Philadelphia Car Accident Lawyer Blog

It never ceases to amaze me when dealing with defendants and insurance companies after a car accident and I suggest a loss of life’s pleasures, the representative or attorney on the other side seems to suggest that most people have the ability to walk away unaffected despite the fact that there may not be “hard core” objective findings of broken bones. Certainly it goes without saying that a car accident is a traumatic incident that produces anxiety, frustration, and depression in most individuals. While each individual is unique, even a minor injury can impact an individual’s ability to function as they did prior to the accident according to studies. You don’t need to sustain “broken bones” to be severely affected or injured in a car accident.

Over the last thirty years as an experienced Philadelphia car accident attorney, I have been able to effectively demonstrate through objective testing that victims of car accidents scored lower in cognitive function testing and lagged behind healthy peers in a work or educational environment, suggesting that anxiety, frustration, or depression associated with getting hurt can explain the lower scoring. A Pennsylvania car accident victim is entitled to receive compensatory damages against a defendant who is liable for his or her negligence or harm. An experienced Philadelphia car accident lawyer should aggressively pursue financial compensation for various out-of-pocket expenses including but not limited to medical costs, property damage, lost wages, and loss of life’s enjoyment and pleasures.

The experienced Philadelphia car accident lawyers of Reiff and Bily always offer a free, no obligation consultation and can be reached 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.

For over three decades as an experienced Philadelphia car accident and hit and run accident lawyer, I have noticed an alarming increase in the number of hit and run accidents. A hit and run accident is a crime committed by a fleeing driver. I have stated many times before that there is never a good reason why someone would not stop after being involved in a car accident.

Recently I met with the family of a young father with an impeccable work record who was struck by a hit and run driver on his way home from work one evening a few weeks ago. The investigation revealed that the offending hit and run driver was an off duty police officer. The victim now lays motionless in a coma in a hospital room while his parents, family, and child express concerns and worries about his and their futures. Medical bills and bills for rehabilitation will likely skyrocket into the hundreds of thousands if not millions of dollars.

The day following the accident, the investigation revealed that the police officer turned herself in with extensive damage to the striking vehicle. The obvious question to be answered is Why would an off duty police officer and a responsible individual not call 911 immediately after the accident to inform the police about what happened and offer immediate assistance?

As an experienced hit and run accident lawyer, I have shared the pain of innocent and unknowing victims with all too many parents and families who have suffered losses as result of hit and run accidents caused by drivers who leave the scene generally because they were intoxicated by virtue of drugs or alcohol. Law enforcement officials claim that the situation is a growing challenge and I for one can state that our law firm received at least 4 phone calls just this morning from hit and run accident victims.

Continue reading "When A Police Officer Leaves The Scene Of A Hit And Run Accident Which Renders The Victim Unconscious And In A Coma, It’s Time to Wake Up And Recognize That The Hit And Run Epidemic Needs An Immediate And Major Fix" »

On Saturday, August 20th, 8 members of the Mainland varsity and junior varsity football teams of Linwood, New Jersey were traveling to a restaurant in Egg Harbor Township for a traditional annual breakfast with coaches and players after the last football practice of the summer when tragedy struck.

According to news sources, the 2002 Ford Explorer that the eight football players were traveling in lost control and careened off the southbound ramp of Exit 38A on the Garden State Parkway causing the Explorer to overturn several times, ejecting two of the passengers. Three were pronounced dead at the scene, one died at the hospital, and 4 others were injured in this tragic accident. State Police continue to investigate. Our hearts, thoughts, and prayers go out to the victims and their families in this tragic accident. As an experienced SUV rollover
and 15-passenger van rollover lawyer, I am aware that these vehicles can be highly unstable and more prone to rollover crashes than many other vehicles due to their higher center of gravity. The families of the victims would be well advised to contact an experienced SUV rollover attorney to investigate this accident. Our skilled team of SUV rollover lawyers has handled many SUV rollover and 15-passenger van accidents and know what to look for and have held major automotive corporations responsible for damages suffered by the drivers and passengers of single vehicle accidents.

Since 1979, our skilled Pennsylvania car accident and single vehicle car accident lawyers have represented generations of Pennsylvanians with a successful track record. Recently, we have joined forces with the legendary Beasley Firm to create the Beasley Reiff Law Group. For a free, no obligation consultation, please contact us toll free at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

As an experienced Philadelphia car accident attorney for over three decades, as well as a licensed driver for over 40 years, there is one thing I am certain, of marijuana, alcohol, and other substances that impair one’s thinking do not mix well with the operation of a motor vehicle.

Statistics indicate that people who drive after using medical marijuana are nearly twice as likely to be involved in a car accident. Although studies indicate that marijuana usage increases the risk of fatal accidents, it is much lower than those attributed to alcohol. Researchers note that even low doses of marijuana significantly increase the risk of fatal car accidents. Twice as many drivers involved in fatal car accidents tested positive for marijuana. As marijuana continues to be legalized in many states, most recently New Jersey, it is my fear that we will see more car crashes resulting in catastrophic injuries and fatalities on Pennsylvania and New Jersey roads along with other states passing such legislation.

According to NHTSA, 16.3% of all night time drivers in America were found to be on a drug, whether legal or illegal, and more than half of these cases involved marijuana. On many counts, I recognize the medical benefits of marijuana, I have no doubt that the increased marijuana usage will not mix well for driving and as a top philadelphia car accident attorney who unfortunately deals with some of the most tragic car accidents that one can imagine, I am a strong advocate of keeping the nation’s motorists as safe as possible.

As many municipalities are in a tightened and deficit state, crash taxes and accident response fees seem to be sweeping the country. Thankfully as a Philadelphia and Pennsylvania accident attorney, I am glad to reassure Pennsylvania citizens that Pennsylvania and 12 other states have outlawed accident fees and taxes preventing cities from billing victims of motor vehicle accidents for fire and police response services. In some states, a car accident with injuries is billed at $490 to the driver. If there is a fire without injuries, bills are in the amount of $415, and in an accident without injuries, motorists are assessed a $365. The thought process was to shift the burden from the tax payers to those responsible for the accident. Of course, this begs the question as to how do we determine who was responsible on the spot?

It is my understanding that insurance companies are often refusing to pay these taxes when the consumers try to pass them on which leaves the motorist in the position that not only have they been the victim of a car accident, but they must now foot the bill or litigate over the matter just to even pay the tax. When you are involved in a car accident, the last thing you want to think about is being taxed.

In Philadelphia many times the police are not even responding to car accidents due to budget cutbacks, and it is important that you secure information from all of the individuals involved in the car accident. If you are injured, it is best to contact an experienced Philadelphia or Pennsylvania car accident attorney who will work with skilled investigators to fully investigate your claim. Of course, the best Philadelphia car accident attorneys never charge for an initial consultation and will always handle your case on a percentage basis meaning that if you win, you will be charged a fee and if you do not win you will not be charged anything at all including the costs of investigation.

Continue reading "It’s Bad Enough You Are A Victim In A Car Accident But Some States Now Want To Tax You With A “Crash Tax”" »

2011 is shaping up to be a banner year in the annals of tour bus accidents and resulting deaths and injuries. That is more than the total of 2010 when there were 30 fatalities, 272 injuries, and 28 tour bus crashes. In the wake of tour bus accidents, investigations have been commenced by various state and national authorities. However our experienced bus accident attorneys and investigators understand that many tour bus companies and discount bus operators continue to stress profitability rather than safety and seem to be taking all too many short cuts in a tightened economy.

For years, bus safety advocates and bus accident lawyers called for legislation with teeth that would strengthen bus driver safety and driving training. In our independent analysis of many bus companies and their drivers, we have found abysmal safe records. In one case, the tour bus drivers were cited for over 46 safety violations including speeding and fatigue. Many drivers were found to have deportation detainers from immigration and customs departments, as well as felony warrants. In one of our cases, one of the bus companies claimed to have an office in a premise that was totally non-existent. Amazingly the bus company still continues to operate despite fatalities in alleged ongoing investigations.

Senator Frank Lautenberg of New Jersey was concerned that the Department of Transportation was not moving quickly enough to make motor coaches or buses safer and was quoted as saying “Just because bus companies can discount prices, doesn’t mean they can discount safety”. Unbelievably in one of our cases, the insurance company claims that the bus did not have insurance as stated on their certificate. Until lawmakers take proper steps, bus owners and operators will continue to skirt the system and unfortunately more and more lives will be lost and other innocent and unknowing victims injured. We recommend that buses be equipped with black box recorders similar to those installed in airplanes.

Continue reading "In The First Six Months Of 2011, 17 Tour Bus Accidents Result In 323 Serious Injuries And 32 Fatalities - A Disturbing Trend Opines Bus Accident Law Firm Who Has Repeatedly Called On Legislators For Tighter Safety Legislation" »

Unfortunately another deadly bus accident has occurred in New York taking the lives of several innocent and unknowing victims. Over the last six months, there have been a series of bus crashes and near crashes involving the discount tour bus industry which has killed almost 20 individuals and catastrophically injured many others.

The experienced bus accident lawyers of Reiff & Bily are representing individuals and their families in one of the earlier fatal bus crashes and our investigative efforts have revealed a plethora of bus safety and driver training issues and problems. To reiterate the words of U.S. Senator Charles Schumer who is pushing for legislation to strengthen bus safety and driver training, “There isn’t a moment to spare when keeping bus passengers and drivers safe and informed”. As a bus accident and catastrophic injury attorney who deals with the almost incomprehensible tragedies that occur in the lives of otherwise innocent victims, it is evident that the bus industry is incapable of regulating itself when it comes to safety. The bus industry continues to emphasize profitability over safety and the growing epidemic of crashes over the last few months reenforces the need for strict legislation with teeth to address this terrible epidemic. We wholeheartedly appreciate the efforts of Senator Schumer and others committed in their fight to improve tour bus safety.

Reiff & Bily has recently joined forces with the Beasley Firm to create the Beasley Reiff Law Group and together we have recovered over $2 billion dollars in verdicts, settlement, and awards for catastrophically injured victims and their families. We always offer a free, no obligation consultation. For more information, please contact us toll free at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com

Last week I investigated one of the saddest cases of my three decade car career as a Philadelphia vehicle product defectand Philadelphia car accident lawyer. The case involved a head on collision caused by another driver who was texting at the time of the accident causing the texting driver to swerve into the opposite lane of travel hitting another vehicle head on killing the young woman driver. Upon my investigation of the vehicles involved, I was surprised to see that although the vehicles were the same size, one of the vehicles had extensive crush and dashboard intrusion, and it also appeared that the driver’s seat came off of its track and was forced into the dashboard with the resulting impact forces. The other vehicle’s damage from the accident forces was minimal in comparison.

As an auto product safety lawyer who has successfully handled many vehicle product liability claims, one thing for certain is that there is a big difference in the safety of vehicle occupants depending on the type and manufacture of the vehicle. A simple recall history and investigation of the vehicle deemed non-crashworthy indicated that occupants of similar vehicles had sustained almost identical injuries to the driver and evidence indicated that the vehicle’s poor structural resistance and inability to perform well in crash testing. As our investigation continues, it is readily apparent that we will be pursuing a claim against the offending driver as well as against the automobile manufacturer for  design and manufacturing defects.

In my experience I have found that many attorneys handling car accident cases never look further than the obvious third party defendant or wrongdoer and fail to explore other options such as product liability and crashworthiness theories. The experienced Philadelphia car accident and auto product liability defect lawyers of Reiff & Bily have recently joined forces with the Beasley Firm to form the Beasley Reiff Law Group. Since 1958, our skilled product liability and car accident lawyers have been awarded billions on behalf of those catastrophically injured or wrongfully killed. We always offer a free confidential, no obligation consultation to those involved in car accidents. For more information, contact us toll free at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

As an experienced biker and Pennsylvania motorcycle accident attorney since 1979, I understand that warm weather brings motorcyclists to our roadways, but unfortunately this is often coupled with catastrophic injuries and wrongful deaths in motorcycle accidents. Over the last month, over a dozen people were injured or killed on Pennsylvania highways in motorcycle accidents.

I started building and riding motorcycles in my early teens and had never taken a motorcycle safety course until I was in my late 40's as I thought I knew it all. Frankly, I hate to admit it but I thought the course was way beneath my skills and would be elementary and boring. However, I was pleasantly surprised regarding how much I learned regarding motorcycle operation and safety. Pennsylvania motorcycle safety program is sponsored fees paid when obtaining, renewing, or replacing a motorcycle permit license and many insurance companies will give you a substantial discount if you prove that you have completed the course. Courses will be offered from July 21st to July 24th, and July 28 to July 31st. Many of my clients and friends have told me that they have avoided many accidents with the skills they learned in the Pennsylvania motorcycle safety course.

The Pennsylvania motorcycle accident law firm of Reiff & Bily is committed to motorcycle safety and always offers a free, no obligation confidential consultation to those who are injured in a motorcycle accident. For more information, please contact us toll free at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

This morning I had the chance to visit the office of a prominent neuropsychiatrist in consultation regarding a young client who was complaining of behavioral disturbances and had been diagnosed with ADHD. Many experts have suggested that brain injury in school age children causes ADHD but the same has not been conclusively confirmed. Many defense psychiatrists will argue that individuals who have ADHD are more likely to sustain head trauma due to riskier behavior patterns. ADHD is a condition affecting behavioral aspects of inattentiveness, impulse, and hyperactivity and has been attributed to several factors including closed head trauma. It has also been linked to individuals who sustain a catastrophic accident involving a lack of oxygen to the brain. Many studies performed have indicated there may be a relationship between individuals suffering from ADHD and traumatic brain injuries generally suffered in childhood.

As a practicing attorney for over 30 yeas dealing with many cases of traumatic brain injuries resulting from car accidents, truck accidents, and vehicle rollovers, I am fairly certain that traumatic brain injury is often missed in the ADHD diagnosis. Psychiatrists have found that TBI medication treatment can significantly improve ADHD problems and often needs to be augmented with stimulant medications.

Continue reading "ADHD May Be Caused By A Closed Head Injury Or Brain Trauma" »

Recently I received a call from a middle aged man whose wife was involved in a car accident and since the car accident she has slid downward after being diagnosed with a closed head and traumatic brain injury. Prior to the accident, the victim who is now my client was gainfully employed as an executive. After the accident, her behavior was described by her husband and friends as becoming more detached, unable to remember things, reclusive with slurred speech and extreme depression. In fact, her husband told me that he “lost his wife,” and that she was unrecognizable after the accident.

A careful battery of neurological testing did in fact confirm that this once vibrant and functioning woman was suffering memory loss, sensory loss, diminished cognitive functioning, and communication problems. While it is not known whether these symptoms are permanent due to the length of time they have existed, the prognosis is not favorable. As evidenced by this situation, traumatic brain injuries which result from a car accident or trauma can seriously alter the lives of victims and their families. The victim’s husband has become a caregiver as he must attend to his wife’s basic needs on a daily basis. Her medical bills continue to skyrocket into the hundreds of thousands of dollars, and of course, without a job her family income is cut in half. In effect, this once very well functioning family and couple has had the wind knocked out of their sails in a financial and emotional way.

At the experienced Philadelphia brain injury and car accident law firm of Reiff & Bily, we have over 30 years of experience handling the most catastrophic car accident and brain injury cases, and we have been able to successfully obtain compensation from the parties responsible for medical expenses, rehabilitation, lost income, pain and suffering, and resident care. If you or a loved one has sustained catastrophic injuries or a wrongful death as the result of a car accident, please contact one of our experienced lawyers for a free, no obligation consultation at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

As an experienced Philadelphia catastrophic injury and traumatic brain injury lawyer since 1979, I have tackled thousands of cases involving serious brain injuries rendering once high powered individuals and executives to an unrecognizable state as compared to their life prior to the accident.

Recently a book “Left Neglected” was authored by neuroscientist, Lisa Genova, which tackles the serious issues of traumatic brain injuries in an intriguing and realistically dramatic manner. Ms. Genova writes compellingly of the story of Sarah, a high powered executive and mother of three, who has a car accident and suffered a catastrophic brain injury. The brain injury is noted to be left neglect syndrome, a disability whereupon one does not recognize anything on the left side even their own hand or leg. While most individuals would find stories such as this gruesome and perhaps boring, this book is one that I would recommend to friends and clients of mine as it is almost impossible to put down as one follows the path of the first person narrator Sarah Nickerson, a 37-year old achieving multi-tasker type A personality with a Harvard MBA and a demanding job with a human relations consulting firm in Boston. The catastrophic car accident leaves Sarah with a traumatic brain injury and explores the struggles that she and her family must go through even when the insurance runs out. Prior to her car accident, Sarah had it all and could do it all - the gorgeous suburban house in the most sought after neighborhood, a vacation home in Vermont, three great children, and a devoted husband. Yet with one car accident, her world was turned upside down when the horrific crash resulted in a traumatic brain injury.

As an experienced Philadelphia car accident and brain injury lawyer who has handled many catastrophic brain injury and closed head traumas, I have worked with individuals and families who after an accident recognize that life will never be the same, forcing them to reexamine their priorities, relationships, and the necessities of life. As an experienced traumatic brain injury lawyer, I am well aware that the extent of a brain injury depends on the areas of the brain that were damaged and persons with traumatic brain injuries exhibit memory loss, paralysis, sensory loss, diminished cognitive functions, and communication problems. Many times these injuries are permanent and many times the brain injury victims and their families may not recognize the extent of the injuries until weeks or months after the accident occurs.

Continue reading "“Left Neglected” A Compelling Read And Sensitive Look At Brain Injury" »

Many times in an automobile collision, the injured victim strikes their head and may not even know it due to the fact that the impact and accident took place so quickly and they are in a momentary daze. As an experienced Philadelphia car accident lawyer who has handled thousands of head trauma and brain injury cases, I am well aware that many people have strikes to the head that don’t seem like injuries yet many hours or days later experience symptoms of concussion and closed-head trauma. If you have been in a car accident and had an impact to your head, it is important to contact a doctor or go to an emergency room as soon as possible after the accident. As Louis Pasteur once was quoted as saying “chance favors the prepared man.”

Symptoms of a concussion include but are not limited to headache, nausea, dizziness, balance problems, confusion, disorientation, trouble concentrating, unusual display of emotion, blurred vision, seeing spots, bright lights, halos, and light sensitivity and may also sometimes manifest themselves as irritability or lethargy. A brain injury left untreated can cause chronic headaches, learning difficulties, memory problems, and unfortunately sometimes even death. As we are all aware, actress Natasha Richardson died last year after a skiing accident that at first did not appear to have been serious and was only indicated by a headache. She declined medical attention at the scene and returned to her hotel but later developed a severe headache and was taken to the hospital where she died three days later due to head trauma.

Car accidents that cause concussions and potential closed head injury are serious business and should not be taken lightly. The Pennsylvania car accident and traumatic brain injury law firm of Reiff & Bily have obtained some exceptional levels of compensation for our seriously injured clients. We are dedicated to helping persons who suffer from traumatic brain injuries and provide a free, no obligation consultation to discuss your claim. We offer a no fee guarantee which means if we don’t win, you don’t pay. For more information, contact us online at www.reiffandbily.com or call us toll free at 1-800-421-9595.

As an experienced Philadelphia car accident and catastrophic injury lawyer since 1979, I am all too well aware that there are many myths surrounding closed head trauma and brain injury and one does not have to lose consciousness in order to sustain a brain injury. Many times a brain injury will not be revealed in a CT scan or other objectively defining test. If you have sustained a serious head trauma, you must be aware of the symptoms. A headache is the number one symptom after a concussion. You then may notice sleep disturbances or mood changes or difficulty concentrating or with memory. Many of these symptoms can mimic depression, anxiety, attention deficit disorder, and need to be carefully evaluated.

I recently met with a client who sustained a fairly minimal impact to her head in a car accident, yet one and a half years following the accident, she has been diagnosed with a severe closed head injury and brain trauma and she is unable to return to her job as a well functioning executive. Her medical bills have climbed into the hundreds of thousands. A family member told me that never in his wildest dreams did he think that the symptomatology and consequences of the accident would have such a devastating impact financially and emotionally. He described a feeling of helplessness as a caregiver.

One should understand that the brain is compromised of soft tissue cushioned by a fluid inside the hard protective skull similar to the yoke of an egg floating inside the shell. When a person sustains an impact to the head, the brain can be thrown around violently inside the skull and even bang against its rough interior surface. This can lead to a bruising or contusion of the brain, a tearing of the blood vessels, and an injury to the nerves. When this happens, the person can get a concussion which is defined as a temporary loss of normal brain function. A closed head injury or concussion should not be taken lightly and one should seek immediate medical attention.

The experienced closed head injury and brain trauma lawyers of Reiff & Bily work with expert physicians who use neuro-cognitive testing to assess a patient’s memory, mental speed, cognitive function, and neurological abilities. The Philadelphia brain injury lawyers of Reiff & Bily have obtained exceptional levels of compensation for those who have sustained traumatic brain injury as a result of another’s negligence. For a free no obligation consultation, please contact us online at www.reiffandbily.com or toll free at 1-800-421-9595. We may be able to obtain compensation from the party responsible for your injuries to cover your medical expenses, rehabilitation, lost income, pain and suffering, and home or resident care.

Recently 47-year old Michelle Philpots was featured on The Today Show, as well as in a number of articles, claiming that after two serious motor accidents more than 20 years ago, she has developed a rare form of amnesia from the resulting brain injuries. These injuries erase her recent memories each night and keep her stuck in the year 1994. Her memory loss has been brought on by a condition known as anterograde amnesia and every morning Philpots wakes up thinking that it is still 1994, the last year that she can fully remember. Philpots told Today Show host Matt Laurer during her Today Show appearance, “I didn’t want to be different. I wanted to be back to the normal me and not the shell of a person. I want my career back. I want to be able to say I remember when again and knowing that’s the life you lost, you can’t do it.” In 1985, Philpots was in a motorcycle accident and 5 years later in a serious car accident. Both resulted in severe head trauma which caused the anterograde amnesia, a condition that allows the brain to remember past events but not those in the future.

As an experienced Pennsylvania car accident attorney since 1979 whose law firm has handled in excess of 20,000 car accident cases, I am well aware of the occurrence of traumatic brain injury (TBI) when a blow to the head damages the brain as a result of a car accident. Motor vehicle accidents are the predominant cause of traumatic brain injuries. When an individual suffers a traumatic brain injury or closed head trauma, the extent of the injury depends on the areas of the brain that were damaged. Traumatic brain injuries may result in memory loss, paralysis, sensory loss, diminished cognitive function, and communication problems. These symptoms are often permanent and sometimes brain injury and closed head trauma victims may not recognize the extent of the injuries until weeks after the injuries have occurred. Even people displaying less severe symptoms may discover that a slight loss in coordination or slower cognitive ability prevents them from performing their work at the same level as before the injury. Accordingly, the medical, recovery, and cost of living expenses resulting from a traumatic brain injury or closed head trauma can be very high.

The experienced Philadelphia car accident lawyers at Reiff & Bily fully investigate your claim and offer a free no obligation consultation to determine if you are in a position to obtain compensation from the party responsible for your injuries so that you can recover your medical expenses, rehabilitation, lost income, pain and suffering, and home or resident care. Our record of success speaks for itself. For further information, please contact us at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

A recent study revealed that what might appear to be a simple whiplash may also cause anatomical changes resulting in brain injury. It has long been known that whiplash can cause injuries to the cervical spine. However, in the July issue of The Journal of Brain Injury coauthored by Ezriel E. Kornel, M.D. FACS and Michael Friedman, Ph.D. it was determined that there was a definitive connection between whiplash and brain injury and examination of MRI scans of 1,200 neck pain patients revealed that those patients suffering from whiplash were more likely to have anatomical changes to the brain resulting in brain injury, specifically herniation of the brain called a “Chiari malformation” where the bottom part of the brain the cerebellum dips through an opening in the base of the skull after whiplash injury. The preliminary findings indicated that brain injury occurred in 23% of whiplash cases studied. This condition can be quite painful and endanger a patient’s health with symptoms including headaches, neck pain, upper extremity numbness, tingling and weakness and in a few cases there can also be lower extremity weakness and brain dysfunction. Dr. Cornell advised that anyone suffering from whiplash to see a physician immediately.

At the Philadelphia car accident law firm of Reiff & Bily, we have successfully handled over 20,000 automobile accidents claims since 1979 and are all too familiar with closed head trauma and brain injuries that result from the same. If you or a loved one has been involved in a Pennsylvania car accident, please feel free to contact one of our experienced Philadelphia car accident lawyers at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.

As an experienced Philadelphia car accident attorney who has handled a multitude of closed head trauma and brain injury cases since 1979, I have worked with many neuro-psychiatrists, neurologists, and cognitive specialists to investigate and evaluate cognitive dysfunctions resulting from head trauma.

Concussions and resulting neuropsychological symptoms have been increasingly in the public eye due to injuries caused by IED’s in Iraqi and other military situations. In most cases, concussion symptoms will occur within the first 7 to 10 days after an accident and generally will gradually diminish over a 3 to 4 month period. However, approximately 20% maintain symptoms that last beyond a year or more. Most concussion symptoms include headaches, dizziness, fatigue, irritability, argumentativeness, stubbornness, paranoia, anxiety, insomnia, loss of concentration and memory, nausea, light sensitivity, and emotional outbursts.

Continue reading "A Head Injury in a Car Accident Can Cause Structural Damage to the Brain or Disruption of Neurotransmitter Systems" »

According to a recent study published by the American Journal of Psychiatry, traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a common occurrence with multiple possible psychiatric sequelae including problems with cognition, emotion and depression. I am currently representing a client who was in a car accident and she is extremely fearful of being in a car and experiences flashbacks several times a day concerning the accident, experiences daily panic attacks, nightmares, blurred vision, and finds herself in a depressed state mixed with episodes of severe anxiety and agitation. She describes herself as being irritable and short tempered yet displayed none of the symptomology prior to her accident. This kind woman was referred for neurological and neuropsychological assessment to assess the etiology of her cognitive impairment of concentration and memory, as well as additional visual disturbances. An MRI was performed on her brain which revealed abnormalities in the subcortical white matter, one on the right frontal lobe and the other in the left temporal lobe. Additionally, the client reported problems with word retrieval, organizing her thoughts into words and the loss of train of thought since the accident, as well as difficulty recognizing people’s faces and difficulty recalling information. Objective testing indicated that not only had our client sustained orthopedic and internal injuries but also a closed head injury resulting in cognitive and emotional sequelae stemming from the car accident.

Continue reading "Depression And Cognitive Difficulties Often Follow Car Accidents Where The Individual Has Suffered A Mild Traumatic Brain Injury" »

At the Philadelphia car accident law firm of Reiff & Bily, our experienced lawyers have been handling traumatic brain injury cases for almost 30 years. Many times when one is involved in a serious car accident, an impact to the head results in an injury to the brain where it is located opposite to the side of the impact. While many people who sustain a traumatic head or brain injury appear to be fine after their accident, just as the recent case of Natasha Richardson revealed, many of these individuals will rapidly develop a variety of symptoms including headaches, nausea, dizziness, ringing in ears, blurred vision and problems with memory and concentration.

A brain injury can have a life-altering impact and long term consequences if not treated or properly diagnosed. Many times an injured individual is not even aware that he or she has suffered a traumatic brain injury and is often mis-diagnosed at an emergency room or by
a family physician.

Statistics reveal that over 50% of those who sustain a traumatic brain injury are diagnosed improperly which is a most frightening factor. It is stated that in excess of 53% of patients in the emergency room for the first time with a brain injury will fail to be diagnosed properly and may suffer an aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage according to a study published by The New England Journal of Medicine. Many times negligence of the health provider involves a failure to obtain or accurately interpret a diagnostic test which would have revealed a brain injury.

Continue reading "Rising Car Crash Statistics Across The Nation Also Results In Increasing Rate Of Traumatic Brain Injury" »

The closed head injury and brain injury lawyers at the Philadelphia car accident law firm of Reiff & Bily urge you to buckle up and be a careful and safe driver due to the fact that according to a study released by the National Institute of Health, half of all traumatic brain injuries are caused by collisions involving cars, motorcycles and bicycles.

Since 1979, the Philadelphia car accident lawyers of Reiff & Bily have been working with individuals who sustained traumatic brain injury and head trauma. The symptoms can be mild, severe or sometimes only barely noticeable and detected by virtue of scientific testing. Some people who have sustained a major traumatic brain injury may experience at least one seizure during the first week after the injury. However, most of the time, the symptoms are mild and may go unnoticed, exhibiting themselves by virtue of impaired memory such as forgetfulness, change of behavior patterns, increased irritability or anxiety, blurred vision, ringing in the ears, double vision, problems thinking and reasoning, diminution of fine motor skills, trouble with processing information and problem solving, slow down of mental processing, poor judgment, inability to pay attention and inability to multi-task.

Continue reading "Half of All Traumatic Brain and Closed Head Injuries Are Caused By Collisions Involving Cars, Motorcycles and Bicycles" »

The Philadelphia car accident lawyers of Reiff & Bily are all too familiar with closed head injuries caused by car accidents that the average person may not recognize. Recently the family of one of our injured clients was noting that their 48-year-old mother was manifesting what they described as strange behavioral patterns. She was becoming extremely anxious, agitated and exhibiting bouts of unrecognizable anger. She was also complaining of memory loss and taking the wrong medication. When I met with this woman she was exhibiting confusion. Not so surprisingly, she struck her head on a pillar inside the vehicle at the time of the accident. She was referred for a neurological and psychological evaluation and it was diagnosed that she sustained a mild brain injury as the result of a closed head trauma.

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