New York Brain Injury Lawyers

Brain Injury
Also known as a closed head injury, a brain injury is a sudden physical damage to the brain. The leading cause of traumatic brain injury is from transportation accidents. Other brain injury causes include falls, sports injuries, violent crimes, and child abuse. Depending on what areas of the brain are damaged, a brain injury can cause permanent physical, behavioral, or mental changes.

The effects of a brain injury can be greatest immediately following the injury. However, long-term problems are difficult to assess because some damage may be caused by contusion, bruising of the brain that is usually temporary. Focal damage may result in long-term and permanent difficulties. Other areas of the brain can learn to take over the functions of the damaged areas over time and can improve the condition. A brain injury in a child has greater potential for progress than an adult because a child's brain has a greater capability to be flexible.

Brain Injury Statistics

• Each year 230,000 people are hospitalized with a brain injury and survive.
  
• Twenty two percent of people with a brain injury result in fatality
  Falls are the leading cause of brain injury for people 65 years and older.
  
• Transportation related injuries are the leading cause of traumatic brain injury for people aged 5-64.
  
• Around 5.3 million Americans currently live with disabilities resulting
  from a brain injury.

Birth Injury:

Some form of birth injury affects 1 in 200 babies that may have been caused by medical malpractice. A birth injury can result from the mishandling of an infant, especially because of the soft skull and brain tissue that infants have. Extreme care must be administered when helping to deliver a newborn child. A lack of oxygen immediately following the birth of the infant can lead to Cerebral Palsy.

New York birth injury lawyers handle birth injuries like Cerebral Palsy, Brachial Plexus Palsy, and Erb's Palsy. Usually, the birth injury damage occurs during or shortly after birth, but it can still happen while a child is early in life. “Cerebral” refers to the brain and “palsy” refers to a disorder of movement or posture. Cerebral Palsy can be caused by illness during pregnancy, premature delivery, or a lack of oxygen supply to the baby.

An accident, lead poisoning, viral infection, child abuse, or other factors can also cause Cerebral Palsy, but most often a lack of oxygen or poor blood flow to the fetal or newborn brain will result in Cerebral Palsy. It is a physician's duty to be able to recognize risk factors in order to prevent Cerebral Palsy. Premature separation of the placenta, an awkward birth position, long or abrupt labor, or interference with the umbilical cord may lead to insufficient oxygen and/or poor blood flow to the baby's brain.