When a head is twisted violently, such as in a car crash, microscopic brain structures, called axons, can tear. The damage to the brain is a called a "diffuse axonal injury," or DAI. When the axons tear, chemicals that were contained in those structures can leak into the brain tissue. The torn axons and chemicals in the brain tissue
Risk of Seizures Following Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI)
Most TBI victims suffer from seizures and so need anti-seizure drugs. The drugs don’t eliminate the seizures, they attempt only to control them. Even if the TBI victim takes the drugs exactly as prescribed, the victim may still experience "breakthrough seizures." The seizures can lead to embarassment, social stigma and most troubling, a blackout while
Are Waivers Enforceable Against Family Members?
Waivers signed by parents, releasing liability for future negligent acts committed against minor children in recreational and related settings, are generally enforced by judges in California as discussed here. 
Interestingly, a clear majority of courts in other states have held that a parent may not release a minor’s prospective claim for negligence.
And when the
Diffuse Tensor Imaging — More on Brain Injuries
Neuropsychologist researcher and professor Erin Bigler, PhD. recently spoke about the advances in images of post-concussion brains. 
As discussed here, concussions or mild traumatic brain injuries may not show up on standard MRI or CT images. Dr. Bigler described a new technique for analyzing MRI scans called "diffusion tensor imaging" or DTI. This technique illustrates the direction of
Jury Awards $2 Million to Golfer’s Family
This week a San Diego jury found a golf course responsible for the death of a golfer who was killed after falling off an 80 foot cliff in a golf cart and awarded his family $2 million. The golfer Edwin Payne tried to make a U-turn on the golf path but drove over a small
Assignment of Fault
California is a "comparative fault" state. This means that if a victim is partially at fault for the accident, the jury will be asked to determine the percentage of the blame that lies with the defendant, and the percentage that lies with the victim. The victim will be entitled to collect only that percentage of the
Filing A Lawsuit — What Evidence is Needed?
When a person is injured, the initial investigation might not provide all of the answers. For example, when a product such as a Blue Ember gas barbecue grill causes an injury, victims and investigators want to know: “When was the manufacturer first aware of the problem? And, should they have warned earlier about the potential
Dealing with Pain: Virtual Reality Devices Assist Burn Victims
When burn victims are resting (most of the time), opioids (morphine and morphine-related chemicals) are adequate for controlling their burn pain. In sharp contrast, during wound care such as daily bandage changes, wound cleaning, staple removals etc., opioids are not enough, not even close. 
Researchers at Harborview Burn Center in Seattle have developed a
What is Pain and Suffering?
Once a victim has established the he was injured by another’s wrongdoing, he must be compensated for his pain and suffering. There is no definite standard or method to calculate pain and suffering. A victim may recover for his pain and suffering even if at trial he presents no medical bills or medical evidence.