Injury to the head or spinal cord can be permanently disabling, catastrophic and/or fatal. These injuries affect the nervous system control for the entire body, so they can result in paralysis, coma, or severe and irreversible brain damage. Victims often require long-term medical care, and many are unable to work again.

Although victims of head and spinal cord injury often face huge economic burdens, insurance companies typically refuse to provide coverage for such injuries. Victims’ families can be overwhelmed with emotional trauma, exorbitant medical bills, and lost income. Hiring the representative Ryan Krebs, M.D., J.D. can increase your chances of obtaining a positive settlement or verdict.

Head and spinal cord injuries can have any number of causes, from auto accidents, birth injury, or medical malpractice. In many cases, the injury is not the fault of the victim but of another person, company, or group with legal liability. In such cases, the victim or their family may be able to obtain significant financial compensation by pursuing a personal injury claim.

Learn more about these specific head, spinal cord, brain or nerve injuries:

• Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
• Closed Head Injury
• Spinal Cord Injury
• Paralysis
• Coma
• Stroke

Traumatic Brain Injury

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is most often caused by a severe impact to the head, and it can result in lasting physical and mental problems. Because traumatic brain injures are most often the result of an accident, they are frequently the fault of someone other than the victim. Auto accidents are the most common cause of brain injury. Other causes include falls, violence, and sports injuries.

While people with minor head injuries frequently make full recoveries, people with traumatic brain injury often face permanent disability or death. Many brain injury patients require long-term rehabilitation beyond their initial medical care. Some may never be able to work again. As a result, many traumatic brain injury victims and their families find themselves facing tremendous financial obstacles. This financial burden, combined with emotional trauma, can be overwhelming for many families. The law seeks to protect traumatic brain injury victims and their families. A qualified brain injury attorney can help families and victims obtain the financial compensation they need so they can focus on healing. Contact the Law Office of Ryan Krebs, M.D., J.D. for a free review of your case.

Closed Head Injury

A closed head injury occurs when an outside force hits the head and brain or when the head hits an object. In a closed injury, however, only the brain is injured from the force of impact, such as happens with a concussion. The skull remains undamaged. For this reason, closed head injuries frequently go untreated because there is no visible injury.

Though there are not always obvious indications of a closed head injury, it is important that victims of suspected head injury receive medical care as soon as possible. Anyone involved in a motor vehicle accident, fall, or similar accident may sustain a head injury that only qualified medical personnel can diagnose. Many closed head injuries are the fault of someone other than the victim. In these cases, the injury victim, or the victim’s family, may be entitled to receive financial compensation from the responsible party. Contact our brain injury lawyer, Ryan Krebs, M.D., J.D., to learn more about your legal options.

Brain & Spinal Cord Injury

Injuries to the brain and spinal cord are among the most devastating injuries because they frequently result in long-term or permanent disability. Brain damage can affect any or all body functions, from speech and cognitive function to consciousness. Spinal cord injuries can cause paralysis and other movement related problems.

Brain and spinal cord injuries can occur in many ways, including car accidents, falls, birth trauma, and violence. Victims of brain and spinal cord injuries usually require long-term medical care and incur extremely high medical bills. The long-term physical, emotional, and financial strain on a family can be immense. If a spinal cord or brain injury was caused by another’s negligence or wrongful action, the victim or their family may be entitled to significant financial compensation Contact the Law Office of Ryan Krebs, M.D., J.D. for skilled legal representation.

Paralysis

The ability to walk and move as we please is something many people take for granted. Paralysis, especially after an accident, forces a victim to learn new ways of performing even the most basic daily functions. Some activities are never again available to a paralyzed individual. Victims of paralysis typically must undergo extensive physical therapy and rehabilitative treatment. They need wheelchairs and may need modifications made to their homes.

In many cases, paralysis-causing accidents are the fault of someone other than the victim, and the victim may be entitled to financial compensation. Serious car accidents and falls on a dangerous premises or worksite are common examples of this. A qualified personal injury attorney at the Law Office of Ryan Krebs, M.D., J.D. can evaluate paralysis cases free of charge to help determine whether the other party can be held responsible for the injuries.

Coma

A patient in a coma is unconscious for an extended period of time and cannot be aroused by any form of external stimuli. Coma may come about as a symptom of a disease, such as a severe infection, or it may result from traumatic brain injury, stroke, seizure, or severe blood sugar imbalances.

A typical coma does not last longer than a month. Following this period, patients generally wake up, die, or shift into a vegetative state in which most autonomous body functions (breathing, digestion, elimination) continue unconsciously. A vegetative state can continue for many months or years.

A person’s chances of recovery from either a coma or a vegetative state are determined by the severity of injury to the brain. Comas and long-term vegetative states can be extremely hard on the families of victims, both emotionally and financially. If another person or party is responsible for the coma, a brain injury lawyer at the Law Office of Ryan Krebs, M.D., J.D. can help ensure the family receives needed compensation for the damages incurred.

Stroke

According to the American Stroke Association, stroke is the third leading cause of death in the United States. A stroke is caused by a sudden loss of blood supply to the brain, such as when a blood clot blocks an artery (ischemic stroke) or when a blood vessel ruptures within the brain (hemorrhagic stroke). Most frequently, uncontrolled high blood pressure is the cause. The resulting loss of oxygen to the brain can result in severe brain injury and death if not recognized and treated immediately.

Common warning signs of a stroke include numbness of a part of the body (particularly of one side), confusion, vision loss, dizziness, and severe headache, as well as difficulty speaking clearly, understanding, or maintaining body coordination. Often, a stroke is preceded by a mini-stroke, called a TIA (transient ischemic attack), a strong warning that a full stroke may be imminent.

It is critical that doctors recognize the warning signs of a stroke and act quickly to prevent irreversible brain damage or death. Blood clot busting drugs can frequently prevent the worst damage from ischemic strokes if administered quickly enough. If a doctor fails to recognize key warning signs, diagnose a stroke, or respond immediately, he or she could be legally liable for a patient’s injuries or death.