Brain Injuries

Types of Catastrophic Injuries

A traumatic brain injury (TBI) develops due to a sudden impact with an external force, such as the dashboard of a vehicle. Car accidents are the leading cause of brain injuries; however, traumatic brain injuries can also develop as a result of falls, sports accidents and child abuse. When a brain injury in New York results from the negligence of another individual or entity, the injured victim may be able to seek financial compensation through a personal injury lawsuit.

Types of Brain Injuries

There are many types of traumatic brain injuries, each of which can cause a range of physical, cognitive and behavioral problems. The following describes the most common types of brain injuries suffered by New York residents:

Concussion: The most common type of TBI, concussions often result from a direct blow or violent shaking of the head. Patients suffering from traumatic brain injuries may or may not lose consciousness. If a loss of consciousness does occur, it typically will not last more than 20 minutes. A patient suffering a concussion is at risk for a life-threatening blood clot or diffuse axonal injury, which can result in permanent or temporary brain damage.

Diffuse Axonal Brain Injury: Caused by shaking or a strong rotation of the head, a diffuse axonal brain injury involves the tearing of the brain’s nerve tissue which can interrupt communication and chemical processes in the brain. A diffuse axonal brain injury can result in brain damage, coma or death.

Contusion: A contusion is the bruising or internal bleeding of the brain. The bruise develops when a direct impact to the head leads to microhemorrhages, or a leaking of blood vessels into the brain tissue. Hemorrhaging resulting from a contusion can increase intracranial pressure and led to further damage of the brain tissue.

Implications of a Traumatic Brain Injury

Patients who survive a traumatic brain injury will often face long-term emotional, cognitive and physical problems. Brain injury victims may have difficulty concentrating, organizing thoughts, communicating, processing new information, handling emotions and thinking. As a result, many brain injury victims may need 24-hour care and lose their ability to earn a living, placing a heavy financial burden on the victim and their loved ones.

New York personal injury law recognizes that brain injury victims may need financial assistance to treat and manage their injuries. Therefore, brain injury victims who were hurt due to another’s negligence may be able to collect financial compensation related to their injuries. The amount the injured victim receives will rely heavily on their degree of impairment, ability to work, potential for improvement and ability to live independently.

New York Brain Injury Lawyers

Brain injury lawsuits are often complex and require the help of medical specialists to fully determine the life-long effects of a patient’s brain injury. While the effects of some personal injuries, such as broken bones, are generally easy to prove, the long-term consequences of a traumatic brain injury are not always evident. Victims may suffer from memory loss, personality changes and other problems that may not be readily apparent. At Block O’Toole & Murphy, our New York personal injury attorneys understand how to fully assess the effects of a traumatic brain injury and work with medical specialists when necessary to ensure our clients receive the compensation needed to cover their long-term needs.

If you or a loved one has suffered a traumatic brain injury, our New York personal injury lawyers have the resources and experience needed to handle your claim. We recently recovered a $32.7 million personal injury verdict for a “good Samaritan” who was hit by an intoxicated driver as he stopped to help victims of an unrelated car crash. The man suffered life-threatening head trauma and has been confined to a nursing home since the crash. Our brain injury lawyers in New York are proud of this result and provide the same amount of dedication to every case. Our New York personal injury attorneys also recently obtained a $1,800,000 recovery for a NYPD sergeant who suffered a brain injury in a collision.

To speak to our New York brain injury attorneys about your accident or injury, fill out our free case review form on the right.