Philadelphia Car Accident Lawyer Blog

Imagine this scene, in a split second you are in a car accident. Without warning, your head and neck are violently thrust about in an acceleration/deceleration type movement also known as whiplash injury. Even without a direct hit to the head, the brain is composed of several pounds of a soft like substance violently thrown about the inside of the skull. The inner surface of the skull is not smooth and contains several ribbed or bony structures, and if the brain is violently thrust in one of these structures, a serious brain injury can occur. Many people will visit the emergency room with a headache or nausea or vomiting and be sent home. They will continue to experience memory loss, irritability, depression, a feeling of malaise, inability to concentrate, and not be able to visualize any objective symptoms. What they may not know is that their brain has been injured. There may be an internal brain bleed , tearing of tissue, or a swelling of the brain against the cranium which could lead to an intracranial hematoma. If the impact with the skull is severe enough, blood vessels inside the brain may break leading to a hemorrhage. Unfortunately many times this situation goes undiagnosed as people proudly claim that there is nothing wrong with them.

As an experienced motor vehicle accident lawyer since 1979, I have unfortunately seen the sobering effects resulting in long term disabilities caused by traumatic brain injury resulting from a motor vehicle accident. Each year in America, more people will sustain a traumatic brain injury then will be struck by heart attacks. Experts claim it is “the silent epidemic” as a traumatic brain injury or closed head injury caused by whiplash or an impact to the head often does not have visible signs yet can cause significant damage. Many people are tempted to just discuss it as a small bump on the head.

If you were involved in a car accident and sustained a violent whiplash injury or strike your head, it is necessary to receive a complete evaluation so that you do not become one of the walking wounded walking around with an undiagnosed traumatic brain injury. The experienced closed head trauma and traumatic brain injury and motor vehicle accident lawyers of Reiff & Bily are well versed in this arena and always offer a free, no obligation consultation to anyone who has been involved in a significant motor vehicle or car accident. For more information, contact us toll free at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

I recently had the opportunity to meet with a client who struck her head in a violent car accident. At the emergency room, she was diagnosed with a mild concussion and despite the fact that she continued to exhibit symptoms a week after the accident including but not limited to vomiting, nausea, loss of memory, and anxiety, she could not get an appointment with a proper neurologist for a month.

The experienced traumatic brain injury and car accident lawyers of Reiff & Bily, who have had extensive experience dealing with traumatic brain injury expeditiously scheduled an immediate consult with a neurologist who diagnosed an intracranial hemorrhage just in the nick of time. I find that many emergency rooms discharge patients without the proper care or follow up and in such a situation, the unknowing patient or victim is left in precarious situation. If a diagnosis such as intracranial hemorrhage occurs within the skull, pressure is placed on the brain. Intracranial bleeding normally occurs when a blood vessel within the skull is ruptured due to an impact or trauma. This is a medical condition which is not to be taken lightly because if blood continues to build up within the skull, delicate tissue of the brain can be greatly impacted and lead to a more serious condition or even death.

Typically symptoms include but are not limited to headaches, vomiting, lower level of concentration, spotty vision, ringing in the ears, appearance of lucidity, and seizures. If symptoms persist and you cannot get an appointment immediately with a neurologist, it is important to present to a hospital emergency room as soon as possible. Between 4 and 5 million concussions and more significant brain injuries are caused by motor vehicle crashes every year.

For over three decades, the experienced car accident and traumatic brain injury lawyers of Reiff & Bily have been researching, investigating, and litigating closed head trauma, traumatic brain injury and car accident cases. We have represented thousands of clients recovering hundreds of millions of dollars on behalf of injured victims and their families. For more information, contact us toll free at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

The violent forces that occur as a result of a car accident often leave innocent victims with a traumatic brain injury that will greatly affect their daily abilities to fully function after a car accident. Many times a traumatic brain injury will result in a lifetime of rehabilitative training, extensive medical bills, and loss of a job which can take the wind out of the sails of a victim and their family emotionally and financially.

A traumatic brain injury can range from a mild occurrences such as a concussion which will normally resolve with no long term health consequences to a severe trauma to the brain which often occurs in a sudden acceleration/deceleration injury or the result of a penetrating injury to the head.

As an experienced traumatic brain injury and car accident lawyer for over three decades who has handled tens of thousands of car accident cases, I have observed that many cases are worked up by attorneys or physicians unfamiliar with traumatic brain injury symptoms, and unfortunately it is only after a case is resolved that a proper diagnosis has been made. Too many inexperienced car accident attorneys look for the “Easy A” and quickly settle a case without proper due diligence for health concerns that will impact the victim and their family for a lifetime. TBI is often difficult to recognize and the damage is not readily apparent and requires a thorough evaluation and investigation by trained physicians, neurologists, and attorneys with experience in the field.

Many symptoms of traumatic brain injuries include but are not limited to memory issues, behavioral changes and irritability, speak and language difficulty, nausea, vomiting, headaches, seizures, pupil dilation, ringing in the ears, fractures of the skull, loss of consciousness, depression, loss of life’s enjoyment pleasures and libido, and inability to function in an emotional and mental level as the victim did prior to the accident. TBI is also referred to as a silent, hidden epidemic and often goes undiagnosed.

If you or a loved one has been involved in a car accident or truck accident or has suffered a blow to the head as the result of negligence of another or a product defect, it pays to have a free, no obligation consultation with an experienced car accident and traumatic brain injury lawyer.