Nebraska Brain Injury Attorneys
Brain Injury
A brain injury is one of the most severe and life-altering accident injuries a person can suffer, in addition to being one of the most emotionally traumatic for both the victim and their family. Unlike most body tissues, the brain cannot regenerate. Once brain cells are damaged and the connections between them broken, the functions they perform are completely lost unless the brain can learn new ways to perform the same functions. Brain injuries are usually difficult to diagnose and can result in permanent loss of physical, sensory, and cognitive functions, even to the point of an altered personality. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 1.4 million Americans suffer a traumatic brain injury annually.
Traumatic Brain Injury
The term "brain injury" is generally considered synonymous with "traumatic brain injury" (TBI), although, in some instances, the broader "acquired brain injury" (ABI) term may be attributed to certain brain injuries. As defined by the Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA), TBI "is an insult to the brain…caused by an external physical force that may produce a diminished or altered state of consciousness, which results in an impairment of cognitive abilities or physical functioning."
Types of Brain Injury
Brain injuries, or TBIs, may be considered mild, moderate or severe and can be both closed-head injuries and open-head injuries. The following are some common brain injuries, with concussion being the most widely occurring:
- Concussion;
- Diffuse Axonal Injury;
- Contusion;
- Locked-in Syndrome;
- Second Impact Syndrome;
- Coup-Contrecoup Injury;
- Shaken Baby Syndrome; and
- Penetrating Injury.
CDC Brain Injury Statistics
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 1.4 million Americans suffer a traumatic brain injury annually. Of this yearly estimate, 235,000 require hospitalization and 50,000 more die. Brain injuries are predominantly caused by falls and car accidents, but may also be caused by sports injuries, assault, and gunshot wounds. Thousands more suffer brain injuries as the result of disease, stroke or oxygen deprivation, and medical malpractice.
Long-Term Effects of Brain Injury
Approximately 5.3 million Americans need permanent, daily help with everyday tasks because of a brain injury. For those patients and their family, a brain injury changes everything about their lives. Victims who lose important physical and/or mental abilities may need to abandon or radically change future plans, give up their independence, and/or be cut off from simple pleasures. In addition to being devastating on an emotional and physical level, this can also be very expensive. Brain injury victims may require multiple surgeries, ongoing physical and/or mental therapy and even round-the-clock care. Families who are suffering the burden of a brain injury due to a sudden accident or a violent crime may not have the financial resources to provide these things for their loved one. If you face this burden because of someone else’s careless, reckless or illegal behavior, you have the right to hold that person accountable.
Helping You Seek Justice
If you or a loved one has suffered a brain injury in Nebraska due to the negligence, wrongdoing or malpractice of another, our experienced Omaha acquired brain injury attorneys and traumatic brain injury lawyers can help you pursue compensation for medical costs, pain and suffering, lost wages, lost quality of life and emotional distress.
At Cullan & Cullan, Physicians and Trial Lawyers, brothers Patrick and Joseph Cullan have degrees in both law and medicine, which gives us additional insight into even the most complicated injury cases. Our Nebraska personal injury law firm has an unparalleled success record, having obtained several multi-million dollar settlements and verdicts for our injured clients. We are dedicated to helping our clients exercise their legal rights so that they may receive fair compensation. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you.
