Massachusetts Head Injury Lawyers
Massachusetts head injury victims may feel like they
have nowhere to turn. Massachusetts brain injury lawyer at Massachusetts can
help. Thousands of individuals every year are victims of head trauma
that result in traumatic brain injury, also called TBI. This type of
injury occurs when the brain is driven into the side of the skull by a
sudden blow, by a shaking force, or "whiplash." The impact can cause
bruising and swelling of the brain, and, in some cases, the impact will
be sufficient enough to tear blood vessels in the brain, causing
intracranial bleeding. If you or someone you love has suffered a severe
head trauma, contact a brain injury lawyer at Massachusetts. We have the
experience and dedication you need to represent you in these complex
cases.
1.What are the types of Head injuries?
There are several different types of brain injuries. If the trauma
results in damage to the skull itself, such as a crack or break, the
trauma is considered a penetrating head injury. More difficult to
diagnose are closed head injuries, where the skull is not obviously
damaged but the brain is still injured. This can occur from a blow or
impact, or from severe back-and-forth shaking, such as whiplash. Babies
and small children can suffer such injuries from being shaken, known as
"shaken baby syndrome." Contact a Massachusetts Head injury lawyer at
Massachusetts today for a free and confidential evaluation of your case.
2.What are the signs of a Head injury?
A medical professional should evaluate anyone who has sustained a blow
to the head or whiplash-like injuries to determine if the victim has
experienced a TBI. Even if symptoms are so slight that the victim does
not realize that a serious injury has occurred, treatment should be
sought before further damage can develop. Often the symptoms may be
delayed for many hours until swelling in the brain reaches a point that
if affects the victim. Some signs and symptoms to look for include:
Physical Symptoms
Dizziness, loss of balance, headaches, nausea and vomiting, blurred
vision, drowsiness, and confusion
Mental Cognitive Symptoms
Intermittent disorientation, amnesia, short-term memory loss, poor
judgment, and poor concentration
Emotional Symptoms
Depression, agitation, irritability, apathy, confrontational attitude,
explosive temper, fearfulness and impatience, personality changes in
general, sleep (early morning awakening) and appetite disturbances
3.What are the possible long-term problems?
TBI can cause serious, life-threatening events and can result in
permanent, irreversible damage to the brain. With severe brain injuries,
the impairments are obvious and profound. They can result in paralysis,
weakness, or abnormalities including loss of sensation, coordination, or
intellectual capacity. The more difficult, often overlooked cases are
those where neurological and mental changes are subtle. These may happen
as a result of what appears to be a minor accident in which the brain is
jarred. Symptoms, called soft signs, begin to appear afterwards,
sometimes after long periods of time. In either case, a TBI can have a
profound effect on quality of life, including inability to work,
inability to interact with friends and family, and loss of body
function. Massachusetts brain injury lawyer from knows the letter of the
law and will help you receive compensation for your TBI.
4.Relevant terminology:
Concussion - Occurs when the head receives a trauma and the brain is
jarred inside the skull, which can end in a period of confusion
Retrograde Amnesia - Loss of memory of events that preceded the injury
Intergraded Amnesia - Loss of forward memory after the injury
Brain Contusion - A bruise to the brain
Focal Injury - An injury to one part of the brain leaving the other
parts intact
Diffuse Injury - Denotes widespread damage
Countercoup Injury - Brain damage occurring at the side of the brain
opposite the trauma, caused by the cerebral spinal fluid drifting
backwards. If the blow is hard enough, it forces the brain against the
back of the skull.