Helping Florida Brain Injury Victims

While there’s nothing that can undo the damage done , you do have rights under the law if you or a loved one suffers a brain injury caused by the negligence or wrongdoing of another person or company. An experienced lawyer at Steinger, Greene & Feiner can helpyou pursue rightful compensation.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that an estimated 2.8 million traumatic brain injuries occur annually,making it a serious public health matter in the United States. Brain injuries are responsible for about one-third of all deaths in the U.S.caused by injury, and the total costs in terms of medical bills and lost income exceed $76 billion.If you or one of your family members has sustained a brain injury, you know it can be pervasive and affect all aspects of life. You understand the expenses associated with treatment, the ongoing care that is necessary and the dramatic change in cognitive function, mood and personality that can occur. In a worst-case scenario, you understand the grief that comes when a loved one dies.

CAUSES OF HEAD TRAUMA

are especially likely to cause damage to the brain. For example:

• Caregiver.org reports that 28 percent are caused by motor vehicle accidents.
• The Mayo Clinic reports that falls are the most common cause of TBI, especially among kids and the elderly.
• The Mayo Clinic also indicates that 10 percent result from violence, and especially firearm injuries or assaults.

Other primary causes include sports accidents and recreational accidents such as on an ATV or injury while on a playground.

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SYMPTOMS AND CONSEQUENCES

Brain injuries can cause cognitive, physical and emotional impairments. Some of the common symptoms include:

• Coma
• Inability to wake up
• Loss of memory
• Problems with concentration
• Difficulty communicating
• Confusion or a feeling of being disoriented
• Impaired thought and judgment
• Seizures
• Vomiting
• Nausea
• Dizziness or lightheadedness
• Ringing in the ears
• Muscle spasms
• Double vision
• Blindness
• Difficulty smelling
• Slurred speech or other speech issues
• Sensitivity to sound or light
• Headaches
• Numbness in the extremities
• Fatigue
• Depression or anxiety
• Changes in mood or an inability to control your mood
• Problems controlling impulses
• Acute brain injury
• Acquired brain injury

These symptoms can be temporary, intermittent or permanent. A brain injury victim may also need to learn basic tasks, may need to undergo extensive rehabilitation therapy, and may die as a result.

What Is an Anoxic Brain Injury?

When we think of brain injuries, we usually think about someone getting hit in the head really hard. But there are other ways a person could suffer from brain damage. One way is through a lack of oxygen, or what’s medically called hypoxia. This is called an anoxic brain injury. There are four types of anoxic brain injury, and they can be caused by any number of reasons. Regardless of the reason, however, without oxygen, the brain begins to die after four minutes.

1. Anemic Anoxia

First is anemic anoxia, which is caused by the blood not being able to carry enough oxygen to the brain. This is often caused by lung diseases that don’t get enough oxygen in the blood. Anemic anoxia can also be caused by chronic anemia, carbon monoxide poisoning, and acute hemorrhaging.

2. Toxic Anoxia

As the name suggests, toxic anoxia is caused by toxins in the body that prevent oxygen in the blood from being used properly. This can also be caused by carbon monoxide poisoning, as well as illegal drug use and chemicals used in industrial workplaces.

3. Stagnant Anoxia

Third, stagnant anoxia, also called hypoxicischemic injury, is caused by an internal problem that blocks enough  oxygen-rich blood from reaching the brain. These types of brain injuries are often caused by issues like strokes, cardiac arrest, and cardiac arrhythmia.

4. Anoxic Anoxia

Finally, anoxic anoxia is caused by a lack of enough oxygen in the air. Carbon monoxide poisoning can lead to anoxic anoxia, as can being at high altitudes. Drowning can also lead to anoxic anoxia. Without enough oxygen in the air, both a person’s body and brain suffocates.

Any kind of brain injury should be considered very serious. If you’ve suffered an anoxic brain injury, and it was caused by someone else, such as because of medical malpractice, you have legal rights.

An acute brain injury or acute treatment of a traumatic brain injury is aimed at minimizing secondary injury and life support. Usually an acute brain injury is a much more significant type of brain injury and so in those cases you’re looking at mechanical ventilation to help breathing and to keep pressure down in someone’s head, devices to monitor brain activity, medication to sedate an individually. It’s a much more significant type of traumatic brain injury.

A LAWYER CAN PINPOINT NEGLIGENCE

If someone causes a brain injury as a result of negligent actions or wrongdoing, the individual or company can be responsible for compensating the victim and family members for all of the health issues that result. For example:

• A driver who speeds or violates safety laws can be held accountable for brain injury caused in a car accident.
• A store owner who neglected slippery floors leading to a slip-and-fall can be responsible for damages.
• A nursing home that failed to properly supervise a patient and that allowed the patient to fall can be responsible.

In these and other situations, it will be necessary to determine if a violation of safety laws or a person’s lack of care and irresponsibility was the direct cause. If so, the company or person who was irresponsible or who broke the law will need to pay for medical bills and costs, lost income, pain and suffering, emotional distress damages, or wrongful death damages. A lawyer can help you assess whether someone was to blame for causing the injury.

CAN A TBI LAWYER HELP ME?

A TBI lawyer can help you pursue a claim for compensation after a brain injury. Steinger, Greene & Feiner has recovered millions of dollars in judgments and settlements for injured Florida victims. While every case is different, our track record shows you can trust us with your brain injury claim. Contact us at one of our offices in Miami, West Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Port St. Lucie, Fort Myers, Orlando, Okeechobee to speak with a member of our legal team and learn more.

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