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MINNESOTA CAR ACCIDENT LAWYERS-CONCUSSIONS & BRAIN INJURIES FROM MOTOR VEHICLE COLLISIONS

MOTORCYCLE INJURY LAWYER MINNEAPOLIS

Minnesota Car Accident Lawyers want you to know the facts about concussions and brain injuries from car accidents.

Car Accidents-Major Cause of Brain Injuries and Death.

Motor vehicle collisions are recognized as major cause of concussion injuries and brain injuries.  Every year, over 4 million people are injured seriously enough to require medical attention.  Annually, nearly 38,000 deaths result from car accidents.

The victims of car accidents suffer a concussion injury in 27% of the cases.  One study showed that over 60% of people seeking legal help regarding a car accident have suffered a concussion injury-and over 80% have not sought medical attention prior to seeking an attorney.

Concussions From Car Accidents Are Different From Sports-Related Concussions.

A concussion is a traumatic brain injury.  90% of traumatic brain injuries are concussions.  Concussions are sometimes called “mild” traumatic brain injuries-but there is nothing mild about many concussions that result in significant long-term disabilities.

Concussion injuries resulting from motor vehicle collisions are a different “breed of cat”.  The forces of a motor vehicle collision are unique-significantly different, and greater, than sports-related concussions.

Airbags and headrests protect the head from a direct forceful blow to the head, but do not protect from the “whiplash of the brain”.

The most common type of motor vehicle collision is the “rear-ender” where the victim’s vehicle is struck from behind.  This causes an “acceleration/deceleration” biomechanical model which biomechanical experts recognize as “biphasic”.  In the acceleration phase, the vehicle is violently pushed forward with the seat pushing the trunk forward while restrained by the shoulder and lap belt.  The neck and head is not so restrained except by the head rest which is often improperly adjusted and the head actually goes backward above the head rest.

Then comes the second phase where the body rebounds forward.  As it does so, the “three point” restraint system in most automobiles restrains only the left shoulder of the driver or the right shoulder of the passenger, causing a dramatic “rotation”.  It is well known that the brain is more susceptible to rotational forces which cause greater injury.  It is quite common for the driver to have more damage to the ??? neck and the passenger to the ??? neck. In many cases, the driver’s head and neck were turned, looking at the rear view mirror or watching for traffic, aggravating the effect of the forces.  Experts have called this phenomenon the “complex interplay of seat design, occupant mass, occupation position, and vehicle dynamics”.  Centeno, Minor Impact Soft Tissue Injury, Pain Res Manage, Vol 10(2), pp. 71-4 (2005) See Panjabi, Biomechanics of Whiplash Injury, Orthopade, 1996 27(12):81-9; Foreman, Whiplash Injuries: The Cervical Acceleration/Deceleration Syndrome,

Shoulder and lap belts actually increase the likelihood of a concussion.

Modern passenger vehicles are equipped with “3 point” shoulder and lap belts.  Occupants are restrained about the waist and only one shoulder.  As the body is forcefully tossed forward, only the driver’s left shoulder is restrained and only the front seat passenger’s right shoulder is restrained.  The result is a rotational force as the shoulder belt restrains.  Rotational forces are well known to cause greater concussion injuries.

Sports-related concussion victims have a number of very significant advantages over car-accident victims.

They are, on average, younger and more physically fit.  The approach the event expecting traumatic forces and are usually mentally prepared for the trauma.  Their concussions don’t “fly under the radar” and get overlooked.  Their concussions are typically witnessed by a large number of teammates, coaches and fans in the stands.  Both they and their coaches, trainer, and parents have some degree of knowledge regarding concussion injuries.  State laws require a concussion assessment before “return to play.”

The concussion injury in most sporting events is the only injury.  Car accident victims have a distinct disadvantage in that they typically suffer other physical injuries in addition to the concussion which tend to draw the focus on those injuries and the resulting pain tending to cause neglect of the concussion.

Concussion Injuries From Car Accidents Require Special Attention.

80% of the victims of car accidents do not receive medical care-or receive medical care that overlooks the concussion injury.  The Concussion Injury Lawyers at the Schmidt Salita Law Team have extensive training and experience in the initial assessment of concussion injuries.  They know the health care providers that are competent in the assessment and treatment of concussion injuries.

The Minnesota Concussion Injury Lawyers at the Schmidt Salita Law Team Has Special Skills and Experience With Concussions and Traumatic Brain Injuries.

Studies show that a large number of the occupants of motor vehicles that have been involved in moderate to severe collisions suffer a concussion injury.  Many do not understand that they have suffered a concussion and do not seek medical attention. The Minnesota Concussion Injury Lawyers at the Schmidt Salita Law Team have special skills and experience in bringing justice to the victims of overlooked concussion injuries.

Minneapolis MN personal injury lawyers

The Schmidt Salita Law Team Handles a Wide Variety of Personal Injury and Wrongful Death Claims.

The Schmidt Salita Law Team handles cases involving car accidents, trucking accidents, motorcycle accidents, pedestrian car accidents, and bicycle accidents.  It has many years’ experience in workers compensation , products liability and medical malpractice cases.

The Schmidt Salita Law Team has extensive experience with concussion injuries, traumatic brain injuries, neck and back injuries, whiplash injuries, broken bones, injured joint injuries (knee, hip, shoulder, wrist, ankle, spinal), amputation injuries, and vision and eye injuries.

The Schmidt Salita Law Team has offices through out the State of Minnesota.  Its primary location is at Ridgedale Office Center in Minnetonka, near the intersection of I394 and I494.  The offices are handicap accessible with ample parking.

The Schmidt Salita Team Offers Contingent Fee Arrangements.

The firm offers contingent fee agreements (You don’t pay lawyers fees until you collect and then only as a percentage of the settlement).  It also offers home and hospital visits to clients whose injuries present difficulty in coming to the office.

“PERSONAL INJURY WITH PERSONAL ATTENTION TO EACH CASE”.

The Schmidt Salita Law Team has locations throughout the Twin Cities metropolitan area of Minneapolis and St. Paul, as well as Minnetonka, Maple Grove, Plymouth, Osseo, Anoka, Coon Rapids, Brooklyn Center, Fridley, Blaine, Shoreview, Woodbury, Falcon Heights, Columbia Park, Stillwater, Hastings, Inver Grove, Cottage Grove, South St. Paul, Apple Valley, Eagan, Burnsville, Savage, Shakopee, Richfield, Bloomington, Chaska, Chanhassen, Edina, Eden Prairie, and Hopkins.