Injury
to the head or spinal cord can be permanently disabling,
catastrophic and/or fatal. These injuries affect the
nervous system control for the entire body, so they can
result in paralysis, coma, or severe and irreversible
brain damage. Victims often require long-term medical
care, and many are unable to work again.
Although
victims of head and spinal cord injury often face huge
economic burdens, insurance companies typically refuse to
provide coverage for such injuries. Victims' families can
be overwhelmed with emotional trauma, exorbitant medical
bills, and lost income. Hiring the representative Ryan
Krebs, M.D., J.D. can increase your chances of obtaining
a positive settlement or verdict.
Head
and spinal cord injuries can have any number of causes,
from auto accidents, birth injury, or medical
malpractice. In many cases, the injury is not the fault
of the victim but of another person, company, or group
with legal liability. In such cases, the victim or their
family may be able to obtain significant financial
compensation by pursuing a personal injury
claim.
To
learn more about specific head, spinal cord, brain or
nerve injuries, click one of the following
links:
Traumatic
Brain Injury
Traumatic
brain injury (TBI) is most often caused by a severe
impact to the head, and it can result in lasting physical
and mental problems. Because traumatic brain injures are
most often the result of an accident, they are frequently
the fault of someone other than the victim. Auto
accidents are the most common cause of brain injury.
Other causes include falls, violence, and sports
injuries.
While
people with minor head injuries frequently make full
recoveries, people with traumatic brain injury often face
permanent disability or death. Many brain injury patients
require long-term rehabilitation beyond their initial
medical care. Some may never be able to work again. As a
result, many traumatic brain injury victims and their
families find themselves facing tremendous financial
obstacles. This financial burden, combined with emotional
trauma, can be overwhelming for many families. The law
seeks to protect traumatic brain injury victims and their
families. A qualified brain injury attorney can help
families and victims obtain the financial compensation
they need so they can focus on healing. Contact the Law
Office of Ryan Krebs, M.D., J.D. for a free review of
your case.
Closed
Head Injury
A
closed head injury occurs when an outside force hits the
head and brain or when the head hits an object. In a
closed injury, however, only the brain is injured from
the force of impact, such as happens with a concussion.
The skull remains undamaged. For this reason, closed head
injuries frequently go untreated because there is no
visible injury.
Though
there are not always obvious indications of a closed head
injury, it is important that victims of suspected head
injury receive medical care as soon as possible. Anyone
involved in a motor vehicle accident, fall, or similar
accident may sustain a head injury that only qualified
medical personnel can diagnose. Many closed head injuries
are the fault of someone other than the victim. In these
cases, the injury victim, or the victim's family, may be
entitled to receive financial compensation from the
responsible party. Contact our brain injury lawyer, Ryan
Krebs, M.D., J.D., to learn more about your legal
options.
Brain
& Spinal Cord Injury
Injuries
to the brain and spinal cord are among the most
devastating injuries because they frequently result in
long-term or permanent disability. Brain damage can
affect any or all body functions, from speech and
cognitive function to consciousness. Spinal cord injuries
can cause paralysis and other movement related problems.
Brain
and spinal cord injuries can occur in many ways,
including car accidents, falls, birth trauma, and
violence. Victims of brain and spinal cord injuries
usually require long-term medical care and incur
extremely high medical bills. The long-term physical,
emotional, and financial strain on a family can be
immense. If a spinal cord or brain injury was caused by
another's negligence or wrongful action, the victim or
their family may be entitled to significant financial
compensation Contact the Law Office of Ryan Krebs, M.D.,
J.D. for skilled legal representation.
Paralysis
The
ability to walk and move as we please is something many
people take for granted. Paralysis, especially after an
accident, forces a victim to learn new ways of performing
even the most basic daily functions. Some activities are
never again available to a paralyzed individual. Victims
of paralysis typically must undergo extensive physical
therapy and rehabilitative treatment. They need
wheelchairs and may need modifications made to their
homes.
In many
cases, paralysis-causing accidents are the fault of
someone other than the victim, and the victim may be
entitled to financial compensation. Serious car accidents
and falls on a dangerous premises or worksite are common
examples of this. A qualified personal injury attorney at
the Law Office of Ryan Krebs, M.D., J.D. can evaluate
paralysis cases free of charge to help determine whether
the other party can be held responsible for the
injuries.
Coma
A
patient in a coma is unconscious for an extended period
of time and cannot be aroused by any form of external
stimuli. Coma may come about as a symptom of a disease,
such as a severe infection, or it may result from
traumatic brain injury, stroke, seizure, or severe blood
sugar imbalances.
A
typical coma does not last longer than a month. Following
this period, patients generally wake up, die, or shift
into a vegetative state in which most autonomous body
functions (breathing, digestion, elimination) continue
unconsciously. A vegetative state can continue for many
months or years.
A
person's chances of recovery from either a coma or a
vegetative state are determined by the severity of injury
to the brain. Comas and long-term vegetative states can
be extremely hard on the families of victims, both
emotionally and financially. If another person or party
is responsible for the coma, a brain injury lawyer at the
Law Office of Ryan Krebs, M.D., J.D. can help ensure the
family receives needed compensation for the damages
incurred.
Stroke
According
to the American Stroke Association, stroke is the third
leading cause of death in the United States. A stroke is
caused by a sudden loss of blood supply to the brain,
such as when a blood clot blocks an artery (ischemic
stroke) or when a blood vessel ruptures within the brain
(hemorrhagic stroke). Most frequently, uncontrolled high
blood pressure is the cause. The resulting loss of oxygen
to the brain can result in severe brain injury and death
if not recognized and treated immediately.
Common
warning signs of a stroke include numbness of a part of
the body (particularly of one side), confusion, vision
loss, dizziness, and severe headache, as well as
difficulty speaking clearly, understanding, or
maintaining body coordination. Often, a stroke is
preceded by a mini-stroke, called a TIA (transient
ischemic attack), a strong warning that a full stroke may
be imminent.
It is
critical that doctors recognize the warning signs of a
stroke and act quickly to prevent irreversible brain
damage or death. Blood clot busting drugs can frequently
prevent the worst damage from ischemic strokes if
administered quickly enough. If a doctor fails to
recognize key warning signs, diagnose a stroke, or
respond immediately, he or she could be legally liable
for a patient's injuries or death.
