The brain is the most complex part of the human anatomy, controlling every single physical and mental function that we have. Severe injuries to the brain are highly complicated, cause the most extensive damage to a person’s life, and require the highest, and therefore the most expensive, degree of medical care.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI), in which the brain is damaged as the result of an accident, is the number- one cause of death and disability among children and young adults in the United States. It can happen to anyone.

The leading causes of TBI are falls, motor vehicle accidents, being struck by or banging your head against an object, and assault, including assault with a weapon. The most fatal form of TBI is caused by gunshot.

There are about a million and a half TBI victims every year-- about one every fifteen seconds-- including 50,000 deaths and 80,000 people left with serious disabilities. The rest are hospitalized or treated at the emergency room and released. According to the CDC, another 3.8 million people per year suffer sports- related head injuries.

Over 5 million Americans are currently suffering from accident- caused brain damage requiring extremely expensive long- term or lifelong care.

Brain injuries are classified by the National Institutes of Health as mild, moderate, or severe. Symptoms of mild damage include headaches, ringing in the ears, dizziness, and confusion, among others. The line from moderate to severe damage runs from the inability to wake up, to vomiting, convulsions, and increased confusion and restlessness. The most severe injuries range from stupor, to coma, to a temporary vegetative state, and then to a persistent or permanent vegetative state where the victim is completely non- responsive to any stimulus.

Unfortunately, even though millions of dollars are spent every year on research, current science offers very little ability to cure severe brain damage. And even though miracles occasionally happen, most victims of traumatic brain injury and their families are left with lifetime disability and tremendous medical expenses.

Families of a brain injury victim need to understand their legal rights in this highly complex area of law and medicine. The attorneys at GOK have many years of experience in dealing with the very sensitive issues, personal and legal, that arise from these severe injuries.