Common Symptoms

There are a number of symptoms of head trauma, many of which may seem somewhat mild at first. It鈥檚 important that you carefully watch for these symptoms following any head injuries:

鈥� Losing balance or having difficulty standing upright
鈥� Feeling confused
鈥� Temporarily losing your memory
鈥� Feeling nauseated
鈥� Having a headache
鈥� Experiencing ringing in your ears

It鈥檚 easy to mistake some of these symptoms for other things, which is why it鈥檚 so important to keep track of any aches, pains, or other odd occurrences that happen after an injury to the head. If you have any small cuts or odd bumps on your head, you may also have head trauma, even if you don鈥檛 have any other symptoms.

In addition to these mild symptoms, some people suffer more severe troubles:

鈥� Losing consciousness
鈥� Losing control of your muscles
鈥� Having seizures
鈥� Vomiting
鈥� Unable to control your eye movements or having abnormal movements
鈥� Bleeding from head wounds

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If you experience any of these severe symptoms, it鈥檚 important to seek medical attention quickly. If emergency personnel believe someone has had head trauma, they will stabilize the person鈥檚 neck, head, and back prior to transportation to the hospital. Then they will do an X-ray, CT scan, or MRI to determine the extent of the damage.

Delayed Head Trauma

It鈥檚 possible for someone to suffer from concussion symptoms days, weeks, or even months and years after the traumatic event. Post-concussion syndrome, or showing concussion symptoms three months or more after an accident, can last for years. Around a third of all people who suffer from concussions will have some form of post-concussion syndrome.

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Any of the symptoms that occur from mild or severe head trauma can occur as post-concussion syndrome. Common issues include headache, vomiting, nausea, trouble balancing, blurred vision, double vision, poor coordination, and even a change in how a person tastes or smells certain things. Some people may also experience cognitive issues such as feeling mentally foggy, changes in their emotional state, or difficulty sleeping. Again, it鈥檚 important that anyone who has these symptoms following a聽head injury, even if that injury was months ago, see a doctor.

How to File a Grievance

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If you believe you have a brain injury due to an accident, you must speak to a legal professional and prepare a grievance. Brain injuries can be challenging to prove, especially if the damage is minimal. It鈥檚 even possible that MRIs and CT scans won鈥檛 pick it up.聽

But with our聽New York City brain injury attorneys聽on your side, you can feel confident that your case will receive justice. Our legal experts are familiar with brain injury cases, and we know what steps to take to secure a substantial settlement for your losses.

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The post Learn the Signs and Common Symptoms of Head Trauma appeared first on New York Personal Injury Lawyers.

Brain Injury Classifications

Severe Brain Injuries

Severe brain injuries most often result from a crush injury or a penetrating head wound, though a closed-head injury may also result in several brain injury. Typically, a severe brain injury will require a significant period of hospitalization, followed by rehabilitation. Most victims of severe brain injury are left with permanent symptoms and/or impairment, though the degree of recovery and ability to return to productive life varies.

Moderate Brain Injuries

A moderate brain injury often involves a loss of consciousness, which last more than a few seconds but no more than a few hours. After a moderate brain injury, impairment may last for weeks or months, or may even be permanent. However, even those with permanent impairments are typically able to rehabilitate sufficiently to move forward with their lives.

Mild Brain Injuries

Mild brain injury is poorly understood

, although medical science in this area has advanced significantly in the past few years. A person who suffers a mild brain injury may not lose consciousness, or may lose consciousness for only a few seconds or a minute or two. Diagnosis can be difficult and inconsistent in mild brain injury cases, and some impairments are not obvious during the initial assessment.

In many mild brain injury cases, a CT scan or MRI will not show damage. However, this doesn鈥檛 mean that there is no injury, or that the injury isn鈥檛 serious. Rather, the difficulty stems from the fact that this type of imaging often misses injury to the connections in the brain.

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Brain Injury Testing

More sensitive testing is possible, but is not often employed in the event of a relatively mild head injury. These include:

• Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI)
• Positron Emission Tomography (PET scan)
• Diffuse Tensor Imaging (DTI)

However, these tests are not routinely administered in the case of a head injury that appears relatively minor. Rather, this type of assessment generally occurs only after reported symptoms or observed impairments indicate that further testing is required.

Receiving Fair Compensation in a Brain Injury Case

Establishing damages when you鈥檝e suffered a brain injury due to someone else鈥檚 negligence can be complex and challenging. This is especially true when the brain injury wasn鈥檛 immediately diagnosed, or symptoms emerge over time. However, brain injury at any level can result in ongoing symptoms such as:

• Headache
• Dizziness
• Fatigue
• Mood changes
• Ringing in the ears
• Difficulty concentrating
• Vision problems

If you鈥檝e suffered a brain injury, it is in your best interests to work with an experienced聽Brooklyn brain injury lawyer聽to secure the compensation you need to ensure appropriate medical care and adapt for any lost income or reduction in earning capacity.

Talk to a New York Brain Injury Attorney

Take the first step toward getting the help you need today. Just fill out the contact form on this page, or call聽(212) 732-2929聽to schedule your free consultation.

We understand the challenges faced by victims of car accidents, construction accidents, serious injuries, wrongful death, and many other personal injury cases, and we鈥檙e here to help.

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Millions of people look forward to watching the Super Bowl every year. It is the biggest NFL game night for fans around the world and most likely, it never occurs to one that there is a football head injury crisis among the sport. However, there is a growing scientific concern between head injuries in football and brain disease. Evidence of the correlation between the two prompted Paul Tagliabue, NFL Commissioner, to create the Mild Traumatic Brain Injury committee and appoint Dr. Elliot Pellman, New York Jets Team Doctor and Rheumatologist, as chair.

Dr. Pellman went on record with Newsday stating 鈥渢hey鈥� discuss brain injuries in every league meeting along with knee injuries, and the use of steroids, drugs and alcohol. He also told Sports Illustrated聽concussions聽are par for the course and an occupational risk in the National Football League.

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In 1993, Troy Aikman, Dallas Cowboys Quarterback, stated he could not remember a game after landing in the hospital from taking a knee to the head during an NFC Championship game. He reported to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 know what planet I was on.鈥� Dr. Bennet Omalu discovered chronic encephalopathy (CTE) during and autopsy of a former professional football player, and was the first expert connecting catastrophic brain trauma to football. In December of 2015, Dr. Omalu went on record with Time Magazine stating he believes 90% of professional players have some degree of CTE. Simply put, that number is alarming and the NFL is on the edge of a crisis.

In February of 1995, star quarterbacks鈥� agent Leigh Steinberg held a seminar on the effects of players where a panel of medical experts described the effects, symptoms and dangers of head injuries. Gary Plummer, San Diego Charger player told The Press Enterprise 鈥淏y their standards, I must鈥檝e had 200 concussions.鈥�

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In March 1997, the American Academy of Neurology went on record saying repetitive concussions can cause brain damage, and suggested players exhibiting any concussion symptoms or losing consciousness for 15-minutes post injury be removed from the game. After struggling with cognitive issues for years, in April of 1999, Mike Webster claimed football was the reason for his dementia when filing his disability application with the NFL Retirement Board.

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American teen鈥檚 participation in school level football has dropped from 1.13 million in 2008 鈥� 2009, to 1.08 million in 2014 鈥� 2015; fear of brain injuries may be slowly lowering the number of participants in the sport. Evidence that more and more parents are hesitant to allow their children to participate in the sport in fear of head trauma is clear. At the same time, however, youth participation in American soccer seems to be on the rise, growing 8% in the five years leading up to 2014.

Whether playing the sport at a school-age level, or an NFL professional football player, there is a high risk of聽traumatic brain injury聽and head trauma associated with the sport. There is clear evidence the football head injury crisis is real. If you live in New York and you or your child has a football-related injury, we strongly recommend you speak with an experienced personal injury lawyer at 91原创视频amp; Aspromonte Associates LLP today to find out what your legal options are. We can help you recover the damages you have a right to.

Time is crucial鈥攃ontact us today to start your personal injury claim. Our attorneys bring extensive experience to a range of personal injury cases, including car and construction accidents, catastrophic injuries, wrongful death, and more.

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However, the emotional and psychological issues brain injury can trigger aren鈥檛 as well understood, and can be overlooked or misperceived when they occur in TBI victims.

More than Half of Brain Injury Patients Experience Major Depression

In a聽2010 study, researchers assessed adults who had been hospitalized with mild to severe TBI one month, six months, eight months, 10 months, and 12 months post-injury. More than 53% of patients met the criteria for 鈥渕ajor depressive disorder鈥� (MDD) at least once during that year. When patients are tracked over a longer period, the incidence of depression increases to about 65%.

Depression may be triggered by physical changes in the brain, an emotional / psychological response to the injury and resulting limitations, one or both of those factors triggering a pre-existing tendency toward depression, or a combination of factors.

Major depression alone presents a significant challenge, but in聽brain injury聽victims it can complicate an already complex and difficult situation. First, it can be difficult to separate symptoms of depression from symptoms of traumatic brain injury. Both TBI and depression can cause sleep disturbances. Both may result in lethargy and difficulty concentrating. Feelings of worthlessness and loss of sense of purpose may be attributable to depression, or may be a transitional response to being unable to

Further, major depression can exacerbate some brain injury symptoms, such as aggression, anxiety, and reduced cognitive function. Brain injury patients suffering from depression even have higher medical costs than their non-depressed counterparts.

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Cognitive Training Can Reduce Depression after a Brain Injury

Last month, a聽new study聽revealed positive effects of cognitive training after a brain injury. Every depressed brain injury victim who participated in training experienced a lessening of depression, which was correlated with improved cognition and daily life functions. In fact, over time, these patients experienced positive physical changes in the brain.

Although the study is new and involved only a limited number of brain injury patients, the outcome is promising for TBI victims. Even study participants who has sustained their injuries years before the trial showed improvement.

If You Have Suffered a Brain Injury, Talk to a NY Personal Injury Lawyer

While discoveries such as the impact of cognitive therapy on depression and brain activity promise a better future for brain injury patients, the path is still challenging. A brain injury impacts every area of your life, from earning a living to maintaining relationships with others.

If you suffered a brain injury because someone else was negligent, you owe it to yourself and your family to learn more about your legal options. And a聽New York brain injury lawyer聽can help.

Whether you sustained a brain injury in a car or motorcycle accident, fell on someone else鈥檚 poorly-maintained property, or were injured on a job site, help is available. Just聽schedule a free consultation聽to get started.

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We have helped clients obtain justice and compensation in a variety of personal injury cases, such as car accidents, construction accidents, wrongful death, and severe injuries.

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When most people think of epilepsy, they think of a genetic condition. Genetics do impact the likelihood that a person will suffer from epilepsy. Many people are born with the condition, due either to genetics or pre-natal injury such as oxygen deprivation in the womb or during the birth process. However, there are a number of other ways children and adults develop epilepsy, including disease and head trauma.

What is Epilepsy?

The term 鈥渆pilepsy鈥� is broadly applied to disorders characterized by recurring seizures. About 3.4 million Americans suffer from epilepsy, though the severity of the condition, the frequency of seizures, and the cause of the disorder vary widely. In technical terms, anyone who suffers two or more seizures not triggered by a trauma, fever, or other identifiable event is considered to be epileptic.

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Seizures after Serious Head Injuries

It鈥檚 not unusual for a serious聽head injury聽to cause seizures in the immediate aftermath of the injury. When that occurs, it鈥檚 important to seek medical attention right away. Seizures can do additional harm to the brain. Timely treatment can avoid or mitigate this damage, while those who ignore seizures may face lasting deficits.

Not every patient who suffers seizures shortly after a head injury will develop epilepsy or otherwise experience long-term problems. Often, the seizures experienced shortly after the injury resolve. On the other hand, seizures associated with the development of epilepsy may not begin for months, or even years.

Can Epilepsy be Caused by Head Trauma?

According to the聽Epilepsy Foundation, traumatic brain injury (TBI) is the most common cause of symptomatic epilepsy among those aged 15-24. More serious head injuries, such as penetration injuries and depressed聽skull fractures, are more likely to cause seizure disorder. This type of epilepsy is known as聽post-traumatic epilepsy聽(PTE).

Head injuries causing epilepsy can occur in a variety of circumstances, including:

• Construction accidents
• Sports injuries
• Intentional battery
• Car accidents
• Falls
• Motorcycle accidents
• Bicycle accidents

The onset of epilepsy after a TBI varies, so it may not be identified when the injured person originally undergoes medical assessment and treatment. In some cases, traumatic epilepsy can occur immediately or shortly after the trauma. Most cases鈥攁bout 80%鈥搘ill emerge within the first two years following the injury. However, it is not unusual for symptoms to emerge at any time within the five years following the head injury, and occasionally even later.

Seeking Medical Care after a Head Injury

Anyone suffering a serious head injury should consult with a physician as soon as possible after the accident. Epilepsy is just one risk of head injuries, and the gravity of the damage may not be evident to those without medical training. CT scans, MRIs, or other diagnostic testing are often required to identify the nature and extent of the injury.

Covering the costs of medical care from a head injury is difficult. But if another party caused your trauma, you may be able to seek financial recovery. 础听brain injury lawyer in New York聽can review your case, determine fault, and help you recover damages for your head injury losses.

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Liability for Post-Traumatic Epilepsy

If聽traumatic epilepsy聽or other serious medical problems develop due to a traumatic brain injury caused by the negligence of another party, that party liable for damages. Damages will vary from case to case, but may include medical expenses, decreased earning capacity, and compensation for pain and suffering.

If you鈥檝e suffered a serious head injury or a loved one is suffering from TBI, an experienced聽brain injury attorney聽can be your best resource. Don鈥檛 take chances with your future. If you鈥檝e been injured, schedule a free consultation with a聽New York personal injury lawyer聽right now鈥攋ust use the form in the upper right corner of this page, or call聽(212) 732-2929.

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Put in the simplest terms, TBI is a term used to describe the harm done to brain tissue or loss of brain tissue caused by a blow to the head incurred from an assault, a car crash, a gunshot wound, a fall, or similar incident. TBI can occur with both open and closed head injuries.

In a closed head injury, a forceful blow to the head causes damage by whipping the head forward and back or from side to side (which often happens in motor vehicle accidents). This in turn causes the brain to collide with the bony skull in which it is enclosed, and ultimately results in bruised brain tissue and torn blood vessels. Depending on the specific mechanism of injury, damage occurs at (and in some cases opposite) the point of impact. Consequently, specific areas of the brain 鈥搖sually the frontal and temporal lobes 鈥� are damaged. When this happens, MRI and CAT scans can usually detect the damage.

The rapid movement of the brain in closed head injuries can also stretch and damage neuronal axons 鈥� the long, spindly arms of nerve cells in the brain that connect cells, connect various parts of the brain, and connect the brain with the rest of the body. This widespread axonal injury interrupts regular communication within and between various brain regions and sometimes between the brain and other body parts.聽 This type of diffuse damage usually goes undetected by available imaging technology.聽 That being stated, its existence can be readily identified in the widespread effects it has on the individual鈥檚 ability to function.

In conclusion, after a closed head injury, damage can occur both in specific parts of the brain (due to bruising and bleeding) and throughout the brain (due to stretched or destroyed axons). The results of a closed head injury tend to have widespread effects on someone鈥檚 ability to function, primarily due to the diffuse axonal injury. The extent of damage is associated with the force of the blow to the head; for example, a head that hits a car windshield at high speed will usually sustain more tissue damage than when the vehicle is traveling at a slower speed.

Open head injury, the second type of TBI, occurs when something, such as a bullet,聽penetrates the skull. Damage following open head injuries tends to be concentrated, not widespread, and the implications for subsequent problems also tend to be focal and limited. However, these types of injuries can be as severe as closed head injuries, in certain circumstances.

What happens immediately after TBI?

Two effects are usually apparent in the immediate aftermath of a TBI. First, brain tissue reacts to trauma and to tissue damage through a progression of biochemical and other physiological responses. Substances that once were safely contained within the cells now flood the brain, causing additional damage and destruction of brain cells, ultimately resulting in 鈥渟econdary cell death.鈥�

The second type of effect is manifested in someone鈥檚 ability to function. For those with more severe injuries, loss of consciousness (LOC) occurs at the time of trauma, lasting from a few minutes or hours to several weeks or even months. Lengthy LOC is commonly known as coma. In such serious injuries, the first few days after trauma may also produce negative changes in respiration (breathing) and motor functions.

As an individual regains consciousness (those with the worst injuries may never do so), they may exhibit a variety of聽neurologically聽based symptoms including but not limited to irritability and aggression. Post-traumatic amnesia (PTA) is also typical when someone who is suffering from a TBI regains consciousness. PTA refers to the period when the individual experiences confusion and disorientation. Common questions at this stage are:聽 Where am I? What happened? He or she may also have difficulty remembering or be unable to remember recent events.

With time, these responses usually subside, as the brain and other body systems are stabilized. But, unlike tissues such as bone or muscle, the neurons in the brain do not mend themselves. New nerves are not generated in a way that leads to complete recovery. In other words, certain areas of the brain remain damaged, and the person suffering from TBI may have to deal with ramifications for the rest of his or her life.

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How is 鈥渟everity of injury鈥� defined?

Before discussing the immediate and long-term effects of TBI in greater detail, it is important to understand how the 鈥渟everity of injury鈥� is defined.

This term is usually used to describe the extent of brain tissue damage. Although it cannot be directly measured, it is usually estimated by gauging the duration of loss of consciousness (LOC), the depth of coma and sometimes by the length of PTA.

The scale most frequently used to measure the depth of coma is the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS). Specifically, the GCS is used to rate three aspects of functioning: eye opening, motor response, and verbal response. Individuals in deep coma score very low in all three categories, while those who aren鈥檛 as badly injured or who are recovering from coma score higher.

For example, someone with a GCS score of 3 is in the deepest level of coma and is completely unresponsive. Conversely, someone with score of 9 or more indicates that he or she is no longer in a comatose state, but is not fully alert. The highest score (15) refers to a person who is fully conscious.

The severity of brain injury is typically classified as mild (or minor), moderate and severe. In general, mild injury is one in which the patient experienced LOC for less than 20 minutes and an initial GCS of 13-15. Furthermore, an initial GCS of 9-12 defines a moderate injury and 3-8 a severe injury.

Although initial brain injury measures may predict long-term impairment in most cases, these scores do not correlate well with negative consequences in someone鈥檚 life. In fact, the initial severity of injury is only one factor that should be taken into account when considering the effects of TBI on different people.

How long does recovery take?

Recovery after injury is usually quite variable for those with moderate-to-severe injuries compared to those with mild injuries. And, as we cannot stress enough, recovery varies greatly from person to person. Thus, recovery will not be the same for any two people with TBI.

In mild TBI, one person may have a quick and full recovery, while someone else may face significant challenges even several years after they were injured.

For people with more severe injuries, recovery is a multistage process, which usually continues in a variety of ways for months and years. However, there is no standard duration for this recovery process, and the stages of recovery that are common when considering the entire population affected by TBI, may be very different for any one person. Some stages may not follow a logical progression. Instead, they may overlap, or one or more stages may be skipped altogether.

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How is recovery measured right after injury?

The progress made during the immediate recovery period in individuals with severe to moderate TBI is often tracked using the Rancho Los Amigos Scale. This system includes eight levels 鈥� from the depths of coma to return to awareness and purposeful activity. These levels of recovery reflect processes within the brain, as it heals, stabilizes, and reorganizes itself to some extent.

Although the Rancho scale assumes that recovery will pass through eight stages, a small percentage of people with severe injuries remain stuck at Levels I to III for months or even years. They remain in coma or in a relatively unresponsive state and fail to return to purposeful, appropriate activity.

Rancho Los Amigos Scale

• Level I (No Response):聽The person is in deep coma and does not respond to any stimuli.
• Level II (Generalized Response):聽The person sleeps most of the time, with periods of brief wakefulness. Responses and movements are largely reflexive and not purposeful.
• Level III (Localized Response):聽The person is alert for longer periods. He/she reacts inconsistently to commands, but his/her responses are related to the type of stimulus presented. For example, noises will produce a listening response.
• Level IV (Confused and Agitated):聽As awareness increases, the person鈥檚 behavior reflects his/her sense of confusion and disorganization. 聽He or she may engage in aggressive and/or silly behavior, along with verbal abuse, agitated actions, and incoherent speech. At this stage, his or her attention span is too short to allow full cooperation in treatment programs; and he or she is unable to do basic tasks, such as eating, independently.
• Level V (Confused, Inappropriate, Not Agitated):聽Simple commands are now followed consistently; the person鈥檚 long-term memory is returning; and she/he can now carry out over-learned skills such as eating. Difficulty is evident in following complex commands, short-term memory, learning new skills, and concentrating for more than a few minutes.
• Level VI (Confused, Appropriate):聽At this stage, someone recovering from TBI begins to show goal-directed behavior, but still needs direction in most cases. By now, he or she is more aware of his/her deficits, family members, and so forth. He/she can carry out more tasks independently and retains relearned skills from one occasion to the next.
• Level VII (Automatic, Appropriate):聽At this point, someone recovering from TBI is capable of performing daily routines automatically and is more adept at learning new skills, although they may not be able to do so as quickly as they could than before they were hurt. The person will still have poor short-term memory; and their judgment and problem solving are still impaired.
• Level VIII (Purposeful, Appropriate):聽At this stage of their recovery, the person is able to function once again in the community. However,they may still have difficulties with cognitive, social, and emotional functioning, to some extent.

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Take Action and File a Brain and Spinal Cord Injury Claim Now

The financial and emotional burden of a brain injury is devastating, but our聽New York City spinal cord injury attorneys聽will make sure you receive justice for your trauma. Our legal team is dedicated to helping accident victims receive the compensation they deserve, and we are available to get to work on your case right away.

Featured Image credit:聽U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Jonathon Fowler

In Post Image Credit: By聽GeorgeWilliams21聽鈥� Own work,聽CC BY-SA 4.0

Our attorneys bring years of experience to cases involving car and construction accidents, severe injuries, wrongful death, and numerous other types of personal injury.

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A New York聽traumatic brain injury聽lawyer may be the best source of information about your rights if you have been injured in the Bronx, Queens, Manhattan, Brooklyn, Staten Island or anywhere else in the New York metropolitan area.

Brain Injury and Assault

According to the New York State Department of Health, assault is the #2 reason that people aged 20-44 are hospitalized with traumatic brain injuries. Assault is the #3 cause for those aged 15-19 and 45-64. Or, consolidating these figures, assault is the second or third leading cause of hospitalization for TBI among New Yorkers aged 15-64. These injuries may arise in many different contexts, including street crime, fights and incidents of domestic violence.

Violence-induced TBI may also be fatal. For children aged four and under and adults aged 20-24, homicide is the leading cause of death due to traumatic brain injury. For those between the ages of five and nine, those aged 15-19, and those aged 25-44, homicide comes in at #2. Notably, the only age group from birth to age 44 for whom homicide is not among the top two causes of fatal TBI is 10-14. In that group, suicide claims the #2 spot.

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Brain Injury Statistics in New York

Hospitalizations due to traumatic brain injury in New York have increased significantly. In 2001, the rate of hospitalization for TBI was 75.7/100,000 residents. In 2014, that rate had risen to 96/100,000, after a high-water mark of 100.5/100,000 in 2009. ER visits have spiked even more dramatically, with a rate of 359.5/100,000 in 2005 and 720.9/100,000 in 2014.

Liability for Brain Injury

When a brain injury is caused by someone else鈥檚 intentional actions, the victim will likely be entitled to recover damages from the responsible party. In the case of assault, the person responsible for the injury may not appear to have means to compensate the injured party, but that doesn鈥檛 necessarily mean that the brain injury victim will not be able to recover damages. There may be insurance coverage to compensate the victim, or a third party might share liability. One example might be the owner of a bar in which an assault occurred.

If the injury was accidental, the victim may still be entitled to compensation. If someone else caused the brain injury through negligent behavior, such as driving recklessly or failing to maintain premises in a safe manner, that person or organization may bear responsibility for the injury.

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Talk to a Brain Injury Lawyer about Your Rights

If you鈥檝e suffered a traumatic brain injury in the Bronx, Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens or elsewhere in the New York metropolitan area, we may be able to help. Scheduling a free consultation with a local brain injury lawyer is the first step toward pursuing the recovery you deserve. You may be entitled to damages that include:

• Medical bills
• Costs of rehabilitation
• Lost wages
• Pain and suffering

Just call聽212-540-2984聽or fill out the contact form on this page to get started.

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What is a concussion?

础听concussion, the most common type of聽Traumatic Brain Injury聽(TBI) results from severe impact when the head makes contact with an object. The blunt force created by an abrupt change in momentum or movement of the head, can stretch brain blood vessels damaging the cranial nerves.

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Student athletes are prone to concussions by the sheer nature of the sports they participate in. For example, football is a rough, high contact sport calling for tackles and its players to slam their bodies into players on the other team (A.K.A. hits). Because of the sport鈥檚 roughness, all players are required to wear special protective gear at all times during the game. Not only can tackles and 鈥渉its鈥� cause jarring of the brain resulting in a concussion, but injuries occur from falling can too. Even with the additional precautions of padded equipment, it only helps to prevent injury.

Safety Tips 鈥� Beating Sports Concussion Odds

• Follow coach safety tips and sport safety rules
• Practice good sportsmanship
• Proper sports equipment, including personal protective equipment use
• Using correct equipment for that game and position
• Wear proper equipment with the correct size/fit correctly during every sporting event

Concussion Facts

• Concussion is the most common of TBI injuries.
• Very difficult to diagnose and symptoms of a concussion may not occur immediately.
• Loss of consciousness is not common but can occur lasting up to 20 minutes, but no more; longer can mean a more serious TBI.
• Student athlete may remain conscious but in a 鈥渄azed鈥� or 鈥減unch drunk鈥� state
• 础听skull fracture聽is not a qualifying factor in a diagnosed concussion, there may or may not be one (or more) present.
• Diagnostic image testing such as a CAT Scan, may or may not show a concussion is present.
• Swelling of the brain, or brain bleeding may or may not be present,
• Blood clot(s) can form on the brain and can be fatal.
• Diffuse axonal type injury damage, such as amnesia can be temporary or permanent.
• Healing from a concussion can take a few months, or even up to a few years.

Signs and Symptoms Your Athlete Could Have a Concussion

Concussions, considered a mile TBI, can come with consequences resulting in memory problems, impaired thinking and behavioral or emotional changes. It is very important coaches, parents and student athletes recognize symptoms.

Physical Signs

• Headache
• Pressure in the Head
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Dizziness
• Balancing Problems
• Fatigue
• Visual Problems 鈥� Blurry or Double Vision
• Light Sensitivity
• Noise Sensitivity
• Dazed, Stunned or 鈥淧unch Drunk鈥�
• Tingling or Numbness

Cognitive Signs

• Slowed Down Feeling
• Mentally Foggy Feeling
• Concentration Difficulty
• Memory Difficulty
• Short-term Memory Loss
• Confusion of Recent Events
• Answers Questions Slowly
• Repeats Questions Asked

Emotional Signs

• Sadness
• Overly Emotional
• Irritability
• Nervousness

Sleep Signs

• Trouble Falling Asleep
• Drowsiness
• Sleeps More than Normal
• Sleeps Less than Normal

Your student athlete has a concussion, what now? What is the suggested care for complete recover?

Tips on Healing from a Concussion

• Get plenty of rest and sleep.
• Eat healthy, and the recommended foods.
• Avoid physically demanding activities.
• Avoid contact or recreational sport activities.
• Once cleared by your doctor, return to normal activities gradually.
• Take only the drugs approved by your doctor.
• In early recovery time, avoid consistent computer use and video games.

Activity Tips 鈥� Safety First

• Ability to react can be slower post-concussion 鈥� ask your doctor if it is safe to ride a bike or drive a car.
• Ask your doctor when you can return to school or work.
• Make a list of the thing harder to remember.
• If easily distracted, try doing a single task at a time.

Competitive sports, well, is just that, competitive; and adrenaline is heightened. At times, some players can become 鈥渙verzealous鈥� resulting in unsportsmanlike behavior and negligence. When this occurs, undue and avoidable injuries can happen. You may find seeking the advice from one of聽NYC Concussion Injury Lawyers聽is the best course of action.

Our experienced team has assisted personal injury victims with claims involving car accidents, construction accidents, wrongful death, and other serious injuries.

Call or text聽(212) 732-2929聽or complete a聽Free Case Evaluation form

The post NYC Concussion Injury Lawyer for Student Athletes: Know Your Rights appeared first on New York Personal Injury Lawyers.

Trauma to the back is a common occurrence, a traumatic back injury can either be acute or result in a chronic condition. Knowing what happened, and identifying any risk factors such as osteoporosis to a doctor can aid in a diagnosis and back injury treatment. When severe injury to the back occurs due to a fall or an accident this event can be detrimental to your health. Back injuries are classified as either low energy as in a slip on the ice, or high energy, as in being catapulted from a vehicle during a collision. Injuries can affect any part of the back including the bones, disks, ligaments, or muscles. The range of severity goes from simple compression fractures, being the least impactful, to fractural dislocations which are the most impactful. Depending on if the spine or if the nerves are severed, the classification of the injury may change as well. Spinal cord trauma is damage to the spinal cord, it may result from direct injury to the cord itself or indirectly from disease. Injuries of the spinal chord can result in pain,聽paralysis, numbness, and loss of normal bowel or bladder control.聽 Treatments for trauma to the back or spinal chord include medicine such as corticosteroids, or surgery.

For a free legal consultation, call聽(212) 732-2929

Repetitivback pains are related to the overuse of the tendons and muscles, usually caused by cumbersome postures and repetitive motions. Sitting for long periods of time while driving, or working in an office environment while using improper techniques can cause discomfort and pain. If left untreated, it could eventually cause a repetitive stress injury, specifically of the back, which is not fatal but is a constant source of discomfort. Repetitive stress injuries of the back develop over spans of time and are not necessarily noticed at first. Possible contributors to repetitive back pain are lack of physical activity, and being over weight. Symptoms of repetitive back pains include, but are not limited to tingling, swelling, numbness, stiffness and pain. The greatest defense against repetitive back pains is prevention via using a neutral body stance. A neutral body stance include keeping your head level, feet flat, utilizing back support, and taking frequent stretch breaks. Along with a neutral body stance staying active and keeping your back strong while avoiding too much heavy lifting can be beneficial. Behavior modifications are beneficial such as learning to use your legs for support rather than the back or changing the mattress you are sleeping on.聽 Of course if none of these things work there are possible treatments involving medication, surgery, or acupuncture. Possible medication options include the use of a hot or cold pack, aspirin, numbing ointments, anti-inflammatory drugs, muscle relaxers, or steroid injections.

When you find yourself with unfortunate scenario of a back injury whether traumatic or repetitive, after you consult the hospital and your employer, the next step, which is absolutely imperative, is to get obtain legal advice, and move forward with legal options. Generally, if you are unable to work for more than a few days, or if your medical bills exceed a few thousand dollars, you should absolutely hire a聽New York City Back Injury Attorney. There are many lawyers and attorneys who specialize in both traumatic back injury and repetitive injury who are well versed in the nuances along with having your best interest in mind. In regards to a traumatic back injury claim the basis for holding a company legally responsible for the harm comes from the idea of negligence. Negligence is the legal term for any haphazard behavior that causes, or contributes to, an accident. As far as repetitive back injury, there are workers’ compensation laws that will work in your favor. Workers’ compensation allows individuals injured on the job to recover money paid for medical treatment, and or lost earnings. An important aspect of filing a repetitive injury claim is that the law requires a qualified physician to state in writing that there is a direct link between the job duties and the injuries.聽 Facts like this may be unknown to the individual, but a聽New York City Back Injury Attorney聽would know this easier, further emphasizing the point that is essential to seek legal advice.

Our attorneys are here to help with car accident injuries, construction accidents claims, and other personal injury cases.

Call or text聽(212) 732-2929聽or complete a聽Free Case Evaluation form

The post Differences in Back Pain appeared first on New York Personal Injury Lawyers.

If you or a loved one is suffering from the devastating effects of TBI, you are not alone. According to a fact sheet published by the Center for Disease Control (CDC), nearly 3 million Americans who sought treatment at Emergency Rooms, were hospitalized or died as a result of TBI in 2014. Of those, more than 830,000 were children.

Here鈥檚 what you should know about this type of injury and legal remedies in the event that it was caused by an accident where someone else was to blame.

Leading causes of TBI

The most recent available statistics indicate that falls and motor vehicle crashes were among the leading causes of TBI and deaths from TBI.

For example, nearly half of the people who ended up in the Emergency Room for treatment of TBI in 2014 were hurt when they fell. Falls were the leading cause of ER visits for treatment of TBI among young children and older adults.

Furthermore, falls and motor vehicle crashes accounted for 72 percent of all TBI-related hospitalizations that year. Falls were the leading cause of hospitalizations for children in the 0 to 17 age group, and adults who were at least 55 and older.Motor vehicle crashes were the leading cause of hospitalizations for adolescents and adults in the 15-44 age group.

Finally, falls were the leading cause of TBI-related death for people age 65 or older. Motor vehicle crashes were the leading cause of death for people in the 15-24 age group, the 25-34 age group, and for older adults who were at least 75.

For a free legal consultation, call聽(212) 540-2984

The physical, emotional and financial toll of TBI

What makes TBI so devastating is that it is not an acute injury. In other words, the symptoms don鈥檛 necessarily go away following treatment. Lasting effects can include deficiencies related to thought processes or memory, movement, sensation (such as vision or hearing), emotions and behavior.聽These issues not only affect people suffering from TBI, but also their families and friends.

In many cases, families are overwhelmed by the tremendous costs of not only immediate but also long term rehabilitation or care for a loved one who has sustained a TBI. These expenses include those for medical care, nursing, and rehabilitation. In cases where the person who suffered the TBI is the primary breadwinner, the financial toll on the family is compounded by his or her inability to work.

If you or a loved one sustained a TBI in a motor vehicle accident, a fall, a work related injury or in any other way that was caused by the negligence or recklessness of another party, you have the right to sue for damages, including pain and suffering, permanent injuries, emotional damages, loss of earnings, past and future medical and rehabilitation costs and any other incidental costs and damages.聽 Contact us to learn how we may be able to help.

Featured Image Credit:聽geralt聽/ Pixabay

In Post Image Credit: NettoFigueiredo/ Pixabay

Our skilled personal injury attorneys have represented clients in cases involving car accidents, construction accidents, severe injuries, wrongful death, and other serious incidents.

Call or text聽(212) 540-2984聽or complete a聽Free Case Evaluation form

The post The Facts About TBI appeared first on New York Personal Injury Lawyers.