Norfolk Brain Injury Lawyer

Brain Injury Education Becomes A Priority In Virginia

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.

New Regulations Could Make Getting Veterans’ Disability Benefits Easier

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.