Buffalo Personal Injury Lawyer NewsConcussion Injury
A mild form of traumatic brain injury (TBI) that affects the regular functioning of your brain is called a concussion. Although doctors may describe concussions as “mild” because they are not typically life-threatening, victims can still suffer severe effects from this brain injury. Adverse impacts are generally temporary but often include problems concentrating, trouble remembering, and difficulties with balance or coordination. Concussions can also create acute chemical changes in the brain and sometimes elongate or damage vital brain cells. While anyone can suffer a concussion, data suggests that young children and the elderly have the highest risk.
The Most Common Causes Of Concussions
Concussions are often caused by a jolt, blow, or knock to the head or strike to the body that causes the victim’s brain to slam rapidly back and forth against the inner walls of the skull. Violent shaking of the head or upper body can also lead to a concussion. Any abrupt movement can cause a victim’s brain to twist or bounce around inside their head. Falls are by far the most prevalent cause of concussions. The unexpected acceleration or deceleration of the head resulting from personal injury accidents, such as car crashes, are likely to cause this type of head injury too. Concussions are widespread in contact sports, such as football, hockey, or soccer. According to estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), up to 3.8 million sports and recreation-related concussions happen throughout the United States each year.
Liability in personal injury cases is often unclear and ambiguous. This is because a defendant may not be entirely responsible for the accident. It is not uncommon for plaintiffs to be partially at-fault too. Fortunately, victims may still be eligible to recover compensation for their damages even if they were partly to blame. When applying the legal doctrine of comparative negligence, also known as comparative fault, a plaintiff that contributed to their accident would still be awarded compensation for their damages. However, the total amount would be reduced based on their share of fault. Whether you have been hurt in a car crash, construction accident, slip and fall, or any other mishap, comparative negligence can significantly impact the compensation you obtain. 
Suppose you or a loved one have suffered devastating injuries in an accident caused by someone else’s negligence. In that case, you must understand all of the legal options available to recover damages. Although accident victims have the right to take their injury claims to court under New York law, most lawsuits get settled without going to trial. Contrary to what most people think, only about 3 percent of all cases go to court. 
According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), in a recent year alone, there were over 1,040 motor vehicle crash-related deaths throughout New York State. Although defective vehicles and components commonly contribute to or significantly worsen many car accidents, most victims never even realize it. Collisions involving automobile defects are typically caused by dangerous vehicle designs, substandard components, and other manufacturing errors. All car designers and manufacturers have a legal duty to ensure their vehicles’ safety before marketing them to the public. This duty requires car makers to carefully inspect their vehicles for defects that could unnecessarily harm consumers. Unfortunately, some of the most prominent car companies fail to examine their vehicles adequately. Many manufacturers have even known about critical deficiencies but tried to conceal them from the public. 
The spinal cord is a long, cylindrical pathway that connects your brain to your lower back. It is a delicate structure composed of vertebrae, discs, nerves, and other tissues. A spinal cord injury consists of any damage to a segment of the spinal cord or nerves at the end of the cauda equina. When part of the spine gets damaged, areas of the body below the site might not receive nerve messages and suffer changes in sensation, strength, and other critical body functions. According to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center (NSCISC), a recent estimate revealed that more than 17,800 victims suffer spinal cord injuries yearly. Approximately 294,000 individuals throughout the country are currently struggling with spinal cord injuries. 
We have all heard stories about collisions involving motorists driving towards oncoming traffic in the wrong lane. Wrong-way car accidents occur when a car driving in an inappropriate direction strikes another vehicle. Typically, wrong-way car accidents result in head-on collisions. These car crashes occur more often than most people would think and usually bring about devastating injuries and deaths. In a recent 8-year period, nearly 3,900 fatal injuries were caused by wrong-way crashes. 
In a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit, the plaintiff may be eligible to obtain damages for their losses resulting from a defendant’s negligence. These damages are typically compensatory, meaning that they are designed to compensate victims for their actual injuries. Compensatory damages can be economic and non-economic, such as medical expenses, physical therapy costs, lost wages, property damage, pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment, and loss of consortium. 
Under New York law, a victim who pursues damages, also known as a plaintiff, has the burden of proof. In other words, the plaintiff must present evidence to establish the legal elements required to prove the particulars of their claim. 
Being the victim of an accident can be an extremely traumatic event, especially if you have suffered injuries, property damage, or other significant losses. Even seemingly minor accidents can have disastrous repercussions, such as life-long disabilities, permanent disfigurements, complete paralysis, and traumatic brain injuries. Since most accidents are unpredictable and transpire with little to no warning, victims are usually uncertain about their next steps. The last thing any accident victim wants to worry about is filing the proper forms. With a highly experienced personal injury attorney, the legal process after an accident does not have to be overwhelming. 
Being the victim of an accident resulting from another’s negligence or recklessness can have earth-shattering ramifications. Victims who sustain serious injuries forfeit small fortunes in lost incomes, medical bills, and rehabilitation costs. Not to mention, many suffer from severe physical, psychological, and emotional complications. Obtaining reasonable compensation for your injuries is often the best way to start recovering. After suffering severe accident-related injuries, victims frequently pursue personal injury lawsuits to recoup their losses. One of the main types of compensation that courts award to plaintiffs is called special or economic damages.