New York Brain Injury Attorneys

A brain injury is a very serious type of injury, because brain tissue doesn’t heal like most of the other parts of the human body. Once brain cells are damaged, they cannot grow back; the functions associated with the part of the brain that was injured will be gone forever. For that reason, a severe brain injury can leave its victim with permanent, lifelong disabilities that must be accommodated during daily life and often must be overseen by a team of medical professionals. Even a minor brain injury, such as a concussion that doesn’t cause unconsciousness, can be dangerous under the wrong circumstances.

The brain controls everything human beings do — from basic bodily functions to intellectual work. For that reason, brain-injured patients’ symptoms vary widely. A victim could have problems with motor skills and speech; memory loss; learning disabilities; loss of a sense; even personality changes. Because scientists have not yet learned everything about which parts of the brain control which functions, doctors may not be able to tell how a particular brain-injured patient will recover.

There are many specific types of traumatic brain injury, including concussions, a skull fracture, internal bleeding, hematoma, and contusion. There are two subtypes of brain injury. A traumatic brain injury comes from some type of physical trauma, such as a blow to the head or a bullet wound. A non-traumatic brain injury comes from some sort of internal illness or injury that causes brain cells to die, like lack of oxygen to the brain, a stroke or poisoning. In either case, the brain cells can be directly killed, or the connections between them — called axons — can be destroyed, leaving brain cells intact but unable to communicate with one another and unable to do their jobs.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that 1.4 million Americans suffer a traumatic brain injury each year. The number may be even higher in the aftermath of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, where brain injuries from blast waves are tragically becoming a “signature injury” for returning troops. In addition to military service, common causes of brain injuries include:

People may sustain minor brain injuries without even noticing, or without feeling any symptoms at the time. That doesn’t mean the injury wasn’t serious; shock and other injuries can disguise symptoms, and some symptoms take time to appear. New York head injury victims with prolonged headaches, memory loss, confusion, dizziness, nausea or clear fluid or blood coming from the ears and nose should make sure they see a doctor as soon as possible. And no matter how minor the injury, victims should take care to avoid hitting their heads within a week or two of the original head injury, because a second impact can be far more serious than the first, killing some victims within moments (Second Impact Syndrome).

Brain injuries are catastrophic, robbing victims of their memories, their abilities or even their independence. Often, victims find they can no longer work, just as they embark upon years of expensive medical treatment. If you or someone you love sustained a brain injury because of another person’s carelessness, you have the right to hold that person legally liable for the results — physical, mental, emotional and financial. The experienced New York brain injury attorneys at Myers, Singer & Galiardo can help. For a free evaluation of your case, call our office today.

Be Sociable, Share!