Brain Injury
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 | February 23rd, 2015
Whether you’ve suffered a brain injury or been hurt in a car accident, it’s likely that you will depend on calling 911 in order to receive emergency services. It’s important to remember though: 911 systems have flaws that could result in you not getting the care you need in a timely manner.
Typically, when a 911 call comes in, it is immediately traced in order to determine the location where the call was made. With cellphones and today’s technology though, this can be a difficult task because of cellphone towers. Sometimes, all of a caller’s information isn’t transferred to the dispatcher from the cell phone tower. In many more cases though, a call is sent to the nearest cellphone tower and then the nearest dispatch location. Unfortunately, sometimes the cellphone tower can pass along bad information about a caller’s location.
According to an article from 13 News Now, only around one-quarter of 911 calls in eastern Virginia come in with data about where a person is calling from. So what can you do to stay safe? The Norfolk personal injury attorneys with Lowell Stanley Injury Lawyers suggest:
- Stay vigilant– Being aware of your surroundings at all times and not engaging in risky behavior goes a long way in helping to keep you safe.
- Call 911 from a land line– Most location errors occur because of interruption in the transmitting of data to cellphone towers. You can eliminate these issues by calling from a wired phone.
- Be precise– If you call 911, explain your location in detail to the dispatcher. This can include zip codes, addresses, landmarks, etc.
We hope these tips help to keep you and your loved ones safe in the future.
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 | 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 | February 18th, 2014
February 17, 2014
The Norfolk Personal Injury Lawyers with the law firm of Lowell “The Hammer” Stanley know that when a person’s life is on the line as the result of an accident, rendering aide to the victim as soon as possible can mean the difference between life and death. That is why learning the skills that are necessary to saving a life is so important for all citizens to know.
Learning Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) is a basic skill that is necessary to reviving a person who has stopped breathing and whose heart has stopped beating. Being able to render this type of aide to an accident victim can prevent serious harm, such as Brain Injury from a lack of oxygen.
Those wishing to learn CPR can do so by participating in a course that being offered through the Adult Learning Center of Hampton Roads. Classes are also available through the Eastern Virginia Medical School, with the next training session being offered this coming Wednesday. During the 5-hour class, participants will learn how to perform CPR on both adults and children in accordance with guidelines provided by the American Heart Association. Students will also learn to use Automated External Defibrillators.
The attorneys with Lowell “The Hammer” Stanley recognize how vital these skills can be when put in a life or death situation. That is why the firm urges all who are available to attend one of these upcoming safety courses.
by | April 22nd, 2013
April 22, 2013
Data has long supported the idea that wearing a helmet when riding a motorcycle can drastically reduce the chances of injury or death in the event of an accident. Despite these numbers, more than 800,000 novelty helmets, which offer no protection during a collision, are distributed in the United States each year.
Motorcyclists sustaining serious Brain Injuries are often the result of wearing a novelty helmet when an accident occurs. An article from the Florida Center for Investigative Reporting discusses this risk and what is being done to solve the problem.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that as many as 754 people die each year when they are involved in motorcycle accidents while wearing novelty helmets. This high number leaves many wondering, why these items are still being sold if they offer no protection?
Selling the novelty helmets is legal as long as they make no misrepresentation as to their compliance with safety standards and regulations outlined by the Department of Transportation (DOT).
Others ask, why aren’t the helmets banned from use?
Law does ban the use of novelty helmets when riding on the highway; however, enforcement of this law can be difficult. In Virginia, for instance, it is illegal for law enforcement to utilize helmet checkpoints to catch those breaking the state’s helmet law.
The Norfolk Personal Injury Lawyers with Lowell “The Hammer” Stanley encourage motorcyclists to stay safe by always wearing a DOT-Approved helmet when riding.
by | February 25th, 2013
February 25, 2013
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there has been a 62 percent increase in the number of young athletes who suffered traumatic Brain Injuries over the past decade. This has brought heavy attention to the problem and prompted the state government to take action aimed at protecting athletes from harm.
NBC 29 News says Virginia enacted a law requiring coaches, athletes, and their parents to participate in a brain injury education seminar before hitting the field. The program is aimed at teaching individuals how to recognize the signs a brain injury has occurred and what action should be taken in the event an athlete is injured.
One trainer stated she has identified more than 30 such injuries in her school alone and say the most common symptoms include:
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Confusion
- Sensitivity to Light and/or Noise
- Disruption of Sleep Patterns
Knowing the signs of this particular type of injury is becoming ever more important, as research emerges showing the effects repeat injuries can have and just how long recovery can take. Experts say the average college student will need 10 days to recover from a brain injury, while a high school student could need up to a month.
The Norfolk Personal Injury Lawyers with Lowell “The Hammer” Stanley encourage citizens to become aware of both the dangers and symptoms associated with brain injuries.
by | January 29th, 2013
January 28, 2013
The Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) is considering enacting rules that would make it easier for service members who have certain conditions, such as Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI) or Parkinson’s disease, to receive benefits. An article from The Manistee News discussed the new regulation and the effects it could have on veterans and military personnel.
The new rule means that a veteran who can establish that he or she sustained a traumatic brain injury in the line of duty would no longer be responsible for proving the injury was the cause of a secondary illness such as Parkinson’s, depression, dementia, or certain hormone deficiencies. Even those with injuries that fall outside of certain guidelines could still see a significant bump in benefits from the new regulation.
As many as 179,000 veterans who have sustained TBIs during their time in the military since the year 2000 may be affected by the new regulation if it is adopted.
The public has until February 8 to comment on the legislation, at which point, it will either be removed from the agenda or advanced to be heard during a legislative session.
The Norfolk Personal Injury Lawyers with Lowell “The Hammer” Stanley recognize how complex veterans assistance programs can be and are hopeful the law will be beneficial to getting veterans the care that they need and deserve.
by admin@gotechark.com | February 2nd, 2010
January 28, 2010
Star Exponent shared a story that an 18-year-old girl is lucky to be able to tell.
The Virginia brain injury victim was involved in a serious auto accident last August 29, in which she was ejected from the car due to not wearing her seat belt.
The teenage girl suffered multiple injuries, including broken bones down the left side of her body and the Virginia brain injury.
The Virginia brain injury victim suffered a severe and uncommon injury in which her skull separated from her spinal column.
Read more
The brain injury attorneys at Lowell Stanley can help if you or a loved one suffered a Virginia brain injury.
