Kentucky Brain Injury Lawyers

Consequences of Brain Injuries

Brain injuries have far-reaching and varied repercussions because the brain is the body’s primary source of control. People commonly experience issues with long or short-term memory, depending on the location and severity of the injury. A brain injury can also affect muscle control and coordination ranging from difficulty writing to being unable to perform essential bodily functions such as swallowing or coughing. Behavioral and personality changes are also commonly observed due to changes in the brain structure in areas controlling hormones or major emotions. Headaches and pain can also occur as a result of a brain injury either directly from the damage or due to neurological conditions stemming from the injury.

If you or a loved one has suffered a brain injury in Kentucky because of someone else’s negligence, carelessness, or intentional actions, Hare, Wynn, Newell & Newton, LLP would like to hear about your case. We are here to help. We believe that you shouldn’t have to deal with the consequences of someone else’s negligence on your own. Our team of experienced Kentucky brain injury attorneys is prepared to help you fight for the fair compensation that you are owed.

Types of Brain Injury Cases We Handle

There are two main types of brain injuries: traumatic and non-traumatic.

Traumatic Brain Injury

A traumatic brain injury is caused by an external force. A post-traumatic brain injury is the alteration of the neurological function by the traumatic event. According to the Brain Injury Alliance of Kentucky, 35% of traumatic brain injuries are caused by falls, 17% by motor accidents, 16% by collisions, and 10% by assaults.

• Concussion – A concussion is the most common type of brain trauma, and direct impact to the head can cause it, gunshot wounds, violent shaking of the head (very common in children), or force from a whiplash type injury. A concussion occurs when the brain receives trauma from an impact or a sudden momentum or movement change. The effects of a concussion include getting “knocked out” as well as short-term and long-term memory loss, headaches, and sleep loss. Furthermore, a concussion can be life-threatening both in children as well as adults.
• Penetrating – A penetrating injury occurs when a sharp object enters the brain, causing significant damage.
• Coup-contrecoup – A coup-contrecoup injury occurs when the force impacting the head is not only strong enough to create a contusion at the site of impact but also able to move the brain and cause it to displace rapidly into the opposite side of the skull, causing an additional wound.
• Diffuse axonal -Diffuse axonal injury is caused by shearing forces on the brain leading to lesions in the white matter tracts of the brain.[1] These shearing forces are often evident in cases where the brain had a sharp rotational acceleration and is caused by the difference in density between white matter and grey matter.

Common causes of traumatic brain injuries include:

• Auto accidents
• Sports-related injuries
• Assaults
• Slips, trips, or falls
• Workplace accidents

The treatment for emergency traumatic brain injuries focuses on assuring the person has enough oxygen from the brain blood supply, and on maintaining healthy blood pressure to avoid further trauma to the head or neck.

The victim may need surgery to remove clotted blood or repair skull fractures, for which cutting a hole in the skull may be necessary. Medicines used for traumatic injuries are diuretics, anti-seizure or coma-inducing drugs. Diuretics reduce the fluid in tissues lowering the pressure on the brain. In the first week after a traumatic brain injury, a person may have a risk of seizures, which anti-seizure drugs help prevent. Coma-inducing drugs may be used during surgery to reduce impairments and restore blood flow.

Non-Traumatic Brain Injury

Non-traumatic brain injuries are those caused ‘from the inside’ as opposed to the external factors seen in traumatic brain injuries. Generally, these are caused by disturbances in the blood flow to or in the brain, or by infections.

• Anoxic brain injury – This occurs when the human brain receives no oxygen via the blood. Cells in the brain begin to die due to anoxia.
• Hypoxic brain injury – This happens when the brain receives insufficient oxygen. A hypoxic brain injury, also called stagnant hypoxia, is caused by a reduction in blood flow or low blood pressure leading to a lack of blood flow to the brain.

Common causes of non-traumatic brain injuries include:

• Medical errors
• Exposure to toxic chemicals
• Viral infections

Unfortunately, prevention and safety are the only ways to prevent brain injuries. If you’ve suffered a TBI or non-traumatic brain injury due to someone else’s reckless or negligent actions, you could be eligible for compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and punitive damages for the lasting impact this injury may have on your life and the lives of your family members.

Brain Injury Statistics

As per the 2018 Brain Injury Fact Sheet developed by the Brain Injury Alliance of Kentucky:

• Over 15,000 people visited Kentucky hospitals with a traumatic brain injury (TBI).
• An average of 41 TBIs occurred per day.
• Of the 15,000 injured parties, 11,673 were treated and released from an emergency department, 3,522 were hospitalized and 1,034 lost their lives.
• 2,346 TBIs occurred among children ages 0 to 14 years old.
• Falls accounted for over twice as many TBIs as motor vehicle traffic accidents.
• There are an estimated 202,488 to 214,032 Kentucky residents living with a head injury, which accounts for nearly 5 to 5.3 percent of Kentucky’s population.

Seasoned Legal Help for Brain Injury Victims

When brain injuries are caused by the negligence of a careless driver, doctors, product manufacturer, or another party, victims may have the right to pursue compensation for their medical bills, lost wages and earning capacity, and other damages in connection with the injury. At Hare, Wynn, Newell & Newton, LLP, our team of personal injury attorneys works tirelessly to secure maximum compensation for our clients. We have been recognized nationally for our track record of exceptional results and a long history of serving people with integrity and skill; our firm is prepared to do what it takes to protect your rights and help you get your life back.

Hare, Wynn, Newell & Newton, LLP serves clients across the nation from our Kentucky office. Call us today at (859) 550-2900 to learn more how we can help you. We are standing by to listen to your story and get you the compensation and justice that you deserve.