Akron Personal Injury Lawyer - Head & Brain Injuries

Traumatic Brain Injury Takes Toll on the Victim and the Family

Jack Landskroner — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 16:39:35 GMT

Traumatic brain injuries take a toll not only on the injured victim but also on the family and care-givers. When a person is injured in a car accident, a fall, a workplace injury or otherwise and experiences a closed head injury and/or brain damage, the recovery is slow and often incomplete. While the patient struggles to adapt, so too do those around the injured person. Uncontrolled emotions, indecision, fits of rage, frustration and confusion are all part of sequelae from a brain injury for a patient, but learning how to cope with these changes in persona are often equally as challenging and difficult for responsible loved ones.

Mike Kaplan, at the Brain Injury News Blog discusses this concern and a recent article in the journal NeuroRehabilitation

After a traumatic brain injury medical professionals tend to focus on the patient but research shows a great impact on family members as well. Studies in the 1970s began to recognize these issues, while other work in the 1980s documented emotional distress that persisted for up to seven years and many studies in the 1990s identified tremendous levels of stress on caregivers and family members.

The stark reality is that a traumatic brain injury is devastating for everyone involved. The injury is not just limited to the injured victim but to all those that play a role in the victims life.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Jack Landskroner

Loyalty of Hoover Employees Lost on Company

Jack Landskroner — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 03:14:01 GMT

When clients and their families call my office seeking representation after a catastrophic workplace injury, whether it be a head injury or even a wrongful death claim, the call is often predicated with the statement: " we are not the type of family that sues." I am always puzzled by this predicate statement because in essence it suggests the clients are the type of people to let someone else walk all over their rights.

The stigma associated with bringing a lawsuit to enforce the law or protect ones rights is a creation of big business and the insurance industry. Ironically, big business and insurance companies have no hesitation in hiring high priced lawyers at astronomical hourly rates to sue to enforce their rights. In the end, the average person in many instances lets the powerful take advantage of them foregoing their day in court and the opportunity to hold the wealthy wrongdoer accountable for harmful conduct.

I suppose the hope is that the company will do the right thing and take responsibility for and care of their injured workers that have given their lives to the company. Unfortunately, that is rarely the case. As an example, this week Hoover Company, recently purchased by Techtronic's, made an announcement that it will consolidate most Stark County operations to plants in Mexico and Texas. The North Canton factory operations will be phased out no later than September.

While there are about 1,000 Hoover jobs now in North Canton, the final number will be between 150 and 175 in Stark County, the company said. Some jobs will be shifted to Glenwillow in Cuyahoga County, the new Northeast Ohio headquarters for Techtronic's floor-care division. A small work force will remain behind at the Jackson Township distribution center and the bag plant in Canton.

Years of loyalty of Hoover employees and their families to this company has produced no loyalty of the company to the employees.

U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown said in a statement that he is disappointed with TTI's decision and concerned for the North Canton community.``I have had numerous discussions with TTI, union leaders and the governor's office, and we had hoped to retain the jobs in North Canton,'' Brown said.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Jack Landskroner

Traumatic Brain Injury May Show No Visible Damage But Can Have Devastating Effect

Jack Landskroner — Tue, 27 Mar 2007 22:07:40 GMT

When someone suffers a traumatic brain injury (TBI) in a car accident, workplace or industrial accident, or as the result of a fall, concussion or other traumatic event, the impact of the injury can be severe or appear to be almost non-existent. However, a TBI can do significant damage without leaving any visible signs, so the initial injury is often dismissed as just a bump on the head when far more damage has been done.

"There are countless 'walking wounded' who look just fine on the outside, but who aren't the same on the inside," says Jonathan Lifshitz, an assistant professor at the Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center at the University of Kentucky Chandler Medical Center

TBI can result in changes to mental processing that are profound, profuse and permanent. Thinking can be slowed, attention dulled, memory muddled and judgment impaired, says Keith Cicerone, director of neuropsychology at the JFK Johnson Rehabilitation Institute in Edison, N.J.

If you or a loved one has endured a traumatic brain injury and need help Therapy can help people cope with the changes, but it doesn't always repair the damage. Long term care plans or "life care plans" become an integral part to planning and caring for a brain damaged patient. As a family member of one who has endured a TBI, there are also many pitfalls and legalities which must be endured. Take time to find quality health care providers and competent counsel who are familiar with these issues.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Jack Landskroner

Health Care Facility Patient Dies from Head Injury

Christina Cole — Mon, 05 Mar 2007 01:42:26 GMT

The death of a patient at the North Coast Behavioral Health Care Facility has been ruled a homicide by Summit County Medical Examiner.

According to reports, the patient was attacked and beaten on March 2nd by another patient at the facility. He was transported to nearby Sagamore Hills Medical Center, where he died shortly after.

The medical examiner determined the cause of death to be a result of traumatic brain and head injury.

The attack was unprovoked, according to an Ohio State Highway Patrol spokesman. The attacker used no weapons, just his fists. The investigation is not yet complete and will be sent to the prosecutor's office when final.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Christina Cole