Carolina Accident Lawyers

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3 Deaths Resulting from Football Collision

Kannapolis Brain Injury Lawyer

3 Deaths Resulting from Football Collision

Rock Hill, SC Traumatic Brain Injury Lawyer

Over the past few years, the NFL and football in general has been under a microscope for the way in which coaches deal with head injuries. In fact, the NFL Player’s Union has won litigation to compensate former NFL players for severe health issues which resulted from chronic head injuries from football. Recently, ESPN.com reported that three high school students have died from head injuries as well. It has also been reported that it is possible one of the student-athletes may have had a pre-existing brain aneurysm, which ruptured as a result of the collision during the football game. In this case, the player may not have died during the football game if he didn’t have an existing aneurysm.

Eggshell Skull Doctrine: Take your Victim As They Are 

What happens if, like the story above, you are already injured and someone is negligent in their actions, further aggravating your pre-existing injury? Likewise, what if you have a preexisting condition, such as osteoporosis, and a third party, who is unaware of your preexisting condition, shoves you like he would a normal person and you end up breaking your hip due to your preexisting condition? Luckily, there is a doctrine that deals with aggravation of a preexisting condition or injury; it’s called the Eggshell Skull Doctrine.

The Eggshell Skull Doctrine states that a tortfeasor or defendant may not escape or reduce liability because of a victim’s pre-existing condition even if that pre-existing condition made him/her more susceptible of injury. This basically means that if you already have a condition, like a brain aneurysm, and are later involved in a car accident which causes the aneurysm to burst, you can still be compensated for the worsening of your condition.

Have You Experienced a Major Injury? 

When you or a loved one is injured by another’s actions, there are many issues you must consider. One of those issues is whether the other party caused your pre-existing condition to worsen. In order to determine whether a tortfeasor’s actions worsened your pre-existing injury, it is very important that you seek immediate medical attention.

If you believe that you have sustained an injury through no fault of your own, contact an experienced attorney today by calling (855) 5-BICE-LAW or visit our website to schedule a free consultation. An attorney at Bice Law is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to listen to your story and answer any questions you may have about your ability to be compensated for your injuries. Just because you have a preexisting condition doesn’t mean that you will not be compensated for injuries you sustain as a result of another’s negligent actions.

 

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Debilitating Diseases Related to TBI

Rock Hill, SC Traumatic Brain Injury Lawyer

According to a study, traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) have now been linked to the onset of several debilitating diseases. Commonly associated with birth trauma, car accidents, and sport’s injuries, TBIs have now been shown to set off a neurological process associated with Alzheimer’s, sleep apnea, ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease, and Parkinson’s disease.

Complicating matters, TBIs are often difficult to detect and may be initially overlooked. Brain injury symptoms that occur as a result of sudden trauma such as a car accident or birth trauma may not manifest for several months, prolonging treatment and rehabilitation.

Although it may be difficult to prevent malpractice or other injury accidents from occurring, educating yourself about the signs of TBIs can help reduce the likelihood of requiring significant lifelong care.

Signs to look for include:

• Memory lapses
• Blurred vision
• Confusion
• Speech difficulties
• Loss of consciousness
• For infants, developmental delays

Contact the Traumatic Brain Injury | Head Trauma Law Firm of Bice Law

If you have experienced a traumatic brain injury, take the first step to protect your legal rights– contact the personal injury firm of Bice Law serving both North Carolina and South Carolina. You only have a limited time after your injury to file a claim, so act quickly.  Call (855) 5-BICE-LAW today or submit an online request  to get a free consultation with a traumatic brain injury attorney.  Results are how we measure success – we’ve built a strong reputation both in and out of the courtroom, and we’ll put our experience and expertise to work on your behalf.

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Sports Related Head Injuries

Charlotte, NC Traumatic Brain Injury Lawyer

The Winter Olympics are finally here! It’s thrilling to watch the best athletes in the world go head-to-head. The bobsledders, skiing, skating etc.

Part of the thrill, of course, is the danger associated with sports — which holds the risk for injury.

We mostly think of broken bones and torn muscles or ligaments when we think of sports injuries, but, in fact, the leading cause of death from sports-related injuries is traumatic brain injury (TBI).

According to the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS), there were approximately 446,000 sports-related head injuries treated at hospital emergency rooms in 2009.

While most bangs to the head result only in injury to the scalp, TBI’s can be life altering or deadly because of bleeding or bruising of the brain.

If you or your child shows signs of a TBI, seek medical attention immediately.

Top 10 Sports Related Head Injury for Children

Sports and recreational activities contribute to about 21% of all TBIs among American children and teenagers.

The top 10 sports-related head-injury categories for children ages 14 and younger(listed from most injuries to least injuries) were:
• Cycling
• Football
• Baseball & Softball
• Basketball
• Skateboards/Scooters
• Water Sports
• Soccer
• Powered Recreational Vehicles
• Winter Sports
• Trampolines

While TBIs can ruin your life, the answer isn’t to avoid sports and play. Thankfully, TBIs are highly preventable.

Head Injury Prevention Tips

Preventing head injuries comes down to one obvious, basic rule – Protect Your Head.

Of course, for these common sense tips to work, you have to actually do them:

  • Wear protective headgear approved for the specific sport in which you are engaged. Make sure the headgear fits properly.
  • Perform regular safety checks of sports fields, playgrounds, and equipment. Replace sporting equipment or protective gear that is damaged or malfunctioning.
  • Wear appropriate clothing for the sport. Do not wear anything that can interfere with your vision.
  • Supervise younger children at all times. Make sure they use equipment and play sports that are suitable for their age.
  • Do not dive into water less than 12 feet deep or into above-ground pools.
  • Follow all the rules at water parks and swimming pools.
  • Do not participate in sports when you are ill or very tired.
  • Obey all traffic signals and be aware of vehicles and other traffic.
  • Be aware of obstacles like uneven or slick surfaces, low branches, etc.

Contact the Traumatic Brain Injury | Head Trauma Law Firm of Bice Law

If you have experienced a traumatic brain injury, take the first step to protect your legal rights– contact the personal injury firm of Bice Law serving both North Carolina and South Carolina. You only have a limited time after your injury to file a claim, so act quickly.  Call (855) 5-BICE-LAW today or submit an online request  to get a free consultation with a traumatic brain injury attorney.  Results are how we measure success – we’ve built a strong reputation both in and out of the courtroom, and we’ll put our experience and expertise to work on your behalf.

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Research Collaboration on TBI

Rock Hill, SC Traumatic Brain Injury Lawyer

Peter Chiarelli wants scientists and clinicians working at labs and universities across the country to more actively pass around information and findings concerning advances in traumatic brain injury research.

It is likely the audience at the Kroc Center, assembled for a research symposium on “Advances in Warrior Care,” was listening closely, for Chiarelli has a commanding presence.

In fact, he is the Army’s former vice chief of staff, a retired four-star general who now heads a think tank and project called One Mind for Research. In speaking, Chiarelli wanted to drive home a few central points.

Foremost, he says that, with all the TBI-related research going on across the country, the benefits flowing from it should be more quickly forthcoming. That they aren’t disturbs him.

“I’m not saying to end the way you do things,” he told researchers. “I’m just saying take the next step.”

The next step, he says, is to put down the shields that make research teams closely guard their data and secure all their findings as proprietary. Doing that, he says, flatly closes the door on important research sharing, making advances much slower for head injury victims in both the military and among the general population.

At a time when information can be so quickly and easily shared, Chiarelli argues that the hide-it-until-it’s-published manner of doing things creates a strong disincentive to collaborate.

That must change, he says, and his organization can start the ball rolling. One Mind for Research intends to raise as much as $100 million for TBI research, and Chiarelli says that all the findings will be shared publicly on the project’s website, so that all researchers can benefit and contribute.

“We hope that our portal proves to folks that you can share data and have success,” he told his audience.

Contact the Traumatic Brain Injury | Head Trauma Law Firm of Bice Law

If you have experienced a traumatic brain injury, take the first step to protect your legal rights– contact the personal injury firm of Bice Law serving both North Carolina and South Carolina. You only have a limited time after your injury to file a claim, so act quickly.  Call (855) 5-BICE-LAW today or submit an online request  to get a free consultation with a traumatic brain injury attorney.  Results are how we measure success – we’ve built a strong reputation both in and out of the courtroom, and we’ll put our experience and expertise to work on your behalf.

Source: The Augusta Chronicle, “Private sector will lead in breakthroughs in brain disorders, general says,” Tom Corwin, Oct. 29, 2012

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Brain Injuries Connected With Vision Problems in Veterans

Rock Hill, SC Traumatic Brain Injury Lawyer

The Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Washington, D.C., completed a study showing the connection between veterans suffering mild traumatic brain injury and chronic vision disorders. Researchers noted that 67 percent of patient respondents reported vision problems, although none of them suffered any direct eye wounds.

Rock Hill-area veterans suffering these mild brain injuries experience similar problems. This survey shows that vision issues continued more than a year after respondents suffered their mild traumatic brain injury. Common vision problems include the inability to focus both eyes at the same time to read and a sensitivity to light. In addition, their ability to adjust their focus when moving from looking at far away objects to close ones is also often impaired.

Many respondents stated that it took five years or more to recover their unimpaired vision, much longer than most sports concussions and other mild brain injuries. Eye physicians agree that their military veteran patients often complain about double vision, along with the focusing problems recorded in the study.

Another study, completed by the Miami Veterans Affairs Medical Center and the University of Miami, found that war veterans suffering post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) also have vision disorders, particularly dry eye syndrome. Researchers examined the medical records of over two million veterans. They found that around 20 percent of those with PTSD also suffered from dry eye syndrome, which causes their tear glands to malfunction.

Contact the Traumatic Brain Injury | Head Trauma Law Firm of Bice Law

If you have experienced a traumatic brain injury, take the first step to protect your legal rights– contact the personal injury firm of Bice Law serving both North Carolina and South Carolina. You only have a limited time after your injury to file a claim, so act quickly.  Call (855) 5-BICE-LAW today or submit an online request  to get a free consultation with a traumatic brain injury attorney.  Results are how we measure success – we’ve built a strong reputation both in and out of the courtroom, and we’ll put our experience and expertise to work on your behalf.

Source:http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-11-brain-injury-stress-disorder-strong.html

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Handheld Device Can Detect Intracranial Bleeding

Rock Hill, SC Traumatic Brain Injury Lawyer

The more time it takes to diagnose a brain bleed means a longer period of time before it is treated, putting you at greater the risk of permanent brain damage.

The company InfraScan Inc. has developed a portable device that uses near-infrared technology to identify patients with intracranial bleeding. It is especially beneficial for military field situations, and sports injuries. Once the device identifies a potential brain bleed, the patient can be rushed to a CT scan or even neurosurgery to speed the patient on the road to recovery.

The InfraScan Inc. was recently awarded the Hillier Ignite Lifesaving Innovation Award.

“Traumatic brain injury touches many veterans and military families. For those injured far from the diagnostic machines available in hospitals, fast and accurate assessment of the impact of head trauma can be the difference between life and death, said Luke Hillier, Founder and President of  Hillier Ignite. “The Infrascanner 2000 is the lifesaving innovation that makes this possible, within minutes, and as with many great innovations, it has both military and civilian applications.”

This device has already be field-tested by the Navy and Marines in both Iraq and Afghanistan, and is already saving lives.

Contact the Traumatic Brain Injury | Head Trauma Law Firm of Bice Law

If you have experienced a traumatic brain injury, take the first step to protect your legal rights– contact the personal injury firm of Bice Law serving both North Carolina and South Carolina. You only have a limited time after your injury to file a claim, so act quickly.  Call (855) 5-BICE-LAW today or submit an online request  to get a free consultation with a traumatic brain injury attorney.  Results are how we measure success – we’ve built a strong reputation both in and out of the courtroom, and we’ll put our experience and expertise to work on your behalf.

Source:http://medcitynews.com/2013/07/device-company-building-handheld-scanner-to-detect-brain-bleeds-using-infrared-technology/

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Brain Injuries at School

Rock Hill, SC Traumatic Brain Injury Lawyer

A concussion comes from a head injury that jars the brain, causing slight head trauma and a headache. This can be a serious injury, or the child might recover in a day or so. Regardless of the severity, your child’s concussion is considered a traumatic brain injury and can be serious. Children and adolescents at school are among those with the greatest risk for a concussion. This is because these brain injuries can result from a fall or when a student’s head comes in contact with hard objects.

Playgrounds are full of  places that kids may hit their heads or fall. Because of this, concussions most often happen at recess or PE. When a child gets a concussion, it can stall or damage their brain development and needs to be addressed quickly. You will want to assess the situation right away. Check to see if your child’s eyes respond to light regularly, and make sure that you are monitoring that child. Next, be alert for any of the following signs and symptoms:

  • Headache that gets worse and does not go away.
  • Weakness, numbness or decreased coordination.
  • Repeated vomiting or nausea.
  • Slurred speech.
  • Look very drowsy or cannot be awakened.
  • Have one pupil (the black part in the middle of the eye) larger than the other.
  • Have convulsions or seizures.
  • Cannot recognize people or places.
  • Are getting more and more confused, restless, or agitated.
  • Have unusual behavior.
  • Lose consciousness (a brief loss of consciousness should be taken seriously and the person should be carefully monitored).

If it seems like there is a concern, contact a health care professional. All school personnel should be briefed on the ABC’s of concussion response, and should follow them whenever necessary. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that children and teens are not only more likely to get a concussion, but take longer to recover from one than an adult does.

If your child has a concussion follow these tips from the CDC to help ensure quick healing time:

  • Having the child get plenty of rest. Keep a regular sleep schedule, including no late nights and no sleepovers.
  • Making sure the child avoids high-risk/ high-speed activities such as riding a bicycle, playing sports, or climbing playground equipment, roller coasters or rides that could result in another bump, blow, or jolt to the head or body. Children should not return to these types of activities until their health care professional says they are well enough.
  • Giving the child only those drugs that are approved by the pediatrician or family physician.
  • Talking with their health care professional about when the child should return to school and other activities and how the parent or caregiver can help the child deal with the challenges that the child may face. For example, your child may need to spend fewer hours at school, rest often, or require more time to take tests.
  • Sharing information about concussion with parents, siblings, teachers, counselors, babysitters, coaches, and others who interact with the child helps them understand what has happened and how to meet the child’s needs.

Contact the Traumatic Brain Injury | Head Trauma Law Firm of Bice Law

If you have experienced a traumatic brain injury, take the first step to protect your legal rights– contact the personal injury firm of Bice Law serving both North Carolina and South Carolina. You only have a limited time after your injury to file a claim, so act quickly.  Call (855) 5-BICE-LAW today or submit an online request  to get a free consultation with a traumatic brain injury attorney.  Results are how we measure success – we’ve built a strong reputation both in and out of the courtroom, and we’ll put our experience and expertise to work on your behalf.

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Brain Injuries and Helmet Laws

Charlotte NC Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

Helmet laws significantly reduce the strain on public resources. Riders without a helmet cost more to treat at the hospital, spend a longer time in rehabilitation, and are more likely to require some form of public assistance to for pay medical bills and rehabilitation. In 1991, prior to enacting its helmet law, the state of California’s medical insurance program paid $40 million for the treatment of motorcycle-related head injuries. After putting the universal helmet law that number decreased down to $24 million.

“Mandatory helmet laws do nothing to prevent accidents. The decision on when to wear a helmet while operating a motorcycle should remain with each responsible adult rider.”

It is true that wearing a helmet does nothing to prevent accidents. However, it is also true that in the event of an accident, a biker wearing a helmet is more likely to survive a head injury, and will have less brain injury than a biker not wearing a helmet. It’s like saying steel-toed shoes won’t prevent warehouse accidents–true, but they will protect your toes should something fall on your foot.

According to a recent report by the Insurance Journal, Delaware (the only state included in the report) saw deaths from motorcycle crashes increase by more than 300% in the past year, compared with the previous year. Of those deaths, 80% occurred when riders were not wearing helmets.

Contact the Motorcycle Accident Law Firm of Bice Law

We investigate the accident records or scene in order to interview key witnesses and document evidence before it has been destroyed or removed.  We’ll review your medical records and evaluate your long-term prognosis to assess the amount of damages that your injury warrants. We proudly serve the people of North and South Carolina. We’ll determine whether an out-of-court settlement or trial is the best strategy to obtain maximum benefits for you or your family. If you have been involved in a serious motorcycle accident, take the first step to protect your legal rights – contact the personal injury firm of Bice Law today by calling (855) 5-BICE-LAW or submit an online request to get a free consultation with a motorcycle accident attorney. Results are how we measure success – we’ve built a strong reputation both in and out of the courtroom, and we’ll put our experience and expertise to work on your behalf.

Source: http://www.nhtsa.gov/

 

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Possible Treatment for Traumatic Brain Injuries

Rock Hill, SC TBI Lawyer

Traumatic brain injuries are considered to be incredibly difficult to treat for neurological doctors. Recent discovery shows that a drug, known as metformin, which is used to control Type 2 diabetes triggers stem cells into producing new brain cells, bringing hope of a new potential treatment for brain injuries.

Researcher at Toronto’s Hospital for Sick Children performed a study showing the drug metformin helps activate the mechanism that signals stem cells to generate new neurons and other brain cells.

The researchers used lab-dish experiments that used both mouse and human brain stem cells. Mice were given learning and memory tests after being given metformin.

Initially, researchers added metformin to stem cells harvested from the brains of mice. When that proved successful, they repeated the experiment with human brain stem cells that were generated in the lab. Both cases resulted in the mice and human stem cells creating new brain cells.

The drug was then tested in lab mice, with the result being that the mice receiving daily doses of metformin for two to three weeks had increased brain cell growth. In addition, the mice outperformed other mice that did not receive the drug in memory and learning tasks.

The researchers say that metformin extensive safety record means that it is an ideal drug to use in tests and trials for regrowth of brain cells. The drug may be especially beneficial to pediatric TBI patients. A pilot study is awaiting approval, and may begin within the next year at the soonest.

Source: http://life.nationalpost.com/2012/07/06/diabetes-drug-holds-promise-in-treating-brain-injuries/

Contact the Traumatic Brain Injury | Head Trauma Law Firm of Bice Law

If you have experienced a traumatic brain injury, take the first step to protect your legal rights– contact the personal injury firm of Bice Law serving both North Carolina and South Carolina. You only have a limited time after your injury to file a claim, so act quickly.  Call (855) 5-BICE-LAW today or submit an online request  to get a free consultation with a traumatic brain injury attorney.  Results are how we measure success – we’ve built a strong reputation both in and out of the courtroom, and we’ll put our experience and expertise to work on your behalf.

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MRI to Assist in Treating Post Concussion Syndrome

Rock Hill, SC TBI Lawyer

There has been new research that shows how the brain is changed in a person who suffers form post-concussion syndrome. These findings are from a new study published online in the journal Radiology.

A concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury that alters the way your brain functions. Effects are usually temporary, but can include problems with headache, concentration, memory, judgment, balance and coordination, light sensitivity and more.

Many concussions are usually caused by a blow to the head.  But they can also occur when the head and upper body are violently shaken in a very short period of time – milliseconds. These injuries can cause a loss of consciousness, but most concussions do not. Because of this, some people have concussions and don’t realize it.

Concussions are common, particularly if you play a contact sport, such as football. But every concussioninjures your brain to some extent. This injury needs time and rest to heal properly. Luckily, most concussive traumatic brain injuries are mild, and people usually recover fully. However in making that statement one must acknowledge that there are a percentage – 15-25% – of concussions that do not fully recover.

Post Concussion Syndrome affects approximately 20 percent to 30 percent of people who suffer mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI) — defined by the World Health Organization as a traumatic event causing brief loss of consciousness and/or transient memory dysfunction or disorientation.

Conventional neuroimaging cannot distinguish which Mild Traumatic Brain Injury patients will develop Post Concussion Syndrome.  “Conventional imaging with CT or MRI is pretty much normal in Mild Traumatic Brain Injury patients, even though some go on to develop symptoms, including severe cognitive problems,” said Yulin Ge, M.D., associate professor, Department of Radiology at the NYU School of Medicine in New York City.

For the new study, Dr. Ge and colleagues used resting-state functional MRI to compare 23 MTBI patients who had post-traumatic symptoms within two months of the injury and 18 age-matched healthy controls. Resting state MRI detects distinct changes in baseline oxygen level fluctuations associated with brain functional networks between patients with MTBI and control patients.

The MRI results showed that communication and information integration in the brain were disrupted among key DMN structures after mild head injury, and that the brain tapped into different neural resources to compensate for the impaired function.

Findings like these will make it easier to detect, identify and treat people who fall into the mild traumatic brain injury category.  And it will make proving the injury and its affects easier.

Contact the Traumatic Brain Injury | Head Trauma Law Firm of Bice Law

If you have experienced a traumatic brain injury, take the first step to protect your legal rights– contact the personal injury firm of Bice Law serving both North Carolina and South Carolina. You only have a limited time after your injury to file a claim, so act quickly.  Call (855) 5-BICE-LAW today or submit an online request  to get a free consultation with a traumatic brain injury attorney.  Results are how we measure success – we’ve built a strong reputation both in and out of the courtroom, and we’ll put our experience and expertise to work on your behalf.

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