When physicians refer to traumatic brain injury, or TBI, they mean a closed head brain injury from an impact to the head or “diffuse axonal shearing” from a rotational acceleration and deceleration, the rotational movement of the head and brain resulting in a sliding of brain layers. Cavitaton can also commonly result in traumatic brain injury, the formation of microscopic bubbles from the rapid movement of the brain, which then can burst, causing brain damage as the brain moves back into place.

For TBI lawyers all traumatic brain injury is serious, and this is certainly true for those who suffer traumatic brain injury. However, medical doctors commonly characterize TBI as mild, moderate and severe, not to diminish the seriousness of “mild” TBI but to have a diagnostic framework with commonly understood terms.

In order to appreciate the distinctions made by the medical profession, the definitions of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) are instructive. According to NINDS: “A person with a mild TBI may remain conscious or may experience a loss of consciousness for a few seconds or minutes. Other symptoms of mild TBI include headache, confusion, lightheadedness, dizziness, blurred vision or tired eyes, ringing in the ears, bad taste in the mouth, fatigue or lethargy, a change in sleep patterns, behavioral or mood changes, and trouble with memory, concentration, attention, or thinking.”

There are differing definitions of mild traumatic brain injury as the medical profession characterizes it. For example, the Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Committee, Head Injury Interdisciplinary Special Interest Group of the American Congress of Rehabilitative Medicine, states: “A patient with mild traumatic brain injury is a person who has had a traumatically induced physiological disruption of brain function, as manifest by at least one of the following: (1) any period of loss of consciousness; (2) any loss of memory for events immediately before or after the accident; (3) focal neurological deficits that may or may not be transient, but where the severity the injury does not exceed the following: (a) post traumatic amnesia not greater than 24 hours; (b) after thirty minutes, an initial Glasgow Coma Scale of 13 to 15, or (c) loss of consciousness of approximately 30 minutes or less.”

For the person who suffers TBI, and for the traumatic brain injury lawyers who represent them, it must be appreciated that “mild” TBI isn’t “mild,” but can be a life changing event resulting in both physical symptoms and personality changes. The physical symptoms commonly include nausea, headaches, dizziness, sleep disturbance, fatigue and blurred vision. Cognitive changes can include difficulties in memory and speech as well as with attention and concentration. Behavioral changes can range from irritability or disinhibition to the opposite, emotional lability. Those who suffer mild TBI will often seem “different” to family and friends, and his relationship with those close to him may also suffer.

From the TBI lawyer’s perspective, as we see explain in the article “TBI Lawyers Identification Presentation of Damages in Traumatic Brain Injury Cases”, the initial difficulty is in demonstrating the existence of the “mild” brain injury that his client has suffered, a proof problem which is complicated by the fact that most mild TB will not be diagnosed. Emergency room doctors may be so rushed that they won’t make the diagnosis and general practitioners commonly lack the necessary training to recognize the symptoms.

The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke categorizes moderate and severe TBI as follows: “A person with a moderate or severe TBI may show these same symptoms, but may also have a headache that gets worse or does not go away, repeated vomiting or nausea, convulsions or seizures, an inability to awaken from sleep, dilation of one or both pupils of the eyes, slurred speech, weakness or numbness in the extremities, loss of coordination, and increased confusion, restlessness, or agitation.”

Those who are categorized as suffering moderate and severe TBI may have sustained a hemorrhage or concussion and more enduring loss of consciousness. Those who sustain skull fractures are more likely to be diagnosed with moderate or severe TBI. Those who suffer coma would with certainty be categorized as having suffered severe traumatic brain injury, but coma isn’t essential to the diagnosis of severe TBI.

Often CT, MRI scans and other diagnostic technology of the brain can be used to identifying brain swelling, edema, or contusion, substantiating more serious brain injury. Skull x-rays and EEG studies are also useful in making the diagnosis of moderate or severe TBI. In addition to the Glasgow Coma Scale referred to above, the Rancho Los Amigos Cognitive Scale is commonly used to evaluate function as well as the rehabilitation of the patient with traumatic brain injury.

Finally, neuropsychological evaluation can be highly useful in TBI diagnosis. It doesn’t depend upon a standardized scale. Rather it recognizes the individuality of the particular patient, evaluating his physical, mental and personality changes from before the incident which resulted in his traumatic brain injury.

Both medical doctors and the traumatic brain injury lawyers have at hand all these tools available to them to recognize the qualities of the brain injury their clients and patients have suffered. It is in the application of these tools, recognizing that all TBI is serious, that the injured individual is best served.

Raymond L. Henke, Principle trial attorney with the California Accident Lawyers Paralysis and Brain Injury Group

Triplegia is a condition which causes a person to be unable to feel or control an entire side of his or her body as well as another of the person’s arms or legs. This paralysis of three extremities is often caused by an accident such as an auto or motorcycle accident or violent acts such as gunshot wounds.

Other terms of paralysis include paraplegia, the paralysis of a person’s lower body and legs; quadriplegia, the paralysis of a person’s body from the neck down; and monoplegia, the paralysis of just one arm or leg. Injuries that completely sever the spinal cord and those that damage some of the nervous tissue in the spinal cord are common causes of triplegia and other levels of paralysis such as paraplegia and quadriplegia.

Other terms used by doctors to describe conditions involving paralysis, include spastic diplegia in which the degree of disability can vary between the arms and legs with the legs often being more affected than the arms; spastic hemiplegia, where one side is affected of a person’s body but the arm or leg is more severely affected; and spastic quadriplegia, where both legs and both arms are affected.

Triplegia is a devastating condition, as is paraplegia and quadriplegia. Most victims of the condition require medical attention for the rest of their lives. If you or a loved one suffers from any type of paralysis, it is important to retain an attorney who is familiar with such conditions and who can maximize the recovery for a person’s future.

There is hope that some day, medical research, such as that currently being pursued with stem cell replacement, will also provide a form of treatment, if not a cure. Any attorney who has represented persons suffering from some level of paralysis hopes such advances in medical research come quickly.

If you believe there is the possibility that your triplegia, or that of a loved one, is due to the actions of another person or entity, we would encourage you to contact the Law Offices of California Truck Accidents, Southern California Triplegia Attorney for an analysis of your case. If your condition was caused by the negligence of another, you may be entitled to your medical costs and future medical treatment, loss of past, present and future income, and money for your pain and suffering

Sebastian Gibson is a practicing personal injury attorney represents clients throughout Southern California Lawyer from his main offices in Rancho Mirage, California representing California Auto Accident Lawyers, California Personal Injury Lawyers

The spinal cord is the lifeline of the body that controls movement and sensation in the upper and lower segments of a person’s form. It contains nerve cells, muscle tissue and nerve fibers that connect to the brain.

The level of disability caused by an injury to the spinal cord varies depending upon the severity of the injury and the level of the spinal cord at which the injury occurs. A severely injured spinal cord causing paralysis to any part or parts of the body can cause a client to require millions of dollars in future lifetime needs.

Clients with severe spinal cord injuries such as the actor Christopher Reeve, may see their clients also suffer pneumonia, blood clots, bed sores, urinary infections, nutritional depletion, venous thrombosis, pulmonary complications, renal failure, kidney failure, autonomic dysreflexia, severe pain and other associated problems. Such clients will need physical therapy, psychological therapy, and very expensive medical care the rest of their lives.

The vast majority of injuries to the spinal cord come as a result of automobile, motorcycle and truck accidents, none of which can be foreseen, but many of which can be avoided. Others come as a result of avoidable workplace injuries, falls, or sporting injuries, or as a result of intentional violent acts.

One good way for an attorney to understand and explain the amount and types of care required by a client suffering from a severe spinal cord injury is to spend 24 hours with the client. By experiencing (and filming) a day in the life of such a person, the lawyer, and a jury, can be able to understand, at least in part, the care such a patient requires and the effect it has on the person’s family and those who care for him or her.

If you believe there is the possibility that your spinal cord injury, or the injury of a loved one, is due to the actions of another person or entity, we would encourage you to contact the Law Offices of California Wrongful Death Attorneys, Southern California Spinal Cord Injury for an analysis of your case. If your condition was caused by the negligence of another, you may be entitled to your medical costs and future medical treatment, loss of past, present and future income, and money for your pain and suffering.

Author Bio
Sebastian Gibson is a practicing personal injury attorney represents clients throughout Southern California Lawyer from his main offices in Rancho Mirage, California
representing California Business Litigation, California Civil Litigation

As with paraplegia, quadriplegia can be the result of a number of causes, but is most commonly the result of a traumatic
injury to the spinal cord, such as that caused by an auto or motorcycle accident.In fact, motor vehicle accidents are the cause of
fifty-five percent of quadriplegic injuries. Sports injuries are the second most common cause (about twenty-five percent) and falls account for another
fifteen percent.Violence such as gunshot wounds are another common cause of quadriplegia.

A person suffering quadriplegia has paralysis not just in the upper or lower extremities (his or her legs or arms) but rather
suffers paralysis from the neck down. Also referred to as tetraplegia, quadriplegia patients have a loss of sensation and control of their upper and lower
body as a result of damage to the spinal cord at the cervical or thoracic regions.

Besides the paralysis of the body, quadriplegia can also affect other bodily functions, and can also cause a person to have difficulty
breathing without assistance. It also often leads to a shorter life expectancy.

While there are treatment methods available to treat the symptoms of quadriplegia, sadly, less than one percent of quadriplegic
patients recover from their paralysis. Surgery indeed may even be necessary just to stabilize the patient’s condition or to assist with breathing and other
rehabilitation programs can also be utilized for support, and stabilization.

Quadriplegia is a devastating condition, as is paraplegia.Most victims of the condition require medical attention for the rest of their lives. If you or a loved one suffers from any
type of paralysis, it is important to retain an attorney who is familiar with such conditions and who can maximize the recovery for a person’s future.
There is hope that some day, medical research, such as that currently being pursued with stem cell replacement, will also provide a
form of treatment, if not a cure. Any attorney who has represented persons suffering from some level of paralysis hopes such advances in
medical research come quickly.

If you believe there is the possibility that your quadriplegia, or that of a loved one, is due to the actions of another person
or entity, we would encourage you to contact the Law Offices of California Personal Injury Lawyers,
California Wrongful Death Attorneys for an analysis of your case.If
your condition was caused by the negligence of another, you may be entitled to your medical costs and future medical treatment, loss of past, present
and future income, and money for your pain and suffering.

Author Bio
Sebastian Gibson is a practicing personal injury attorney who represents clients throughout Southern California Lawyer from his main offices in Rancho Mirage, California
representing California Personal Injury Lawyers,
California Wrongful Death Attorneys.

Paraplegia is the loss of movement of the lower part of the body, essentially from the waist down. While quadriplegia is the loss of movement of a person’s arms and legs and essentially, the loss of control of muscles from the neck down, paraplegia is still the result of major damage to a person’s spine.

Paraplegia is also paralysis.However it is paralysis of the lower body.In addition, when one has suffered paraplegia, they may also incur injuries to other parts of their bodies, especially when the cause of the paraplegia is a car accident, work injury, violence, sporting injury or as the result of a fall.

Often paraplegia results as a consequence of someone’s negligence.That negligence may be the negligence of another driver, a co-worker, the manufacturer of a dangerous product or machinery.Even where negligence isn’t necessarily involved, paraplegia can be the result of working in a dangerous situation, such as on a fishing vessel that by virtue of its condition is deemed to be the cause of the injury under the Jones Act.

Paraplegic injuries are normally due to an injury to the spinal cord and what is often referred to as an orthopedic injury.Such injuries often occur in connection with horrific auto or motorcycle accidents, bicycle or truck accidents, bus, pedestrian and airplane accidents and even in unexpected situations such as a slip and fall that can have unforeseen consequences.

Paraplegia also often causes additional symptoms such as the loss of bladder control, loss of sexual function, back spasms and a shortened life expectancy. The financial and emotional toll on a person suffering from paraplegia can also cause severe emotional trauma.

If you believe there is the possibility that your paraplegia, or that of a loved one, is due to the actions / negligence of another person or entity, we would encourage you to contact the Law Offices of your California Personal Injury Lawyers, Southern California Paraplegia Attorney for an analysis of your case. If your condition was caused by the negligence of another, you may be entitled to your medical costs and future medical treatment, loss of past, present and future income, and money for your pain and suffering

Sebastian Gibson is a practicing personal injury attorney represents clients throughout Southern California Lawyer from his main offices in Rancho Mirage, California representing California Motorcycle Accidents, California Truck Accident

An Auto or Motorcycle Accident can cause paralysis, which is the result that occurs when the brain or spinal cord is disconnected with the body. The resultant loss of muscle function for one or more muscle groups makes it impossible to control the muscles that move that part of the body. This type of accident occurs far too often in California and in other states.
There are different levels of paralysis according to their severity. A paraplegic can no longer move his legs either partially or completely. The quadriplegic has lost the ability to move his legs and arms either partially or completely.
Common causes of paralysis, not just in California, include trauma, such as a motor vehicle accident, as well as stroke, spinal cord injury, and birth defects. Paralysis can even be caused by botulism. Spinal cord injuries in California and throughout the U.S. have affected millions of people. They can be caused not only by vehicle accidents, but also by falls, playing sports and by violence.
Paralysis can occur not only in connection with horrific auto or motorcycle accidents, bicycle or truck accidents, bus, pedestrian and airplane accidents, but even in unexpected situations such as a slip and fall that can have unforseen consequences.
When damage occurs at some point to the chain of nerve cells that run from the brain to muscle groups in the body through the spinal canal, paralysis can result. It is the loss of ability to control muscle movements that signifies paralysis.
Paralysis can be permanent in nature, or temporary, partial or complete, generalized, or localized. A person can have the side of their face paralyzed due to damage or inflamation of a facial nerve. Persons who have suffered strokes can exhibit weakness simply on one side of their body or throughout.
Paralysis is a life changing condition that places tremendous financial, emotional and physical demands on the person suffering with this condition and on those around them. The financial and emotional strain on those who suffer paralysis can itself be life threatening.
The ability to recover depends in part on the amount of damage that has been caused to the nervous system. There is hope that some day, medical research, such as that currently being pursued with stem cell replacement, will also provide a form of treatment, if not a cure. Any attorney who has represented persons suffering from paralysis hopes such advances in medical research come quickly.
If you believe there is the possibility that your paralysis, or that of a loved one, is due to the actions of another person or entity, we would encourage you to contact the Law Offices of California Auto Accident Lawyer, Southern California Paralysis Attorney

Sebastian Gibson a practicing personal injury attorney representing clients throughout Southern California Lawyer from his main offices in Rancho Mirage, California Truck Accidents, California Personal Injury Lawyers

Like snowflakes, or so they say, every brain is different. Brain injuries have just as many variations. Brain injuries can be severe or mild, permanent or temporary, immediate or arise some time after a trauma. Persons with brain injuries may not realize that they have them or may shrug off the damage that can be caused by a concussion, a blow from a trauma or accident, or even from the heat.

Head and brain injuries have multiple causes, and varying lengths of time are needed to recover from them. Since it may take a brain damaged person to recognize another, we at the Law Offices of R. Sebastian Gibson like to think of ourselves as moderately brain damaged as well.

Head injuries, if not diagnosed, can lead to severe complications and may result in death. Common symptoms of head and brain injuries include both the inability to sleep as well as increased tiredness and longer periods of sleep, blurred vision, nausea, memory loss, lightheadedness, dizziness, ringing in the ears, lethargy, mood changes, loss of concentration, vomiting and vertigo. Other symptoms, in severe cases can include convulsions, seizures loss of coordination and slurred speech.

Brain injuries are also commonly referred to as Traumatic Brain Injuries, recognizing the fact that many brain injuries are the result of a trauma or an accident in which the head or brain receives an impact, such as during an auto accident. The brain, however, does not need to actually be struck in order to suffer damage. A severe whipping action of the head such as occurs as one vehicle strikes another, can cause the brain in the head to be injured and swell, causing brain damage.

As many as half of the persons who suffer severe head injuries may require surgery to repair ruptured blood vessels or bruised brain tissue. Unrepaired, they can affect not only memory and confusion but also sensory problems such as a person’s taste and smell and his or her ability to communicate and remain in good mental health. It is unfortunate that many times behavior problems such as aggression or other personality changes resulting from brain damage go untreated or mistreated.

If you believe there is the possibility that you have suffered brain damage, and that it is due to the actions of another person or entity, contact California Head Injury Lawyer, Southern California Brain Injury Attorney for an analysis of your case. If your condition was caused by the negligence of another, you may be entitled to your medical costs and future medical treatment, loss of past, present and future income, and money for your pain and suffering.

Sebastian Gibson is a practicing personal injury attorney represents clients throughout Southern California Lawyer from his main offices in Rancho Mirage, California representing California Motorcycle Accidents, California Civil Litigation.