At the Jacksonville, Florida, law office of Howard G. Butler Esq. PA, we represent injured people throughout north and central Florida, including people in Atlantic Beach, Orange Park, Yulee, Callahan, Starke, Palatka, Orlando, Daytona Beach, Gainesville, Melbourne, Tampa, Tallahassee, Lake City, St. Augustine, Miami, Ponte Vedra Beach, Panama City, Duval County, Clay County, Baker County, St. Johns County, Nassau County, Volusia County, Flagler County, Alachua County, Orange County, Columbia County, Bay County, and people injured on I-95, I-10, I-75, I-4 Us-1, Phillips Highway, A1A, Butler Blvd., Beach Blvd. and Atlantic Ave. 2011 by The Butler Law Group, all rights reserved. |
TBI INFORMATION
More Information about Traumatic Brain Injuries
Even a mild to moderate brain injury can dramatically affect a person's ability to return
to a normal life. Depending on the location, type and severity of the injury there may be
significant physical and/or behavioral effects. A closed head injury of this type can
affect a person's ability to work, learn, interact and handle simple or complex tasks.
Severe Traumatic Brain Injury can result in a lifetime of care costing many millions of
dollars.
Depending on the severity and location of the brain injury, the effects of the damage
can range from a minor annoyance to serious and life threatening. Proving a traumatic
brain injury (sometimes called a "closed head injury"or "penetrating head injury") is
complex and usually takes a very skilled attorney and the support of experienced
medical experts to obtain proper compensation for the victim. There may be overt signs
of the injury such as loss of speech or motor skills, but there may also be only subtle
changes in personality or some minor memory loss. If you or a loved one has suffered a
brain injury, it is critical that you speak with a lawyer with prior experience proving
brain injury damages.
Functions of the Brain
The brain operates as central control of the human body. It is often described as a
bundle of nervous system material floating in a protective sea of cerebrospinal fluid.
This fluid acts as a shock absorber that dampens movement of the brain when a person
is jolted. All of this fluid is encased inside of the human skull, which acts as a
protective shell. The problem with the human skull is that the outside is smooth, but the
inside is rough and boney. In many types of accidents it is the rough, boney structures
inside the skull that can injure the brain when a person is struck, jolted or suffers a
severe impact.
The brain is a sensory processor. This means that the brain controls thought, smell,
sight, memory and touch. In addition, the brain controls vital bodily functions such as
walking, talking, breathing and heart rate. This is why brain injuries can be so serious
because the victim suffers damage to their ability to control crucial mental and physical
functions.
The brain is divided into these parts:
•· Cerebrum - the largest section of the brain; parts of the cerebrum are related to the
control of cognitive abilities, memory, motor function, learning and speech
•· Cerebellum - part of the hindbrain that coordinates voluntary and involuntary muscle
movements
•· Brain stem - the lower extension of the brain that acts as a relay station between
incoming stimulus and the rest of the brain
•· Diencephalon - made up of the thalamus, which relays sensory stimuli, and
hypothalamus, which controls appetite, body temperature, water balance, pituitary
secretions, emotions and sleep cycles
Classification of Brain Injuries
Traumatic brain injuries are generally classified in three stages, mild, moderate and
severe, based on the injured person's Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) number. The GCS
assigns a point value based on particular responses given by the injured person when
they are given a series of tests. The majority of brain injuries are classified as "mild." A
mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI) is a traumatically induced physiological disruption of
brain function as shown by any loss of consciousness lasting approximately 30 minutes
or less; any memory loss for events immediately before or after the incident, but not
lasting more than 24 hours; any alteration in mental state at the time of the accident
such as confusion or feeling disoriented; or any focal neurological deficit that may or
may not be transient. The Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Committee of the Brain Injury
Interdisciplinary Special Interest Group of the American Congress of Rehabilitation
Medicine developed this definition of MTBI.
Brain injuries can generally be classified by their cause. There are injuries caused by
contact and those that are not caused by contact. A contact traumatic brain injury
causes damage to the brain as a result of an external force to the head. A contact
traumatic brain injury can be a penetrating injury or a closed head injury, and result in
brain swelling, bruising of the brain tissue or nerve shearing. If the head is moving at
the time of the contact, a contrecoup injury, in which the brain damage occurs on the
side opposite the point of impact, occurs as a result of the brain slamming into that
side of the skull. There can be a severe injury to the brain even if there is not any
external evidence of damage. Contact traumatic brain injuries may be caused by:
•· Sports mishaps
•· Work-related accidents
•· Slip and fall accidents
•· Car, truck and motorcycle accidents
•· Violence or assault
Contact is not necessary to cause a brain injury. A person does not need to hit his or her
head or be rendered unconscious to have a brain injury. Brain injuries happen
frequently when a person has suffered from a non-contact injury such as whiplash.
*It is important to note that traumatic brain injury is different from anoxic brain injury,
in which the brain is deprived of oxygen. Keep in mind traumatic brain injury results in
bruising or swelling of the brain; this is not an anoxic brain injury which results in brain
cells dying because of oxygen deprivation caused by stroke, heart attack, suffocation or
near drowning or choking. While causation is different in an anoxic brain injury there
are still legal remedies depending on the circumstances of the injury such as law
enforcement choking techniques or premise liability issues that result in the near
drowning of small children.
The Effects of a Head Injury
The effects of a brain injury largely depend on the severity of the injury and the location
of the affected part of the brain. Some symptoms of a TBI include bleeding from the
head, confusion, loss of consciousness, lowered pulse and/or breathing rate and
drainage of clear fluid from the nose or ears. Symptoms of a concussion include loss of
consciousness, dizziness, confusion, memory loss, vomiting, numbness, shock and
anxiety. All head injuries have the potential to be serious. Some common conditions of
a traumatic brain injury include: concussion, coma, skull fracture, brain contusion,
epidural hematoma, subdural hematoma and brain herniation.
Diagnosing and Treating a Brain Injury
A permanent brain injury may be difficult to recognize and prove. It is important to a
have an experienced lawyer advocate by your side in order to prove the long term effect
this type of injury can have on a victims' life. Many of the associated changes in a
person's behavior or personality can be subtle. The earlier a brain injury is diagnosed,
the earlier a person can begin a treatment program. The following diagnostic tools are
used to determine the extent and nature of a brain injury.
•· MRI
•· CT Scan
•· PET Scan
•· EEG
•· Psychological and functional tests
Treatment and therapy will depend upon the extent and nature of the injury. For
example, a person may need physical and occupational rehabilitation to condition
muscles and relearn life skills. Generally, the earlier treatment begins, the better.
When the actions of another caused a serious brain injury to you or a family member,
you should speak to us immediately to know how to protect your rights. We will do what
it takes to make sure your story will be heard. To discuss your options, contact us to
schedule a free initial consultation.
- Jacksonville Office
Butler Law Group
1506 Prudential Drive
Jacksonville FL 32207
Ph: 888-651-5544
Fax: 904-398-3000
Email | Jacksonville Office
Orlando Office
The Plaza (North Tower)
121 South Orange Avenue
Suite 1150
Orlando, Florida 32801
Ph: 888-651-5544
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