Personal Injury

Published on: August 1, 2023

Brain Injury Caused by Car Accidents Could Result in Unique Form of Depression

Researchers have known for a while that a brain injury can result in depression, but the kind of depression that a traumatic brain injury causes is different from other forms of depression. Traumatic brain injuries often arise out of car accidents, motorcycle accidents, trucking accidents, or any other event that causes a significant impact to the head.

A new study finds that the kind of depression that results after a brain injury may be different from regular depression with some unique symptoms. In fact, the researchers believe that brain injury -related depression could possibly be its own distinct condition. These are important findings because they shed new light on the kind of consequences that a brain injury patient can suffer.

For years now, researchers have known that depression can set in after a person has suffered a brain injury, but there have been questions about whether the depression is a result of the injury itself or because of the trauma related to the car accident or incident that caused the personal injury. The general consensus, however, is that the depression is caused by the personal injury.

Published on: July 26, 2023

Spinal Cord Injury Could Damage Immune System

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

Spinal cord injuries are serious personal injuries that can be caused after an auto accident. New research finds that these injuries, in addition to permanently impacting a person’s day to day functioning, can significantly damage a person’s immunity, exposing the patient to the risk of life-threatening infections.

A spinal cord injury can result from any kind of blow or serous impact to the spine. The impact does not have to include a fracture. A spinal cord injury can also be caused by crushing injuries or dislocation of the spine. For example, when a person is thrown about the inside of a car during an auto accident, she or he could suffer serious personal injuries to the spine. A motorcycle rider who is thrown off a motorcycle could land on the ground with force that is significant enough to fracture his spine. In fact, spine injuries are common in motorcycle accidents when a person is separated from the motorcycle.

The risk of paralysis is very serious after a spinal cord injury. These consequences of a spinal injury can also have a long term impact on a person’s health. A new study finds that a spinal injury may also trigger immunodeficiency syndrome. This condition can result in a loss of immunity, thereby exposing the person to the risk of infections. The study was conducted by researchers on 111 patients who had suffered spinal cord injury. They found that soon after a spinal cord injury, the number of antibodies in the body dropped. There was also a deactivation of the monocytes or white blood cells that are responsible for staving off infections.

Published on: July 11, 2023

Epilepsy and Car Accident Risks

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

People who suffer from epilepsy may be able to drive safely provided they take all safety precautions, including taking any necessary medications, and stick to the limitations placed on them under the law. A new study, in fact, finds that an early diagnosis of epilepsy may significantly reduce car accident risks.

According to the study, as many as 5% of patients who suffer from epilepsy had suffered a seizure while driving before their diagnosis. The researchers, who include members of the American Academy of Neurology, were specifically looking at how long a person drives before he or she received an epilepsy diagnosis. They believe that it is important to push for earlier diagnosis of epilepsy in order to reduce car accident risks among these persons.

As part of the study, the researchers focused on 447 persons who suffered from focal epilepsy which is marked by recurrent seizures. They found that 23 of these people had suffered a seizure while driving. About 26% suffered their first seizure while driving while around 30% had suffered more than one seizure while driving. In all, these seizures resulted in 19 auto accidents with 11 of these car accidents requiring hospitalization.

Published on: July 8, 2023

Nursing Home Abuse Prevention Checklist for Families

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

This June, elder advocate organizations around the country are calling for a focus on the rights of seniors, and the prevention of abuse and neglect involving elderly persons, millions of who live in nursing homes.

On June 15, elder organizations across the world including the World Health Organization at the United Nations will mark World Elder Abuse Awareness Day to raise awareness about the risks of abuse, exploitation and neglect involving seniors. Events and commemorations are being planned for the special day across the world, including the United States where more than 50 million people above the age of 65 currently live. Out of these, close to 1.5 million people live in nursing homes, and a million more live in assisted living facilities.

For families, the decision to place a loved one in a nursing facility or an assisted living facility is never an easy one. It is, unfortunately, the only option available for many people who often find themselves worried and anxious about the safety and care of their loved ones in these facilities. The fact that so many nursing homes in the United States have questionable standards of care at best is definitely a concern for families looking for a facility.

Published on: June 29, 2023

PTSD and Car Accidents

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

One of the most underestimated and neglected effects of a motor vehicle accident is posttraumatic stress disorder or PTSD, an anxiety- related condition that can severely limit a person’s recovery after being involved in an auto accident.

Several American organizations including veterans’ organizations are marking June 27 as Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Awareness Day. The day is being commemorated to make more people aware about the disorder and its effects on a person’s ability to lead a normal life after experiencing a traumatic life event.

Posttraumatic stress disorder is a mental health condition that emerges after a person has suffered a terrifying or life-threatening event like a natural disaster, terrorist attack, and even an auto accident. The condition may arise if a person has undergone a terrifying event in which his or her very life or physical wellbeing is threatened or at risk.

Published on: June 12, 2023

Pool Drowning Deaths Increase During Summer

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

With summer fast approaching and thousands of children and families cooling off in swimming pools across the country, it is important for Atlanta pool owners to understand their risks of premises liability when a drowning occurs on their premises.

Most drownings involving children occur in swimming pools. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, children between the age of 1 and 4 are more likely to die from drowning than any other factor. For children between the age of 5 and 14, drowning is the second most likely cause of unintentional death, after auto accidents. Every year, there are 4,000 fatal drowning accidents recorded in the United States, and as many as double that number of non -fatal drowning accidents. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Georgia has a drowning death rate that is approximately 1.37 for every 100,000 population.

Most of these accidents occur in residential and commercial swimming pools. Even if a drowning does not result in death, it can result in severe or even catastrophic personal injury. The loss of oxygen supply to the brain can result in brain damage and other consequences that can contribute to long- term or lifelong disability of a child or adult. Close to half of all drowning accidents that do not result in a death will result in hospitalization of the victim. A drowning is much more likely to result in death or long term injury compared to other unintentional injuries.

Published on: June 5, 2023

Sharp Increase in Fatal Slip and Fall Accidents Involving Seniors

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

Over the past 2 decades, there has been a staggering increase in the number of fatal slip and fall accidents involving American seniors, with the rate doubling during this period of time.

Slip and fall accidents are a major cause of wrongful deaths and personal injury involving seniors, and in fact, according to some statistics, contribute to the highest number of wrongful deaths involving seniors every year. However, a new study shows exactly how alarming those risks are, and how dramatically those wrongful death rates have increased. The study by researchers at the Pennsylvania State University shows that in 1999, there were a total of 10,100 fatal slip and fall accidents involving American seniors above the age of 65. By the year 2020, that number increased to 36,500 fatal slip and fall accidents involving seniors.

That is a staggering increase, and seems to show that in spite of advancements in fall protection for seniors, these personal injuries are only increasing. The researchers say that there simply is not enough of a focus on slip and fall prevention involving senior citizens, and that is contributing to this increase. The study also shows that fatal slip and fall accident rates seem to have increased among all categories of seniors since 1999. Rates seem to have increased for both men and women. White male adults had the highest slip and fall death rate with as many as 78 deaths for 100,000 population in 2020. Fall-related death rates also rose for black, native American, Hispanic and Asian seniors.

Published on: May 30, 2023

Even Mild Brain Injury can Increase Risk of Criminal Behavior

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

Traumatic brain injuries like those that typically result from auto accidents, pedestrian accidents and slip and falls can have a number of long term consequences. A new study finds that the risk of criminal behavior increases after even a mild brain injury. This increased risk is something that has to be considered when litigating personal injury claims.

The study was conducted in New Zealand, and found that a brain injury does not have to be severe in order to have effects that result in criminal behavior. Even a mild brain injury like a concussion can significantly increase a person’s risk of engaging in criminal behavior.

The analysis found that people with a brain injury had a higher rate of criminal convictions and arrests, compared to persons who had not suffered a brain injury. Further, the risk of criminal behavior seemed to increase with the number of brain injuries the person had suffered. A higher number of concussions translated into a higher risk of criminal activity.

Published on: May 18, 2023

Implant Could Help Control Blood Pressure in Car Accident Victims with Spinal Injury

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

Persons who have suffered spinal injuries in car accidents or fall accidents may suffer from dangerous drops in their blood pressure. A new implant can help circumvent this problem.

A person who has suffered a spinal injury may suffer from dangerous drops in blood pressure when he tries to move from a sitting to a standing position. In such cases, the person may feel dizzy or nauseous when he moves or stands. In some cases, the person may even faint as a result of the drop in blood pressure. An extremely severe drop in blood pressure can even have possibly fatal consequences.

The conservative approach to treating this problem of dips in blood pressure in spinal injury victims has been to prescribe a high – salt diet or compression stockings. However, even with the use of such methodologies and aids, victims continue to complain of dizziness and other problems.

Published on: April 20, 2023

How Auto Accidents can Cause Complications for Pregnant Women

by Robert N. Katz, Esq.

Traumatic personal injuries can be devastating for pregnant women, and auto accidents are some of the leading causes of these types of injuries involving pregnant women. A new study finds that even a minor car accident can significantly raise the risk of complications for an expectant mother.

The results of a new Taiwanese study were published in the journal Injury Prevention recently. The researchers analyzed auto accident injury data involving more than 20,000 pregnant women over a 10 year period, and found that women who suffered even minor injuries in an auto accident while pregnant suffered significantly increased risks of complications, including placental disruption and excessive bleeding. Many of these women were at a much higher risk of requiring emergency C-sections.

Based on the data, the researchers believe that women who have been involved in a car accident during pregnancy are more than 50% likely to experience a placental disruption and more than 30% likely to suffer from prolonged contractions. They also had a risk of excessive bleeding that was 19% higher and a 5% higher risk of C-sections. Women who suffered even minor injuries were found to have an even higher risk of complications. For example, among women who had suffered even minor personal injuries in a car accident, there was a 70% higher risk of placental disruption and 54% higher risk of induced labor.