Hawaii Injury Lawyer Blog

Gabrielle Giffords public struggle to recover from a brain injury has inspired many, including others afflicted with traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) striving to put their “brain and body” back together after such an injury. As reported in an article about Gabrielle Giffords' brain injury, the congresswoman provides a well-known example of someone coping with the daily effects of a significant brain trauma. Unfortunately, Giffords is not alone in her battle to recover. In the United States alone, more than 1.5 million people suffer brain injuries each year.

TBIs can occur in a variety of manners, and are generally the result of a sudden jolt and blunt force to the head. Although they can occur as the result of a gunshot or aneurysm, they more occur much more commonly as the result of car accident or sports injury. If you believe you or a loved one has suffered a TBI as the result of another’s conduct, it is important to consult with a brain injury attorney to determine your next steps. Often, the extent of a TBI isn’t known at the time of an incident but is discovered much later. As described in the article, one car accident survivor recalled being in a car accident that “didn’t hurt the car but took me down.” She noted that she didn’t worry about her head at first, but then felt as if she “had developed the most massive case of ADD (attention deficit disorder). I could only focus on one tiny thing at a time. You have to learn in different ways.”

Another car accident victim detailed in the article suffered a massive TBI at age 19 and was sent into a coma for three and a half months. Now 40 and living in a skilled nursing facility, his condition has significantly improved to where “he can make himself understood.” However, even after extensive visits to hospitals, convalescent facilities and rehab programs, the man is not back the way he was.

Many war veterans also receive TBIs from explosions, often living with the resulting dizziness, mood changes and disorientation for a lifetime.

Continue reading "Gabrielle Giffords Recovery Inspires Others Suffering From Traumatic Brain Injuries" »

According to the New York Times, several techniques have been identified that are helpful to treat those who are suffering cognitive delays as the result of traumatic brain injuries (TBI). Although some of the TBI treatment methods were developed in response to help troops from Afghanistan and Iraq who have suffered head injuries, these techniques can be of aid to anyone who has suffered a debilitating TBI. TBIs are caused when excessive forces are applied to the head resulting in damage to the tissues of the brain. Statistics reveal that nearly 1.7 million American civilians suffer TBIs each year, often resulting from car accidents, sports accidents and construction accidents.

Symptoms of TBIs include:

• Confusion
• Headaches
• Dizziness
• Short-term memory loss
• Cognitive impairment

If you believe you or a loved one has suffered a traumatic brain injury as the result of an accident, an experienced Hawaii traumatic brain injury attorney can help. Where a TBI occurs as the result of the carelessness or recklessness of another, it may be possible to recover compensation for your injuries.

A report completed by the Institute of Medicine at the request of the Defense Department determined that certain methods – such as the use of special diaries to improve memory – helped those injured regain cognitive function. However, overall the lack of a sufficient evidence base made it difficult to support the development of specific therapeutic guidelines.

Continue reading "Studies Show Traumatic Brain Injury Techniques Helpful, But Require Additional Research" »

KHON2 News reports that the violent collision this past weekend during a football game has brought to light the dangers of concussions and other brain injuries resulting from accidents. The incident occurred Friday night after a Damien Memorial School quarterback, Alan Mohika, and another player crashed head-to-head into each other. Although Mohika initially appeared okay, he subsequently lost consciousness and stopped breathing. According to Honolulu news, Mohika remains in the hospital, recovering from the brain injury.

Traumatic brain injuries have gotten a lot of attention lately as awareness has increased about both the subtlety of symptoms related to TBIs – making them more difficult to diagnose – and the long term complications. TBIs not only occur in sports accidents, but also are common results of car accidents, Shaken Baby Syndrome, or violence.

Many times, the fact that a concussion or TBI has occurred is unclear because symptoms may not appear immediately or may not be recognized. As stated in the article citing a local trauma expert, TBIs are really a “time critical injury…[t]he clock is ticking and the longer one waits to recognize it and treat it the worse the outcome can be.” Symptoms include mood swings, impaired memory, difficulty concentrating, dizziness and headaches. Long-term effects may also include difficulty with cognitive function and managing daily life. In certain cases, a person may be so impaired as to need full time care.

Continue reading "Football Game Collision Highlights Increased Concern About Long Term Risks From Hawaii Traumatic Brain Injuries " »

A recent brain injury study reports that within three months of sustaining a traumatic brain injury (TBI), an individual’s risk of stroke may increase by 10.

TBIs typically result from blunt force trauma to the head – often associated with car accidents, birth trauma, war injuries, and recently receiving significant attention, sports’ injuries. The number of people affected by TBIs is alarming – in the U.S. about one in 53 people suffers a TBI each year – and many times the condition goes undetected and untreated. TBI injuries are characterized by short-term memory loss, confusion, personality changes, decreased motor functioning, dizziness and even an inability to perform the tasks of daily living.

In many cases, a brain injury could have been prevented and may be the result of the carelessness or recklessness of another. In those instances it may be possible to recover compensation to pay for damages suffered.

The current study reports that not only do individuals harmed face cognitive and motor delays, but that the risk of stroke increases 10-fold within the first 3 years post injury. The risk diminishes with time, but still remains 2.3 times greater for patients who had suffered a TBI after 5 years than those who had not.

Continue reading "Traumatic Brain Injury Linked With Increased Risk Of Stroke" »

This past week, 75 former NFL players sued the National Football League in Los Angeles Superior Court claiming that for 90 years the league knew about the risks of game-related concussions and that the NFL concealed brain injury risks from coaches, trainers, players and the public. The players also named helmet manufacturer Riddell as a defendant. According to the lawsuit, as early as the 1920s the NFL was aware of the harmful effects of traumatic brain injuries such as concussions on a player’s brain, but failed to adequately warn or prevent these risks.

Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are caused when excessive forces are applied to the head that result in damage to the brain. TBIs can occur as the result of a variety of types of accidents but are common results of sports accidents, car accidents, violence or Shaken Baby Syndrome. Effects of TBIs may include short-term memory loss, compromised cognitive functioning and in some cases, an inability to manage the activities of daily living. Where a TBI is the result of another’s negligence or wrongful conduct, a victim may be entitled to compensation.

Here, as well as allegations that the NFL knew as early as the 1920s about the effects of TBIs, the lawsuit also claims that the NFL commissioned a brain injury study in 1994 entitled “NFL Committee on Mild Traumatic Brain Injury.” But, according to the lawsuit it wasn’t until June 2010 that the NFL acknowledged that concussions could lead to dementia, memory loss, dizziness and other symptoms.

Continue reading "NFL Named In Brain Injury Law Suit " »

Researchers are looking at new ways to help those suffering from brain trauma, often the result of an automobile accident, a concussion, or for many soldiers, a bomb blast. One group of researchers in the Midwest is researching the use of microelectronic circuitry to assist the growth of axons for those suffering brain damage. The theory is that by re-wiring the brain and bypassing the region damaged by trauma, normal behavior and movement can be restored. Professors at Case Western Reserve University and Kansas University Medical Center believe that repeated communications between distant neurons in the week after an injury may “spark long-reaching axons to form and connect.”

The research was developed in response to the significant number of ground troops returning from Afghanistan and Iraq. However, the treatment could be used on anyone who suffers a brain injury including victims of car accidents, sports accidents or any type of personal injury. The results of a brain injury can be devastating to the victim and his or her family, often resulting in a impaired physical and cognitive development requiring a lifetime of care and rehabilitation.

The researchers explain that “The month following injury is a window of opportunity.”

Although research is at its incipient stage, this month they received a $1.44 million grant to continue work. If tests are successful, this approach may be available in patients 10 years from now.

Currently, few methods exist to help those who have sustained serious head and brain injuries. Hopefully this research will create new ways to help those suffering the potential devastating effects of TBIs.

Continue reading "Researchers Find Electronic Re-wiring May Help Those With Traumatic Brain Injuries " »

Cooling therapy – also known as therapeutic hypothermia – is becoming more widespread as a way to treat infants born with hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) or oxygen deprivation. In many birth trauma cases, infants are deprived oxygen due to delays in delivery. Where oxygen deprivation occurs, infants run the risk of developing permanent neurological conditions such as cerebral palsy.
According to NPR, about 10,000 babies in the United States develop cerebral palsy within the first few months of birth.

While there is no cure for cerebral palsy, increased attention is being paid to early intervention. Cooling therapy – lowering an infant’s body temperature by a couple of degrees – has been shown to decrease the impact of oxygen deprivation.
Cooling therapy works by inducing a mild form of hypothermia that reduces the brain’s need from oxygen and slows various processes that damage brain cells. After an infant’s body is cooled for a couple of days, it is then normalized. In many cases, the risk of developing cerebral palsy is significantly reduced and the severity of any brain injury lessened.

Cooling therapy has also been found to help victims of cardiac arrest by protecting the brain. Reuters reports that therapeutic hypothermia increases the chances of surviving a cardiac attacks with full brain function by more than half.

Continue reading "Cooling Therapy Decreases Risk Of Cerebral Palsy After Birth Trauma " »

Traumatic brain injuries (“TBIs”) – often the result of car accidents, birth trauma, or sports injuries - have been shown to lead to substantial physical and cognitive delays. Now – after studying and evaluating the long-term effects of sudden blows to the head – two scientists are proposing TBIs be reclassified as a “chronic disease” in order to be better managed and reimbursed by insurance companies.

The recent report indicates that brain trauma creates not only the previously well-known consequences such as headaches, dizziness, memory loss and loss of coordination, but has now been shown to “kick-off” a disease process associated with a higher risk of several chronic diseases including, but not limited to:

• Epilepsy
• Sleep Apnea
• Alzheimer’s
• Psychiatric problems
• ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease

In sum, the authors conclude TBIs deserve to be classified as “the beginning of an ongoing, perhaps lifelong process that impacts multiple organ systems and may be disease causative and accelerative.”

By changing the classification greater awareness may be brought to the problem of TBIs and accordingly, more funds dedicated both to educating health care workers about TBIs and rehabilitating victims.

Regardless of classification, the families and victims of TBIs understand the devastating impact even mild TBIs may have on an individual. Because the effects of TBIs may last a lifetime and require continuous medical attention, medical costs can be overwhelming. When someone else’s negligence or wrongful act causes the TBI, victims may be eligible to receive compensation.

Continue reading "Traumatic Brain Injuries – Should They Be Treated As A Disease?" »

Recently, renewed focus has been placed on the safety of playing football and the seriousness of repeated concussions and head injuries.

As reported in the Honolulu Star Advertiser, the growing concern of brain injuries and devastating long-term effects from concussions has many questioning whether to continue to play. Further, a recent report in The New York Times has indicated that no helmets can prevent concussions and criticized as misleading studies promoting particular brands as “safe.”

One of the main concerns concerning the safety of football is the prevalence of concussions and traumatic brain injuries (TBI’s).

For those suffering TBIs, the consequences may be severe. TBIs have been linked to both physical and cognitive impairment including nausea, memory loss, dizziness, speech difficult, headaches and lack of focus and concentration. Unfortunately, the symptoms of TBI may not be readily apparent – leading to delays in diagnosis and treatment.

Several sports related associations – including the Hawaii Athletic Trainers Association (HATA) and the NFL - are now emphasizing awareness, including early detection and issuing guidelines regarding when it’s safe to return to play.

Laws are pending or enacted in 22 states regarding concussions. Advocates believe a law is necessary to get everyone – from coaches to parents to participants - on the same page regarding brain injury management. Often coaches will encourage athletes to play after sustaining an injury before it’s safe to do so, potentially exacerbating the effects of a brain trauma.

Hopefully, with renewed emphasis on safety and awareness, we can minimize the potential for serious injuries when playing sports.

Continue reading "Renewed Concerns Regarding Football And Traumatic Brain Injuries" »