(Newswire.net — March 24, 2014) Scottsdale, AZ —
An Oxford study recently published in the journal JAMA Psychiatry disclosed a disturbing correlation between traumatic brain injury and premature death among survivors, raising interest among medical and health service providers as well as personal injury lawyers.
People who survive brain injuries like the one which brought seven-time Formula One racing champ Michael Schumacher in to critical condition are more likely to suffer mental illness and die early, according to the study.
Because of the inability to ascertain the long term consequences of a traumatic brain injury, such as possible behavioral problems and depression, health services and insurance providers usually limit their assessments to the first six months after an accident.
“If Schumacher survives he will not be Schumacher. He will be (Mr) Bloggs,” Reuters quoted Richard Greenwood, a neurologist at London’s Homerton Hospital and the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery. “And his rehabilitation will only be effective if he comes to terms with being Bloggs – and fulfils what Bloggs can do.”
A traumatic brain injury (TBI) comes from a strong jolt or blow to the head that may results in a skull fracture, brain damage, haemorrhage, unconsciousness or a combination of these. Most cases of TBI come as a consequence of road accidents, slips and falls, sports injuries and, as in the case of Schumacher, recreational accident.
Seena Fazel of Oxford University’s Department of Psychology and leader of the research team said current care guidelines focus on immediate, short-term recovery but does not asses mental health or suicide risks. “It may make more sense to treat some TBI patients as suffering from a chronic problem requiring longer-term management just like epilepsy or diabetes,” Fazel said. “TBI survivors should be monitored carefully for signs of depression, substance abuse and other psychiatric disorders, which are all treatable conditions.”
The care guidelines’ failure to consider the long term effects of TBI also make the assessment of personal injury claims a tedious undertaking between the claimant and the accident insurance provider. Michael Nysather of Scottsdale, Arizona’s Wade & Nysather Law Office emphasizes the importance of hiring the services of a personal injury lawyer to help victims get the compensation they deserve following an accident involving a traumatic brain injury.
“An experienced personal injury lawyer will be able to objectively look at the situation, project unforeseen medical and other maintenance costs,” said Nysather, a seasoned litigation and accident lawyer. “He will also be able to dedicate time and attention to the claims process, which the injured person cannot do, being injured and all.”
For more information on how to proceed with a personal injury claim involving TBI in Arizona, visit Wade & Nysather Law Office’s website,www.AZAccident.com.