No amount of brain damage is acceptable to head injury survivors and their families. Even so-called “mild” brain damage can turn lives upside down, cause problems with memory and brain function, and can result in loss of employment and severe financial hardship.

In many cases, there is no visible head injury; however, there can be serious brain damage to person or persons involved in an accident. Because of this,traumatic brain injuries, particularly those involving “closed head” impacts, will often go un-diagnosed in the emergency room and in other post-accident medical settings.

A person with a closed head injury may not even realize at first that they have been injured because a closed head traumatic brain injury often does not have obvious physical or mental signs.

Traumatic brain injuries may affect a person’s ability to concentrate and cause memory problems, depression, irritability, dizziness, nausea, hearing and/or eyesight problems. Brain injuries can change the way a person thinks, acts, feels, and moves their body. They can also change the complex internal functions of their body, such as regulating body temperature, blood pressure, and/or bowel and bladder control. These changes can be temporary or permanent.

​Some common causes of traumatic brain injures are:

• When an outside force impacts the head hard enough to cause the brain to move within the skull or if the force causes the skull to break and directly hurts the brain.
• A direct blow to the head can be great enough to injure the brain inside the skull. A direct force to the head can also break the skull and directly hurt the brain. This type of injury can occur from automobile accidents, firearms, slip and falls, sports, work related injuries, and assault and battery.
• A rapid acceleration and deceleration of the head can force the brain to move back and forth across the inside of the skull. The stress from the rapid movements pulls apart nerve fibers and causes damage to brain tissue. This type of injury often occurs as a result of automobile accidents and physical violence, such as Shaken Baby Syndrome.

Due to the nature of these injuries, it is important to seek proper medical treatment and legal advice immediately upon suspicion that you or a loved one has suffered a brain injury. There are certain tests that may establish whether a brain injury has occurred. Often the longer one waits to undergo these tests, the more difficult itis to establish and treat the injury.  If you think you suffer from a brain injury, please contact our attorneys at Collison, Ltd. at 312.906.7644 or use our online form for a free case evaluation.

Spinal Cord Injuries

A serious spinal cord injury can occur when there is a traumatic, sudden blow to the spine that results in compression, crushing, dislocation, or fracturing of the spine. The location and severity of the injury on the spine will determine the seriousness of the injury and the medical care required. Spinal cord injuries often result from an automobile accident, slip and fall, assault and battery, or work related injuries.

In 2007, the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center indicated that there were about 255,000 people with spinal cord injuries living in the United States. Approximately 12,000 new cases occur every year. A spinal injury can lead to loss of physical movement, loss of physical sensation, bowel management problems, urinary tract difficulties, bedsores, deep vein thrombosis, sexual dysfunction, paraplegia, quadriplegia, or other serious medical conditions.

The Importance of Medical Experts

The insurance companies and their attorneys will seek to minimize the extent of a brain injury or spine injury in order to limit how much money they have to pay. In court, these cases often hinge on highly technical testimony provided by expert medical witnesses. At Collison, Ltd., we have access to an outstanding group of brain and spinal cord injury
specialists, who can analyze and identify the true extent of an individual’s injury and loss. These experts can provide compelling testimony which details the injury to the victim and their family.

It is important that you contact an attorney immediately to determine what steps need to be taken to protect your legal rights. At Collison, Ltd., we will take immediate action to preserve evidence which may help protect you and your claim. If you believe that you or a loved one has suffered a brain or spinal injury, you should contact our attorneys at Collison, Ltd. at 312.906.7644 or visit our online form for a free case evaluation.