Articles on Brain Injury
by David L. Goldin, J.D., M.B.A.

Silent Epidemic

What do Steve Young, Troy Aikman, Stan Humphries, Eric Lindros, Pat LaFontain, Dale Ernhardt, Jr., and George Clooney all have in common?

All have suffered a traumatic brain injury or concussion. Any concussion is a brain injury, a short paralysis of the brain, although many do not realize that. With the exception of George Clooney, all of these football, hockey and NASCAR stars were wearing state-of-the-art helmets when they sustained their brain injuries.

(Complete Article)

"Mild" Brain Injury Litigation: Making the Invisible Visible

This article deals with how a lawyer handles brain injury litigation, especially those cases in which injuries are characterized as "mild."

The paradox of an apparently minor trauma causing major injuries and damages must be explained. To accomplish this in a courtroom, it is of utmost importance that credibility of the client, attorney and medical team be established. Without credibility, the reality of the brain injuries will not be believed by those who need to be influenced in the litigation, namely, the opposing party and its insurance company, the judge, and ultimately, the jury.

(Complete Article)

What is "Mild" Brain Injury?

"Mild" or "minor" brain injury can be a tragic misnomer because these injuries often cause lifelong disabilities. Typically, the diagnosis of mild brain injury is given where there is trauma to the brain, but the trauma results in only brief unconsciousness, or none at all, and the brain injuries do not show up on imaging studies such as an MRI or CT scan. The condition is sometimes called "post-concussion syndrome or disorder" or "post-traumatic syndrome," with the latter term including those cases where there is no concussion. Various statistics estimate that two million people suffer traumatic brain injury each year in the United States of whom 400,000 are hospitalized. Tragically, while most of those suffering "mild" traumatic brain injury recover, there is a "miserable minority" who suffer lifelong consequences, sometimes involving profound disability.

(Complete Article)

Recovery of Damages for Traumatic Injury to 
the Miraculous Brain

The healthy brain is a miracle. It controls everything we do. The 100 billion or so nerve cells in the three pounds of flesh we call the brain direct all of our thoughts, feelings, movements, vision, hearing and memories. Injuries to the brain, even "mild" injury, change who we are as a person. See "What is "Mild" Brain Injury?" Our brains are what make us human.

Recovery, however, from brain injury, is not a miraculous process. Rehabilitation, to the extent possible, requires hard work and multi-disciplinary approaches which may involve the fields of neurology, neuropsychology, psychiatry, behavioral medicine, orthopaedics, family medicine, pediatrics, physical medicine and rehabilitation, vocational rehabilitation, speech and hearing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, education therapy, social work, case management and life care planning. 

In those circumstances where brain injury is due to someone else’s carelessness, whether from an accident, malpractice, product defect, or otherwise, it is most important to involve an experienced and caring lawyer at an early date. Recovery of fair compensation from those responsible for the harm may be necessary for rehabilitation and support of the survivor for the rest of his or her life. If the survivor has died, early retention of an attorney is important to establish fault and preserve the evidence.

(Complete Article)

How to Interview and Retain a Lawyer for the Brain Injury Case

Retaining your lawyer may be the single most important decision for brain injury survivors and their families. When a person becomes brain injured, the entire family suffers with injuries which can be financially, medically and socially devastating. In those cases where others are at fault in causing your brain injuries, it is most  important the family retain effective legal representation. A competent and caring lawyer is necessary for you and your family to receive reasonable financial compensation for the harm. Fair compensation, in turn, offers the best possible chance for recovery and adjustment on a long-term basis.

(Complete Article)

Links to 
Related Sites

News Summaries

Brains of Stroke Patients Retrained
Football Concussions Not Properly Appreciated
Internet Headache Test Effective
Brain Development in 4-D
Stroke Damage May Be Reversible
Stroke Warnings Ignored By Primary Care Physicians
Brain Trauma Linked to Alzheimer's
New Drug May Halt Brain Damage After Head Injury
Moral Behavior Traced to Specific Brain Area
Molecular Treatment To Relieve Chronic Pain
Human Neurons Establish Connections in Rats with Severe Spinal Cord Injuries
Protein Helps Injured Nerve Cells Regenerate
President Reagan's Death Renews Search for Alzheimer Cure
Damage to Left Side of Brain Raises Infection Risk
Brain Area Responsible for Compulsion to Clutter
Teens and Brain Power
Estrogen Boosts Memory in Men With Prostate Cancer
Use of Anti-Inflammatory Steroids for TBI May Increase Risk of Death (January '05)
Reliable Measure of Neurobehavioral Function During Coma from Severe Brain Injury (March '05)
Researchers Pinpoint Circuit in the Brain Responsible for Encoding Decision-Making (May '05)
Blood Test Gives Early Warning of Brain Injury (November, 2005)
Pure Brain Stem Cells Cultured in Lab by British Scientists (August, 2005)
Chilling Newborns May Prevent Brain Damage (October, 2005)
Caffeine Can Improve Short Term Memory (December, 2005)
Improving Brain Cell Survival After Brain Injury (July, 2006)
Brains “God Spot” Hard to Pin Down (August, 2006)
Exercise Keeps the Brain Fit (August, 2006)
Drugs May Quickly Lift Depression (August, 2006)
Gene Map of Mouse Brain May Provide Human Benefits (September, 2006)
Progesterone Shows Promise as Treatment for Brain Injuries (October, 2006)
Brain Injury Association Partnership with Bob Woodruff (February, 2007)

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