Lansing Personal Injury Lawyer - Head & Brain Injuries

La Salle University Settles With Family of Former Football Player for $7.5 Million

David Mittleman — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 10:00:00 GMT

In the past week the media has covered Ben Roethlisberger’s head injury and subsequent decision to first play in last Sunday’s game and then opt-out at the last minute when the doctors wouldn’t clear him. This was probably a good decision, since this is Roethlisberger’s fourth concussion. Unfortunately, Roethlisberger received flack from an unlikely source: his teammate, Hines Ward, suggested that Ben could’ve lied to team doctors for the good of the team. His reasoning was that he had lied to team doctors before when he wasn’t feeling perfectly healthy, so why couldn’t Ben? This is scary news in light of the mounting scientific evidence that repeated concussions can lead to severe brain damage and long-term neurological disorders.

Now the NFL might want to think twice about allowing this type of criticism of players who don’t play because they are seriously injured. In a lawsuit against La Salle University, the family of Preston Plevretes settled for $7.5 million with the school after Preston suffered a severe brain injury in 2005 after an earlier concussion went untreated. Preston will require care for the rest of his life.

Preston was a 19-year-old sophomore at the time of the incident. He was apparently injured during a 2005 game when he was hit while covering a punt against Duquesene University in Pittsburgh. He was immediately knocked unconscious and took three to five minutes to awaken. He then became extremely combative and lapsed into a coma. He later had surgery to relieve brain swelling, but returned to practice on October 4, where he sustained more helmet-to-helmet impact. Furthermore, he played in the next game but opted-out in the fourth quarter after complaining of a headache. Despite the settlement amount, La Salle University claims no responsibility in the accident.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by David Mittleman

Advanced Technology Showing How PTSD Alters Brain Function

David Mittleman — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 16:22:42 GMT

For years people suffering from post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) were dismissed as complainers and fakers. Their cases were given little to no serious consideration from the medical community and from society at large. Slowly, that has started to change. As our National News Desk at InjuryBoard highlighted, PTSD is now listed in the diagnostic manual used by psychiatrists and psychologists along with the criteria for making the diagnosis.

Up until now, however, PTSD has largely been diagnosed through its symptoms without a significant method of objectively testing just how the mind has been affected by the traumatic events that led to the disorder. That is slowly starting to change. New and powerful imaging tests are being developed to detect just how the brain changes in people with PTSD. The disease that was once "just in your head" is turning out to be the result of damage to the brain's nerve fibers that handle memory and confusion.

The technique is called Diffusion Tensor Imaging. It is a non-invasive procedure adds just a little time to a standard MRI. It involves tracking how water flows through tiny, celery stalk-like nerve fibers in the brain, measuring the direction and speed of the water molecules to determine if the nerve fibers have suffered any damage.

While this research has been primarily driven by the waves of veterans from Afghanistan and Iraq who has suffered from PTSD and Traumatic Brain Injuries (PDF), the ramifications of this technology can be far reaching. Countless Americans suffer from PTSD and traumatic brain injuries, ranging from an auto accident to surviving traumatic events such as a rape or child abuse. Treatment for all these individuals will likely be altered from this research as scientists learn more about how the brain heals itself from traumatic events.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by David Mittleman

Head & Brain Injuries Should Not Be Overlooked

David Mittleman — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 16:56:19 GMT

Head injuries can happen any number of ways and can result in a number of different complications. Here are some early warning signs that may tell you if you have suffered from a head injury include:

Feeling dazed or having loss of consciousness, following with vomiting and nausea
Blurred vision
Headaches

Some more long term symptoms could include the following:

Irritability
Difficulty concentrating
Insomnia
Difficulty tolerating bright lights

Often, these symptoms are overlooked and frequently not recognized for head injury.

Minimize your chance of having a head injury by wearing helmets when engaged in activities where you could hit your head, such as skating, bike riding, etc. Wear your seat belt in your vehicle to prevent your head from hitting the interior of the car during an accident. Inspect your home for hazardous fall areas and do your best to make your home hazard free.

If you believe you or someone you care about may have suffered a head & brain injury do not hesistate to contact our office, ChurchWyble, at (888) 227-4770.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by David Mittleman

Healthy 25-Year-Old Suffers Rare Neurological Condition After Receiving Flu Shot

David Mittleman — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 12:15:14 GMT

Desiree Jennings, a healthy 25-year-old with an active lifestyle, went to get her seasonal flu shot in August 2009. Some believed it was a hoax when Desiree reported some severe, yet strange, side effects from the shot. In fact, Desiree couldn’t walk forward, but could run forward and walk backwards.

However, Desiree has a legitimate condition: according to doctors she is suffering from acute, viral post immunization encephalopathy and mercury toxicity with secondary respiratory and neurological deficits. Desiree strongly believes that these problems are a direct result of the flu shot she received at her local grocery store chain.

At first, Desiree’s doctor diagnosed her with dystonia, a neurological disorder that causes involuntary muscle contractions. However, the doctor now believes she has the viral post immunization encephalopathy. Unfortunately, the illness can alter brain function or structure and can also cause memory loss and personality changes. In a recent interview, Desiree described her diagnosis and how her life has dramatically changed.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ja7lCIp04YY

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by David Mittleman

Infant Brain Injuries and Cerebral Palsy

David Mittleman — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 09:07:58 GMT

Every expectant parent will tell you that nothing is more important than having a healthy baby. Sadly, circumstances sometimes conspire to prevent this from happening. Injuries can occur before, during, and after birth that cause life-long impairments. One such tragic condition is cerebral palsy.

Cerebral palsy is a disorder affecting the central nervous system of newborns and infants. It involves damage to the cerebrum, a part of the brain largely responsible for motor function. One of the most common symptoms of cerebral palsy is spasticity, or an increase in muscle tone and contraction that interferes with movement. The affected body parts can range from a single limb to the entire body. Other symptoms of cerebral palsy include seizures, hearing and vision deficits, learning disabilities, lack of muscle coordination, flacid muscle tone, and pain, among others. These symptoms typically manifest by age two, and in the worst cases within three months of birth.

Cerebral palsy is caused by an injury to the brain either before, during, or after delivery. In many cases, the exact cause is unknown. However, birth-trauma induced cerebral palsy can be identified and prevented. Adequate prenatal care may also help reduce the risk of cerebral palsy. Unfortunately, there is no cure for this disorder and victims face a lifetime of impairment and limitation. Certain treatments such as physical and occupational therapy may help some patients live nearly normal lives.

If you notice signs of cerebral palsy developing in your newborn, contact your doctor right away. If you suspect that an injury may have occurred during or shortly after the delivery process, there may be a connection to your child's condition.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by David Mittleman

More reality, less fantasy: football players more likely to suffer brain injuries

Devon Glass — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 13:04:47 GMT

I love fantasy football, even though I only got into it 2 years ago. I never really watched football all that much, mostly because I'm from Detroit and the Lions suck. In the 90's I used to watch the Lions play every Sunday thanks to my grandfather who had season tickets. Thanks to being involved in fantasy football, I usually watch a lot of football on Sundays to see how my players are doing. It's sometimes difficult to see the players as real people when playing fantasy football, mostly because they are reduced to statistics based upon how well they play.

But football players are more than statistics, they are people who play a grueling sport that can severely injure them or prematurely cause brain injury. When I went to watch all those Lions games in the 90's, I do recall one game very well; it was the last game Mike Utley would ever play due to a spinal cord injury. He is now paralyzed from the waist down due to his participation in a sport that glamorizes violence.

According to a recent study, football players aged 30 to 49 have a significantly increased rate of developing Alzheimer's disease compared to the normal rate. In fact, the study found the rate to be 19 times higher. This is a pretty startling statistic and the National Football League (NFL) is fighting back against allegations that playing football endangers it's players. The problem for the NFL is the medical data they have collected so far indicates far more concern then the league would like to acknowledge.

Not only is there an increased rate of Alzheimer's disease for football players, there are also increased rates of dementia, depression and other related head injuries. The medical evidence is beginning to demonstrate a link between cognitive impairment and playing football. From a non-medical point of view, it makes sense to me that if you spend your work life hitting your head against other people most of the year for 5-10 years, you are likely to injure your head.

Just the other day a congressional hearing was held by John Conyers Jr. on the issue of brain injuries in the NFL. Roger Goodell, NFL Commissioner, testified at the hearing but did not indicate whether he sees a link between football and head injuries. He did say he and the league believe the health of their players is very important and that they are looking into the issue.

I agree that Mr. Goodell is concerned with the health of his players, but I am concerned he has a strong financial incentive to say there is no problem or to downplay the significance of a problem. According to reports, the NFL had revenue totaling nearly 7 billion dollars, that's a lot of incentive to keep the system as it currently stands. Of that, players receive 57.5% of the revenue, or approximately $3.85 billion. That's not a bad sum of money for the players to be sure.

The real question for me at the end of the day is this: Do I think playing football causes brain injury, and if so, what can be done about it? I see lots of data to support such a finding, but it's not clear what can be done. However, not much will be accomplished to prevent or diminish such injuries if the NFL continues to deny a link between playing football and head injuries. If you can't admit there's a problem, it's very difficult to work on solutions. Hopefully this new research will pressure the NFL into taking steps to address this growing concern.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Devon Glass

Judge Refuses Dismissal of Skiing Lawsuit Against Dartmouth University

David Mittleman — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 11:00:00 GMT

Dartmouth University recently requested an end to a lawsuit filed by the father of Christina Porter, a student who died in January 2005 after sustaining head injuries during a university skiing class. However, the judge refused to dismiss the case.

Porter was enrolled in a beginning ski class to complete the University’s physical education requirement during the spring semester of 2004. Apparently, she skied into a tree at the Dartmouth Skiway, where the class was held. She was immediately taken to the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, where she remained in a coma for the next six months and eventually died the following January. Porter’s parents allege that the course instructors were negligent in allowing their daughter to ski without a helmet down a winding, wooded slope that was “too difficult for her”. They also argue that Dartmouth was responsible for their daughter’s wellbeing because she was enrolled in a College class during the time of the incident.

Dartmouth, in its request for the dismissal of the lawsuit, argued that it was devoid or responsibility for the accident because Porter signed a liability release. However, the judge denied the request last week, stating that the form did not notify the user that they were relieving the college of legal responsibility in case of an accident. At the time of the accident, adult skiers were not required to wear helmets at the Skiway. However, Dartmouth has since begun requiring all students enrolled in ski or snowboarding classes to wear protective helmets since 2004.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by David Mittleman

$7 Million to Target Shopper Who Received Brain Injury From Faulty Automatic Door

David Mittleman — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 08:09:00 GMT

An elderly woman who suffered a serious brain injury while trying to enter a Target store has settled her case for $7 Million.

81-year-old Claire Putnam was simply entering Target, like millions of us on a daily basis, when the automatic doors at a suburban Chicago location closed on her and knocked her to the ground. Surveillance video of her fall also showed that the automatic doors at the Rosemont, IL Target opened and closed on her one more time, hitting her head after she had fallen to the ground.

Ms. Putnam was taken to nearby hospitals and was eventually diagnosed with a subdural hematoma that required a craniotomy and excavation of the hematoma. As a result, she was left with cognitive defects and now lives in a nursing home.

Ms. Putnam's attorneys filed suit against Target and Beasam USA Inc, who was the manufacturer of the doors.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by David Mittleman

36-year-old Skateboarding Enthusiast Dies of Severe Head Injuries

David Mittleman — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 12:59:54 GMT

His friends and family members described skateboarding as his “life”, but the very activity that he loved killed the 36-year-old Lansing man last Saturday. While attempting a jump at the Ranney Skate Park in Lansing on June 18, the man collided with another skateboarder and suffered severe head injuries, which resulted in his death a few days later. Tragically, he wasn’t wearing a helmet, a simple device that probably would’ve saved his life.

According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, emergency rooms and other medical facilities treated as many as 242,000 skateboarding injuries in 2003. The most common types of injuries doctors report seeing are wrist and elbow fractures, followed by head injuries. They also report that 60% of skateboard accidents involve children under the age of fifteen. However, other skateboarders are also at greater risk for injury:

· Inexperienced skateboarders, those who have been skating for less than one week, suffer 1/3 of injuries.
· Skateboarders who do not wear protective gear—including a helmet, wrist guards, elbow and knee pads and appropriate shoes.
· Skateboarders who go near traffic or skate on “homemade” ramps.
· Experienced skateboarders who attempt to skate on irregular riding surfaces or try risky stunts.

Unfortunately, many of the skaters at Ranney Park say they don’t wear helmets either because there is a stigma surrounding their use. Some even went so far as to call not wearing a helmet a “badge of honor”, while others stated helmets were “too heavy” or an “inconvenience”. However, the 36-year-old Lansing man’s experiences can attest to the importance of wearing protective gear: prior to his fatal head injury he had suffered a broken knee, leg, collarbone, a separated shoulder, and had even been hit by a car. While the American Academy of Orthopaedic surgeons calls skateboarding “a fun and healthy sport”, it is also called an “extreme” sport for a reason. If you can’t resist the thrill, keep the following safety tips in mind for yourself or for your children:

· Use a quality skateboard

· Keep your skateboard in proper working order

· Learn the basic skills of skateboarding, especially how to stop properly

· Wear proper protective equipment

· Skateboard only on smooth pavement away from traffic, preferably in a supervised skate park

· Be careful with tricks and jumps

· Stay in good shape

· Do not use headphones while skateboarding

· Never attempt to put more than one person at a time on a skateboard

· Be considerate of fellow skateboarders, especially younger or less skilled skateboarders

· Know what to do in an emergency—don’t panic and call 911 for medical assistance or an ambulance immediately

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by David Mittleman

Woman's Fall from Disneyland Tram Leads to Settlement

David Mittleman — Sun, 31 May 2009 10:00:00 GMT

An Anaheim, California woman had less than a magical time at the Disneyland theme park when she fell from a tram and hit her head hard enough to cause her permanent brain injuries that will require lifetime 24-hour care. The Disney Company has settled the suit.

The woman was riding the Disneyland tram towards a parking lot with her two sisters and her niece when she fell. The lawsuit alleged that the tram driver was speeding, which Disney denied, claiming that the trams have a device limiting them to a maximum speed of 11 mph. The Disney Company maintains that it is committed to safety as its top priority.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by David Mittleman