A violent blow or jolt to the head can cause a concussion. A concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury. While concussions can be minor and temporary in nature, a severe blow to the head can cause permanent brain damage. Permanent brain damage can be caused by a lack of oxygen from swelling, a brain bleed, or stretching of cells or tissue from an injury.
There are some things that can worsen a traumatic brain injury (TBI) and cause serious complications. Here are some things you should know to see if you or a loved one has a high risk of developing permanent brain damage after a concussion.
The two main factors are age and gender. Adults age 65 and older have the greatest risk of being seriously injured from a traumatic brain injury. They are most likely to be hospitalized and die from a TBI. They are most likely to suffer one after a fall. Overall, those over the age of 50 do not do as well following a TBI when compared to younger victims.
Also, serious TBI rates are much higher for men than for women. Men are almost three times more likely to die from a TBI than women.
The extent of the damage is another factor. Permanent brain damage is tied to a loss of oxygen. How long was the brain deprived of oxygen? A shorter period of time means a better chance of recovery. The amount of time unconscious is also tied into this. The longer the coma, the higher the chance of experiencing permanent brain damage.
The location of the injury in the brain can also predict the victim’s outcome. For example, damage to the cerebral cortex, cerebellum, or basal ganglia is most likely to cause physical effects. Damage to the occipital lobe is linked to blindness and other visual problems. A person can suffer memory problems if there is damage to the hippocampus. Frontal lobe injuries can result in emotional issues and changes to personality. Damage to the pituitary gland can cause excessive tiredness, muscle weakness, decreased sex drive, weight gain, headaches, low blood pressure, and dry skin.
An electroencephalogram (EEG) can determine if a permanent brain injury is likely to occur. The EEG displays the electrical activity of the brain, and those with a normal EEG in the early days after a brain injury have a very good chance of making a full recovery. On the other hand, those with abnormal EEGs will likely have severe disabilities or not survive at all. MRI and DTI imaging also can locate areas of brain damage and help correlate the damage, with the type of loss of function our clients may have sustained.
Concussions and post-concussion syndrome are traumatic brain injuries. Any loss of a sense, memory loss, or cognitive deficits can result. A concussion can cause a wide range of effects, from dizziness to headaches to nausea to speech and memory problems. In severe cases, it can cause permanent brain damage.
If your concussion was caused by someone else’s negligence, get the help you need from the Kansas personal injury attorneys at Neustrom & Associates. No matter how difficult your case is, our lawyers can help you. Schedule a free consultation by filling out the online form or calling (785) 825-1505.
]]>Car accidents, defective products, medical malpractice, and other personal injury incidents can cause you to suffer significant damages.
You have the legal right to file a personal injury lawsuit against the liable party. However, you have just a limited time to do so. The amount of time you have is called the statute of limitations, and it varies from state to state.
Under Kansas State Legislature, Article 5, most actions, particularly injuries, have a two-year limit. This includes wrongful death, injury to another person, damage to property, fraud, and failure of a healthcare provider to render professional services. Medical malpractice and fraud have different limits depending on the time of reasonable discovery.
Other actions have different statutes of limitations. For example, battery and some intentional acts, libel and slander have a limit of just one year, and sexual assault victims have their own rules. Minors sometimes have until age 19 and incompetent or mentally challenged people have longer to file in most cases. Contracts also have different deadlines. The statute of limitation is three years for oral contracts and five years for written contracts.
Statutes of limitations are hard deadlines. If you are just one day late in filing a lawsuit, you will be barred from recovery. You will not be able to receive a cent, so take the deadline seriously if you want to receive full compensation.
After a car crash or other accident, it is important to make sure you get full and fair compensation. This may require filing a lawsuit, but keep in mind that you need to act quickly. You have just two years from the date of the accident to file a claim.
The Kansas personal injury attorneys at Neustrom & Associates can help you take that step toward protecting yourself legally. We will focus on justice while you focus on recovery. Schedule a free consultation by filling out the online form or calling (785) 825-1505.
]]>Asbestosis is a chronic lung disease. It is caused by inhaling asbestos, a group of naturally occurring minerals composed of heat resistant fibers. It can prove debilitating, preventing you from working and limit your enjoyment of life. It can lead to life threatening asbestos-related lung cancers.
If you work in asbestos removal or in certain occupations, it is important to be aware of how asbestosis happens and the warning signs. Our experienced Kansas workplace accident attorneys and products liability attorneys can help evaluate if you have common symptoms of asbestosis, and the right to recover compensation for injury or death.
Prior to the 1970s, asbestos was used in a variety of consumer and commercial products. Once scientists discovered the links between asbestosis, cancer, and respiratory diseases in general, that began to change. In 1989, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) placed a partial ban on asbestos use and more restrictions have been added over the years. At the same time, it continues to be used in automotive manufacturing, roofing, and fireproofing materials and can still be found in older buildings, including schools.
In addition to those involved in the difficult and dangerous task of asbestosis removal, there are other types of workers who may be in danger of asbestos exposure. Those considered at high risk include:
Asbestosis is a serious and potentially life threatening respiratory disease that is caused by breathing in asbestos fibers. The American Lung Association warns that this can cause scarring of lung tissues, with long term effects that often do not appear until 10 to 40 years after exposure. Common symptoms of asbestosis include:
All of the above are indicators of reduced lung function due to asbestos. Complications that can occur as a result of the disease include asbestos-related lung cancers and respiratory failure.
If you or a loved one have suffered injury or death from Asbestosis we can evaluate your claim and help you find compensation from existing funding put in place to help you. Corporations manufacturing asbestos have placed billions of dollars in court supervised Trust funds. We can help you collect the compensation you or your family deserves. We will associate with national firms, if necessary to help you collect the most compensation. You will have local representation to help you with forms, bills, legal and medical issues, and explain your compensation rights. Get full representation for no additional cost.
At Neustrom & Associates, we can guide you in seeking full and fair compensation. To discuss your case and how our Kansas Product Liability attorneys can help, call or contact our office online and request a consultation today.
]]>Have you been involved in a serious accident that left you with a head injury? Are you or a loved one currently recovering from a traumatic brain injury (TBI)?
At the law office of Neustrom & Associates, Salina, Kansas our personal injury attorneys recognize that a TBI is one of the most serious types of injuries there is—a TBI can be a catastrophic injury. If you have suffered a traumatic brain injury, here is an overview of what symptoms and affects you may experience, as well as what your rights are if the injury was caused by the negligence of another party.
The side effects of a traumatic brain injury can vary significantly depending on the type of brain injury and the severity of brain injury. Types of brain injuries include:
While traumatic brain injuries are all unique, symptoms of a TBI may include:
It should be noted that the above list is not inclusive. It seems every TBI client we have seen has a different list of troubles.
The above describes the short-term side-effects of a TBI, but there are a handful of long-term consequences of a traumatic brain injury, too. The Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that a moderate to a severe TBI can lead to long-term complications, including physical symptoms, problems with thinking and learning, and changes in motor skills, hearing, vision, emotions, and behavior. A person who suffers from a serious TBI may have a hard time ever returning to work again, may struggle to interact in their personal relationships, and may even have more serious disabilities.
If you have been involved in a serious accident that resulted in your traumatic brain injury and that accident was caused by the negligence or even intentional actions of another party, you can file a personal injury claim for damages. By filing a personal injury claim for damages, you can seek compensation for the value of your medical expenses, lost wages, property damage costs, pain and suffering, emotional distress, and all other economic and noneconomic damages. We look at loss of function closely in determining damages you have suffered. To win your suit, you’ll need to prove that your TBI would not have occurred but for the acts or negligence of the other party.
At the law office of Neustrom & Associates, our Kansas personal injury attorneys understand that a traumatic brain injury can be extremely disruptive, expensive, and tragic for you and your family. If you have been involved in an accident caused by someone else’s fault, we believe that you deserve to be compensated. For a free consultation where you can learn more about our legal services and how we can help you to recover damages when you need it most, please call us directly or send us a message online. We offer consultations free of charge.
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SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — Have you ever read the fine print in your health insurance policy? You may be surprised by some of the terms, especially if you get seriously hurt and expect an insurance settlement. A South Dakota motorcyclist found that out the hard way.
D.J. Toczek is a teacher and coach who was hit on a Wyoming Interstate in 2017 by a man who was high, drunk and running from the law.
]]>You have likely heard the distinct buzzing noise and noticed a drone flying somewhere nearby. These remote-controlled devices are useful in many industries, including military operations, mapping, real estate, farming, and many more. Did you know that some people benefit from the use of drones following an accident and injuries?
Gathering evidence following an injury is not always an easy process, and you want a Salina personal injury law firm with the experience and resources necessary to prove your claim. Contact Neustrom & Associates to discuss options for your case today.
In some injury insurance claims, liability is clear and undisputed. This might be the case if a drunk driver was arrested for DUI after causing a crash, or a truck driver was well beyond hours of service restrictions, and an in-truck camera caught the driver falling asleep at the wheel. However, in other claims, an insurance company and the policyholder might dispute liability, which requires the claimant to provide sufficient evidence to prove the policyholder should be liable for the accident and resulting losses.
Gathering evidence can be difficult at a car accident scene, as many small details might be important to prove liability. However, police officers often want to clear the scene and resume normal traffic activity as soon as possible, which can make the time-consuming evidence-gathering process challenging or impossible. Some police departments have started using drones to record the scene before they clear it, which can help with accident reconstruction and identifying liability at a later date.
In addition, some personal injury law firms have started using drones in different capacities to help their clients. If a lawyer or accident reconstruction expert gets to the scene fast enough, they might use a drone to record evidence that will soon disappear, such as tire marks, knocked-down signs, and other circumstances created by the crash.
Injury attorneys also know the importance of giving insurance adjusters or jury members a complete picture of what happened and how the accident occurred. Drone footage can provide a direct visual of where the accident happened and the surroundings that might have played a role in the crash.
While drones can play different roles in a personal injury case, attorneys are finding that drone footage can enhance a claim and the ability of insurers or juries to interact directly with the location of an accident and injuries. The role of this technology will likely continue to increase as we find more opportunities for drones to help with the personal injury claim process.
At Neustrom & Associates, we know that technology changes the personal injury process, and we stay on top of new developments to best help our clients recover the full compensation they deserve. If you need assistance with any type of personal injury case, you want to have a dedicated advocate on your side. Contact us through our website or call 785-825-1505 for a free case evaluation today.
]]>Asbestos exposure can cause many different problems with your respiratory health, many of which can be life-threatening. Asbestosis is one condition that results from working around asbestos, and many workers might not realize they have this disease until years after the exposure occurred. Then, symptoms can range from mild to severe, and many people suffer permanent lung damage.
If you need medical treatment due to asbestosis and lung damage, and you believe you can trace it back to asbestos exposure on the job, you might be able to seek compensation for your losses, pain and suffering, and more. Contact a Salina asbestosis lawyer for more information. Mesothelioma is another condition where we can help you.
Like mesothelioma and other related respiratory conditions, asbestosis can develop from exposure to extensive amounts of asbestos dust over years, which usually happens while working in certain industries. Some industries that have had a high risk of exposure to workers include:
You can also be exposed when you are not actively working around asbestos. For instance, if you lived near a mine, asbestos fibers might be in the air around your home, causing you to inhale them. If your family member had asbestos exposure at work, they might have brought fibers home on their clothes each day, causing you to breathe them in. While secondhand exposure cases are rarer, they can still happen, and anyone with an asbestosis diagnosis should learn about their legal rights.
When you are constantly exposed to asbestos, the fibers can lodge themselves in your alveoli, which are tiny sacs in your lungs that exchange carbon dioxide for oxygen in your bloodstream. These fibers cause irritation and scar tissue in your lungs, which causes your lung tissue to become stiffer. This prevents the tissue from expanding and contracting as usual, which can cause chronic breathing difficulty.
Once you are diagnosed with asbestosis, doctors regularly prescribe antimicrobial therapy and possible supplemental oxygen. Unfortunately, the damage and scarring to your lungs are irreversible, and there is no cure for the disease. Instead, you will need to continually undergo treatment to manage your symptoms. In addition, asbestosis puts you at greater risk of terminal lung cancer, mesothelioma, or other complications, such as developing life-threatening cases of influenza or pneumonia.
Employers and other parties should have long been taking steps to prevent the risk of asbestos exposure. However, exposure still happens and certainly did in the past, which can lead to current cases of asbestosis. If you developed this condition, you could have important legal rights to seek compensation for your devastating losses.
At Neustrom & Associates, we handle complex asbestos-related cases, including those involving asbestosis and lung damage and Mesothelioma. We are here to help you and your family, so please do not hesitate to contact us through our website or call 785-825-1505 for a free case evaluation today.
]]>About 137,000 pedestrians sustained injuries in traffic accidents in a recent year in the United States, and many of these injuries were severe. Medical treatment for injuries can be costly, and injured pedestrians can also incur many other losses.
If someone else caused your pedestrian accident, that party should be liable for covering all of your medical expenses and other losses. When you file an insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit, you seek a certain amount of damages, which is monetary compensation for your losses. But what damages can you claim?
The best way to know what damages are available in your case is to have an experienced Salina pedestrian accident lawyer review the situation.
A person hit by a car or truck can claim Personal Injury Protection benefits from the driver’s car insurance company. You may have uninsured or underinsured rights for additional benefits on your own car insurance policy if limits are low or non-existent. There may be liens and subrogation interests to determine, before calculating net damages you may receive.
The following are some examples of damages that injured pedestrians commonly claim. Call Neustrom & Associates, PA.
This type of damages is usually expected following an accident, though damages for medical expenses can be more complicated than you might think. First, you can seek compensation for all the medical bills you already incurred, which might be for:
If you can present bills for your past treatment, proving these damages is fairly straightforward.
However, what if your serious injuries will require continued treatment in the future? Many people cannot wait until their treatment is over to file a claim, especially if they will need life-long care. Instead, your attorney can seek help from medical experts and other professionals who can estimate the costs of your future treatment. It is important to include future costs in your damage claim.
Injuries can keep you out of work for some time, and this can mean losing income. If you use up all your paid leave – or do not have paid leave at all – you might miss out on wages if your injuries keep you home. You can seek damages for lost income by submitting your pay statements and other employment records.
You should be able to recover for the following if you would have received it while working:
If you cannot return to work or need to find a less intensive job, you can seek damages for your future lost earning ability.
Not all damages are directly tied to money. Injuries can cause many non-financial issues for accident victims, including:
If you experienced any of the above stemming from your pedestrian injuries, you can seek damages for these intangible losses. These intangible losses are difficult to calculate and prove, and you want the help of a trusted injury attorney as soon as possible after your accident.
Neustrom & Associates handles all types of accident and injury claims, including representing people hit by cars while they are walking. Contact us online or call 785-825-1505 to learn how a Salina pedestrian accident lawyer can help you.
]]>Learning that a serious injury has left you with long-term disabilities can be devastating. Many people in this situation can no longer conduct their usual enjoyable activities or even take care of themselves. These limitations can result in depression and other mental struggles, in addition to the physical effects of the injuries.
It is common for people with disabling injuries to undergo regular sessions of physical and occupational therapy. Sometimes, even after many therapy sessions, they see little improvement in their physical abilities, which can be even more disheartening. Recently, some therapists working with disabled patients have seen improvement in the mental – and even physical – condition of patients who undergo virtual reality therapy.
You might think of virtual reality (VR) as something that teenagers do, or that exists only in wealthy, high-tech households. However, there are other discovered benefits of this activity. VR involves wearing special goggles that make you feel as if you are in a different situation from the one you are actually in. For example, you might use virtual reality goggles to pretend you are on top of a mountain or sailing on a lake.
Therapists working with disabled veterans at a VA hospital in St. Louis have been using VR goggles with disabled patients. Even though the therapy does not actually strengthen the patients’ muscles or directly increase their abilities, it has other benefits. Patients can feel like they are engaging in their favorite activities, even though they cannot engage in such activities in reality. This seems to lift the patients’ spirits and make them more hopeful about their futures. They can still have fun even though their physicality is limited. Some possible VR activities include:
Therapists found that VR therapy can also be used to help with pain management, anxiety control, and to document patient progress. Overall, this is a type of technological therapy that might become much more widespread, and it can benefit injured victims of serious accidents. This might be something that injured accident victims might want to discuss with their therapists as an option for part of their therapy.
If someone else caused your injuries or you suffered an injury on the job, your treatment costs should be covered by the liable party or workers’ compensation. This should include treatment recommended by a physical therapist to improve your mental health, as well as your physical condition.
At Neustrom & Associates, we believe that our clients should receive innovative types of treatment when needed to help their healing process, both physically and mentally. We go up against insurance companies who challenge certain medical treatments, and we fight for the full compensation our injured clients deserve. If you have suffered serious and disabling injuries in an accident, seek help from a Salina personal injury attorney you can trust. Call 785-825-1505 to contact us through our website for a free consultation today.
]]>New technology can help in a wide variety of fields, and the legal field is no different. Forward-thinking law firms are always on the lookout for new technology that can help them advocate for the rights of their injured clients. In recent times, 3D printing has been used more commonly by personal injury lawyers in Salina and across the U.S. to help prove their clients’ claims. If you were injured and believe that another party was to blame, it is critical to have an injury attorney who will do what it takes to obtain compensation for your losses.
Also called additive printing, 3D printing is a process of turning a digital file or design into a three-dimensional object. Using special software, printers lay down many layers of material to compose these objects, which uses less material than would traditional manufacturing processes.
3D printing can be used to make functional products, as well as models for demonstrations. Some examples of 3D printed items include:
Some 3D prints are meant to be used repeatedly for some time, while others serve a single-use and specialized purpose.
3D printing is often used to reconstruct something – such as an artifact or fossil – or to allow people to hold and examine something that they generally would not be able to. Legal professionals have started using this technology in different types of cases. For example, forensic pathologists and prosecutors might use 3D printing to recreate evidence to seek a criminal conviction if that evidence is no longer intact or available.
In the personal injury practice area, lawyers might utilize 3D printing to help prove a claim in court. Once a case goes to trial, your lawyer must convince the jury not only of who caused your accident, but also of the severity of your injuries. The more severe the jury believes your injuries were, the greater damages they might award for pain and suffering and other non-economic losses. 3D printing can help with this.
Imagine that a plaintiff shattered their wrist in a car crash. A broken wrist might not seem all that serious to a jury – after all, people fracture their wrists all the time. However, if the jury is presented with a 3D model of the wrist with numerous fractures and pins, plates, and screws inserted, the jury can compare that severely injured wrist with a model of a healthy wrist. This can be a powerful tool when demonstrating the severity of an injury.
At the law firm of Neustrom & Associates, our Salina personal injury attorneys find effective ways of proving our clients’ injuries and claims. If you would like to discuss a possible case, please call 785-825-1505 or reach out online for your free consultation. We look forward to evaluating your rights and handling the legal process for you and your family.
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