Georgia Injury Law Blog
Persons who have suffered a traumatic brain injury may be at risk of violent or even criminal behavior. A new study points to specific areas of the brain that may suffer damage during a head injury, exposing the individual to the risk of criminal activity after the personal injury.
According to the study, during certain types of traumatic brain injuries, the victim may suffer damage to the right uncinate fasciculus, or white matter pathway in the brain. Damage to this part of the brain may result in a number of consequences. The person may find it difficult to make decisions, and there may also be an impact on the person’s empathy and emotional regulation. The person may find it difficult to differentiate between right and wrong or to feel empathy for another person.
The researchers focused their study on 17 individuals who had suffered a brain injury and then gone on to commit a criminal or violent act. They compared the brain scans of these individuals with more than 700 other individuals who had also suffered some kind of brain damage and suffered from other symptoms like memory loss or depression. The analysis found that the white matter area of the brain was the most commonly damaged part of the brain in those individuals who committed violent or criminal acts after the brain injury.
According to the researchers, this white matter area of the brain is where moral decision – making capabilities and the ability to regulate emotions are centered. This part of the brain is also linked to the ability to understand and anticipate consequences of one’s actions and impulse control. Damage to this part of the brain would, therefore, be more likely to result in a lower ability to control emotions like anger, and reduced ability to understand the consequences of one’s actions.
The researchers say that the conclusions of the study are extremely important and must be probed further, especially in the context of issues of culpability and free will. How much does a person’s brain injury, especially the injuries that affect these specific areas of the brain, have to do with his culpability after he commits a crime?
Brain injuries can have a number of consequences, including memory loss, loss of concentration and depression. The injury may affect the victim’s cognitive abilities, and the person may struggle to perform even daily routine tasks. All of these consequences can impair the individual’s ability to work and provide for his or her family and must be factored into any personal injury claim after a brain injury.
The Atlanta car accident lawyers at Katz Personal Injury Lawyers are dedicated to the representation of persons who have suffered injuries in car accidents in the metro Atlanta region and across the state of Georgia. If you or a loved one have suffered injuries in a car accident, talk to an attorney at our firm and discuss your legal options for a claim for damages. You may qualify for damages that include medical costs, lost income and other types of compensation. Talk to a lawyer at our firm and discuss your case. Initial consultations are free.