Traumatic Brain Injury is a Chronic Disease, Say Researchers | Los Angeles Brain Injury Attorneys

Traumatic brain injury should be reclassified as a chronic disease, according to researchers at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston (reports the Eureka Alert news source).  Currently, traumatic brain injury (TBI) is viewed and treated as a singular event by numerous health care providers and insurance companies.  In a recent study, however, the researchers found that brain trauma is consistently associated with lifelong conditions that negatively affect the quality of life and life expectancy.  The Galveston researchers examined 25 years of research on brain injury and its effects on cognitive functions, motor skills, and the central nervous system.  One of the authors explains how the U.S. health care system tends to view TBI as a “one-time injury that heals the way a broken bone does,” despite the fact that TBI “fits the World Health Organization’s definition of a chronic disease.”  In order to ensure that traumatic brain injury patients receive necessary medical care, the authors explain, TBI must become recognized as what it is– a chronic disease.  The researchers add that defining traumatic brain injury as the “beginning of an ongoing process” that can cause additional diseases or disorders may help fund and direct future research on the disease process following TBI.

Whether you or your family member has just sustained a California traumatic brain injury or has been suffering from the long-term effects of TBI for some time, you may be able to file a legal claim for compensation so you can worry about getting better rather than how to pay for costly medical expenses.  Keep in mind, however, that many cases cannot be filed after a specified amount of time after the initial injury occured, so it is important to pursue legal advice right away.  If you would like free advice, answers to questions, or resources related to your specific case of traumatic brain injury, feel free to contact Los Angeles brain injury lawyers Steinberg & Spencer online or by phone at 800-350-8888.

August 31, 2010  Tags: , , , , ,   Posted in: Brain Injury News & Medical Research  No Comments

Over $3.1 Million Awarded in CA Brain Injury Case From Morphine Overdose at Nursing Home

A California woman has been awarded $3.1 million in connection with the brain damage she suffered when given a morphine overdose at a Santa Ana nursing home, according to the Orange County Register.  The online news source reports that Long Beach resident Barbara Lefforge, 57, was at the facility only 5 and one-half hours when the overdose took place.  She was reportedly at the St. Edna nursing home to “recuperate from tendon repair surgery,” and the podiatrist had accidentally 50 mg of morphine to alleviate pain rather than 50 mg of Demerol.  Although the podiatrist was found ten percent responsible for Lefforge’s resulting brain damage, St. Edna was found ninety percent responsible because its staff should have caught the mistake, especially since the pharmacist had warned that the recommended dosage was too high.  Proving just how dangerous a high dosage of morphine can be, the nurses were unable to retrieve the full dose immediately and only gave Lefforge 30 mg of the pain medicine, which still caused serious brain damage.  St. Edna staff failed to monitor or take the patient to the hospital the day of the overdose, causing more serious damage, according to Lefforge’s attorney.  Lefforge was awarded punitive damages in addition to the $3.1 million for medical expenses and pain and suffering.

Among the more common types of California and Los Angeles brain injury lawsuits are cases of nursing home negligence.  If you or a loved one has suffered brain damage as a result of nursing home negligence in California, contact Los Angeles brain injury lawyers Steinberg & Spencer for free resources and answers to your pressing questions.  To speak to Steinberg & Spencer about how you may receive compensation in your case, contact them online or call (toll-free) 800-350-8888.

August 30, 2010  Tags: , , , , , ,   Posted in: Incidents of Traumatic Brain Injury  No Comments

Los Angeles Football Player Suffers Permanent Brain Injury, Lawsuit Filed Against Helmet Manufacturer

A brain injury lawsuit was filed late this month in connection with the permanent and catastrophic brain damage suffered by a Garey High School high school football player due to a defective helmet, according to the Salient News website.  Edward Acuna, now 18, suffered a permanent brain injury during a 2009 football game when he was hit in the front of his helmet.  The suit argues that Acuna’s brain hemorrhaging, left subdural hematoma, and severe mental, physical, and nervous system damage resulted from the poor design of the Riddell Sports Inc. football helmet.  Though Riddell manufactures the “official helmet of the NFL,” the helmets have a “known and defective” design, specifically to the pad on the front of the helmet.  According to the lawsuit, litigation goes back 10 years regarding the dangers and risks of Riddell’s helmet design, and the manufacturer has known about the defects for at least that long.  The attorneys claim that Riddell failed to inspect the helmet, perform proper safety tests on it, and take action to remedy the known problems with available low-cost, alternative designs.

In regards to the teen’s permanent disability, partial paralysis, and requirement for long-term care and treatment, the lawsuit is seeking damages against Riddell for product liability and punitive damages.  The suit not only claims that Riddell was negligent for the careless manufacture, design, and distribution of helmets, but also that the helmet makers failed to warn of the helmet’s potential dangers and risks.

When California brain injuries result from another party’s negligence, whether in a car accident, from medical malpractice, or due to a defective product, a Los Angeles brain injury claim may be possible.  For free resources and answers to questions concerning your unique brain injury case, contact Los Angeles brain injury attorneys Steinberg & Spencer online or toll-free at 800-350-8888.

August 29, 2010  Tags: , , , , , ,   Posted in: Incidents of Traumatic Brain Injury, Sports & TBI  No Comments

Anoxic Brain Injury Victim Wins $2.85 Million Settlement for Taser Incident | Los Angeles Brain Injury Lawyers

A 49-year-old man from California has won a $2.85 million settlement against Taser International in connection with his anoxic brain injury from being shocked with a Taser, according to the Mercury News website.  This is the first time the stun-gun company has settled a case of product liability, and the makers do not consider themselves liable for the man’s brain injury, despite agreeing to settle.  In the shocking incident, a police officer attempted to subdue Steven Butler with a Taser X-26 electronic control device when Butler refused to get off a Watsonville bus.  Butler was shocked in the incident and went into cardiac arrest, unable to breathe until medical personnel were able to resuscitate him (which took 18 minutes).  Going for such a long period of time without breathing led to Butler’s anoxic brain injury, and though it has been four years since the incident, Butler still suffers brain damage and has lost his short-term memory.  The California anoxic brain injury victim has suffered a partial loss of motor skills and a complete loss of mobility, and he requires care at all times.

When anoxic brain injury, traumatic brain injury, or other forms of brain damage occur in California as the result of another party’s negligence, a brain injury claim may be filed.  When California or Los Angeles brain injuries result from defective products, product liability claims may be pursued so the injured may receive financial compensation for damages.  If you would like more information about product liability or how to pay for costly medical bills and other expenses after a California brain injury, contact Los Angeles brain injury lawyers Steinberg & Spencer for free resources and answers to your pressing questions.  To discuss your unique situation and obtain free advice at no obligation to you, contact Steinberg & Spencer online or toll-free at 800-350-8888.

August 28, 2010  Tags: , , , , , ,   Posted in: Incidents of Traumatic Brain Injury  No Comments

Dirt Bike Accident Sends California Teen Into Surgery | Los Angeles Brain Injury Lawyers

A California teen is making progress after suffering a brain injury in a motorized dirt bike accident several weeks ago, according to the Lawyers & Settlements news website.  The German teenager, currently living in California, required brain surgery and slipped into a drug-induced coma after crashing his bike into a column made of brick and concrete in Santa Cruz.  According to the news source, many weeks of rehabilitation (combined with surgery) have aided in the surprising recovery of Konstantin Thiess, 15, despite the fact that he was not wearing a helmet at the time of the dirt bike accident.  Thankfully, the teen has progressed enough to step back onto his high school’s basketball court, hoping to “grow from the experience.”

As Los Angeles brain injury attorneys, Steinberg & Spencer hope for the complete recovery of this California teenager, and they are thankful that he seems to have made significant progress.  Brain injuries from sports and biking accidents can be serious and even life-threatening, and Steinberg & Spencer devote a large part of their practice to helping young brain injury victims obtain necessary medical treatment and payment for injury-related expenses.  If you or your child has suffered a brain injury in a Los Angeles biking accident or sports accident in which another party was at fault or negligent, feel free to contact Steinberg & Spencer for free answers to questions, resources, and help obtaining the medical attention required to recover.  Contact Steinberg & Spencer in their confidential online form or call 800-350-8888.

August 26, 2010  Tags: , , , , , ,   Posted in: Incidents of Traumatic Brain Injury, Pedestrian, Bicycle, & Motorcycle Accidents & TBI, Sports & TBI  No Comments

California School Sports Safety & Brain Injuries: New Standards for Metal Bats

The debate over metal baseball bats, which we discussed in a blog post in April, has brought about a response in the state of California:  although metal bats have not been banned, new safety standards have been set for all bats, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.  When 16-year-old pitcher Gunnar Sandberg suffered a life-threatening traumatic brain injury after being struck by a line drive this past March, a bill was proposed that would temporarily ban metal bats in school sports.  Although the bill is being abandoned, the standards of the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) require metal bats to perform like wooden bats and prohibit anyone from tampering with non-wooden bats to enhance performance.  The CIF is also committed to encouraging coaches and infielders to wear protective helmets or headgear this coming school year.

Why are the safety measures needed? According to numerous studies, metal bats send baseballs flying about 4 mph faster than wooden bats do, potentially increasing the severity of brain injuries.  Gunnar Sandberg knows all too well the potentially devastating impacts of metal bats:  he was in a medically induced coma for approximately three weeks after being struck by a baseball traveling around 100 mph.  Although Sandberg is headed back to school after spending months in speech, occupational, and physical therapy, he admits that he’s still experiencing memory problems.

Child brain injuries and California traumatic brain injuries from sports can become extremely complex, especially when proper safety measures are not taken on the playing field.  If you have a question about traumatic brain injury in Los Angeles or another part of California, feel free to contact brain injury lawyers Steinberg & Spencer for free answers to all your pressing questions.  Whether you would like helpful resources, need help obtaining the proper medical care for your child, or have other concerns, they will consult with you for free regarding your unique case.

To speak confidentially to Steinberg & Spencer about your California brain injury concern, contact them online or by phone (toll-free) at 800-350-8888.

August 25, 2010  Tags: , , , , , ,   Posted in: Children & TBI, Sports & TBI  No Comments

California Bounce Houses May Pose Risk of Brain Damage Through Lead Exposure

Bounce houses in California may have lead amounts up to 70 times greater than the amount federal law allows, according to the KPHO news source.  The California Attorney General and the Center for Environmental Health filed lawsuits Wednesday, August 11, against certain companies that provide bounce houses to private rental companies and party rental businesses, in an effort to eliminate the dangerous and unnecessary exposure of children to high amounts of lead.  What exactly is the problem with lead exposure?  Specifically, lead can cause brain damage that can lead to behavioral and developmental problems in children.  Even low-level exposure can cause affected children to be hyperactive and inattentive, and further exposure may cause hearing loss and problems in educational development.  In extreme cases, lead exposure can cause permanent brain damage or even fatality.

When lead exposure causes brain injuries or brain damage that resulted from another party’s negligence in California, a California brain injury claim may be possible to compensate for pain and suffering, high medical costs, and other expenses.  For more information on lead poisoning or brain injury claims in Los Angeles and other parts of the state, contact Los Angeles brain injury lawyers Steinberg & Spencer.  They will answer your questions for free and provide you with the resources you need to move forward.  Contact Steinberg & Spencer online or toll-free at 800-350-8888.

August 13, 2010  Tags: , , , , , ,   Posted in: Children & TBI, Types of Brain Injury  No Comments

Long-Term Effects of Childhood Brain Injuries & Symptoms of Post-Concussion Syndrome

Several studies exist on the subject of traumatic brain injury (TBI) and the acute symptoms of TBI, but less research has been done on the long-term effects of childhood brain injuries.  According to Live Strong, however, one of the long-term effects of child traumatic brain injury that can occur is post-concussion syndrome (also called post-concussive syndrome).  When young victims of traumatic brain injury develop post-concussion syndrome, a number of cognitive, behavioral, and physical problems may become apparent (described below and adapted from the Live Strong site).

Cognitive Problems From Post-Concussion Syndrome

Among the cognitive effects of post-concussion syndrome are problems with memory, attention, and difficulty concentrating and thinking.  Although symptoms may not be apparent immediately, they often appear when the child reaches school-age.  While the brain-injury victim’s IQ may be normal, the child’s learning abilities, long-term memory, and judgment may have noticeable deficits.

Behavioral Problems From Post-Concussion Syndrome

Children suffering from post-concussion syndrome often display behavioral symptoms such as personality changes, depression or anxiety, and irritability.  Traumatic brain injury often affects the frontal cortex the most, affecting inhibition and the ability to keep emotions under control.  Some children with post-concussion syndrome may display a lack of interest in any pleasurable activity, as well.

Physical Problems From Post-Concussion Syndrome

Children suffering from post-concussion syndrome after traumatic brain injury may have problems with vision, suffer from chronic headaches, and have difficulty sleeping.

Since many fail to realize that traumatic brain injury may have serious long-term consequences, problems with coping arise when symptoms do become apparent.  If your child or another family member has suffered a traumatic brain injury in Los Angeles or another part of CA and you would like more information about post-concussion syndrome, how to obtain the best medical treatment, or how to pay for costly medical bills, contact Los Angeles brain injury lawyers Steinberg & Spencer.  Steinberg & Spencer will provide you with free resources and answers to your pressing questions at no obligation to you.  Contact Steinberg & Spencer online or call 800-350-8888.

August 13, 2010  Tags: , , , , ,   Posted in: Brain Injury News & Medical Research, Children & TBI, Symptoms of Traumatic Brain Injury  No Comments

Child Traumatic Brain Injury Prevention in Los Angeles & Other Parts of CA

Among the injuries seen most frequently in pediatric intensive care units are those from falls, bicycle accidents, near-drownings, auto accidents, and child abuse.  With each of these types of accidents posing the risk of traumatic brain injury, the need for child safety and injury prevention efforts is critical.  Included here are tips to keep in mind as children play, ride in motor vehicles, or explore their world in general.

  • Always require children to wear helmets and other safety equipment recommended for their activities, such as riding bikes, skating, or skateboarding.  Since children watch adults and tend to mimic their behavior, remember to put safety first in your own activities as well.
  • Use booster seats, car seats, or other age-appropriate safety restraints whenever your child will be riding in a motor vehicle.  Always strap your child securely in the car seat.
  • Do not leave toddlers or young children unattended, whether in public, at home, or elsewhere.  While bumps and bruises are normal for children, a serious bump or blow to the head can have life-altering consequences, especially if internal hemorrhaging occurs, which can result in brain damage.  What seems like even a minor fall from a low surface can result in serious head injuries, so it is important to ensure that children don’t climb or put themselves in a situation where they could fall.
  • Strap your baby or toddler into the stroller or high chair to prevent the child from getting in a position that poses the risk of falling or injury.

The above-listed tips do not guarantee that injuries will be prevented, but they are important to keep in mind as a starting point.  When serious head injuries or traumatic brain injuries do occur, a number of questions arise, including how to obtain the best medical treatment, how to pay for costly medical bills, and how to ensure that further brain damage is prevented.  For free resources and answers to your pressing questions about California head injuries or Los Angeles brain injuries, contact Los Angeles brain injury lawyers Steinberg & Spencer online or toll-free at 800-350-8888.

August 11, 2010  Tags: , , , , ,   Posted in: Children & TBI  No Comments

Former Flight Attendant Sues Airport for Traumatic Brain Injury Caused by Fall

A former flight attendant who suffered a traumatic brain injury in a slip and fall accident has filed a lawsuit against the Salt Lake City International Airport, the city government, and another party, according to The Salt Lake Tribune.  According to the suit, Natalie Maxwell was returning home from a flight in December 2008 and fell on a slick sidewalk when walking toward her car in one of the employee parking lots.  As a result, the third defendant named in the lawsuit is the company responsible for maintaining the parking lot.  The flight attendant’s traumatic brain injury has affected both her personal life and work, says the suit.

Any kind of brain injury can be serious, and a number of questions arise when traumatic brain injuries result from accidents that occur on another party’s property.  If a family member or loved one has suffered a California traumatic brain injury and you have questions regarding liability, how to obtain payment for medical bills and other expenses, or how to proceed after a devastating accident, feel free to contact Los Angeles brain injury attorneys Steinberg & Spencer.  Steinberg & Spencer will answer your questions for free and provide you with the resources you need in your particular situation.  800-350-8888.

August 10, 2010  Tags: , , , , ,   Posted in: Falls & TBI, Incidents of Traumatic Brain Injury  No Comments