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Brain Injuries
How We can Help
Each year in the United States an estimated 1.4 million people sustain a traumatic brain injury (TBI) – a blow or jolt to the head, which disrupts the function of the brain. Of that number, 50,000 to 100,000 have prolonged problems that will affect their ability to work and/or affect their daily lives. The severity of a TBI can range from a mild concussion to the extremes of a coma or even death. Approximately 50,000 people die every year from TBI. At least 5.3 million Americans currently live with disabilities resulting from TBI. The leading causes of these types of injuries are:
- Motor Vehicle accidents and crashes (Automobile, Bus, and Truck accidents)
- Firearm use
- Slips and/or falls
A TBI injury can occur in auto accident at moderate speeds, and contact with the interior of the vehicle is not necessary. The brain can be injured by bruising (bleeding), tearing and/or swelling. In a collision, a vehicle comes to an abrupt stop. The brain continues to travel and is “stopped” by the skull (the brain may actually strike the front of the skull and then recoil and strike the back of the skull). If blood vessels break, bleeding will occur. The excess blood will cause pressure on the soft, sensitive brain tissue. Critical body functions may be affected, like breathing, or heart rate. In fact, people have reported feeling fine after an accident and soon thereafter they become confused and lapse into a coma. It is therefore extremely important to seek medical attention immediately after any blow to the head, or sudden stop (even if there is no impact to the head). Tearing is essentially the severing of the “wires” that send messages throughout the brain. Tearing is a very serious injury because the signals for bodily functions are interrupted. The brain, like other body parts, swells when it suffers a blow. The swelling creates pressure on the brain because there is nowhere for the swelling to go. The 0-4 and 15-24 year old age groups have the highest incidence of TBI.
TBI Prevention Tips:
- Wear your seatbelt
- Put a child in a car seat
- Don’t drink and drive
- Wear a helmet while bicycling (make sure your children do as well)
Experience
Our attorneys worked for major insurance companies as well as the City of New York before becoming plaintiff’s lawyers. Our attorneys know how insurance carriers and municipalities investigate, work up, negotiate and defend lawsuits. After approximately a decade of defense representation the attorneys began representing people who suffered serious injuries. They have been representing injured parties for more than 10 years.
A Sampling of Cases We Have Handled
An ornamental ironworker fell from a plank that was resting on ornamental steel. The plank shifted and he fell 2 floors to the Q-deck below. The GC was attempting to save money and failed to erect appropriate scaffolding. He suffered severe injuries to his head, his neck and his back
A 6 year old girl was riding her brand new bicycle in a suburban neighborhood. There were no sidewalks. Her mother went inside the house to get her camera. The young girl drove to the neighbor’s house, came down the driveway and entered the street. A bus driver was distracted by children who were misbehaving on the bus. The bus hit the little girl. There was an issue regarding the brakes on the bus because only one rear tire left a skid mark. The reasonableness of the child’s operation of the bicycle was measured against how other 6 years would act. Luckily she was wearing her helmet, the helmet split in half, it saved her life.
A tractor trailer turned left, failing to yield to a car going straight, and the car went under the trailer. The driver of the car suffered severe hand injuries and a head injury.
A tractor trailer drove over and on top of a car, crushing the roof, on the interstate. The passenger in the car was killed and the driver suffered a major brain injury.
A soda delivery truck struck a DOT vehicle that was stopped in a lane of moving traffic on a major expressway. A passenger in the soda delivery truck was killed and the entire passenger side of the truck was torn off.
A young man fell 4 flights down an elevator shaft. When he called for the elevator, the doors opened, he stepped in and the elevator was not there. He suffered a severe TBI.
Investigation
It is really important that we begin our investigation as soon as possible. We need to contact witnesses, if possible take photos of the accident scene and the injuries. The case goes much smoother when we are called soon after the accident. It is our job to maximize the amount that our clients recover. Through different means of investigation, we are able to build a case that maximizes the recovery and minimizes the delays.
Medical Bills
Our firm understands that your immediate goals after going through such a traumatic experience are to get the best medical care possible, make sure that your medical bills are covered, and make sure that you do not suffer financially through any lost wages. Our experienced attorneys will discuss your situation and go over the options available to you, as well as work with insurance companies and other parties involved in your case to make sure all your needs are handled quickly and appropriately. Time is short, do not delay, contact us or call us.
Helpful Links
- Traumatic Brain Injury Guide
- Peer Support for people with TBI
- TBI resource guide
- Accident Prevention
- Brain Injury Association
- National Rehabilitation Information Center
- Assistive Technology Resource
- The American Society of neurorehabilitation
- Brain Atlas
- Center for Disease Control
- Fed Disability Resource guide
- Gov’t info locator service
- SS
- National Institute of Mental Health
- Consumer Product Safety Commission
Our firm represents clients located in Brooklyn, The Bronx, Queens, Manhattan, Staten Island, New York State and many other states (New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Georgia, Florida, Colorado, North Carolina, and California, and we will handle a case in any state provided we can do so in full compliance with court rules regarding multijurisdictional practice, association of local counsel and/or admission pro hac vice) who have suffered traumatic brain injuries.
If you or a loved one has been injured, CONTACT US ONLINE OR CALL US AT (516) 742-8897= (516) PIATTYS in Long Island, (212) 267-9377= (212) ANSWERS In Manhattan TO SET UP A FREE CONSULTATION. If you can’t come to us, we will come to you in the hospital or we will visit you in our mobile office.
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