts of a machine. The report states that the victim’s coworkers discovered him lying on the ground and called for emergency workers. When EMT workers arrived at the scene of the workplace accident, the victim was pronounced dead. Read the full coverage of this tragic brain injury accident.

Shelley Moore Capito, a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, recently introduced legislation that would help veterans suffering from brain injury. The Veterans Traumatic Brain Injury Access to Care Act would allow veterans in rural areas access to better care and treatment for their injuries. Oftentimes, veterans are limited in where they can receive appropriate care, and are forced to travel long distances to select VA hospitals that have the proper technology to treat traumatic brain injury. According to the article on WHSV.com, twenty percent of the injuries to soldiers in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars involve some sort of brain injury, making access to proper treatment important to veterans across the country. To view the status of Capito’s bill to protect the victims of traumatic brain injury, follow the hyperlink.

Pathways, a new film by Brandon and Tiffany Verzal, records the trials and tribulations of several patients in their struggle to recover from traumatic brain injuries. The 75-minute documentary sheds light on the extensive and grueling rehabilitation process. It focuses on the lives of four patients of varying ages, including their two year-old daughter, Alexis, who suffered a severe brain injury at a daycare. Her injury is consistent with shaken baby syndrome and authorities believe that Alexis may have been thrown by her day care provider, who begins trial next month.

The film premiers this week and is set to hit the film festival circuit.

Click the following link to the article in the Lincoln Journal Star for more information on Alexis, her family, their struggle to recover from traumatic brain injury, and this enlightening new documentary.

It’s estimated that 20% of soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan have been diagnosed with traumatic brain injury caused by the impact of improvised explosive devices. The medics in Afghanistan have seen an increase in TBI cases in the past eight months. The aid station is capable of stabilizing patients until they can be transported to a larger base for treatment, but it’s not equipped to treat traumatic brain injury. They can only assess them, treat signs and symptoms because they don’t have a lab. Traumatic brain injury is an “invisible wound” which makes it difficult to diagnose. Medics say the increase in traumatic brain injury cases is a serious problem in Afghanistan. If a soldier is hit by an IED three times, the victim can be taken off patrols in order to avoid brain injury. To read more about the war’s injuries, please click the link.

A parasailing accident has left a mother and son seriously personally injured. The 17-year-old boy was rigged to the parasail and attempting to take-off from a ledge around 10 feet above the waterline. The boy’s mother and several bystanders were on the ledge watching this take off. However, as the boat began to pull away, the sail turned sideways and entangled the boy’s mother, dragging her a few feet before she fell off the ledge. She then fell onto her head along the shore. The boy hit the ledge several times before plummeting into the water. The mother as sustained a traumatic brain injury in the parasailing accident. They were both airlifted to the hospital for treatment of their head injuries. Police officials have issued a citation to the boat operator in the parasailing accident. To read more about the brain injury, please click the link.

A research study shows that brain tissue may grow at a site of a traumatic brain injury by an injectable biomaterial gel. The research shows the biomaterial gel made up of both synthetic and natural sources may have a possibility to urge the growth of a patient’s own neural stem cells in the body, which can help mend the brain injury site. This could be the first step towards brain tissue regeneration. There has been an increase in brain injuries due to combat, which helped with the research. However, doctors believe that this research could be applied to head injuries caused by car accidents, falls and gunshot wounds. Recent brain injury studies have focused on using hypothermia or neuroprotection with pharmacological agents, but these have had little success. The new method shows that the hydrogel may be injected into the lesion site to direct the response of neural stem cells in the brain to supposedly redevelop normal brain tissue at the lesion site. To read more about the brain injury study, 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.

An Illinois man who suffered a traumatic brain injury 17 years ago, recently released book about his experiences. The brain injury survivor is still able to work but must make constant reminders to himself. He titled his book 21 Seconds because someone suffers a traumatic brain injury every 21 seconds in this country. To read more about his daily fight to recover from his brain injury, click here.

Two Illinois parents were accused of killing their baby. The baby suffered what is believed to be a serious brain injury. The brain injury was caused by shaking the child. The parents are being brought on charges of first degree murder. The evidence also shows the child has had a history of brain injuries. To read more about this child’s traumatic brain injury, click here.

A family is suing a local swim club for 40 million dollars to recover damages for their son who suffered a severe brain injury. It is believed that the child’s brain was deprived of oxygen for over 10 minutes, causing brain damage. The child is no longer able to walk, talk or eat on his own anymore because of the brain damage. The family is suing for failure to timely respond and timely recognize the child drowning. To read more click here on “Brain Damaged Victim seeks $40 Million in Recovery”

ABC News correspondent, Bob Woodruff, is back in Iraq after over a three year hiatus. On January 29, 2006, while taping a report, Mr. Woodruff suffered a traumatic brain injury. The brain injury happened as a result of a bomb that struck the convoy that he was riding in. He spent a month in a coma because of the serious brain injury. He is now back on the news covering soldiers who are suffering from traumatic brain injuries. He has also started an aid fund to raise awareness of soldiers who suffer from brain injuries as a result of war. To read more about “After Suffering Brain Injury, TV Journalist Back in Iraq” click here.

A 9 month old child was killed when he suffered a brain injury. Police believe the brain injury was caused by one of his relatives. The police brought the man into custody and was arrested for child abuse resulting in death. The child was found in a dumpster with a serious closed brain injury which resulted in a hemorrhage of the brain. To read more of this article “Brain Injury Kills Infant Child” 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 man suffered a brain injury while working as a wire drawer machine operator. He was cutting a wire; the wire recoiled and struck him in the temple causing a brain injury. He is now filing suit because of the brain injury he suffered. He is seeking $150,000. To read the entire article click here “brain injury”

An attack, causing a brain injury, may have killed a person 8 years later. Two 18 year olds got into a fight and one of the individuals hit the other with a baseball bat causing a serious brain injury; 8 years later he died and the doctors are trying to determine whether the brain injury was the cause of death. Experts say that brain injuries can result in death years later; in fact people with brain injuries are more likely to die early. To read the entire article click here “brain injury”

Two players collided in a softball game that took place on June 18, causing one player a serious brain injury. The brain injury the player suffered led to his death only two days later. The 29 year old man’s family will have a softball tournament in his honor on August 8th. To read the entire article click here “Brain Injury”

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”

A man caused a two month old child to suffer a brain injury when he shook the child with his hands. The man is being charged with felony abuse for the brain injury he caused. The baby became unresponsive and was taken to Lexington Medical Center. The doctor said the baby suffered multiple injuries, including a serious brain injury. The baby is in critical condition with his brain injury. To read more click here “Brain Injury”

An employee of Manitowoe Cranes, Inc., suffered a brain injury when a crane arm broke and a bundle of floor trusses hit him in the head and chest. The man suffered facial fractures and a traumatic brain injury as a result. This brain injury caused him psychological, behavioral and personality changes. He is now seeking judgment against Rehkemper & Sons and National Crane Company, doing business as Manitowoe Cranes, Inc. To read the entire article click here “Brain Injuries”

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.

A recent university study examined the effects of brain injury in children. The study looked at how long the effects lasted and how they affected children as they grew older. After examining a number of traumatic brain injury studies, researchers found that children with brain injuries fell significantly further behind their peers than originally thought. They also discovered those children with the severe brain injuries had worse recovery outcomes than those with less serious injuries. According to the CDC, traumatic brain injuries are the most common cause of disability or death in children. Often, these injuries can be prevented by taking safety precautions before an accident occurs. Kids often are injured playing sports, on bikes, skiing or riding in a car without wearing a seat belt. Parents should stress helmet and seatbelt use to prevent traumatic brain injury. Read more about this brain injury study.

Last week, the Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs’ announced the opening of several Veteran Service Offices across the state. The offices will act as a resource where veterans can access state and federal benefits. Among the most notable of the new services is a Traumatic Brain Injury and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder program. It is the first state program of its kind in the U.S. and it will provide brain injury screening and 24-hour support to Illinois veterans suffering from these injuries and conditions. Read more about the Illinois brain injury program for veterans.

One result of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan is a growing number of American troops suffering traumatic brain injury. A new treatment that could supply high doses of oxygen to the brain to speed up the growth of brain tissue is underway. Hyperbaric chambers have been used to help patients recover from such conditions as the bends. Now, doctors are testing to see if these medical devices may help in the treatment of traumatic brain injuries. Currently, soldiers suffering from traumatic brain injury at Brooks City Base in Texas are participating in the study. Doctors are hopeful for positive results, but caution that the treatment will take place in conjunction with other brain injury treatments such as therapy and drugs. Read more about the use of hyperbarics for brain injuries.

Three hundred orange “phantom” heads graced the steps of the U.S. Customs house yesterday in an effort to raise awareness and educate the public about traumatic brain injury. The heads were placed on the steps by Force Protection, a manufacturer of armored vehicles used in Iraq, and the Medical University of South Carolina. These two have teamed up to study blast-related damage and traumatic brain injury. The “phantom” heads, made of gel and celery splayed in a pattern representing the brain, are used in the study’s blast tests.

For more information on the “phantom” heads and the traumatic brain injury research, click here.