Ehline Law Blog about Brain Injury

Personal injury lawyer, Michael Ehline discusses TBI healing and the history of self-healing.

Learn here about TBI awareness month from a legit personal injury attorney, Michael Ehline.

#GOAT Matt Hughes was poorly hurt in a train crash. There is a suit in progress and, we are hopeful justice will be done.

It's not just government-protected school teachers anymore. Your kids and even you can be brainwashed into becoming good little mindless drones!

Energy drinks seem to have one more health concern being raised as science attempts to connect them to brain injuries.

Parents, caretakers, and teachers need to understand brain injuries in children, the red flags, and the steps to take.

Schematic of brain stem Damage to any part of the human brain can have severe effects on the future of the injured. Especially this is the case when the fragile brain stem is hurt. This vital piece of the brain is located where the spinal cord meets the rest of the brain. Importantly, it controls voluntary functions, such as fine motor control and facial muscles. The delicate brain stem also controls needed automatic functions, including a person's heartbeat, digestion, and breathing. Due to the stem's role as the main passage between the cerebral cortex and the body, injuries here are often debilitating and life-threatening. The composition of the Human Brain Stem and Damage Outcomes The brain stem is made up of several parts. These parts include the: Pons Medulla oblongata Midbrain Injuries to any of these areas can affect the rest of the body. Damage due to swelling or similar injury could lead to severe blood issues, including stroke or hemorrhaging. Also, it could cause long-term problems. These include issues with motor control, breathing, or even speaking. In other cases, such damage can cause severe shifts in personality or even loss of memory. Furthermore, brain stem damage can lead to fainting, coma, and in some cases paralysis. Some brain stem injury victims have been bedridden or in comas for the remainder of their lives. There are also long-term issues caused by such damage that can lead to sudden death. Trends in Treating Brain Stem Injuries Modern science has made strides to treat such injuries. But brain stem injuries remain decades away from active treatment. Common causes of such an injury include car and motorcycle accidents. There can also be similar injuries due to high falls and work accidents. These injuries can be especially severe and more likely for children. Brain stem injuries have also been the result of contact sports. These can include sports such as football. They can also arise from recreational activities like skateboarding and horseback riding. All Brain Injuries Carry Risk No matter what the cause, the effects are almost always severe. Most that suffer from brain stem injuries have extended periods of therapy and hospital care. Such specialized care remains expensive. And costs of care can bankrupt a family. Such injuries can also lead to unexpected deaths and add burden to the household. Those that suffer these accidents are often left out of work, and their family is unable to make up for their income. Speak to a Real Lawyer Now. Ehline Law's offices up and down the state stand ready to hear from you. Our lawyers accept calls and emails 24/7 and are available for a free, no-pressure consultation and to discuss your options. Our staff is happy to visit anywhere in California to discuss the case. We work on contingency. That means we don't ask for a penny unless we recover for you. Contact us for more information.

Human brain research and memory loss as a symbol of Alzheimer's concept with missing pieces of the puzzle Brain injuries are one of the most traumatic types of injuries that can happen to a person at any age. So in many cases, this is a life-altering kind of harm. They can be temporary or life-changing. Most of all, everyone in the family and the direct victims are casualties. Also, sometimes the brain injury is fatal. So this could be due to extenuating circumstances caused by the ailment. Studies have provided data that show how some of these injuries affect the victim over time. So injuries may reveal themselves later. Also, data shows that these people may have more overall complications than healthy subjects. Thus, these studies indicate that head injuries can slowly affect behavior over time. Study Data On U.S. Servicemembers Helpful data exists from one recent study were presented by the American Stroke Association. This information was provided at the International Stroke Conference. Most of all, researchers found evidence that U.S. combat soldiers may suffer more complications with traumatic brain injury (TBI.) Also, the second study in this area funded by the U.S. Army Medical Research and Material Command’s Telemedicine and Advanced Technology Research Center. Said study was released in February. The data from the first study showed that more than 40% of patients with TBIs have inter-cranial pressure. Also, it showed they suffer from Vasospasms. This condition holds whether a closed head injury or open head injury. The Army-funded study focused on treatment to help both military personnel and civilians. The designed was to help all who have traumatic brain injuries. Prison Study is Also Alarming The Howard League in Scotland urges jails to test prisoners for signs of brain injury. Basically, their study shows as much as half of the prison population has suffered brain trauma. So the league says that proper screening could pick up the injuries. Last, these are treated using drugs, thereby reducing the re-offender rate. Researchers have found that criminals may have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Hence, caused by a brain injury. So when treated with drugs like Ritalin, these criminals were between 32 and 41% less likely to re-offend. Thus, a spokesperson for the Howard League said they believe Scotland should become a test base. Because of this, crime has dropped to a 37 year low. But the rate of re-offending (offenders commit another crime within two years) has remained at 42%. Over the last few years, brain injuries suffered by professional football players have been an issue. Take the spring 2012 suicide death of Junior Seau. His family filed a wrongful death brain injury lawsuit against the National Football League (NFL). But they also went after a well-known helmet maker. Holding Large Entities Responsible for Sports Injuries So that lawsuit alleged the football league and helmet maker considered factors in the famous football player taking his life. Thus, the family believes that Seau’s suicide resulted from traumatic brain injury. This suicide occurred during his 20-year career in the NFL. TBI Injuries Affect Everyone Accidents resulting in head injuries and TBIs do not only affect soldiers and athletes. They happen in work-related accidents and motor vehicle accidents, with motorcyclists having the highest rate of head-related injuries. Many of these types of accidents find drivers to be the fault of another person or entity. So this means they were avoidable accidents that occurred due to negligence. If the person’s actions were different and they were not careless or reckless, the accident was not inevitable. A government agency or entity can also be at fault. This liability could come into play when its lack of maintenance causes an accident. Examples include potholes. Others include substantially changed conditions on public property. So all these are defects increase the risks to society in being hurt. These critical factors must be considered. Dangerous and Poor Product Designs and Head Injuries. A designer who has a terrible, poor design or defective product could be at fault. Thus, harmful products can result in head injuries and also be negligent. So this is because they could have manufactured a safer product. If any of these parties used a reasonable duty of care, the person would not always injure. Thus, he or she would not have sustained the life-changing traumatic brain injury. Brain injuries change lives with symptoms such as loss of memory. There can also behavioral changes. Other related ongoing symptoms remain that require medical treatment. Hence, in some cases, in-home nursing care needed. Also, sometimes it remains a temporary change. But other times it can mean life-long suffering. Also, the lives of others in the family change post head injury. But this is primarily because of the care and behavioral changes within the family member. Hence, the person who has suffered the head injuries often lashes out. Or the patient could be a vegetable. There may be an inability to work either temporarily or permanently. So this can be financially stressful for the family and the victim. Our understanding improved with every year. For further reading: https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2013/01/23/junior-seau-brain-injury-lawsuit/1858753/ https://www.scotsman.com/news/call-to-screen-prisoners-for-brain-injuries-1-2795977

Scorpions preserved. A Surprising Drink By Attorney Michael Ehline Scorpion venom would typically be the last thing anyone uses to help heal people. But that is precisely what is happening as we speak. In fact, scorpion venom's use in the treatment or detection of deadly forms of brain cancer shows promise. As a matter of fact, testing proves it helps spot cancer as an imaging assistant. It can even stop certain types of cancer. As a personal injury attorney, I would like to see a serum that can cure any brain injury. Science says some cancers happen due to genes. Other cancers come from out of the blue. Of particular interest here, certain different types of cancers arise from the negligence of others. Mesothelioma comes to mind as a negligently inflicted disease. But many occupational hazards cause cancers. What does this mean for suing plaintiffs? It says that they need to hire cutting-edge medical experts in significant mass tort cases and cases of toxic exposure. We know for example that workers can be exposed to lead, chlorine gas and a plethora of other poisonous substances. All are linked to cancer. Why are Experts Important? Experts employed by the better lawyers don't help victims. They work to disprove their client caused your cancer. On the other hand, you must deploy your experts. But how do you do that with no legal training? The answer is, you don't. Only a plaintiff's lawyer with proper training knows these experts. How Can We Trace the Cancer? These will be people who can trace in the detection of deadly growths. Experts also help lawyers determine the cause and type of cancer. This detection helps us rule out negligence. It also helps us identify the proper parties to sue. So what we do first at Ehline Law Firm is gather the records and evidence showing your exposure. Then an expert can corroborate. For example, they will say it is more likely than not that the plaintiff was exposed by the defendant's failure to keep the plaintiff safe from toxins. Does Causation Remain Key to Moving a Brain Injury Case Forward? Proving what caused the injury is key to understanding the cure. In any event, it can happen from smoking, or even from drinking too much. Natural causes often cause cancer. Or it can be something man caused. When it's man caused, an unfair situation arises. Man now has interfered with the life of a fellow man. So causation remains the key to moving forward in a case. Why else must accident lawyers determine the causation? The life care plan needs to include coverage for an existing and potential new treatment to help clients. Detecting and treating these diseases can assist the victims to live long and prosper. Scorpion Venom and Experimental Treatments Remain Expensive. A Lawyer Helps Sue to Get Money for Negligence. This usually means the victim will need a lawyer to help recover a sum of money to pay for the medical bills. Mitigation and detection before verdict or settlement also help the legal practitioner avoid malpractice exposure. Sometimes courts will disallow damages for experimental procedures. But what a client does with their verdict and money award is up to them. There are also clinics and other experiments that clients and we can seek out. Sadly, treating the symptoms of brain damage is about as far as science has come. A cure for brain damage has only been in the form of gimmicks that are akin to snake oil thus far. But scorpion venom may actually hold some promise for the downtrodden. This Isn't Just "Snake Oil" - Scorpion Venom Works on Certain Brain Injuries Presently the uses for this new "snake oil" may only be experimental. But a great attorney is going to make sure that he or she argues everything that can bump up the final amount. This truth holds even if it is an "off-label" or experimental treatment. Let's take a look at a recent case involving college student Duane Rualo from Long Beach. This gentleman saw the advantages of venom after being diagnosed with Glioma a form of deadly brain tumor. Rualo is amazed. After treatment with the venom, he relates success. He had undergone surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy, yet still, the tumor came back. In this case, we have a tumor that is medically probably hereditary from childbirth, except that: Environmental factors such as food, radiation, or chemicals may cause these changes to genes? Yes, it's true, outside influence can trigger gene mutations. What this means to you, is that a parent could have been exposed to radiation, genetically altered food, or unhealthy food. So this could cause you, or in this case, Rualo, cancer through childbirth. Other Causes of Gene Mutations? But it could also be the case that genes may have been altered by an environmental hazard or other outside factor caused by a wrongdoer. If that is the case, often, the statute of limitations will be tolled until the reasonable discovery of the source of the injury (Read More.) This also means you (attorney or victim) need to focus on any hopeful future medical care as part of any case resolution if you are suing. You have to stay alive and get better if you can. In the instant example, the college student stated he was "hopeless" after the re-occurrence of the growth. By then he was willing to try anything because he was too young to die. This was when he learned about a rare giant yellow Israeli scorpion may work for his type of tumor. I for one, 100% empathize with Rualo, and this is why I am actively involved in charities supporting these types of treatments. Lawyers are humans too [well some of us anyways.] Check out the Video of Scorpion Killing Cancer I surfed around and found a lot of good info for everyone to peruse. As in the above video, the experimental treatment encouraged Rualo. Physicians are presently using the scorpion venom at the City of Hope Cancer Center in Duarte, California. The treatment Rualo said, takes approximately five minutes. Researchers use synthesized venom injected directly into the brain. The molecules from the venom move throughout the brain. These molecules carry anticancer chemicals that attack the cancer cells without any harm to the brain tissue. City of Hope Cancer Center Dr. Adam Mamelak stated that the goal of science is to discover the wonders of the world and this makes it seem nothing is here by accident. Rualo had no more signs of tumor growth, and he lived for a long time. Testing the Venom There are only two cancer centers nationwide using testing with the synthetic scorpion venom in the country. One center is in Duarte, California City of Hope Cancer Center. Drug trials can still go horribly wrong. But as a brain injury attorney, I am hopeful. I realize that a treatment like this may not do anything for a closed head injury from a car crash. But it certainly looks promising for the tort mentioned above. The mere fact that it can help with imaging in the location of more tumors means a greater chance of survival. It also helps the victim get money for the monetary charges when his or her lawyer is advocating and obtaining money for these treatments on his or her behalf. But it could still go another direction. It could also lead to medical malpractice lawsuits if things go south. So it could be that the venom causes some other problem with the human condition. This may turn out to be a miracle cure. If it does, then your lawyer must argue for including it in your future medical care. Lawyers must get their clients the maximum value for their brain injury lawsuit. Getting Paid For Treatment Means Thinking Outside the Box? Seeking money damages from a lawyer's perspective means thinking outside the box. This is another reason why it is so important for a victim to understand a bit about the duties of attorneys. This duty is also why it is equally important for an injury lawyer to stay up on the latest medical news and breakthroughs. More Resources: "Tumors "'Light Up"' With New, Unique Imaging System Using Scorpion Venom Protein and a Laser": https://www.cedars-sinai.edu/About-Us/News/News-Releases-2014/Tumors-Light-Up-With-New-Unique-Imaging-System-Using-Scorpion-Venom-Protein-and-a-Laser.aspx "Cooperation, Collaboration, Comprehensiveness": 2001-2009 Annual Report (University of Chicago) - "Scorpion Venom Treatment May Offer False Hope to Cancer Patients": https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/video/scorpion-venom-treatment-offer-false-hope-cancer-patients-20787811 "Scorpion Venom With Nanoparticles Slows Spread Of Brain Cancer": https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/04/090416133816.htm

Human brain research and memory loss as a symbol of Alzheimer's concept with missing pieces of the puzzle Preserving the Brain We use our minds every day. We remember calculations even when going to the store and making a mental note of what the items will come too when the cashier rings them up. This gets done instinctively so we can stay within the amount designated for food or other items. Using calculations and math remains just one part of working memory. Memory also permits some information to be held for unlimited amounts of time to use when thinking. But distractions that limit your mind happen to everyone at one time or another. Examples include being trying to perform more than one task at the same time. Information will be lost at sometimes due to all the juggling. People with brain injuries have an even harder time. Also, it requires a significant amount of mental capacity when your brain goes on overload. So your brain may be unable to store enough information in working memory if it is damaged. Potential Memory Effects In these cases, information can be erased from working memory. This can come into play when doing calculations as discussed above. Lost working memory means having to start over from the beginning and re-train your brain. When an individual suffers a brain injury in a car accident, slip, and fall or sporting incident, the person’s working memory can be affected. The result of this will be forgetting things quickly or not remembering them at all. Once compromised, one can easily become distracted. And this can seriously hurt the inability to multitask. Because the working memory is no longer working correctly things go haywire. Brain injury survivors can take advantage of rehab. And this helps improve the condition. But it goes by slowly. And it will be a long period of recovery. Rehabilitation for patients who have sustained a brain injury will work to improve their working memory. So this will mean repetitive relearning. It may also involve the use of memory aids. These include items such as flashcards. Doctors break info into pieces for the patient. Most of all, this enables patients to retain information easier. And they can do so by reviewing it over and over. Studies Indicate Repetitive Learning Works on Memory Loss Victims It has been researched and published in the Psychological Science Journal that repetitive learning layers on the memory. There are numerous advantages to the individual using this method of rehabilitation to retrain the brain. This can scientifically improve damaged working memory. The Baylor Research Institute also recently did some necessary research on this issue. Their findings showed similar outcomes, with a variation of healing between 25 and 45%. This remains between the best and worst recovery regarding numbers. Skiing and Brain Injuries Recently Michael Schumacher F1 champion sustained a head injury during a skiing accident and how his rehabilitation will go, remains unknown. Dave Irwin, an Olympian, suffered a brain injury in a skiing accident in 2001. He has talked about his recovery and issues with working memory. In Irwin’s case, he had suffered multiple concussions before the accident. And his injuries included severe memory loss. He had to relearn English and coordination skills over. Many years later he can talk and hold a conversation. But he can only engage with one or two people. Any more than this number of people in a conversation become difficult for Irwin. And he still experiences short-term memory loss. Irwin went skiing on the same run that he almost died on a year after he suffered the brain injury. Then in 2002, he created the Dave Irwin Foundation for Brain Injury. Members fund research for recovery of brain injury survivors. It also brings public awareness about this type of damage for survivors and their families. Conclusion Sustaining a brain injury changes lives. Call Ehline if you or a loved one has suffered a head injury due to negligence by another party. We have the years of experience to understand the impact of this type of harm. Contact the law firm at 888-400-9721 to schedule a free no obligation consultation to discuss your case.

Michael P. Ehline discusses the various types of brain-related distress resulting from negligence.

An NFL football sits with a pile of money on a green field Watching some of the coverage of Traumatic Brain Injuries related to the NFL, you may believe that it is only a problem in professional sports. That is wrong. Instead, such brain injuries are linked to every single level of playing football. There are cases of players as low as peewee football facing severe brain issues. From repeated concussions. Whether they are playing for the NFL or your local high school or college team. This risk presents a series of dangerous realities. In conclusion, doctors and coaches have known. About the dangers of repeated concussions. Also other brain injuries for years. Personality changes and cognitive issues. Even early death. Are all symptoms of tackles that happen over and over again. Furthermore, many players exhibit these, along with other signs of severe harm. However, some players have immediate symptoms. But other symptoms can take weeks, months, and years to appear. The NFL Sat on Brain Injury Facts? Really? Yes! It's clear that the NFL sat on knowledge about such harm for years. Thus, the teams placed players at risk of getting hurt. It created a culture that did the same down through all football teams, no matter how small. Coaches put players out on the field. Players at that time had been injured. The media has finally placed the issue in the news. But many former players are hesitant to come forward. Furthermore, the sooner that people come forward. The more likely they are to receive adequate treatment. Football players, past and present, are much more likely to face the following medical issues: Memory Loss Dizziness Impulse Control Issues Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) Dementia Depression, including Suicidal Thoughts Insomnia and other Sleep Disorders Memory Loss Fatigue Parkinson's Bipolar Disorder Intermittent Explosive Disorder Psychosis What are the Options for Players? Often there is a statute of limitations on when suits related to football or other harm can be filed. In addition, often they fall within about two years. But some time limits are just one year. With the recent Federal District Court Settlement under Judge Anita Brody. For former football players that face brain issues can sue, including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), Parkinson's, Alzheimer's and Dementia. Some instances of CTE may have the right to restitution. Finally, this can include: Examinations, including neuropsychological and neurological. More medical testing, counseling, and other treatment. Compensation for mental impairment. Other medical care as needed. These terms don't go far enough but are a start. The NFL and NFLPA are creating positions to monitor how the situation unfolds. More action is needed to protect current and future players from such a fate. We must stop future harm. We owe it to our football players of all ages. Thus, you believe that you suffered harm due to playing football. Please contact Ehline Law today. Our team of legal pros pays particular attention to your case. We can offer you any help. The team has fought and won other sports injury cases. We offer our full efforts. As a result, we will come anywhere in the state to discuss your situation and legal options. Please call or email us today.

Doctors finally have a chance to treat brain injury. Quite comforting it must be when you imagine your doctors know everything.  And in most cases, our doctors do know everything they need to know. But a few examples exist where they don’t have the best information or expertise. In the case of treating TBI, they had been somewhat stumped for years. Especially true was the case when they were posed with broad questions. The brain is just so complex. But repairing the brain is the main goal of all healers. The Black Box? David Ryser takes care of Intermountain Medical Center Neuro-Specialty Rehabilitation Unit in Murry. He acts as a medical director. Of note, he has used the term “black box” when defining the practice of various clinicians when it comes to rehab for patients with brain injuries. Thus, he says that you will hear the clinicians say that recovery worked for a patient. But according to him, this information remains sparse. A lot of stuff remains hidden underneath that term. And it cannot yet be answered precisely. So the problem for researchers is finding the exact process among hundreds of operations. So the key remains finding out the goings-on as part of the cure. The Evolution of Practice-Based Evidence in Diagnosing and Curing Brain Injury A significant research project started seven years back. Further, it initiated by professors of biomedical informatics at the University of Utah. Their names are Susan Horn and David Ryser. Susan Horn gained fame for prioritizing “practice-based evidence.” The study, published in a medical journal, showed 2000 subjects as part of the research. These topics' researched located around ten rehab centers in various regions. Also, rehab centers included in the study were not only in the US but in Canada too. One of those patients was Greg Nordfelt. So he had been a great motorcyclist in Salt Lake. Now Greg works as a banker at 53 years of age. Having a bad stomach one day, Greg fell off his Harley Davidson in Idaho. He suffered injuries to his skull and his left brain. So his normal life stopped right there. Intermountain Medical Center was the place where he was brought after his accident. In addition to the brain injury, he had received serious injuries to his legs. Greg recalls that the first thing he did when he came to his senses. Mind you; this was after two weeks of being on the bed unconscious. What he did was to follow the instructions of the staff. The people at the center for therapy gave him tasks. The patient received immediate physical therapy. The client also received occupational and speech therapy. He went through several processes just like any other patient like him does. The Butterfly Puzzle Example of Success. He recalls receiving a puzzle of just four pieces. When you joined all the parts of the puzzle together, it was a butterfly. He remembers this incident and cries with tears. Then he explains that he could not put such a simple piece of the puzzle together for so long. Finally, he was able to put the pieces together. He had found out that it was a butterfly. However, it was even more shocking for him when he could not tell the doctors what he saw on the completed puzzle – a butterfly. 50,000 TBI Deaths Per Year. Traumatic brain injuries are a huge problem for the country. Because they caused 50,000 deaths in just one year in 2010 shows their dangers. Also, as stated by several experts from CDC, more studies are sought after. So the argument is that all the things are missing in the previous studies or not answered. These can be answered with more data. The health effects of traumatic brain injuries are many. So this includes physical, cognitive and mental. And these effects may change entirely from one patient to another. The Many Factors Involved in TBI Treatment Why it remains nearly impossible to pinpoint the working factors in a rehab involves hundreds of factors. Think about the elements that make one patient different from another: His age when he received brain injury, The intensity of the impact, The damages of the brain injury, Treatments he is receiving etc. Horn explains the question about rehab. He says when you ask this question the person who should answer is clueless. The answerer thinks that it was impossible to pinpoint. Horn noted that practice-based evidence might be the only thing that works. It could allow clinicians to answer such questions. He said that using practice-based evidence means collecting loads of data. Knowing more about the remedy of patients while working on them remains critical. Statistical Based Research on Brain Injury Treatment After collecting the data, the modern statistical techniques become invaluable. Also, this helps to find out the most effective processes. Nordfelt was one of the many patients who went through therapy and recovery. He did so immediately after the brain injury. So his treatment provided every dot of the information about his recovery. This information was key to researchers. Thus, these researchers kept records of everything that he was going through. So from his speech therapy hours to the type of food he got through tubes, researched derived. One thousand clinicians produced notes and records. Records about sessions amounted to a total of 350,000. Also, such large amounts of data are unprecedented in the past for recovering patients. The study, in summary, includes 14 papers. According to the main points mentioned in its published version: The ideal time interval between the injury and rehabilitation should be as small as possible for the best results. So according to Ryser, his team stays in touch with the ICU. Hence, this allows the patients admitted rehab as soon as possible. The intensity of the therapy achieved higher priority and preference than its length and amount. Also, in the study, doctors taught most of the patients to sit up and move around on the bed only. Such practices help the patients recover faster. Such is the case with cognitive and motor-related troubles. Researchers deduced that feeding tubes play a considerable role in the fast recovery of the patient. According to Ryser, taking care of feeding tubes is often a troubling task. So for the staff, it proved it mattered a lot. Again, the report mentions a providing diet high in proteins helped the patient a lot. So at least 25% of the total diet during their entire stay ideally is composed of such high protein diet. Limitations of Brain Injury Studies? While such studies often such how the patients with severe brain injuries seek treatment, they are not easy to conduct. So this was due to several limitations. So the biggest barrier to such research and studies remains finances. This study cost nearly 7 million dollars funded through grants. Only serious professionals could conduct such a thorough study again. So Nordfelt has thankful thoughts of the staff there. Also, he remains grateful for the positive dealings with them. Most relevant here, he said that Intermountain and similar centers build appreciation. He feels he got his life back due to their efforts. Volunteering and Giving Back Hence, Nordfelt has now volunteered there with his wife. Also, he won't leave any opportunity of giving back. He wants to thank the institution that did so much for him. So Ryser says that after the study and its results, practice-based evidence finally received recognition. And this was well deserved. He said that brain injury and Psychiatry related rehab are the places where practice-based evidence is the only way to analyze data. Also, it is the best way to reach a result. Contrast this with randomized controlled trials. He says they have not helped much in these cases. Accepting Practice-Based Evidence Horn said that NIH has always been reluctant in taking practice-based evidence, but things might change in future. Allegedly, randomized controlled trials have produced the same information over and over.  

Human brain research and memory loss as a symbol of Alzheimer's concept with missing pieces of the puzzle For many, their biggest fear is a severe head or spinal injury. Either can permanently affect their mobility. These ailments can also drastically change the personality and quality of life of the victims. For many victims, the changes are permanent and irreversible. Even treatable conditions can take months or years. They can also lead to thousands or hundreds of thousands of dollars in bills. This is in combination with lost work, severe changes to your family, and tremendous pain and suffering. There are no winners in such injuries. The severity of brain injuries can take many forms and come with an enormous number of complications. A Traumatic Brain Injury, or TBI, caused by accident is a devastating diagnosis. What does one do when faced with an injury in such a manner? It is first and foremost important to work with your family, doctor, and an attorney. Let them determine the exact amount of damage that you face. Common issues include the cost of immediate treatment. Another big one is lost work. These are just the tip of the iceberg. There could be other issues not even considered early in the process. Are Brain Injury Costs a Complex Problem? Being able to determine the true cost of the injury adequately is complex-- a bit of combining actuarial math with medical science. The sheer cost of therapy can reach into the millions. Your attorney and doctor can work together to estimate your lifetime. You must find out the costs of such rehabilitation, and we will do the job to have it paid in full. You can also fit in the value of your medications and psychological stress. Many people lose a significant quality of life. This loss of quality includes their inability to spend time with their family. They may not even be able to consort with their significant other. They will be entitled to general and special damages in the form of money to pay for their losses. The Many Factors That We Must Calculate in Resolving a TBI Claim There is no pain or problem too small to examine. Each one can cascade with other factors to completely reshape an injury victim's life. This injury can cause them to be unable to successfully lead the life that they did previously or wanted to. They may face confinement to a wheelchair or cognitively impaired due to their injury. No matter what the injury, making sure that you are in the best condition to meet it is necessary. Ehline Law has handled many similar cases in the past and thus have seen the sheer effects of such injuries on many of our clients. This is why we have stuck with them through thick and thin to rebuild their lives as much as possible. For more information, including a free, no-pressure consultation contact us now. Please call or email us today at any time of day or night.

Suicide Risk and Teen Brain Injuries 101 United States Supreme Court Most of my readers know I am an attorney who deals with wrongful suicides as part of my law practice. But this exciting new twist on a new cause of action could arise in the middle of a basic brain damage claim. Is there a greater risk of suicide among brain injury victims? Let's find out. This involves the potential of your client taking their own life. The twist is the suicide was from their brain injury(ies) and not from a typical depressive state. Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) are a dangerous and severe type of physical damage. Recently studies that conducted show the possibility of this kind of harm resulting in the victim being a danger to him or herself. Researchers published the study by the University of Utah National Center for Veteran’s Studies. The data in the study concluded that multiple brain injuries could result in the individual having an increase in suicidal thoughts. This is true even if they are minor. The highest number of suicide rates remains military personnel. The other information found that military personnel has a higher probability of suffering a single, or multiple brain injuries. Brain injuries mainly afflict infantry and motor transport troops, especially U.S. Marines who are always riflemen first. This study went even more in-depth and found that suicide is the second leading cause of death involving military personnel. The staggering numbers from 2008 showed over 100,000 service members’ deaths. The number has increased about 50% from 2001 to 2008 according to the study data. Other experts associated with the study have claimed the increased suicide rate has a connection to the increase in psychiatric illness in service men and women. Other Factors. This is also during the period following the 9/11 attacks and the military operations in Afghanistan and Iraq, which have a significant effect on these numbers. One of the leading causes of injuries suffered by veterans of these two conflicts has been traumatic head injuries. The study does state that service members suffering from a TBI are more likely to take their own life. During the study, over 150 military personnel and some private contractors were examined. These had been in combat zones in Iraq. Service members were recovering in military hospitals from brain injuries when examined. The examinations found that seven percent of the service members had a first-time brain injury. 22% of the servicemen and women tested who suffered multiple brain injuries said they had suicidal thoughts. Brain injuries have a wide range of consequences. So here, the study focused on military personnel. This study was to understand why the suicide rates were so high when compared to similarly situated civilians. Service members are not the only individuals who suffer this type of injury, however. Harm to the brain can occur in civilian life. It is often one of the injuries suffered in an auto accident. The statistics bear this out. These stats show approximately 2 million traumatic brain injuries occur in the United States annually. Factors Surrounding TBIs. This number when separated into incidents, equals approximately one-third of TBI’s happening in car accidents involving non-military members. This means if your client kills him or herself during your claim, or court case, you may need to file a wrongful death claim on behalf of those left behind! TBI damage treatments and the expense can be devastating. But then added to these factors remain the likely increase in suicidal thoughts makes this type of harm even more dangerous. This risk proves that this type of damage to the body is extremely serious. However, there are many brain injuries never treated. Leaving this kind of injury untreated is a mistake. And if you feel you or a loved one had an incident that caused a TBI, medical treatment is needed. In conclusion, there is definitely an increased risk of suicidal thoughts in brain-injured patients. So our experienced car accident lawyers are ready to help you. Also, we offer free and confidential initial consultations. Most of all, we realize this has been a difficult and emotional time. Our lawyers will assist in helping you recover from your injuries. We do this by holding the responsible party accountable. Please call our offices at Ehline Law Firm toll-free at 888-400-9721. Resources: https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/foreign-affairs-defense/a-new-link-between-traumatic-brain-injury-and-suicide/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1763534/pdf/v071p00436.pdf  

What is an MTBI? Not all brain injuries are created equally. Here we discuss MTBI and TBI from a lawyer's perspective. We also detail the conditions indicating injury. Then we talk about the preservation of evidence and getting paid for negligence. Being in a vegetative or crippled state aside, it's scary with all these new expenses. Bottom line, this tragedy was no fault of yours. It was someone else's negligence. Why is this your responsibility? But you need a key to unlock the door to money. Burning brain. Table of Contents I: MTBI Defined What is Brain Ricochets Brain Stem Lobe Damage What do you Look for? What are the Issues? MTBI Victim’s Psychosocial Physical Therapy Testing Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Defined. Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (“MTBI”) comes with one or more of the following symptoms: Loss of awareness; Loss of one’s memory right before or after the brain injury; Any alteration in mental state at the time of the accident; Focal neurological deficits. In many MTBI cases, a person may seem just fine on the surface. But sadly, they continue to endure chronic functional problems. Some people suffer long-term effects of MTBI. Doctors call this post-concussion syndrome. (“PCS”). Persons suffering from PCS can experience significant changes in cognition and personality. In addition, nothing proves "mild" about any "traumatic" brain damage. In contrast, this remains a medical term and should be used in this context. "Mild" can still mean the victim is a vegetable for life. Brain Ricochets Most traumatic brain injuries cause widespread damage to the brain. Contrast this with mild brain injury. In the latter case, the injury stays in a localized area. Because the brain ricochets inside the human skull, it gets bruised. This factor remains common during a jarring and jolting auto collision. Furthermore, a diffuse axonal injury occurs when the nerve cells are torn apart. Localized damage may arise from the brain bouncing into the inner the skull. The brain stem, frontal lobe, and temporal lobes are vulnerable. Similarly, they are located near bony protrusions inside the skull. So they become bruised most natural. Also, their location near the front of the cranium means a higher chance of forward or backward motion impacts. Brain Stem Facts. The brain stem begins at the base of the brain. Furthermore, your brain stem regulates essential arousal and regulatory functions. And the brain stem helps people to remain attentive. Short-term memory is connected to the brain stem as well. Trauma to this area leads to disorientation, frustration, and anger. Most noteworthy, our attorneys work to identify the part of the brain harmed. That way we can work to identify and mitigate damages for you. All this helps later when we argue damages on your behalf — the limbic system, higher up in the brain than the brain stem. Hence, this helps regulate emotions. Connected to the limbic system are the temporal lobes. Likewise, these are associated with many cognitive skills such as memory and language. Lobe Damage Damage to the temporal lobe or seizures causes many behavioral disorders. However, the frontal lobe gets injured the most. Doctors consider all of this our emotional and personality control center. As a result, damage to these parts causes poor judgment and increased impulsivity. Learn more about Diagnosing an MTB Definition of MTBI A person with MTBI has a traumphysiological disruption of brain function. This is usually manifested by at least one of the following: loss of consciousness; loss of memory for events right before or after the accident; alterations in one’s mental state at the time of the injury or collision (e.g., seeing stars, lethargy, or confused); neurological deficit(s) that may be transient but the severity of the injury doesn’t exceed the following: a. loss of alertness of around 30 minutes or less; b. after 30 minutes, a preliminary Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) of 13-15; and c. post-traumatic amnesia (“PTA”) not greater than 24 hours. What to Look For in General. Determine whether or not alertness was lost. Determine the length of unconsciousness. Research if there was an alteration of alertness. Determine the duration of altered alertness. Classify the specifics of how the injury occurred. In addition, determine the history of previous head injuries or concussion by an interview with the patient and family. Find about former alcohol use. Determine former substance use. Thus, determine former vocational pursuits, positions, and durations. Determine former leisure pursuits, to include hobbies, athletics, and other recreational pursuits. As a result, if possible, obtain academic record and rule out pre-existence of attention deficit disorder or learning disabilities. Determine social/legal history. Medical Issues. Determine one’s current sleep patterns, time to bed, time to sleep, times to wake up, activities during wakefulness, rise time, and relaxed state upon awakening. Determine one’s dietary habits. Research one’s exercise routine. Determine one’s caffeine usage and outline any changes since the injury. Read past medical history. Determine family medical history. Discover his past medications. Determine his current medication; chronicle changes in medications. Correlate his symptomatology with medications. Look at side effects. Determine the use of over-the-counter medications/vitamins/supplements. Review the EEG’s. Research the CT scans of the head. Review the skull x-rays. Review the cervical x-rays, CT’s, and MRI’s. Read the headache history. List headaches to look for sinusitis, tension. TMJ dysfunction, medication/substance withdrawal, migraine. Headaches should be fully characterized and described completely. Describe all one’s vision complaints. Know the difference from blurred vision and diplopia. Evaluate the visual fields and one’s ocular motor skills. Determine if there is the presence of photo phobia, image suppression, image persistence in the patient. Define and describe all the patients pain complaints as well as past/current treatments for same. Define patient's complaints of dizziness, imbalance, and disco-ordination. Appraise patients’ balance by single-foot standing, Romberg, star-march. Appraise patient’s history of balance in low-light conditions. Determine patient’s perilymphatic fistula, cupulolithiasis, and cervical dizziness. Appraise patient’s cardiac status and serum glucose levels as possibly contributory to dizziness. * The term “concussion” should be avoided and replaced with the term “mild traumatic brain injury.” (MTBI) (American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine, 1992[3]). Review ENG’s. ADL’s (Activities of Daily Living) * Characterize the patient’s daily living routine. Vocational. Completely describe the patient's vocational history. Completely describe the person’s current job description. Include whether or not the work is full-time, part-time, seasonal. Determine for the presence or absence of a supplemental disability insurance income. Find out workers’ compensation TD payment level. Determine the presence of salary agreement. Thus, determine if there is a status vs. wage loss compensation. MTB Victim’s Psychosocial. Evaluate injury patient for anxiety, depression, panic attacks, somatization, hypochondriasis, malingering. Determine injury patient for issues of secondary gain. Evaluate the injury victim for family system adaptation/adjustment. Differentiate victim’s psychiatric symptoms from iatrogenic or seizure-induced symptoms. Physical Therapy Evaluate the injury victim for overall fitness and conditioning, muscular strength, the range of motion, sensation, proprioception. Define the injury victim’s pain complaints. Balance/coordination diagnostics. Testing Tests to Consider: Firstly, many doctors consider the Wide Range Achievement Test highly. Also, the Motor Free Visual Perception Test. Don't forget about the Test of Visual Perception Skills. In addition, look at the Santa Clara Valley Perceptual Motor Evaluation MMPI-II. Beck’s Depression Inventory is also valuable in this regard. Furthermore, reading the famous Taylor-Johnson Temperament Analysis proves valuable. Equally important is the FIRO-B, and Woodcock-Johnson Psychoeducational Battery. More recently the Detroit Tests of Learning Aptitudes have proven beneficial in the overall analysis. Even more, experts generally quote from the Booklet Category Test, and Wisconsin Card Sort. (Trails-A, B Neuropsychological Battery). All of these above tests assist patients. Conclusion - Get a Lawyer! Furthermore, as discussed-- MTBI and TBI from a lawyer's perspective. Also, covered were methods to survive and thrive after injuries. Last, we examined the preservation of evidence, life care planning and testing. In conclusion, learn more at (888) 400-9721.

Head impacts and a loss of brain function and losing memories as a medical health care symbol of neurology and mental problems with a pencil eraser removing the head anatomy on a grunge old parchment paper. So is it a fact, or is it fiction? Do small blows to the head set the stage for future brain damage? The point is, many people will ignore smaller head blows, especially in sports because they believe it won't affect them as much. Correct, many people's lives do halt when they get a concussion. But some people will just ignore hits to the head by soccer balls or from tackles, let alone amateur boxing, judo, or jiu-jitsu. Thus, it is a reality we parents face in sports. We always have to balance our need to protect our kids. So we balance this along with their need to learn common sense with our guidance still close by. Are there Risks of Going Psychotic after Blows to the Head? Increasing research correlates football injuries to other problems later in life like suicide, or going psychotic. So remember the threat that such head blows could present. Especially this will be the case with small undocumented impacts. Hence, what might seem like several hits to the head throughout a sports career could instead be hundreds. Also, they could lose memories through time. Last, cumulatively, these injuries could cause severe issues for the players. Soccer and Blows to The Head? We've all seen it on TV or have done it ourselves. Often soccer players would hit the ball with their heads in play. These headers might seem harmless but instead, cause brain damage. Particularly relevant here, immediate symptoms may stay dormant. And this remains true even if it happens dozens and dozens of times a year. Recent research cited by the Los Angeles Times reports that a study of soccer players showed a correlation between such actions and problems with memory, vision, focus, and cognition. Also, all of these issues add together to become a major danger for all sports players. Hence, it also poses a risk for people in work conditions that lead to small head blows and sudden movements. Altogether, these could cause severe problems in later life. Most of all, the root causes can remain undiscovered. Proper Medical Care Remains Key? If you or a loved one have suffered from brain damage or related problems such as vision issues and played sports or worked in such an environment, make sure that you have proper care. The assistance of a specialized doctor and attorney can determine the cause. So such problems can be found, and the actions of others could be ruled out or held liable. Also, a heavy hitter lawyer proves the key to success. Hence, a gray-haired jurist with wrinkles can help determine if these health problems have left you physically challenged. Also, these experts can determine reduced workability. A specialized head attorney, such as one from Ehline Law Firm will be surely able to assist you. Thus, even the most complex of legal problems allow resolution. Also, they help you in dealing with and understanding what we know about head injuries. Liability Waivers, Sports, and Kids. An important aspect in cases such as this is whether a waiver was signed. If signed by the parents or supervising adult, a problem arises. And these waivers have been historically upheld by courts. In fact, many have helped stop suits in tort. But in other cases, California courts have found that engaging in a sport where the injury is an inherent factor means you cannot sue! That is why boxers cannot sue each other, for example, if they are sparring, or in a sanctioned fight. Now on the other hand, if a boxer were to bring a Colt 1911 45 ACP pistol to a boxing match, no inherent risk of boxing would call for getting shot. As soon as opponent enters the ring, racks the slide, aims and shoot his opponent there no assumption of risk exists. Gunfire would never be an average, ordinary risk inherent in sports like boxing. In fact, gun wounds at a pistol match couldn't even be a reasonable risk associated with target shooting. However, a ricochet is a risk often associated with shooting steel targets, for example. So this, in some cases renders a lawsuit impractical, unless an exception applies. Last, this later applies based upon a unique set of facts of the case. What About Assumption of the Risk and Sports Brain Injuries? This assumption means that new lawsuits for these types of injuries may face disbarment as a matter of law. Or they can be substantially harder under the Knight v. Jewett line of cases. I am an expert in these types of cases. I believe that many PI lawyers will be hesitant to bring lawsuits for minor head blow type injuries of children who play soccer. At least in California this probably holds true, or unless there is an exception that applies. There would need to be other circumstances present that would render Knight, supra, inapplicable to the case. We know that in cases of football, the League allegedly hid data about the overall effectiveness of the helmets. The old head protection the players wore at the time was less protective than the NFL implied. In this case, it was the cover-up. After all, the Knight test certainly would find that brain injuries are an inherent risk in the sport of football. Of course, some would argue a "foul play" exceeds an inherent risk. Courts have found on more than one occasion that being tackled and hurt remains part of the sport. Of course, flag football and non-contact sports won't carry these same inherent risks. Overwhelming Number of NFL Players with Brain Damage. In one study, 76 out of 79 decedents who were former NFL players had brain damage. So these findings based on the dissection of their brains. Examination of these brains commenced by experts in their prospective fields (Read More Here.) In the soccer case, I find it difficult to see how parents, guardians, school authorities, leagues like AYSO, and soccer moms, in general, couldn't know of a risk. Headbutts, kicks to the head of a fallen player, slaps, pushing, shoving are common. This behavior happens in the sport of child, or adult soccer matches and even during practice. Pitfalls of Delayed Discovery. The fact that parents were unaware of the risk of head injuries would likely work against them. So no excuse exists to let the child's brain damage worsen. When a grown adult discovers the injuries were from soccer years ago, it may be too late. That said, what about cases where children refused to participate in organized sports voluntarily? Also, what about mandatory soccer matches while attending private or public schools? These are all important factors. Most relevant here, we may just have a case, based upon the delayed discovery rule. In other words, we can set aside the statute of limitations and still sue for you. But we would need to flesh out the facts and see where this would take us. For every rule, there is an exception. And a courageous and intelligent lawyer is indispensable. Last, these expert professionals find the limitations. And they enforce the rules in favor of the victims. Citations and Authorities: "Heading and Head Injuries in Soccer" - Kirkendall DT1, Jordan SE, Garrett WE. (US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health.) "Brain Trauma Extends to the Soccer Field" - John Branch (New York Times) "Neuroscience for Kids - Soccer" - (University of Washington)  

Head impacts and a loss of brain function and losing memories as a medical health care symbol of neurology and mental problems with a pencil eraser removing the head anatomy on a grunge old parchment paper. By brain injury attorney, Michael Ehline - This is an issue that hits home for me. As a participant and practitioner of martial arts, such as kickboxing and regular boxing, I have been knocked out before while sparring. Some of my friends are really into the striking arts and have been floored a lot. Of course, any jarring or striking to the human head runs with a risk or suffering a traumatic brain type injury ("TBI"). One of my good friends has been into boxing for quite a while. He recently suffered a stroke. He is a young guy too. Is There a Causal Connection Between Boxing and Strokes? Yes. If TBI's mean strokes, then you can't rule out the sport of boxing. I don't know if there was a causal connection between boxing, my friend's stroke, or not. But it made me think enough to write this piece. For certain, blows to the head, and jolts to the neck that drive the cranium backward, forwards and left to right, can cause many ailments, some permanent. Studies affirm that boxing can cause serious brain injuries, even if a participant does not get knocked out. Car Accidents and Brain Injuries Leading to Stroke? Why not? One thing leads to another. Motor vehicle collisions often involve tremendous G-Forces. These forces can easily meet or exceed anything suffered in a boxing match. In any event, this story segues into my personal brain injury practice. And this story highlights why it is so important to take the ambulance to the hospital after a car wreck. A concussion could be a sign of something much worse. According to a new study, there is an increased risk of a stroke, after a traumatic brain injury. In a University of Michigan study, researchers have found stunning evidence. They said people who suffered a traumatic brain injury have a 30% higher risk of having a stroke, over people who never suffered a brain injury. But they have experienced trauma. This percentage was discovered after researchers considered other factors such as: Age High cholesterol High blood pressure Heart disease According to Dr. James F. Burke, M.D. study researcher said that this study had established a strong link between TBI's and strokes to make it a new risk factor. This link between TBI's and strokes according to researchers is as strong as the risk factor for high blood pressure and strokes. Dr. Burke said that this could create a reason for new research. He thinks we need to determine why TBI patients are more susceptible to strokes. And this could lead to ways to help prevent them. What Were Some Factors Used in the TBI Stroke Study? There were 435,630 participants in the neurological study. 42.9 years old was the average age of those who had suffered traumatic brain injuries 736,623 other people experienced trauma but did not suffer a brain injury. The average age of the people there was 50.3 years of age. What defined trauma, without a brain injury, was a fracture, but not involving the head or neck. Those participating in the study were followed for 28 months after the accident took place and diagnoses. During this time approximately one percent or 11,229 people suffered an ischemic stroke. According to the data from that study, while the total risk of stroke is low in both groups, researchers did find the participants who suffered a TBI were at a higher risk of suffering a stroke, over those who had not sustained head injuries. The percentage for risk of stroke for people with TBI’s was 1.1% higher for the person that suffered a traumatic brain injury. And the rate of people who did not suffer a TBI, but had a traumatic injury was 0.9%. Taipei Medical University in Taiwan researchers said they believe that the risk of stroke dramatically increases within the first few months after a traumatic brain injury occurs. This study data was published in the: The Journal of the American Heart Association, which included: 213,199 TBI participants 69,597 members who had not sustained a traumatic brain injury Our attorneys and staff hope you have a better grasp of brain injury and relationship to stroke. Whether you suffered a blow to the head while boxing, or head trauma after a car wreck, get medical attention right away, and if necessary get legal help if you are disabled. Join us for more as the issues coagulate and shift. More related citations: Gender and Stroke: https://stroke.ahajournals.org/content/29/1/159.short Post-stroke brain injury: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2736291/ Ischemic Brain Injury: https://stroke.ahajournals.org/content/25/7/1469.short

Schematic of the brain stem. As if the effects of brain injury aren't enough. Researchers determined that traumatic brain injury does even more damage to the human body than previously believed. The brain's fragile and vital interaction with the pituitary gland is critical to bodily function. Injuries cause interruption or change to the regular communication between the two. This is where personal injury attorneys need to keep their medical knowledge current. The Ehline Law Firm APLC is the leading TBI law office in California. This is partially due to our own research and partly due to partnerships with leading physicians and researchers. With medical science expanding quickly, it is vital to be ahead of the curve. Also, there are several key factors at play. One is the well being of our clients. The newest medical knowledge allows us a better understanding of their medical challenges. Furthermore, it also allows our firm to estimate their future needs better. Emerging Science Pituitary injuries are nothing to sneeze at. In fact, coupled with TBIs, they are often devastating to families. A 2015 article printed by the National Institute of Health shows the incredible effects on the human body. Up to 20% of TBI victims develop chronic hypopituitarism. Imagine the numbers. Two hundred thirty-five thousand people are hospitalized due to TBIs, and many more do not seek treatment. There are thousands of people suffering from the effects of sports injuries, work accidents, and car accidents. These medical issues can cause severe pain, hematomas, and severe blood and energy issues. All of this means tens of thousands to millions of dollars of needed future care, depending on the client. Clients, firms, and courts need to know this vital information. For more information about the future of thyroid issues and traumatic brain injuries, keep it tuned here. The Ehline Law Firm writes about the future of medicine and how it affects law firms and our clients.