Each year in the United States, approximately 1.4 million Americans sustain a traumatic brain injury ranging from mild to severe. The consequences to the individual, their family and society are staggering. The physical, cognitive and emotional affects of brain damage can last a lifetime.
While brain injuries in the emergency department of hospitals are classified as mild, moderate or severe, there is nothing mild or moderate about a brain injury. All brain injuries can have lifelong consequences.
Each year in the United States:
The Centers for Disease Control estimates that that at least 5.3 million Americans currently have a long-term or lifelong need for assistance as a result of suffering from brain trauma.
Even following physical recovery, traumatic brain injury can cause a wide range of functional impairments affecting thinking, memory, sensation, language and emotions. It can cause other neurological conditions such as seizure disorder and epilepsy.
Brain damage in children will affect their ability to learn, their social integration and maturation and their ability to lead independent lives. Many times lifetime support is required.
Brain trauma not only impacts the brain injury survivor, it impacts family relationships and social relationships. Brain injury causes enormous costs to society as a whole. It has been estimated that the direct medical costs and indirect costs associated with traumatic brain injury total over $56 billion dollars each year. Brain injury is truly a national public health emergency.
Unfortunately, the tragedy of brain injury is often misunderstood and often unrecognized. Many have referred to brain injury survivors as the “walking wounded” and to the problems surrounding brain trauma in general as the “silent epidemic”. The negative impact upon the family causes many spouses to remark that they are now living with a stranger and their role has changed from a partner to a parent.
More public focus is needed in addressing the needs of brain injury survivors and their families. More attention needs to be devoted to brain injury rehabilitation and on the community reintegration of persons with brain injury.
Improving outcomes and life following brain trauma must be a prime public health concern of our society. We have made incredible progress in saving lives, now we must spend the same resources in repairing and rebuilding that life. The needs of our medical miracles must be addressed. We must devote our research and efforts to a person-centered approach.
With a new brain injury occurring every 15 seconds, attention must be placed on preventing new brain injuries from happening. In sports, preventing and recognizing the affects of concussions is paramount. The use of helmets by both children and adults must be emphasized and playgrounds must be made child safe.
This website has been created by The Brain Injury Law Firm® of De Caro & Kaplen, LLP. We are a Brain Injury Law Firm® that concentrates our practice in representing victims of brain trauma caused by acts of negligence and medical malpractice.
Our brain injury attorneys are committed to protecting and safeguarding the rights of victims of brain damage. For over 40 years we have aggressively represented persons with traumatic brain injuries and their family members. If we can be of assistance to your family member or yourself, please do not hesitate to contact us, for a free, no obligation consultation.
Michael V. Kaplen, Esq. served as Chair of the New York State Traumatic Brain Injury Services Coordinating Council and three term President of the Brain Injury Association of New York State. He has served as Chair of the Traumatic Brain Injury Litigation Group of the American Association for Justice, formerly known as the Association of Trial Lawyers of America. Michael Kaplen teaches the only course in any law school on traumatic brain injury law. He is Professorial Lecturer in Law at The George Washington University Law School.
Shana De Caro serves as Chairwoman of the board of directors of the Brain Injury Association of America, is Past Chair of the Traumatic Brain Injury Litigation Group of the American Association for Justice and Vice President of the American Academy of Brain Injury Attorneys. She is a Top 25 Brain Injury Lawyer. She is a member of the Board of Trustees and elected secretary of the Civil Justice Foundation and a member of the Board of Directors of the New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers. Shana serves on the Ask The Expert Law Panel for BrainLine. She is also the editor of the monthly law up date for the New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers.
Michael Kaplen and Shana De Caro have both been selected by their peers as New York Super Lawyers.
Our brain injury lawyers have authored a book entitled, Brain Injury, A Guide to Your Legal Rights. If you would like a free copy of this guide please contact us with your mailing address at Michael@staging.brainlaw.com
Our brain injury lawyers have successfully represented victims of brain trauma caused by acts of negligence involving car accidents, truck accidents, bus and train accidents, medical and hospital malpractice, landlord and building maintenance and construction site accidents.
If your loved one or yourself has been a victim of brain damage, you can contact us for a no obligation consultation. Telephone the brain injury lawyers at: De Caro & Kaplen, LLP toll free at 1 (866) 272-4652 or email us at michael@staging.brainlaw.com.
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