Traumatic Brain And Spinal Cord Injuries Victims In Salinas, Merced, Redondo Beach & Pleasant Hill
In the field of personal injury law, traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries are commonly referred to as catastrophic injuries or injuries that go beyond the parameters of physical pain. According to Per 42 USC § 3796b, “catastrophic injury” is defined as “an injury with ‘direct and proximate consequences’ that permanently prevent an individual from performing any gainful work.” At the Braff Injury Law Practice, our extensive range of practice areas includes personal injury cases involving traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries, both of which are considered catastrophic injuries.
Spinal Cord Injuries
Spinal cord injuries, like traumatic brain injuries, are the epitome of a catastrophic injury. Just like the brain, the spinal cord is unable to regenerate like other body tissues are able to. Victims of spinal cord damage are often left with permanent disabilities that can range from foot and toe mobility issues to quadriplegia or total paralysis from the neck down. This type of injury and loss is emotionally and physically devastating for injury victims and their families alike. Such catastrophic injuries take a long time to heal and, in some cases, the treatment continues forever. Other than that, the quality of life for many accident victims deteriorates quickly and long-term effects range from limited mobility, memory loss to paralysis and coma.
Traumatic Brain Injuries
As with spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries are catastrophic in nature in that victims never fully recover from them. Unlike other tissues in the body, brain cells are unable to regenerate themselves. Once these cells are damaged or the connections between them get broken, their functions are completely lost, unless the brain can somehow learn how to perform them again. For the victim, these injuries often result in permanent problems with their cognitive abilities, emotions, mobility, and senses. In some cases, they have experienced personality changes.
Types of Accidents that can cause these Injuries
Spinal cord injuries result when the disks, ligaments, or vertebrae as well as the spinal cord itself get damaged. This could stem from a sudden devastating blow to the spine that compresses, crushes, dislocates, or fractures one or more of the vertebrae. The most common cause of spinal cord injuries is motor vehicle accidents. While motor vehicle accidents are the primary cause of traumatic brain injuries, they can also be caused by falling 3 or more feet, falling down stairs, falling off a bicycle while not wearing a helmet.
If you or a loved one has suffered a traumatic brain or spinal cord injury, we are dedicated to individuals and families that have endured the consequences of these catastrophic injuries. For more information about how we can help, call the Braff Injury Law Practice today.