Brain Injury
by admin@gotechark.com | February 19th, 2018
In addition to being potentially life-threatening, brain injuries also affect victims to their very core, and in some cases, victims may even undergo dramatic personality, behavioral, and cognitive changes that can make them almost unrecognizable to their families and friends.
There are many causes of brain injuries, but three of the most common include:
- Car accidents – Seat belts and air bags can help reduce the dangers of driving or riding in vehicles, but they can’t eliminate them. Brain injuries can occur on impact or even from the brain moving inside the skull during accidents.
- Slips and falls – Even something as routine as walking down stairs or through a store can lead to a brain injury. Slips and falls that involve hitting the head on a hard surface can cause devastating tissue and cellular damage inside the brain.
- Work-related accidents – People who work in industrial environments, including factories and construction sites, are particularly at risk for brain injuries, as they may work near heavy objects and machinery that operates with significant force.
At Lowell Stanley Injury Lawyers, our Norfolk brain injury lawyers know how devastating these types of injuries can be. We also know that many victims require extensive medical care and rehabilitation, with some needing around-the-clock supervision for the rest of their lives. That’s a financial burden that many families simply can’t bear.
It’s our goal to help victims and their loved ones get the full compensation they deserve. If you or someone you love suffered a brain injury, we’re here to help. Call today for a free consultation.
by admin@gotechark.com | November 20th, 2017
The human body is remarkably resilient and capable of healing from a variety of serious illnesses and injuries. But head injuries can be a different story. When a person’s brain is injured in an accident, the chances of recovery may be remote. Even people with minor brain injuries may experience profound changes in mood, personality, and behavior, while people with severe brain injuries may lose the ability to work, live independently, or even interact with others.
At Lowell Stanley Injury Lawyers, we know the devastation that brain injuries can cause entire families—especially when families depend on the victim emotionally and financially.
When we take on brain injury cases, we fight to help victims and their families recover compensation for:
- Medical bills – The cost of treating a brain injury can be more than many families can afford—even with health insurance. Expenses like surgeries, CT scans, and prolonged hospital stays can add up.
- Lost wages – People who suffer brain injuries may lose the ability to do their jobs. They may even lose the ability to work altogether. That can leave their loved ones in a financial bind.
Whether your loved one’s brain injury occurred in a car accident, bicycle accident, motorcycle accident, or because of any other negligent act, our Norfolk brain injury lawyers want to fight for your rights to compensation. Call today for a free consultation—we’re here to help.
by | November 16th, 2015
Hockey players are at high risk of suffering brain injuries because of the hard hits and slick playing surfaces associated with the game. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say hockey produces the second highest number of head and brain injuries in the United States each year, coming in just behind football.
Wearing a helmet is the best way to prevent brain injuries, but a new study shows they may not offer as much protection as once believed.
A report from WAVY 10 News examines research conducted at Virginia Tech’s School of Bio Engineering and Mechanics. A team of researchers placed each helmet through a series of 48 separate impacts to test performance. The study took 32 different helmet models into consideration and found very few offered a noteworthy level of protection.
Data indicates nine of the helmets failed to receive a single star, suggesting the models offered players little to no protection from a potential brain injury. Furthermore, no helmet received four or five stars—the highest ratings available.
As a Norfolk personal injury lawyer, Lowell “The Hammer” Stanley at Lowell Stanley Injury Lawyers is committed to helping athletes protect themselves from injury. That’s why we ask young hockey players to consider these precautions:
- Check helmet safety ratings- Take a look at the reviews and testing on a helmet’s functionality. This can provide you with the information you need to choose a safe helmet.
- Ensure a proper fit- Once you have a helmet that can help prevent a brain injury, it’s important to make sure it’s the right size. A helmet should sit just above the brow line and the strap should fasten securely under the chin.
- Learn proper technique- Experts say that learning safe methods to make contact on the ice is the best way to prevent players from suffering brain injuries.
We hope these tips help keep you and your loved ones safe on the ice this season!
by | August 18th, 2015
As the fall sports season begins, many local athletes are preparing to return to the field; however, some parents are concerned about the risks their children face while playing popular sports like football and soccer.
Accidents that result in a player suffering a traumatic brain injury (TBI) are one of the greatest dangers to player safety today. So, our Norfolk brain injury lawyers will examine the safety concerns regarding these injuries, as well as what players and parents can do to avoid them.
It’s estimated that sports and recreational activities account for more than 1 in 5 traumatic brain injuries that American children and adolescents suffer. This statistic is one of the main reasons WAVY 10 News reports roughly half of all parents don’t want their children to play football.
While the risks of a child suffering a head injury on the field are legitimate, there are steps both parents and athletes can take to prevent such accidents from occurring.
One of the best ways for athletes to prevent head injuries is to use specialized safety equipment, like helmets. Learning proper technique on the field can also reduce the chances of suffering a head injury.
Athletes, parents, and coaches should also educate themselves on how to recognize the symptoms of a potential traumatic brain injury.
At Lowell Stanley Injury Lawyers, we are aware of the serious impact a traumatic brain injury can have on an individual’s health. That’s why our Norfolk personal injury attorneys are hopeful this information can help to keep you and your loved ones safe during the coming sports season.
by | November 3rd, 2014
The risks associated with repeat traumatic brain injuries among athletes have come under heavy public scrutiny in recent years. Despite an increase in awareness of the problem, fatalities due to brain injuries continue to occur.
Take the case of a Mecklenburg County, Virginia, teenager who died as the result of blunt force trauma to the head sustained during a recent football game. Reports indicate the teen suffered a brain injury during a head-to-head hit that occurred just before half time.
According to CBS 6 News, the athlete was treated on the sidelines, but collapsed and began to suffer seizures before being rushed by ambulance to a local hospital. Unfortunately, the young man died before medical assistance could be administered.
Athletic committees and school boards from across the commonwealth have adopted policies aimed at reducing the risks of accidents like this, but one of the best ways that has been found to prevent serious head trauma is educating athletes about what they can do to stay safe on the field, including:
- Wear Recommended Safety Gear– While football players are required to wear helmets, studies have shown some types of helmets offer better protection than others. For sports like soccer and field hockey, headgears have been developed in recent years to offer athletes better protection from brain injury.
- Get Proper Training– Many football programs are now teaching a “heads up” hitting technique that’s aimed at reducing brain injury numbers among players.
- Report Your Injury– While many athletes are compelled to return to the field as soon as possible—with many not telling coaches or trainers about injuries they’ve suffered—this may not be wise. If you’re hurt during an athletic event, report your injury to team management as soon as possible.
At Lowell Stanley Injury Lawyers, we recognize the risks athletes face on the field and our team of Norfolk personal injury lawyers hope these tips help to keep you or your athlete safe.
by | September 22nd, 2014
The National Football League and several of its players have come under heavy public scrutiny in recent weeks over allegations of abuse and domestic violence occurring in players’ personal lives. The league has also settled a string of lawsuits several months ago, stemming from players claiming to have developed degenerative brain disease after suffering repeated blows to the head while playing football for the NFL. This has led some to question whether these players’ behavior off the field is directly related to a traumatic brain injury they suffered on the field.
Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy—or CTE—is a condition of the brain that can cause loss of brain mass. This can result in the victim developing changes in behavior, such as increased anger and aggression, as well as loss of patience with certain tasks.
NBC News reports the chairman of the department of neurosurgery at the NorthShore University HealthSystem and co-director of the NorthShore Neurological Institute, Dr. Julian Bailes, stated he recalled two particular cases where an athlete suffering from CTE became violent then harmed themselves and others.
While violent behavior and traumatic brain injury seem to be associated somehow, there are experts who maintain there is no direct link between the two. They suggest that blows to the head don’t cause a person to become violent. Instead, they believe repeated blows to the head cause the victim to become less inhibited, and therefore more likely to display aggressive behavior.
One of the most important things for victims of traumatic brain injury to remember is that there is help available. At Lowell Stanley Injury Lawyers, we have a team of Norfolk personal injury attorneys who can help you determine the best course of action for compensation if you’ve been seriously harmed by a head injury. To find out more about what we can do for you, call (757) 459-CASH today.
by | August 18th, 2014
Our knowledge about the dangers of repeat traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)—especially among athletes—has grown by leaps and bounds in recent years. This has led some of the leading bodies of today’s largest sports organizations to take action to better protect athletes from TBIs.
One of those major changes came when the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) announced a settlement with a group of athletes who had brought suit against the organization. The athletes claimed the NCAA had failed to protect athletes from repeat TBIs.
An article from WOWKTV 13 News stated 10 athletes claimed they had suffered long-term health effects brought on by repeat TBIs suffered on the field. They claimed trainers didn’t take enough precautions before sending them back onto the field. In fact, data indicates more than half of all NCAA trainers were found to engage in the illegal practice, putting players’ health at risk.
As part of the settlement:
- $75 million will be allocated to monitoring injured players’ health and researching TBIs.
- The NCAA will create a blanket policy for returning to the field players who have suffered a suspected TBI.
- Athletes can sue individually for damages related to their injuries.
At Lowell Stanley Injury Lawyers, our Norfolk personal injury attorneys are aware of how a TBI can affect a victim for their rest of their life and are hopeful the new policy will be effective in better protecting college athletes from TBIs.
by | July 7th, 2014
Millions of music fans around the world enjoy the driving guitars and deliberate drumming of heavy metal—a genre of rock and roll that became prominent in the 1970s. They show their appreciation for the music by whipping their heads up and down to the beat in a practice that has become known as “headbanging.” What these fans may not realize though, is that going through this motion may cause a serious brain injury.
The LA Times has released an article that tells the story of a 50-year-old fan of the band Motorhead, who was headbanging so hard at a concert the band put on in January 2013 that he caused his brain to bleed. The medical team who treated the victim released their findings in a recent publication of a medical journal, stating the patient had no history of substance abuse or prior brain injury but had been “headbanging regularly for years.”
The victim stated that after attending the concert, he suffered constant and worsening headaches that drove him to seek medical attention. Upon testing, medical staff determined the victim had suffered bleeding of the brain caused by his brain hitting his skull repeatedly while headbanging.
The Norfolk personal injury lawyers with Lowell “The Hammer” Stanley say the incident highlights the need to always keep safety at the forefront of the mind, especially when attending concerts.
by | June 30th, 2014
Each day, more light is shed on the long-term effects suffering a traumatic brain injury (TBI) in the line of duty may have on soldiers and veterans. This trend is continuing with the discovery that a TBI may lead to an increased risk of veterans suffering from the degenerative brain disease known as Alzheimer’s over time.
An article released by USA Today explains the study was conducted by researchers from University of California-San Francisco and the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, and examined the records of more than 188,000 service members. The findings that were published in the journal Neurology showed 16 percent of soldiers and veterans who had suffered a TBI were later diagnosed with Dementia, the precursor to Alzheimer’s. Only ten percent of service members who had not suffered a head injury were diagnosed with Dementia or Alzheimer’s.
Many experts find this 60 percent difference in numbers astonishing. The team has conceded that there are numerous factors that lead to a patient’s diagnosis of Dementia or Alzheimer’s, but say the results show a need to further evaluate the correlation between TBIs and other neurological conditions.
The Norfolk personal injury lawyers with Lowell “The Hammer” Stanley see the devastating results of TBIs all too often and are hopeful this research can be used to better protect soldiers and civilians from these injuries and their dangers.
by | March 3rd, 2014
March 3, 2014
Brain injuries are a health condition that affect as many as 1.7 million Americans each year. To help educate the public about the problems brain injuries can pose, the Brain Injury Association of America has declared March Brain Injury Awareness Month.
The Norfolk Brain Injury Lawyers with Lowell “The Hammer” Stanley say one of the most common questions they receive is what are the most typical causes of brain injuries today. The team points to data collected by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that listed the following contributing factors as the most common causes of brain injury today:
- Falls– Accounting for 35. 2 percent of all brain injuries, falls were the leading cause of such head trauma today. Falls accounted for more than half of the injuries sustained by young children and the elderly.
- Motor Vehicle Traffic Crashes- A total of 17.3 percent of reported brain injuries were sustained in collisions. These incidents also accounted for the largest number of brain injury-related fatalities, with 31.8 percent.
- Struck By/Against Events– These accidents accounted for 16.5 percent of all brain injuries and include incidents that occur while playing sports.
- Assault- Roughly 10 percent of brain injuries are caused by the violent act of another person.
Lowell “The Hammer” Stanley and his team of Norfolk Personal Injury Lawyers recognize the dangers posed by brain injuries and ask citizens to be aware of these risks as well.
