Indiana Injury Law Blog

A new brain injury scanner combining the diagnostic abilities of PET and MRI has just made its debut at the National Institute of Health Medical Center. The Center has begun using the device to look for brain injuries in patients. This is a first-of-its-kind scanner that makes use of both diagnostic procedures in order to diagnose brain injury much quicker.

The scanner, called the Biograph MMR, offers both the whole body simultaneous positron emission topography scan, as well as magnetic resonance imaging capabilities. The Biograph MMR therefore offers doctors a more complete picture of abnormal metabolic activity than is possible through the separate use of PET and MRI scans. Besides, the Biograph MMR also offers a speedier diagnosis of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) because there is no need to use separate PET and MRI scans.

With a speedier diagnosis, doctors can begin treatment as quickly as possible to limit the severity and intensity of the brain injury and limit long-term damage. Additionally, patients who undergo a Biograph MMR test may suffer lower exposure to radiation. Traditional PET scanners use imaging and radiation, while the Biograph MMR completely eliminates the need for radiation use.

There are limited treatment options available for brain injury, and beginning treatment immediately is the most effective way to limit the extent of the injury. With quicker diagnosis, doctors can work quicker to limit the severity of damage.

With more than 1.7 million brain injuries being reported every year, Indiana brain injury lawyers have found a crucial need for a device that quickly diagnoses an injury. While there has been a lot of research into brain injury treatment, studies have yielded few benefits to patients. A quick diagnosis and early treatment is still the best treatment for a TBI.

A new study indicates that a popular drug that is often used in the treatment of cancer may also have beneficial effects in patients who suffer from spinal cord injury. The drug, Taxol has been in use for several years now, to treat breast cancer with successful results. Scientists, who have experimented with lab mice, have found that the drug has substantial benefits in mice with spinal cord injury too.
The researchers used low concentrations of Taxol on the site of the spinal cord injury. After about 6 to 8 weeks of the Taxol treatment, the researchers tested the mice on their ability to walk on sticks. Mice that have a spinal cord injury find it hard to walk in this manner because of increased missteps. However, after the Taxol treatment, the rats actually had fewer missteps and were able to walk better than rats that were not given the treatment.
It is not entirely clear how Taxol helps treat spinal cord injury. However, the researchers believe that it has something to do with the effect of the drug on the regeneration of axons. These axons are structures in nerve cells that are responsible for transmitting nerve impulses. After a spinal cord injury, the tissue around the spinal cord injury site can be covered with scar tissue, inhibiting the regrowth and regeneration of the axons. However, Taxol seems to reduce the amount of scarring that takes place at the spinal injury site, thereby allowing regeneration of the axons.
The good news for Indiana injury lawyers is that since Taxol is an approved drug, and has been used for several years as a cancer drug, the path towards using it as a spinal cord injury treatment is easier. However, Taxol cannot be used as a treatment for spinal cord injury on its own, and also will not be able to work on older injuries.

That's a question researchers from the University of Texas Medical Center at Galveston are asking. According to them, since brain injuries set off a series of complications leading to a number of conditions over a person's lifetime, it's time that we redefine it as a chronic and consistent illness, and not as an injury.

It is a bold concept, and it comes from years of study that reveal the kind of complications patients with a brain injury may be at risk for over the years. A brain injury differs greatly from other kinds of injuries. In the weeks, months and years after suffering a traumatic brain injury, patients may find themselves suffering from a number of other conditions related to the injury. These include neuroendocrine disorders, sexual dysfunction and even depression.

Persons who have suffered a moderate to severe TBI are at a higher risk of developing other complications down the road. The risk of developing new conditions related to the injury increases with the severity of the TBI, but even persons who have suffered a mild TBI may find that they face trouble performing routine activities, like holding things, remembering facts and other aspects of leading a normal life. For this reason, researchers believe it's important to reclassify Traumatic Brain Injury as a chronic disease.

Doing so will have numerous benefits. For one, patients’ families will be able to track the patient's progress after the injury, and look out for any particular symptoms. Doctors and caregivers will also be able to monitor a patient after injury, and look for related conditions that develop. Patients with Traumatic Brain Injury could also be reimbursed more frequently by their insurer as these complications develop.

The Indiana brain injury lawyers at Theodoros and Rooth represent persons have suffered brain injuries in auto/truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, workplace accidents and falls.

An Indiana amusement park, which was the scene of an accident last week that left a five-year-old boy critically injured, has been shut down for not having the required permit.
The accident occurred when little Denzel Jennings was riding the Mini Teacups ride. The ride involves several round seats in the shape of teacups, rotating around a central axis.. Each individual teacup has a gate to prevent riders from falling out. Denzel apparently hit his head and fell out of the ride. He was knocked unconscious, and was rushed to the hospital. He continues to remain in a critical condition. There is no information about how Denzel hit his head or fell off.
The indoor amusement park where the accident occurred is the Xscape center at the Lafayette Sq. Mall. The accident comes under the purview of the Indiana Department of Homeland Security, which is the agency responsible for inspecting amusement park rides. The agency says it should have been notified of the accident with four hours of the accident taking place, but it was not.
Department of Homeland Security officers have already inspected the ride. According to the agency, Xscape did not have a permit for amusement and entertainment activities. Besides, Xscape permits for rides had expired at the end of 2009 and had not been renewed.
The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department is also conducting its own investigation into the accident.
As Indiana injury lawyers see, most amusement park accidents occur because of negligence of owners and operators. The problem in Indiana and across several states is that oversight of these amusement centers can be shaky, and it's not uncommon to find amusement parks going without inspections for years altogether. In the absence of such inspections, safety flaws can continue to exist, undetected and uncorrected. The result can be an accident like the one that injured little Denzel here.
Besides operator negligence, very often ride operators may be at fault for failing to secure rides probably, and failing to inform customers of the right way to enjoy the ride.

As Lake County personal injury lawyers representing victims of auto and truck accidents and medical malpractice in Merrillville and around the county, we know it hasn’t been a great year for many Hoosiers. What has been very alarming for us is the fact that so many issues that have challenged Indiana over the past year, greatly threatened the health and safety of its residents.
Merrillville struggled with a budget deficit in 2009. As part of payment of its utility bills to the Northern Indiana Public Service Company, many street lights in the town had to be shut off. As many as 300 streetlights have been shut off to save on electrical costs and cut utility debt. However, this creates unsafe conditions for motorists and motorcyclists. As Indiana car accident lawyers, we have been especially concerned about the high risk to motorcyclists and bicyclists who use the streets at night.
A pedestrian bridge disaster at the Hidden Lake Park on the 4th of July injured dozens of people. Many of these people suffered serious injuries like spinal cord injuries that may impact their lives for a long time.
Across the state too, we continued to have problems that impact the safety of Indiana’s residents. Northwest Indiana still has no trauma center, and seriously injured accident victims need to be airlifted to trauma centers elsewhere in the state during the “golden hour” when a person has maximum chances of surviving an accident.
Last month, more than 40 truck inspectors in Indiana were laid off as the state government grappled with a budget shortfall. This means fewer inspectors to conduct those essential road side inspections and spot checks of tractor trailers and 18 wheelers, exposing motorists and truckers to the risk of accidents.
In the New Year, we would like to see our city and county authorities take better charge of our finances, so we are not reduced to drastic cost cutting measures like switching off lights and laying of dozens of truck inspectors. This year hasn’t been the best in terms of public safety for people in Indiana, and as Indiana personal injury lawyers , we hope 2010 is safer for all

As Indiana trucking accident lawyers, we regularly follow developments in the trucking industry. It's encouraging to see that the American Trucking Association has thrown its weight behind a new bill that will ban texting for all drivers, including commercial motor vehicle drivers and passenger vehicle drivers.

The texting bill is called the Avoiding Life Endangering and Reckless Texting By Drivers Act, has been introduced by Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY) and will require that states ban texting within the next two years, or risk losing 25 percent of their annual highway funding. The texting ban is especially important in the light of the recent Distracted Driving Summit in Washington, that focused on motorist distractions, including texting and cell phone use.

While the support for Senator Schumer's bill has been good to note, we wish the trucking industry would also recognize the dangers that arise when truckers use computers in their cabs. Trucking groups have been quick to support a texting ban, but not as keen on banning the use of these computerized devices. More and more companies are investing in computers in truck cabs that allow them to send out new orders and messages to truckers around the country. These computers can be a serious distraction to truckers. Studies have shown that truck drivers don’t always pull over when they need to use their computer. This means that the operator of a 57-foot long, 80,000 pound truck could be distracted by the computer in his cab, endangering the safety of motorists nearby.

The American Trucking Association has also adopted policy statements that have the potential to impact truck safety in Indiana and around the country. It has expressed support for the use of onboard safety systems on trucks. These safety systems like brake monitoring systems, automated transmissions and vehicle stability control systems can minimize the risk of accidents. However, the ATA insists that trucking companies be offered financial incentives to adopt these systems.

The ATA is also calling for promoting driving education among new motorists to include awareness of driving safely around 18 wheelers. As Indiana truck accident lawyers, it's a matter of concern to us that motorists may be unaware of basic trucking safety facts, like the fact that an 18-wheeler takes a much longer time to come to a complete stop after the brakes are applied. Besides, truck drivers may not be able to see a motorist if he falls in the trucker's blind spot. New motorists can benefit from learning how to drive safely around a tractor trailer.

For years people have had an understanding that the reason insurance premiums have risen is due to the fact that too many lawsuits are filed and frivolous claims are being made. Lawyers have been the targets.

According to an article in the New York Times, Earnings for Insurers are Soaring, Joesph B. Treaster informs us that natural disasters, the terrorist attacks in 2001, and strong investment returns are deemed responsible for high insurance premiums.

In 2005, after Hurricane Katrina and other storms, insurers paid out $61 billion for damages and still ended up with a profit of $43 billion that adds to a decades-long earning streak with the exception of the terrorist attacks in 2001 when there was a loss of $7 billion that staggered the insurers. Although the insurers have been raising prices since the attacks, their underwriting losses declined from $52.6 billion in 2001 to $4.9 billion in 2003. In 2004, the insurers made a $4.3 billion profit on underwriting.