Boston Child Brain Injury Blog

Closed head injuries can occur in a wide range of circumstances, from your teenager’s Friday night football game to a seemingly minute fender bender outside the neighborhood drug store. 

When closed head injuries occur, the brain gets hit repeatedly against the inside of the skull, which can cause swelling. But since no fracture or breaks have occurred in the skull, the expanding brain tissues have nowhere to go. 

When this happens, your child is vulnerable for traumatic brain injury.  The most serious is severe traumatic brain injury – a condition most commonly associated with comas, prolonged unconsciousness and vegetative states. 

The most common symptoms of severe traumatic brain injury that results from closed head injuries include: 

• Coma – the person is unconscious and cannot be awakened, and cannot voluntarily respond to anything in his or her environment.
• Vegetative State – this person is conscious but does not respond to stimuli in the environment and cannot interact with anyone.
• Minimally Responsive State – when a person is no longer in a coma or vegetative state, and is aware of surroundings and has basic reflexes.
• Locked In Syndrome – the person is conscious but cannot move anything but the eyes; communication is through series of blinking and eye movement.
• Brain Death – at this point, the brain has no function whatsoever. 

Because closed head injuries with severe traumatic brain injury can have such a profound effect on your child’s life, you are entitled to seek damages if someone else is responsible for your child’s condition. A Boston child brain injury attorney can assess the loss of quality of life for your child, coupled with your family’s medical bills, in order to seek a fair settlement.  

When to Contact a Boston Child Brain Injury Attorney

If your child has suffered serious injury because of the negligence of another, order this complimentary book, Dealing with a Nightmare: The Essential Steps to Take if Your Child Suffers a Serious Injury. The Boston child 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 no-cost evaluation of your child injury case, contact us today at 800-930-8145.

When you’re trying to choose a child brain injury lawyer in Boston, Massachusetts one thing you’ll want to think about is how the lawyer plans to structure your child’s potential settlement, in the case an agreement or judgment are reached in your favor.  

If a settlement is reached, then the party responsible for your child’s head injuries will have to pay compensation to you in the form of damages. This compensation can cover everything from medical expenses to the pain and suffering your child has experienced from their injury. 

If you get a settlement offer, you’ll want a child brain injury lawyer in Boston who knows how to allocate that money to stretch it as much as possible for your child’s long term needs. 

In the case of a child head injury, your son or daughter may be eligible for Social Security, Medicaid and other federal benefits. A knowledgeable child head injury lawyer in Boston will know how to divide up your child’s settlement money to maintain eligibility to federal benefits. 

There are several ways to do this, including: 

• structured settlements – damages are paid to the victim in set installments throughout the course of months or even years.
• trusts; and
• annuities. 

Ask the attorney early on how he or she would protect your child’s settlement. This will give you a good impression of the Boston child brain injury attorney’s knowledge base as well as prior success in child head injury cases. 

You can learn more about how to choose the right Boston child brain injury lawyer for your case by visiting our article library.  

When to Contact a Boston Child Brain Injury Attorney 

If your child has suffered serious injury because of the negligence of another, order this complimentary book, Dealing with a Nightmare: The Essential Steps to Take if Your Child Suffers a Serious Injury. The Boston child 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 no-cost evaluation of your child injury case, contact us today at 800-930-8145.

Closed head injuries occur when a child either experiences a hard blow to the head, or when a child falls, and the brain rocks against the inside of the skull repeatedly.

Some of the most common ways children sustain closed head injuries include: 

• falls;
• sports accidents; and 
• car accidents. 

In general, accidents at the workplace and assault are also widespread ways in which closed head injuries are sustained. The only factor that separates closed head injuries from an open head injury is that with closed head injuries, no object pierces the skull. 

Even so, the chance for traumatic brain injury is still very real. When closed head injuries occur and the brain swells, further injury can result. Brain cell damage can occur throughout the entire brain, or in just one region. 

If your child has closed head injuries, some symptoms of traumatic brain injury may include: 

• dilated pupils;
• loss of consciousness;
• convulsions;
• speech problems;
• leak of cerebrospinal fluid (most often from the ears and eyes); and 
• vision issues. 

Sometimes, closed head injuries may not result in the permanent damage so often caused from traumatic brain injury. Usually, physicians can get a good idea of the brain injury’s severity based on the time the child was unconscious (a few seconds vs. several months), and the child’s progress made within the first month after injury.  

If your child’s closed head injuries did cause mild or severe traumatic brain injury, a Boston child brain injury attorney can advocate that any liable parties are held accountable. Contact a Boston child brain injury attorney to discuss the potential for an injury claim and the types of damages for which you may be eligible. 

When to Contact a Boston Child Brain Injury Attorney 

If your child has suffered serious injury because of the negligence of another, order this complimentary book, Dealing with a Nightmare: The Essential Steps to Take if Your Child Suffers a Serious Injury. The Boston child 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 no-cost evaluation of your child injury case, contact us today at 800-930-8145.

If you’re in the process of selecting a Boston child brain injury lawyer to represent your family, the initial consultation is extremely important. This will give you a strong indicator if the specific attorney is one that you want to represent your child’s head injury case. 

But aside from the obvious questions you’ll ask at your initial consultation, there are 2 other things you’ll want to do. After all, depending on the severity of your child’s head injury, your entire family life may be in a state of upheaval. In addition, you’re looking for someone to help get you the financial security your child deserves. 

Powers of Observation 

When you’re at your initial consultation with your Boston child brain injury lawyer, pay attention to how the lawyer addresses you and your concerns. Also pay attention to the demeanor of the office staff. Ask yourself if you feel comfortable with them. The relationship you have with your attorney is important because there is the possibility you’ll be involved in the case for months or even years. 

If the attorney’s personality rubs you the wrong way during this first meeting, you may encounter even more difficulty as the case develops and obstacles or challenges present themselves. 

Refer to Your Notes and Do Your Research 

Be sure to take plenty of notes during this meeting as well. This is important because later on, you can go back and refer to what the attorney said. 

Then cross-reference it with some of the following resources, to get a better idea of the attorney’s background and influences: 

• the attorney’s state bar association;
• philosophies of the attorney’s university;
• any articles the attorney has written; and
• special training the attorney has received. 

The decision to choose a Boston child brain injury attorney is one that can have a significant impact on the outcome of your child’s head injury case. In the long term, the ruling of your child head injury case determines just what resources your child will have to help them with both their immediate and long term needs.  

When to Contact a Child Brain Injury Attorney 

If your child has suffered serious injury because of the negligence of another, order this complimentary book, Dealing with a Nightmare: The Essential Steps to Take if Your Child Suffers a Serious Injury. The Boston child injury lawyers at Kiley Law Group serve clients in the greater Boston area and will advocate for fair compensation for your child’s injuries.

All the best law firms offer free initial consulatations. Call the Kiley Law Group for scheduling your no-cost evaluation at 800-930-8145, or 978-474-8670.

School buses do not have seat belts because they are designed in a completely different way from passenger cars and trucks.   

Photo found on NWA Motherload website

When you’re riding to the grocery store in the family van, seat belts serve as the main safety restraint feature in the vehicle. If you were to get in a crash, it would be the seat belts (or car seats) that would play the biggest role in preventing child injuries, as well as injuries to adults. Accordingly, 49 states have seat belt laws, including Massachusetts. 

On a school bus, though, child injuries are prevented by something called compartmentalization. Since school buses are so much larger than regular vehicles, the impact of a crash is actually distributed differently, which causes the passengers to feel a reduced amount of force. 

Compartmentalization prevents child injuries through the following features: 

• Seats spaced closely together; and
• Energy-absorbing seat backs that cushion the impact of a crash. 

On the other hand, smaller buses must have seat belts to prevent child injuries. This is because the weight of a small bus (10,000 pounds) is closer to the weight of most cars on the road (4,000 pounds). 

The lack of seat belts on a school bus actually does not make it unsafe. The method of compartmentalization has proven quite effective in preventing many child injuries. 

Below are the findings of a 2002 study by the National Academy of Sciences that looked at approximately 815 fatalities involving children and transportation options for taking them to/from school; 

• Only 2% of these fatalities are from school transportation;
• About 22% were from kids who walk or bike to school; and
• About 75% were from passenger vehicle transportation. 

Accordingly, school bus fatality rates are at about .2% per 100 million vehicle miles traveled, while that of passenger cars is rated at 1.44% per 100 million vehicle miles traveled. 

Even with safety features, a child injury attorney can tell you that child injuries still can occur in the event of a school bus accident. When that happens, it’s best to seek legal representation to understand what your options are. 

Contact a Child Injury Attorney 

If your child has suffered serious injury because of the negligence of another, order this free book, Dealing with a Nightmare: The Essential Steps to Take if Your Child Suffers a Serious Injury, before you contact a child injury attorneys. The Boston child injury attorneys at the Kiley Law Group serves clients in the greater Boston area and will advocate for fair compensation for your child’s injuries.

One of the most troubling aspects of closed head injuries is that you cannot always tell just by looking at your child that they have sustained such an injury. This is because with a closed head injury there is no fracture to the skull. 

Closed head injuries occur when a child (or adult) takes a blow to the head from an outside force. This could be intentional, in the case of physical assault where blunt force is used from another person. Most often, closed head injuries are unintentional – such as when a child without a helmet falls off a bike onto concrete, or is the victim in a car accident. 

In the case of unintentional closed head injuries, your child could be vulnerable to traumatic brain injury, even though there may be no visible damage to the skull. If your child has sustained closed head injuries because of someone else’s negligence, you may be able to hold them financially liable. 

After seeking medical attention for your child’s closed head injuries, seek advice from a Boston brain injury attorney on whether you have grounds for an injury case and should proceed in legal action.

 What Happens During Closed Head Injuries 

When your child takes an extremely hard hit to the head, there is a good chance the brain may swell. With closed head injuries there are no fractures, so the brain doesn’t have enough room to expand. 

It’s at this point brain tissues may compact, or squeeze together, causing even further brain injury. The brain may put unusual pressure on the eye sockets, which can cause nerve damage in the eyes. Pupil dilation is often a key indicator of brain damage with closed head injuries, and it’s often one of the first things physicians check for during emergency room visits. 

Closed head injuries open up the victim to the whole spectrum of traumatic brain injury. Since there is no cure for traumatic brain injury, you’ll want your Boston brain injury attorney to take into consideration the total damages your child may need for the months and years of rehabilitation that lie ahead. 

Continue to Next Page >>

Closed head injuries may not involve fractures or dramatic, visible signs of external injury. While your child may escape unscathed without any separate diagnoses, others face the reality of traumatic brain injury. 

It’s in those cases where a Boston brain injury attorney can account for the full extent of your child’s losses. This may extend beyond medical expenses to include loss of quality of life, which is an unfortunate truth for many children after closed head injuries. 

Traumatic Brain Injury as a Result of Closed Head Injuries 

If your child has sustained closed head injuries, traumatic brain injury could result. Traumatic brain injury (TBI) can range from mild to severe. When you’re dealing with closed head injuries that have caused traumatic brain injury, it’s important to recognize the symptoms. This way, you can better understand your physician’s diagnosis and relay the information to your Boston brain injury attorney, in the case you’re filing a personal injury claim on behalf of your child. 

Mild Traumatic Brain Injury  

If someone’s mental state is impacted at the time of the closed head injuries, a mild traumatic brain injury diagnosis may be given. This means if your child is either dazed or even unconscious for a few seconds, they may have suffered mild traumatic brain injury. 

Some common symptoms of mild traumatic brain injury include: 

• headache;
• lethargy;
• balance problems;
• memory problems;
• sensitivity to noise or light; and
• decreased attention span. 

Moderate Traumatic Brain Injury 

If your child has closed head injuries and is unconscious for a few minutes to hours, this constitutes a moderate traumatic brain injury. 

Some other symptoms of moderate brain injury include: 

• confusion that can last for weeks; and
• physical and cognitive abilities are hampered for months, if not permanently altered. 

Severe Traumatic Brain Injury 

Closed head injuries can sometimes cause the most acute of all brain injuries – a severe traumatic brain injury. When this occurs, your child may lose consciousness for weeks to months. Comas are common with severe TBI, as well as a persistent vegetative state.  

Closed head injuries have the ability to permanently alter your child’s life – not to mention the life of your family. While some rehabilitation and progress can be made, nothing can replace your child’s health. If someone is responsible for your child’s closed head injuries, talk with a brain injury attorney who can build a case for you and advocate for the damages to which you and your family are entitled.

If your child sustained a concussion, it was most likely caused by something bumping your child in the head, or it could even be as severe as a blow to your child’s entire body. When either of these things happen, there’s potential for your child’s head to be shaken back and forth, often quite violently, resulting in a concussion.                                           

The important thing to remember with a concussion is that it’s actually a form of child brain injury, and can range from minor to severe. 

A concussion, like any child brain injury, isn’t always a direct affect of malevolent intentions, like with abuse. Sometimes, children sustain a concussion from a fall or accident, or even in everyday activities, like sports. 

There is no hard-and-fast rule as to how long you need to wait to let your child reengage in their normal activities, whether it’s playing in a flag football league on the weekends or roughhousing with you on the living room floor after work. 

Every child is different, and their rate of recovery will also be dependant upon the severity of the concussion. No matter what your child’s situation, you should slowly start to introduce physical activities again. After all, a concussion is a child brain injury, no matter how mild the symptoms. 

There are some things you can do in the meantime to help aid your child’s recovery from a concussion: 

• Create a quiet environment for your child – sensitivity to sound is common.
• Provide sunglasses and possibly a hat for your child – light sensitivity also may be a side effect.
• Talk to your child’s physician – keep the doctor updated on any changes in your child’s behavior or progress.
• Take safety precautions – as with any child brain injury, you’ll want to prevent future falls, especially soon after the injury. This could prolong the healing process, or intensify your child’s injury. 

There are some cases in which your child may have sustained a concussion (or other child brain injury for that matter), due to abuse from an adult or possibly negligence on the part of a caregiver. Once your child has received medical care, you’ll want to consider if the services of a Massachusetts child brain injury attorney may aid you in seeking damages on behalf of your child. 

Contacting a Massachusetts Child Brain Injury Attorney 

If your child has suffered serious injury because of the negligence of another, order this free book, Dealing with a Nightmare: The Essential Steps to Take if Your Child Suffers a Serious Injury. The Massachusetts 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 no-cost evaluation of your child injury case, contact us today at 800-930-8145.

Chances are, if you’re considering hiring a child brain injury lawyer, your child has experienced severe and life altering injury. You may have already sought legal counsel for issues such as federal entitlement programs and guardianship. This is common in the case of a child head injury. 

You’ve most likely also dealing with considerable medical bills, not to mention the emotional effects that this type of injury inflicts on the entire family. Deciding to start a Massachusetts personal injury claim for a child head injury is another avenue for financial assistance, if another person’s negligent actions caused your child’s injury.  

With that in mind, you’ll want a Boston child brain injury lawyer who sympathizes with your case and who understands the complexities, laws, and specific considerations necessary to file and defend a child brain injury claim. 

Initial Considerations for a Boston Child Brain Injury Lawyer 

There are some steps that may prove helpful if you’re just starting your search for a Boston child brain injury lawyer. First off, what are the non-negotiables? What capabilities or traits must your Boston child brain injury lawyer possess? 

The following are some common parameters to consider, including: 

• education;
• training;
• general knowledge of child head injury treatment;
• experience with child head injury cases; and
• ability to handle child head injury settlements. 

Interviewing Boston Child Brain Injury Lawyers

Once you’ve formulated this list, you’ll want to start looking for lawyers who fit your initial criteria. A helpful source for locating a Boston child brain injury lawyer can be found in the Brain Injury Association of America’s National Directory. 

Once you have found a few Boston child brain injury lawyers, set up initial consultations with them. You may have to pay for this service as not all lawyers offer free consultations. Either way, you should be aware before going to your lawyer consultation if there will be a fee for this meeting.  

Keep a notebook, and ask pointed questions. It helps to ask each lawyer the same questions. Keep in mind; you do not have to sign the attorney-client contract with the first Boston child brain injury lawyer you meet. Use some of your individual questions, along with the parameters above to choose the best representative for your claim. 

There’s a good chance the Boston child brain injury lawyer you meet with may want some time to consider your child head injury case before accepting. You, too have this right. 

Continue to Next Page >>

Hiring a Boston Child Brain Injury Lawyer: Other Considerations 

In case you are getting a bit stuck with just which questions to ask during your initial consultation, there are 3 other parameters to consider when interviewing a Boston child brain injury lawyer. Think of these parameters as goals for your initial consultation. These are the things you want to have disclosed. 

For every Boston child brain injury lawyer with whom you meet, you’ll want to find out the following information: 

• how well the Boston child brain injury lawyer seems to understand your case;
• what resources the Boston child brain injury lawyer has available; and
• the extent of the Boson child brain injury lawyer’s experience with cases similar to your own. 

The following are some sample questions you could ask a Boston child brain injury lawyer that may help you discover the above information: 

• What other information do you need about my case, and how would you go about getting it?
• What do you see as my case’s strengths and weaknesses?
• Who would be my main contact at your firm if you were to take my case?
• How many of your personal injury cases deal specifically with child brain injuries? 

Protecting Settlements in Child Brain Injury Cases 

Early on in process, ask for the Boston child brain injury lawyer’s plan to protect any damages your child’s may be awarded through the personal injury claim. Your Boston child brain injury lawyer should talk to you about options including structured settlements (paid over a period of time) trusts and annuities that will provide for your child’s long-term needs. 

Some pay structures may allow your child to collect government benefits as well, which can also help maximize the funding available for their care. Your attorney should be aware of these options and be able to explain how they may benefit your specific circumstances. 

When to Contact a Boston Child Brain Injury Lawyer 

If your child has suffered serious injury because of the negligence of another, order this complimentary book, Dealing with a Nightmare: The Essential Steps to Take if Your Child Suffers a Serious Injury. The Boston child 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 no-cost evaluation of your child injury case, contact us today at 800-930-8145.