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Tag Archives: head injury

September 29, 2013 News
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Doctors advance research on long-term effects of brain injury

Continuing research in the area of brain injuries has allowed doctors to better understand the long-term problems that an accident victim may face. Brain injuries are well-known to cause many kinds of problems for their victims depending on the type and severity of the injury. Severe brain damage can leave the person unconscious in a coma or vegetative state, unable to breath and can eventually lead to death. Moderate injury to the brain can cause post-traumatic seizures, difficulties speaking, hearing or seeing and can cause serious difficulties with physical functioning of the victim’s body. More mild brain injury can cause memory problems, personality changes, headaches and dizziness. Researchers now understand that personality changes are a significant problem that can affect the person for many years, especially if it is not recognized and treated properly by specialists. Depression, anxiety, impulsiveness and lack of ability to focus can all be manifestations of the changes an injury victim can go through. Children who suffer a mild brain injury or concussion can develop cognitive problems, psychological issues and subsequent difficulty learning. These children may also develop problems functioning in school and with friends.

Neurologists explain that the cause of brain damage can vary from an accident or head injury to lack of oxygen to the brain and can even be caused by chemicals or medications. A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is the term often used when the victim was involved in some sort of head trauma such as a car accident, work injury or blast injury. Some people refer to a mild TBI as a concussion where the person may lose consciousness briefly or suffer with dizziness or vomiting shortly after the accident or crash. Current research continues to work toward understanding the effects of this head trauma for both adults and children later in life. Read more on what you should know about brain injuries here.

Photo by U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Michael C. Barton [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

September 25, 2013 News
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Actor suffers injuries during an accident at work

New York – A Broadway show actor was injured at work when his leg was trapped in a piece of stage equipment. The trap door machine mechanism closed on the victim’s foot prematurely and caused the accident. The injured man was rescued from the device when workers cut through the stage set and called for an ambulance. Reports from the ambulance crew show that the accident victim suffered a severe leg injury including broken bones. He was rushed to a nearby trauma center in midtown New York City for evaluation and treatment of his injuries. Co-workers and bystanders expressed concern regarding the safety of the equipment and machines being used on the show. Some pointed out several previous accidents with injuries on the same set since they began work on the show. Previous accidents on the set have included one worker suffering rib fractures, another man sustaining herniated discs and other spinal injuries, a woman who suffered a head injury with concussion and yet another actress who fractured bones in both wrists. The management who run the show insist that human error caused this most recent accident but others believe that equipment malfunction is to blame. Work safety advocates and union members have asked for further investigation into this accident since they believe that more safety precautions need to be set in place. They worry that more accidents and injuries or even deaths are just around the corner if safe practices are not demanded of the employer producer of the show. Proper inspections and maintenance is necessary to keep the machinery in proper working order and to prevent malfunctions. Workplace safety activists warn that this specific show has been the scene of too many accidents and it has come time for the bosses in charge to take safety more seriously. While some may not think of this type of work setting as being a place with dangers and injuries, advocates say that the hazards are real and need to be addressed. More about the injuries and problems with this show can be found here.

Photo by Youngking11 (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0], via Wikimedia Commons

September 11, 2013 News
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Pedestrian accident in Brooklyn causes multiple injuries

New York – A two-vehicle car accident caused injuries to at least seven victims, many of them pedestrian bystanders. Police report that the car crash began when one the of the vehicles hit an SUV truck in what appeared to be a routine accident in a busy Crown Heights intersection. One witness noted that the first car caused the accident when he ran through a red light at the dangerous intersection. However, the SUV then jumped the curb and was pushed into several pedestrians who were standing on the sidewalk. That vehicle then hit a large metal pole and came to rest after slamming into a light post. The initial pole collapsed and was run over by the SUV, possibly causing some of the injuries. Witnesses explained that accident victims were scattered everywhere and ambulances were immediately called. One of the injured pedestrians apparently suffered a partial foot or leg amputation during the accident. She was rushed by paramedics to a trauma center hospital for treatment and emergency surgery to try to repair the injury. One of the drivers in the accident suffered a head injury and also required emergency treatment. Further details regarding the injured victims and the nature of their injuries have not yet been made available. Investigators are also still looking into the cause of the accident and who was at fault for causing all of the injuries. Meanwhile, local activists complained about the lack of safety and careful driving in this dangerous area of Brooklyn, NY. Some have asked for increased police presence and stiffer punishments for reckless driving. Public safety proponents say that a reckless driver, especially one that causes a serious accident with injuries, must not be allowed to drive again. At the very least, serious consequences but be in place in order to protect the safety, health and property of innocent bystanders.

A similar truck accident in Brooklyn occurred only 2 weeks ago. In that motor vehicle crash, the driver of the truck hit a car and that car was then pushed up onto the sidewalk. It then slammed into a pole and then finally stopped. In the meantime, the truck then hit 3 additional cars. Several crash victims were injured in that accident according to reports. Safety advocates say that these accidents are proof that police, lawmakers and city engineers need to do more to prevent accidents and punish dangerous drivers. Check out further details about the recent Brooklyn car crash here.

Photo by Coolcaesar at the English language Wikipedia [GFDL or CC-BY-SA-3.0], via Wikimedia Commons

August 19, 2013 News
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Child injured coming off amusement park ride

New York — A young boy suffered severe leg injuries when he tried climbing down from a roller coaster ride in the Coney Island section of Brooklyn. The boy’s leg was injured when the roller coaster car ran over it and crushed the leg against the tracks below. He was taken from the scene by an ambulance crew and brought to a hospital emergency room for treatment of the leg injury and an apparent head injury with lacerations to his face. Reports from the scene show that the victim of the accident was easily able to slip out of the safety device and fall from the ride. Witnesses of the accident say that the amusement park ride was geared specifically for children but some feel that the proper safety precautions to protect young kids were not in place. They explained that child safety locks were not installed to make sure an accident or injury like this would be prevented. Some parents expressed concern over the dangers of these types of rides that are commonly found in amusement parks and fairs. They complain that workers and owners need to make sure that children are safe even if they get scared in the middle of the ride. Consumer safety advocates note that more regulations and procedures need to be followed to ensure that a child can’t slip out of seat belts or safety bars. In addition, staff should be more attentive to anyone standing up or trying to come off of the ride prematurely. Emergency brakes or safety devices should be installed and staff trained how to use them in order to prevent a fall like this. Updates about the calamity show that the boy, who is from Queens, NY, was not the only injured victim from the ride. His sister also sustained a leg injury and was taken to a different nearby hospital for medical treatment. It was unclear how the girl was hurt but some believe she slipped and fell while trying to help her brother. Investigations by city officials were initiated to determine if the ride had been properly maintained and inspected, as required. However, a top attorney specializing in accident and injury law reported that a private, more thorough investigation may be needed to determine if there was any negligence that contributed to the accident. Roller coaster accidents are, unfortunately, not uncommon, as can be seen from this recent roller coaster injury. Activists say that owners and management of amusement parks, fairs and carnivals need to continue working to ensure the safety of the public. Find out more about this amusement park accident here.

Photo by MamaGeek at en.wikipedia [GFDL or CC-BY-3.0], via Wikimedia Commons

July 08, 2013 News
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Westchester, New York pedestrian injured in assault with a car

New York — A routine argument about a traffic incident between two men from Yonkers turned into an assault with injuries. Police report that one of the men attacked the other’s car with a baseball bat but then turned his rage toward the man himself. The first man hit the other man with his car and then fled the scene. The pedestrian victim suffered injuries after being struck by the car and then falling off the hood of the vehicle nearly 100 yards away. The assault victim was then treated for his injuries while police searched for the hit-and-run suspect. Reports show that the man was caught and charged for leaving the scene of an accident with injuries as well as for assaulting the man. A top accident lawyer in New York City explained that the driver can also face a civil personal injury lawsuit in addition to the criminal charges against him. Police note that the charges are more severe in this instance than a normal hit-and-run accident since this is being classified as a physical assault. In an unrelated New York car accident, a woman is also facing assault charges for driving while distracted by her cell phone. In that car crash police say that the woman was apparently trying to surf the internet from her mobile device when she lost control of her vehicle and crossed into oncoming traffic. Her car struck another vehicle head-on and caused multiple injuries to several crash victims. One of the passengers of the second vehicle is reported to be in critical condition due to a head injury from the crash. The woman was criminally charged for causing the accident as well as for driving without a license. This motor vehicle accident may also leave the distracted driver facing an personal injury accident lawsuit from the victims in addition to the police charges pending against her for assault with a motor vehicle. Details about the crash are available in this article.

Photo by Stefan Lampert. Users Ahellwig, Sebastian8939, Saiki on de.wikipedia (Feuerwehr Meerane) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

June 18, 2013 News
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Traumatic head injury linked to long-term disability

Current research into concussion due to a head injury shows that the victim is much more likely to suffer in the future with degenerative brain problems. Medical research for centuries has acknowledged that head trauma victims commonly suffer with chronic memory loss and other cognitive injuries. However, this latest study shows that a concussion injury patient can also develop dementia or other degenerative brain disorders due to structural damage to the brain. This can leave the person who was hurt in an accident permanently disabled. Common causes of a concussion, also referred to as a mild traumatic brain injury, include a car crash, construction accident, pedestrian hit by a car or even a slip and fall accident. Some citizen activists as well as concerned doctors note that a new bicycle sharing program in New York City may lead to more head injuries and concussions. They have leveled concerns that the city should provide helmets when riders are using their bicycles in order to prevent more debilitating brain injuries. Accident specialist explain that a bicycle accident leaves the victim at significantly increased risk of injury or death due to lack of safety technology as would be found in a car. When a bicyclist is hit by a car, the wounded rider can be crushed by the car or even thrown into the air for several feet. The injury risk is even greater when the accident involves a bus or truck, as are commonly found on the streets of metropolitan New York. Some believe this is a significant liability and could constitute negligence if the administrators of the program know that riders don’t have reasonable access to safety equipment such as a helmet. They warn that making bicycles more accessible to the public comes with increased responsibility for their safety. Check out more on the latest research into post-concussion injuries here.

Photo by liz west from Boxborough, MA (MRIUploaded by Jacopo Werther) [CC-BY-2.0], via Wikimedia Commons