Boston Child Brain Injury Blog

Almost half a million (about 473,947) of all the emergency department visits for Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) are made by children under 14 every year. Of the injured children, the TBI rates are always higher for boys than for girls. In fact, in all age groups, traumatic brain injuries were more present in males than in females, but especially for male children aged 0 to 4 years, who have the highest rates of TBI-related emergency department visits, hospitalizations, and deaths every year.

According to 2005-2006 data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), falls are the leading cause of TBI among children under 14 years old.

Motor vehicle accidents, as well as struck by/against events, which include colliding with a moving or a stationary object, are other leading causes of TBI among children.

Besides causing serious head and brain injury in children which can have profound effects on their health and lives, these events can even lead to death. CDC statistics show that TBI is a contributing factor to a third of all injury-related deaths in the United States.

To get a better idea of what can cause a TBI in children, please take a look at the visual representation pie chart below, found on the CDC website.

If your child has suffered a traumatic brain injury in a Massachusetts accident or due to the negligence of another, you may be entitled to compensation for medical bills and ongoing medical treatments. For more information on child injuries, order a FREE copy of attorney Thomas M. Kiley’s book of child injury.

The Boston child brain injury lawyers at Kiley Law Group serve clients in the greater Boston area and will advocate for fair compensation for your child’s injuries. For a FREE Case Evaluation, contact us today at the toll-free number 1-800-930-8145.

After a child has sustained a brain injury and is admitted to the emergency room, medical professionals do a quick series of tests to determine the severity of the brain injury. This is known as the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) and ranks patients on a scale of 1 (severe) to 15 (mild). All patients in the severe brain injury subgroup fall at the low end of this scale, with scores of 3 to 8. 

Medical professionals take an inventory of 3 basic functions, such as: 

• ability to open the eyes;
• ability to use verbal responses; and
• ability to use motor responses.  

The ability to open the eyes is rated on a scale of 1 to 4, with 4 being able to open the eyes spontaneously. Ability to respond verbally is rated from 1 to 5, with 5 being able to orient responses, and lastly, motor skills are rated from 1 to 6, with 6 listed as being able to follow commands. 

The severe brain injury subgroup that would perhaps score the lowest on this scale is what is known as a coma. Since the child will seem as if asleep, and cannot respond to any stimuli around them, their scores for functions such as ability to open eyes, talk or use motor skills would be quite low. 

The severe brain injury subgroup that may score the highest, but would still be significantly low (in the 3-8 range) would be what is known as akinetic mutism. A child in this condition can open their eyes and even follow some commands, although ability to communicate verbally is severely hampered. 

While the GCS is the main method for predicting short and long-term progress for patients, it’s not completely foolproof. What families should know is that no matter what the patient’s GCS score is, their child will likely face a long road ahead, filled with medical treatments and rehabilitative care. This is because a severe head injury has no cure, and cannot be reversed. 

When to Hire a Boston Child Brain Injury Attorney 

Regardless of where your child may fall on the GCS scale, when a traumatic brain injury occurs as a result of an accident or the negligent acts of another, you’ll need compensation for their medical bills and for the injury’s impact on your life. 

Your child deserves a legal team experienced in handling child brain injury cases in Massachusetts and one who can advocate for fair compensation for his or her brain injury.  

So, before you sign any insurance claim forms, give a recorded statement to the insurance adjuster or agree to a settlement offer, schedule your FREE case evaluation today by calling 1-800-930-8145. You can also learn more about how to best handle your child’s injury by ordering a FREE copy of our Boston child injury book.

A coma and a vegetative state are very similar, but have one marked difference: when a child is in a coma, they are essentially completely unconscious, as opposed to a vegetative state, in which very low levels of consciousness are at work. 

In layman’s terms, this means that when a child is in a coma, there will unfortunately be a profound lack of consciousness. While a child in a coma may make involuntary movements, they will not be able to recognize or respond to external stimuli. So if a parent or relative holds the child’s hand, the child will not be able to feel their touch or squeeze back. 

A vegetative state often occurs after a coma, when a child’s cognition is lost because the cortex has been severely damaged, but the lower part of the brain, which controls involuntary function, is still functioning. 

This means a child in a vegetative state may be able to: 

• blink;
• breathe on their own;
• cry, laugh or smile;
• grunt, scream or moan;
• have waking and sleeping cycles; and
• open their eyes and focus on objects. 

This is different from a coma, because the child is conscious and can respond to the environment – albeit the responses are almost entirely physical in nature. So when a child in a vegetative state smiles, it’s not in response to something going on in their hospital room; it’s a purely unpredictable occurrence, and more of a reflex than anything else. 

The cause of a coma or vegetative state is very commonly a car accident, concussion, or other severe child brain injury. While many people may wake up from a coma, a vegetative state can often ensue. There is currently no cure to wake patients from a coma or vegetative state, children included. 

When Someone’s Negligent Behavior is Behind Your Child’s Brain Injury  

If your child has suffered a serious head or brain injury as the result of a Massachusetts accident or because of the negligence of another, your family has the right to seek compensation. Order this FREE child injury book to learn more about your child’s right to fair compensation for his or her injuries 

Next, contact the Boston child injury lawyers at the Kiley Law Group. Our firm will advocate tirelessly for your child to ensure that his or her future is secure. So, before you sign any insurance claim forms, give a recorded statement to the insurance adjuster, or agree to a settlement offer, schedule your FREE case evaluation today by calling 800-930-8145. We serve clients throughout the greater Boston area.

No matter how stable your family is, you will find it rare that any 2 siblings will react the same way when one of your children sustains a traumatic brain injury. This will change over time as the siblings grow older and their perspective evolves.  

If your child suffered a severe brain injury as a result of a Massachusetts accident or the negligent actions of another, it would be in your best interest to consult a Boston child injury lawyer. A serious head or brain injury may require lifelong care and financial support. Accepting a settlement offer without the guidance of an experienced Boston child injury lawyer can leave you and your child ill prepared for the road ahead. 

While your attorney can help with the legal aspects of filing a Massachusetts child injury claim, you’ll need to pull together as a family to help your injured child’s siblings understand the changes your family will undergo.   

Siblings can react in many ways following their sibling’s brain injury, but some of the most common are: 

• bed wetting (for younger siblings);
• dramatic decline in school performance;
• perception of a shared bedroom as a prison (especially if personal items must be removed to make room for medical devices);
• rebellion against new restrictions (because of a structured environment needed for the injured child’s well being following the head trauma);
• anger at a double standard in discipline (when the child with the brain injury is allowed more freedom with rules than the other siblings);
• reluctance to bring friends to the home;
• resentment toward the child with the brain injury (for the time, energy and financial resources spent by the parents);
• embarrassment (when the injured child says or does something inappropriate in public); and
• feelings of neglect. 

During this time it’s important to keep your children informed about what is going on around them. Explain the changes that will occur at home with their injured sibling, how routines may need to change and so on. Do not think you can protect your children by keeping them in the dark about the extent of their sibling’s child brain injury. 

Siblings need to be prepared for the new relationship they will have with their sibling just as you must adapt to your new relationship with your child after a traumatic brain injury.  

Why a Boston Child Injury Lawyer 

Your child deserves a legal team who is experienced in handling child brain injury cases in Massachusetts and one who can ensure that he or she will receive fair compensation for his or her brain injury.  

So, before you sign any insurance claim forms, give a recorded statement to the insurance adjuster, or agree to a settlement offer, schedule your FREE case evaluation today by calling 1-800-930-8145. You can also learn more about how to best handle your child’s injury by requesting a FREE copy of our Massachusetts child injury book.

Watching your child struggle with anoxic brain damage can be heart wrenching. Many families affected by anoxic brain damage have concerns such as:  

• understanding what anoxic brain damage is;
• how your child can sustain it;
• how you treat such an injury; and
• what will be the long-term circumstances you, your child and family will have to face? 

With all the unknowns involved when your child experiences a traumatic injury such as anoxic brain damage, you will want to talk to a Massachusetts child brain injury attorney about whether you should file a claim in connection with your child’s injury. 

Causes of Anoxic Brain Damage 

Anoxic brain damage can occur in a child when the brain is deprived of oxygen, which can cause permanent brain damage. After a few minutes without a sustaining flow of oxygen, brain cells in your child will begin to die with permanent anoxic brain damage occurring after 5 minutes.                                                         

Many factors can cause the brain to receive inadequate oxygen such as: 

• respiratory arrest;
• electrical shock;
• drowning;
• heart attack;
• brain tumors;
• heart arrhythmia;
• extreme low blood pressure;
• carbon monoxide inhalation;
• poisoning;
• choking;
• compression of the trachea;
• respiratory conditions that interfere with proper breathing.;
• suffocation; and
• illegal drug use. 

Anoxic brain injuries are frightening to experience as a parent, but many families have gone through the same harrowing journey. With all the questions and challenges that develop from these kinds of injuries, speaking with a Boston child injury lawyer may help you to understand how these injuries can impact a family in the long term. 

Chances of Your Child’s Recovery from an Anoxic Brain Injury 

Although there are many factors that can contribute to the degree and rate of recovery from anoxic brain damage, the unknowns for what your child will have to go through with rehabilitation will surely be overwhelming for everyone in your family. However, identifying the scope of the anoxic brain injury will help you determine how long your child’s recovery process will be.  

• Mild Anoxic Brain Injuries – your child will most likely make a full or nearly full recovery. They may be able to sustain a relatively normal life without experiencing symptoms.
• Severe Anoxic Brain Injuries – the chances for your child making a full recovery are likely to be minimal, where they remain in a coma or vegetative state.  

Regardless of the scope of the anoxic brain injury, your Boston child injury lawyer can talk to you about the necessity of filing a Massachusetts child injury claim in connection with their injuries. An anoxic brain injury can have a lasting impact on your child and everyone in your family – understanding your rights at a time like this may help to alleviate some of the stress associated with this trauma. 

Treating an Anoxic Brain Injury 

If your child has sustained a brain injury, doctors will first determine what the cause was and the appropriate treatment. 

If a stroke occurred because of lack of oxygen, the doctor will treat the stroke first. 

If heart arrhythmia is the cause, the doctor will have to take the necessary steps to regulate the heart’s rhythm. 

There are further efforts that will be made to prevent further brain damage on your child alongside treatments for the cause of the problem: 

• restoring normal oxygen flow to the brain;
• keeping the patient cool to reduce further brain damage – high temperature in the brain happens during oxygen deprivation;
• treat with steroids to reduce brain swelling – damage to the brain can occur from increased swelling;
• barbiturates can reduce brain activity to allow tissue time to recover; and
• anti-seizure medications will be used to control seizures if your child has had them as a result of the anoxic brain injury. 

Doctors should give you and your family updates on how your child is doing. Don’t be afraid to ask every question you feel is necessary.  

Placing Your Child through Rehabilitation 

Your child will be able to begin rehabilitation once they are stable after the doctors have treated the anoxic brain injury. There are many trauma and support groups available to ease your family through the long and arduous process of rehabilitating your child following a severe head injury. 

Rehabilitation during this period may include: 

• speech therapy;
• physical therapy;
• occupational therapy;
• recreational therapy;
• adaptive equipment training; and
• counseling. 

You are not alone during this difficult time. Communication with your family, friends and medical staff helping your child is critical in seeing a full recovery. 

A Serious Brain Injury May Require Lifelong Care & Financial Support 

If your child suffered a severe brain injury in a Massachusetts accident or while under the care of another, you should seek the guidance of a skilled Boston child injury lawyer before you sign any insurance claim forms, give a recorded statement to the insurance adjuster, or agree to a settlement offer.   

An inadequate settlement can leave you and your child ill prepared for the road ahead. Your child deserves a legal team experienced in handling child brain injury cases in Massachusetts and one that can ensure that he or she will receive fair compensation for his or her brain injury.  

Schedule your FREE case evaluation today by calling 1-800-930-8145. You can also learn more about how to best handle your child’s injury by requesting a FREE copy of our Massachusetts child injury book.

When your family has a child who has sustained a serious brain injury, you have to explain to your other children what has happened. More importantly, you have to help the child’s siblings understand that life at home will be different. The differences at home will become most apparent when the injured child returns from the hospital or rehabilitation facility. 

Helping Siblings Adjust When Your Child Returns Home 

The hardest part of this process is to help your children understand that just because their sibling is coming home doesn’t mean they’re all better. There will be many changes that will result, which can cause a number of different feelings. Some siblings may wish that life at home could be like it was before their sibling’s child brain injury. 

Signs you should watch out for are: 

• nightmares;
• unusually quiet behavior;
• erratic eating habits;
• confrontational behavior;
• long bouts of tearfulness;
• moodiness; and
• difficulty in school. 

Remember, all of these emotions are normal for any sibling that is going through this kind of traumatic experience. A good suggestion is to have your other children get involved in support groups or counseling to help cope with these changes.  

For legal assistance after your child has sustained a traumatic brain injury, you can contact a Boston child brain injury lawyer. Your attorney can examine your child’s case, help you identify the liable party(ies), and file a personal injury claim on your child’s behalf. 

Helping your injured child as well as your other kids adjust to life after a traumatic brain injury can be exhausting, which means you’ll want someone who can devote time and energy to your child’s injury claim. Your child deserves a legal team who is experienced in handling child brain injury cases in Massachusetts and one who can ensure that he or she will receive fair compensation for his or her brain injury.  

So, before you sign any insurance claim forms, give a recorded statement to the insurance adjuster, or agree to a settlement offer, schedule your FREE case evaluation today by calling 800-930-8145. You can also learn more about how to best handle your child’s injury by requesting a FREE copy of our Massachusetts child injury book.

Brain injury subgroups are slightly different in nature, but all can be equally devastating. These conditions result in drastic changes to the child, with loss of cognitive function and an extreme loss of the quality-of-life for the child and their loved ones. 

Brain injury subgroups include: 

• coma;
• vegetative state;
• persistent vegetative state;
• minimally responsive state; and
• akinetic mutism.  

A coma is one of the most severe results of a child suffering a severe brain injury. When in a coma, your child will appear as if asleep, but will not wake up. In addition, all ability to respond to stimuli is gone. If you were to talk with a child in a coma, they might be able to hear you; however, they will not be able to respond to the sound of your voice. 

The second brain injury subgroup is a vegetative state. When a child is in a vegetative state, they’ll be able to respond to stimuli in the environment, and can laugh, cry, moan and even scream. They’ll even have regular waking and sleeping cycles, so you may see them open their eyes, or even respond to pain. There will be lower levels of consciousness at work but any response to surroundings is purely that of reflexes. In a vegetative state, the cortex is severely damaged, but the lower portions of the brain are still completely at work.

In terms of brain injury subgroups, this injury is classified as a persistent vegetative state when it lasts for more than a month. 

A child is considered to be in a minimally responsive state when they no longer are in a vegetative state. A child in a minimally responsive state has basic reflexes, an actual awareness of their environment and the ability to follow commands, albeit inconsistently.  

The most unique of the severe brain injury subgroups is akinetic mutism. This occurs when a child can be encouraged to talk, and may use speech, although infrequently. They’ll often exhibit little to no body movement, but will be able to follow commands and track objects visually. Akinetic mutism is unique in that it’s caused when pathways in the brain are damaged. The other brain injury subgroups are a result of neuromuscular issues. 

While akinetic mutism is the least severe of the brain injury subgroups, it’s still an incredible loss. 

Massachusetts Child Injury Cases: Legal and Liability Issues 

When your child sustains a severe head injury that results in one of the above conditions, your family has the right to seek compensation if someone’s negligence is to blame. After a severe child head injury, consider contacting an experienced Massachusetts brain injury attorney to learn more about your legal options and your child’s right to fair compensation for his or her injuries. 

Order this FREE Massachusetts child injury book or call us today to schedule your FREE case evaluation – 1-800-930-8145. We serve clients throughout the greater Boston area.

A persistent vegetative state can be an excruciating experience for family members to endure. While your child may laugh, cry or even experience pain, it’s only as a response to stimuli – a mere reflex. 

There is hope, though, for children in a persistent vegetative state. It’s quite common for patients of all ages to wake up suddenly, without any warning or indication, within the first month of being in a persistent vegetative state. 

Children actually have a slightly higher chance than adults at regaining consciousness. Within the first year, children have a 60% chance of regaining consciousness, while adults have a 50% likelihood to emerge from a persistent vegetative state. 

In most cases, patients emerge from a persistent vegetative state only within the first year. When they do regain consciousness, there will be a long road ahead, with extensive rehabilitation and medical care geared specifically for that child alone. 

If your child sustained a severe head injury because of the negligent or reckless actions of another, you have the right to seek compensation. After all, you shouldn’t bear the weight of medical expenses, rehabilitation and other therapy. Additionally, you may be eligible to claim compensation for pain and suffering endured by your child and your entire family, for that matter. For more details, you’ll want to seek the assistance of a Boston child brain injury lawyer.  

Seeking Advice from a Boston Child Injury Lawyer 
After a child emerges from a persistent vegetative state, you’ll want to concentrate on their rehabilitation, not medical bills, insurance adjusters and legal proceedings. A serious head or brain injury may require lifelong care and financial support. 

Accepting a settlement offer without the guidance of a skilled Boston child injury attorney can leave you and your child ill prepared for the future. Your child deserves a legal team who is experienced in handling child brain injury cases in Massachusetts and one who can advocate that he or she will receive fair compensation for his or her brain injury.  

Schedule your FREE case evaluation today by calling 1-800-930-8145. You can also learn more about how to best handle your child’s injury by ordering a FREE copy of our Boston child injury book.

A severe child head injury doesn’t just impact the life of a child – it has a profound effect on the life of a child’s entire family, as well. Unfortunately, a severe child head injury can completely change the course of a child’s life, and as there is no cure, the hope for any normal semblance of childhood, adolescence or adulthood is stopped short. 

Families of victims with severe child head injury are by no means alone. Almost half a million children age 14 and younger are seen in emergency rooms every year for traumatic brain injuries. In fact, children ages 4 years and younger, as well as teens ages 15 to 19, are among some of the most susceptible to a severe child head injury. 

If your loved one has sustained a severe child head injury and you suspect it was caused by the negligence of another, whether it was a caretaker, coach, teacher or other adult, you do have the right to seek compensation through a child injury claim.  

Consider making an appointment to see a Massachusetts child brain injury attorney to discuss the legal options you can seek on behalf of your child. When you do meet with a Massachusetts child brain injury attorney, you’ll discuss the details surrounding your child’s accident, as well as the specific type, or subgroup, of injury your child sustained. 

A Closer Look at Severe Brain Injury Subgroups 

Some of the most common severe brain injury subgroups include: 

• coma;
• vegetative state;
• persistent vegetative state;
• minimally responsive state; and
• akinetic mutism. 

Your Massachusetts child brain injury attorney will want to know the details surrounding your child’s injury, as differing levels of damages may be awarded depending on the severity of your child’s condition. When considering filing a child injury claim, it may be helpful to know the characteristics of each severe head injury. 

Brain Injury Subgroups: Coma 

Your child may fall into a coma after a severe child head injury before any other injuries surface. While a child may wake from a coma, it could also lead into any of the other brain injury subgroups. When your child is in a coma, they’ll appear as if asleep, but will be unable to respond to things in their environment. 

A person in a coma may make involuntary movements, but show no other signs of response to outside stimuli. This can be especially heart wrenching, as parents want their children to be able to feel the comfort of a hand on their head, or the soothing sound of their voice. 

Even if your child has been in a coma a very short time, it is never too soon to seek the help of a Massachusetts child brain injury attorney about filing a claim, so that all medical expenses can be taken into consideration as early as possible. 

Brain Injury Subgroups: Vegetative & Persistent Vegetative State  

A child may enter into a vegetative state when their cortex has been severely damaged, but their lower brain stem is still fully functioning. This means the child may be able to wake up and have full sleep and wake cycles. While they can respond to stimuli, it’s entirely reflex based. 

A child in a vegetative state may: 

• laugh;
• cry;
• smile;
• grunt;
• scream; and
• track objects with their eyes.  

Despite these actions, cognitive ability is not occurring when a child is in this state. After a child has remained in this condition for more than a month, they are considered to be in a persistent vegetative state. 

Brain Injury Subgroups: Minimally Responsive State & Akinetic Mutism 

A minimally responsive state is reached when a child pulls out of a vegetative state. This means a child can show an awareness of their surroundings, and can even follow commands, although inconsistently. 

Akinetic mutism, on the other hand, is a result of damaged pathways in the brain, instead of neuromuscular damage. A child with akinetic mutism may be able to talk, but may do so very infrequently, if at all. These children can follow commands, and can even visually follow objects, but they’ll exhibit little to no body movement. 

How a Massachusetts Child Brain Injury Can Help 

Regardless of the type of severe head injury your child may have sustained, if someone is to blame for their condition, a Massachusetts child brain injury attorney can help you file a child injury claim to ensure the responsible party(ies) is held liable. While nothing can take the place of the health and vitality of your child, compensation can help with extensive medical treatments and pain and suffering endured by your child. 

After a severe child head injury, you’ll want to make sure your child has the best care possible; filing a child injury claim can help you achieve that goal. A serious head or brain injury may require lifelong care and financial support.  

So, before you sign any insurance claim forms, give a recorded statement to the insurance adjuster, or agree to a settlement offer, schedule your FREE case evaluation today by calling 1-800-930-8145. You can also learn more about how to best handle your child’s injury by ordering a FREE copy of our Massachusetts child injury book.

The frightening reality of shaken baby syndrome is that the symptoms may not be noticed immediately. Your baby may show vague symptoms such as irritability and vomiting, which can be eaily confused with other childhood illnesses. What many parents don’t realize is that shaken baby syndrome occurs from intracranial pressure – when the brain presses against the interior lining of the skull – caused by brain hemorrhages and swelling.  

Your child may then develop additional shaken baby syndrome symptoms, such as:

• lethargy;
• difficulty breathing;
• seizures;
• pinpointed or dilated pupils;
• blood in the eyes;
• pupils that are unresponsive to light;
• bulging or spongy forehead;
• lack of facial gestures or vocalization; and
• poor sucking or swallowing. 

If a parent notices any of the symptoms above, it’s best to seek immediate medical attention. If it is determined that your child has sustained severe injury from shaken baby syndrome, you do have the right to file a child injury claim against the responsible person. 

This is extremely important, because with shaken baby syndrome your child’s brain can be severely damaged from cerebral bruising and torn blood vessels. Babies are at such a high risk for shaken baby syndrome because their brains are small and not fully developed and their heads are disproportionately large for their bodies. 

When to File a Massachusetts Child Injury Claim 

If your child has suffered a serious brain injury while under the care of another, you need to order this FREE Boston child injury book. Then, contact the Boston child injury lawyers at Kiley Law Group. Speaking with a Boston child brain injury lawyer about your eligibility to file a Massachusetts child injury claim may allow you to determine the compensation you could seek to pay for your child’s medical expenses and care. 

Shaken baby syndrome can have profound effects on your child’s development and unfairly presents them with challenges at an extremely young age. 

Our firm will advocate tirelessly for your child to ensure that his or her future is secure. So, before you sign any insurance claim forms, give a recorded statement to the insurance adjuster, or agree to a settlement offer, schedule your FREE case evaluation today by calling 1-800-930-8145. We serve clients throughout the greater Boston area.