A Traumatic Brain Injury, often called TBI, is one of the most complicated and challenging medical conditions an accident victim can face.

The New York brain injury lawyers at Queller, Fisher, Washor, Fuchs & Kool have the knowledge, resources and experience to help you and your family deal with the complex medical and legal challenges of a serious brain injury.

The brain largely remains a medical mystery on the frontier of science. No two brain injuries are alike. No two recoveries are alike. Even the two categories – mild and severe – are vague and can be misleading.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates 1.5 million Americans suffer a traumatic brain injury each year; 50,000 will die and another 85,000 suffer long-term disabilities.

The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke estimates the nationwide cost of traumatic brain injury at more than $60 billion per year.

Families dealing with the death of a loved one can be saddled with huge medical bills and those surviving and dealing with the impact of a brain injury can face decades of medical-related costs and long-term care needs.

The New York brain injury attorneys at Queller, Fisher, Washor, Fuchs & Kool urge anyone dealing with a traumatic brain injury to seek qualified professional medical and legal help right away.

The National Foundation for Brain Research reports the average medical costs are higher for those who do not survive, $454,717 for treatment of a fatal brain injury compared to an average survior’s medical bill of $151,587. The average lifetime cost of living with a serious traumatic brain injury is estimated at $4 million.

The New York brain injury lawyers at Queller, Fisher, Washor, Fuchs & Kool pride ourselves on helping families protect their medical and legal rights.

The most common causes of traumatic brain injury are car accidents, bullet wounds and falls.

Mild brain injury is often associated with a slight and short loss of consciousness, confusion or disorientation. Headaches, memory problems or difficulty thinking may result.

The term mild is often misleading. Medical bills can be astronomical and so-called “mild brain injuries” can be missed at the time of injury while a significant portion of patients continue to report symptoms more than a year after the accident.

Severe brain injury is usually associated with loss of consciousness for more than 30 minutes, penetrating skull injuries or memory loss greater than 24 hours. Impairment can range from loss of higher cognitive functions to a comatose state.

The prognosis for those suffering a severe brain injury is much less certain and often include significant and lasting impairment, including limited function of limbs, speech problems, and a loss of cognitive ability that includes a range of emotional, physical and mental problems.

Common types of head injuries include open and closed head injuries (defined by whether penetration of the skull occurred) and deceleration or diffuse axonal injuries – an injury resulting from the brain being slammed around in the skull often from a sudden stop associated with a car accident.

Other causes or complications of head injuries include chemical injuries (such as carbon monoxide or lead), hypoxia (lack of oxygen), tumors, infections and stroke.

• Fatigue
• Blurry vision
• Headaches
• Poor concentration
• Sleep disturbances
• Memory loss
• Loss of balance, dizziness
• Irritability or emotional disturbance
• Depression
• Seizures
• Nausea
• Loss of smell
• Light or sound sensitivity
• Moodiness
• Getting lost or easily confused
• Slow thought processes
• Difficulty with speech, hearing and memory
• Impulsiveness

Call the New York law office of Queller, Fisher, Washor, Fuchs & Kool at 212-406-1700.

Resources: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stoke: www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/tbi/tbi.htm

Traumatic Brain Injury: www.traumaticbraininjury.com

New York’s Brain Trauma Foundation: www.braintrauma.org

Brain Injury Association of New York: www.bianys.org

New York Academy of Traumatic Brain Injury: www.nyatbi.net