Friday, December 28, 2007

Mild Traumatic Brain Injury

One of the injuries that a number of the clients of our firm experiences is a mild traumatic brain injury. The National Center for Injury Prevention and Control estimates that there are approximately 1.5 million traumatic brain injuries in the United States each year. Although most persons recover fully, approximately 33% have persistent cognitive problems and as many as 10% to 20% have long lasting disabling symptoms (the Miserable Minority).

Because the patient may appear outwardly normal, one cannot "see" the injury, thus the problem confronting most injured persons and their physicians is how to prove that the patient has sustained a brain injury. Traditionally, such a diagnosis is made by the treating physician in a clinical setting and by the interpretation of neuropsychological test results by a neuropsychologist.

And, because brain injury occurs on a microscopic level, traditional imaging techniques such as MRI (Magnetic Brain Imaging) and CT (Computed Tomography) lack the resolution to visualize the damage. MRIs and CTs only show structural abnormalities of the brain such as tumors, hematomas, penetrating wounds, etc. MRIs and CTs do not tell you whether a brain is functioning. An MRI or CT scan of a corpse will likely show no abnormality although there is no brain function.

If you or a family member have been injured as a result of someone else's negligence, or have questions about social security benifits or workers' compensation, contact Colorado attorney Joe Kiel at Kiel, Trueax and Gold, LLC. Joe is an experienced Colorado Personal Injury attorney who will work hard to recover your losses. Contact him at (303) 694-2666 or through the email form below. Your first consultation is free.

Traumatic Brian Injury Information

A Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is caused by sudden physical damage to the brain (not including injuries that are hereditary, congenital, or degenerative). This type of injury can be manifested by, but not limited to, loss of consciousness, memory loss, or a change of mental state at the time of the accident (feeling dazed or confused).

The damage to the brain may be caused by the head forcefully hitting an object such as a windshield or the dashboard of a car, or by something passing through the skull and piercing the brain. A closed head injury is another type of TBI caused by the brain unexpectedly moving forward or backward, shaking or twisting.

Common symptoms of Traumatic Brain Injury in adults are low grade head/neck pain, problems with memory and/or concentration and simple decision making, slowness in speaking, increase in confusion, loss of energy, changes in sleep patterns, vertigo, increased sensitivity to sounds, blurred vision, and mood changes to name a few.

The physical, financial and emotional costs suffered by survivors of a TBI are often devastating. The problem is compounded by the fact that people with TBI often look outwardly fit and healthy despite severe disabilities.

If you or a family member have been injured as a result of someone else's negligence, or have questions about social security benifits or workers' compensation, contact Colorado attorney Joe Kiel at Kiel, Trueax and Gold, LLC. Joe is an experienced Colorado Personal Injury attorney who will work hard to recover your losses. Contact him at (303) 694-2666 or through the email form below. Your first consultation is free.

Meet Colorado Brain Injury Attorney Joe Kiel

Joe Kiel, the firm's senior partner, is a former United States Department of Justice prosecutor. Both as a prosecutor and as an attorney in private practice, Mr. Kiel has tried dozens of cases in front of juries. Mr. Kiel has represented many brain-injured clients and persons with other very serious injuries. He devotes countless hours to learning "the medicine" of his cases so that he can effectively present his clients' injuries to juries. He is well-respected in both the legal and medical communities in Colorado.