traumatic brain injury

A traumatic brain injury (TBI) can change a person’s life forever, yet most people don’t really understand the main causes of brain injuries. Being aware of the common causes of brain injuries in Oregon and throughout the United States could help prevent this tragic injury from altering your life or the lives of your family members and friends.

Based on information provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the main causes of traumatic brain injury are:

• Falls (35.2%)
• Motor vehicle accidents (17.3%)
• Struck by/against events (16.5%)
• Assaults (10%)

Every year about 1.7 million people suffer a brain injury. What’s also upsetting is that 52,000 people die and 275,000 are hospitalized.

One of the most dangerous things about a brain injury is that a person may not know they even have one until their condition is worse or it is too late for treatment. No one ever wants to go to the emergency room, but if you bumped your head in a fall or auto accident, it’s important to seek medical attention to make sure that you’re okay and/or that you get the medical care you need.

People who are at the highest risk of suffering a brain injury include children aged 0 to 4 years, adolescences aged 15 to 19 years, and adults aged 65 years and older. In addition, adults aged 75 years and older are at the highest risk of suffering a brain injury requiring hospitalization or causing death.

Almost every Portland brain injury lawyer would tell you that awareness is essential in preventing traumatic brain injuries. It is unfortunate, however, that there is only so much a person can do to avoid a brain injury caused by another person’s recklessness. At Shulman DuBois LLC, our Oregon accident attorneys hear a lot of tragic stories about brain injuries. Most of these accidents can be avoided if people are more careful. If you need helpful information about personal injury laws in Oregon relating to brain injury, call us at 503-222-4411.

Source: http://www.cdc.gov/traumaticbraininjury/causes.html

Date: May 24, 2010
Location: NE 122nd & Glisan, Portland, Oregon
Names: Michael Luther, Wayne Thompson

On May 24, 2010, a Multnomah County Judge found Wayne Thompson guilty of third-degree assault in an August 2009 bike-car crash that put a bicyclist in critical condition.

Portland Police said Thompson deliberately hit the victim. Nonetheless, Thompson was found not guilty on the more serious charges of first-degree and second degree assault. He will be sentenced June 8.

The original Portland bike crash took place August 28, 2009, around 2 PM, in a northeast Portland parking lot near NE 122nd Avenue and Glisan Street.

Police said Thompson intentionally hit the bicyclist, Michael Luther, with his SUV. Court documents say that Thompson and Luther were arguing in the parking lot, when Thompson put his Kia Sportage in reverse and slammed into Luther.

Although Luther was wearing a helmet, he suffered a brain injury.

We would like to offer Luther and his family our thoughts, wishes, and hopes for a quick recovery.

Both of the attorneys at Shulman DuBois are avid bike riders, and bicycle attorneys. We have plenty to say about car vs. bike accidents, but the thought of someone intentionally hitting a bicyclist because of an argument is horrifying.

Traumatic brain injury can be serious. As Portland traumatic brain Injury attorneys, we have experience in this area, and we’d like to share a few important points with you.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is generally caused by a sudden and forceful blow to the head. The long-term effects of TBI vary, depending on the severity of the injury. Severe TBI can leave a person in a vegetative, unresponsive state. But even mild TBI can — and often does — have a dramatic impact on a person’s life.

Further, traumatic brain injury is more common than you might think. The Center for Disease Control estimates that in the United States, 1.4 million people sustain a TBI each year. At least 5.3 million Americans are unable to fulfill normal, everyday functions as a result of TBI, and will require long-term help. But the real numbers may be even higher, because TBI symptoms — which include headache, difficulty thinking, memory problems, attention deficits, mood swings, and frustration — are often overlooked, misdiagnosed, or completely ignored.

Unfortunately, even though the prestigious Mayo Clinic states that 50% of all traumatic brain injuries are caused by collisions involving cars, motorcycles and bicycles, car crash survivors who exhibit TBI symptoms may not ever be evaluated for TBI. The general symptoms of mild TBI may be written off as emotional responses to the shock of being in a serious car accident, and TBI often goes undiagnosed.

So why mention TBI on a lawyer website? Because we at Shulman DuBois are committed to protecting you and your family. It is a sad truth that after you’ve been injured, sometimes you have to fight to get the medical attention that you or your loved ones need. Many doctors and lawyers miss crucial signs of TBI, leaving victims without adequate treatment. If somebody you love has been injured in a car accident in Oregon and begins to show signs of TBI, make sure that they see a medical professional who is trained in TBI treatment and diagnosis. It is always better to be safe than sorry.

Useful Statistics about Traumatic Brain Injury
Incidences of Traumatic Brain Injury are more widespread than you might think. According to the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, each year approximately:

• 1.4 million people sustain a TBI
• 50,000 of TBI sufferers die, of which 2,685 are children ages 0-14
• 235,000 people are hospitalized for TBI

The American Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also estimate that 5.3 million people in the United States currently have a “long-term or lifelong need for help to perform activities of daily living as a result of TBI.”

Traffic crashes are a leading cause of TBI: according to the Mayo Clinic, half of all traumatic brain injuries are caused by collisions involving cars, motorcycles and bicycles.

If you or someone you love has been in a serious car crash, make sure to get an evaluation for TBI. It is more common than most people realize, and sadly, the age groups that suffer the highest-risk of sustaining a TBI are children ages 0-4 and 15-19.

Remember, if you are concerned about TBI after an Oregon accident, be sure to find an experienced attorney who will fight for your rights. We can answer many questions for free. Please call us.

Date: December 31, 2009
Location: SE Wilson Avenue & Fifth Street, Bend, Oregon
Names: Jayson Barker, Kelsey Colleen Magee

After a hit-and-run driver seriously injured a Bend, Oregon, pedestrian on New Year’s Eve, the driver came forward and turned herself in.

The victim, Jayson Barker, 20, suffered a brain injury in the crash, and doctors said his condition was critical.

Late on the night of December 31, 2009, a motorist spotted Barker lying in the middle of the road near SE Wilson Avenue and Fifth Street in Bend, and called Deschutes County 911. Barker, who was unconscious, was transported to St. Charles Medical Center – Bend. As of January 3, he was in the ICU, recovering from emergency brain surgery.

Hospital representatives told KTVZ.com that his condition was “very critical,” and while his vital signs were stable, “doctors do not know the extent of brain damage right now.”

After the accident, police determined that Barker was hit by a metallic-blue 2003 to 2005 Toyota 4Runner SUV. Around 9:40 PM, January 1, Kelsey Colleen Magee, 31, of Bend, contacted police about the crash. She was driving a blue 2003 Toyota 4Runner that night.

Police verified that Magee’s car was involved in the crash. She was arrested for failure to perform the duties of a driver to an injured person, and held at Deschutes County Jail. Around 2:30 AM January 2, she was released on bail. She is to appear in court January 19.

The investigation is continuing, but police said speed and alcohol do not appear to have contributed.

Hit-and-run is a serious crime, and conviction will result in your driving privileges being suspended or revoked. In any accident, you have the following obligations:

·    Stop at once. If anyone is killed or unconscious, you must stay at the scene until a police officer arrives.
·    Render aid. Do not move an injured person carelessly, but give reasonable aid.
·    Exchange information with the other driver. Give them your name, address, driver’s license number, license plate number, and insurance information. DMV offers a printable checklist you can download and keep in your car.
·    Report the accident to DMV.

We implore drivers in any accident situation to put the safety and welfare of others above their own interests, and always, always remain at the scene and make sure no one is hurt. We send our thoughts and prayers to Barker for a full recovery, and we hope Barker’s family finds support and strength to carry them through.

The hit-and-run driver must be held civilly and criminally responsible for his actions. And the Barker family may be well advised to contact a reputable personal injury attorney with experience in hit-and-run crashes who will fight for the justice and compensation that they deserve. At Shulman DuBois, we believe that what happened in this crash is simply unacceptable; we are committed to making sure that hit-and-run drivers are held accountable for their actions and that both victims and families receive the compensation they deserve.

Shulman DuBois, LLC, is located in Portland, Oregon, and serves clients in all Oregon cities and counties, including: Portland, Beaverton, Multnomah County, Hillsboro, Gresham, Lake Oswego, West Linn, Tualatin, Troutdale, Sellwood, Corvallis, Salem, Eugene, and Albany.