New tests may help California TBI patients
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, traumatic brain injuries account for 30 percent of accident-related deaths each year around the country. The agency has asserted that those deaths cost the United States $75.6 million annually. While there is no cure for TBIs, researchers believe that they may be able to stop an injury from getting worse after it occurs. It is thought that there is a two- or three-day window in which cell death can be prevented after a blow to the head.
To study the effects of a blow to the head, scientists use slices of rat brain tissue. They can simulate the impact of a tackle during a football game, the impact of a car crash or the effect that an explosion may have on brain matter. The tests aim to discover how much tissue can bend before it breaks and how many cells die immediately following such a scenario.
Although many in the scientific community applaud the work, there is more research that needs to be done. For instance, some have suggested doing experiments outside of a lab’s controlled environment. For now, the best advice may be to wear a seat belt and take other precautions to prevent a TBI from occurring.
Those who have received a brain injury as the result of another party’s negligence may wish to talk to an attorney about their legal options. It may be possible to win compensation to pay for medical bills, long-term care costs and other expenses related to the injury through the filing of a personal injury lawsuit against the responsible party. It may also be possible to win compensation for lost wages if the victim was forced to miss work.