New Jersey Brain Injury Lawyers
Representing clients suffering from brain injuries throughout New Jersey
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is caused by a jolt to the head which can cause significant internal damage even without the head hitting anything as often occurs in car accidents. Brain injuries can be severe and have long-lasting, negative consequences in a person’s life.
The personal injury team at Eichen Crutchlow Zaslow, LLP, represents people in New Jersey who have suffered brain injuries as the result of another party’s negligence. We offer a free initial consultation to discuss your case.
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What is traumatic brain injury?
Traumatic brain injury describes the damage to the brain caused by external physical forces such as those that occur in a car crash, a gunshot to the head, or a fall from a height. While the loss of consciousness after a head trauma is an important warning sign of possible TBI, a person may have suffered a traumatic brain injury without losing consciousness. (MSKTC) After a blow or a jolt to the head which causes the brain to collide with the inside of the front and back of the skull, an individual might suffer a range of injury from a "mild" TBI, or concussion, or a severe TBI with an extended period of unconsciousness. (U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
The International Brain Injury Association (IBIA) estimates that of all types of injury, brain injury is among the most likely to result in death or permanent disability. Brain injury is the leading cause of death and disability throughout the world, and about 1 million Americans are treated and released from emergency departments because of traumatic brain injury. About 5.3 million Americans are living with a disability related to a traumatic brain injury.
What are some of the common causes of traumatic brain injury?
The following are some examples of the common causes of traumatic brain injury:
- Car accidents
- Truck accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Acts of violence
- Sports and recreation activities
- Military/ bomb blast
Fifty percent of all TBIs are caused by traffic accidents. Falls are the leading cause of TBI in those over age 65. Sports-related traumatic brain injuries account for about 300,000 brain injuries each year. (IBIA)
What are some of the symptoms of traumatic brain injury?
A person can suffer a brain injury in an accident even when there is no outward sign of damage. The sudden acceleration and deceleration of the brain inside the skull can cause lesions that affect certain areas of the brain, leading to a loss of function in the areas controlled by that part of the brain.
Symptoms of a traumatic brain injury include:
- Headaches
- Inability to follow instructions
- Loss of short-term memory
- Personality changes such as irritability or loss of inhibitions
- Sensitivity to light or sound
- Sleeplessness or excessive tiredness
Traumatic brain injury and car accidents
In a car crash, or any other type of motor vehicle accident, the body is traveling at speeds of 25 to 65 or more mph when it collides with either another vehicle or a stationery object. While the body's motion has been abruptly stopped, the soft, malleable brain inside the hard, bony enclosure of the skull is still in motion and as the head jerks forward and then back in response to the tremendous g-forces, the brain crashes into the inside front and back of the skull. This traumatic blow causes injury to the neurons and dendrites in the brain, which can cause loss of function and disability depending on the location and severity of the injury.
It is no wonder that motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of traumatic brain injury in those younger than 65. If you or someone you care about has suffered a traumatic brain injury because of someone else's negligence, the skilled New Jersey brain injury lawyers at Eichen Crutchlow Zaslow are here to fight for your right to recover compensation.
Why is a brain injury sometimes called a "silent injury?"
Brain injury is called a silent injury because a person can be suffering from debilitating symptoms of TBI and experience difficulty concentrating, difficulty with memory, feeling foggy and having difficulty thinking clearly, managing moods, having trouble sleeping, and feeling lethargic. While the person with brain injury is suffering from these symptoms, he or she may appear to be perfectly healthy because there is not always a head wound with a brain injury.
Another reason for the name, "silent injury," is that the symptoms do not always appear right away. A person who has received a blow to the head might feel a bit woozy, and dizzy, but then in the short term feel fine until days, or weeks later when the other severe symptoms begin to appear.
Few people like to think about the possibility that they have suffered a brain injury in an accident. As a result, many symptoms are overlooked or passed off on other causes, such as medication. Unfortunately, this delay can make it difficult for the victims to obtain the treatment they need and compensation they deserve.
If you have suffered a blow to the head or a jolt to the body in a traffic crash or after a fall, it is critical that you seek medical attention right away and that you inform the doctor/medical staff about the details of the accident and the injury, so they know what to look for. You might also want to consult with a skilled New Jersey brain injury attorney if you are interested in pursuing compensation for your injuries and losses from the accident.
What can a New Jersey brain injury lawyer do to help clients suffering from traumatic brain injuries?
Brain injury cases are extremely complex and require a serious injury law firm that has the experience to establish both negligence and damages. Our attorneys have recovered hundreds of millions of dollars in settlements and jury verdicts for injured people and their families. With offices in Edison, Red Bank, and Toms River, our lawyers advise and represent brain injury victims and their families throughout New Jersey.
If you sustained a brain injury in NJ, call us today
Many people who have survived a brain injury have lasting disabilities and will require ongoing medical care. We can fight to make sure that you receive the compensation you need. You may discuss your case with an experienced New Jersey brain injury lawyer at Eichen Crutchlow Zaslow, LLP. Call our office at 732-777-0100 or contact us to arrange a free consultation. Evening and weekend appointments are available. We serve clients throughout New Jersey from our offices in Red Bank, Edison, and Toms River. If you are unable to travel to us, our attorneys will come to you.
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