Miami Brain Injury Lawyer – Leighton Panoff Law

Miami brain injury lawyer John Leighton from the Leighton Panoff Law firm has a long history of successfully representing victims of traumatic brain injuries in Miami and Orlando. 

We hear about “brain injuries” all the time now. They have been associated with football players and car crashes. But what are brain injuries? Are they all the same? What causes brain injuries and what can I do if I think I suffered a brain injury caused by someone else?

These are the kinds of questions we answer as catastrophic injury and brain injury lawyers in Miami.  Because we work with people who have been injured through the fault of someone else, we are accustomed to working with and for people with all different types of brain injuries.

Brain Injury Lawyer Miami – Types of brain injuries

First things first: there are many types of brain injuries, which generally range from mild to moderate to severe. Brain injuries can be from a fractured skull, a “closed head trauma” or some other cause. They can be caused by something organic (medication, illness, exposure to chemicals) or something traumatic (car crash, a fall, a shooting). The latter are known as TBI: traumatic brain injuries. In reality, all brain injuries are traumatic to the person who suffers them.

Because our brains are the center of everything we are and so, any injury to our brain affects our ability to function. As Miami brain injury lawyers, we represent a wide variety of brain-injured clients.

Sometimes a brain injury is so obvious. Sometimes it is hard to detect without very sophisticated testing and expert examination. Once we represented a very high functioning man who ran a substantial business.  Due to trauma he sustained a mild traumatic brain injury in Miami.

It had the effect of “shaving” 20 points off his I.Q. Because he had a very high intellect before the injury, people who did not know him had trouble telling that he had any impairment. But those who knew him – family, co-workers and friends – could instantly detect that he was not the same man.

By presenting witnesses like that, in conjunction with medical and vocational experts, we were able to demonstrate the terrible effects of this man’s brain injury.

Because brain injuries are not always or easily visible on an imaging like x-ray, MRI or CT scan, insurance companies are skeptical of traumatic brain injury cases. Trial attorneys who are skilled brain injury lawyers must build the case piece-by-piece, using the latest cutting edge medical technology that allows expert physicians to identify and explain brain injuries to insurers as well as jurors.

At Leighton Panoff Law we have been representing clients with brain injuries for over 30 years. We have demonstrated to juries across the state how someone who might still be walking and talking can have a debilitating brain injury caused by a car crash, fall, attack or some other negligence.

We incorporate the latest imaging and technologies such as Diffuse Tensor Imaging (DTI), qEEG and PET scans. We work with neuroradiologists, neuropsychologists and life care planners to identify and explain the brain injury and creates life care plans to help our clients compensate for their losses.

Brain injuries can be devastating. As a Miami brain injury lawyer and firm we are dedicated to helping people who have suffered the effects of a brain injury. If you think that you have suffered a brain injury of any kind, make sure you see a qualified physician right away.

A neurologist is the specialist who is usually best equipped to assess and diagnose brain injuries. From there they may order brain scans and refer you to a neuropsychologist for testing to see whether you have any functional impairment.

Even though some traumatic brain injuries are labeled as “mild,” they may cause life-altering changes in you.

Mild brain injuries can cause some or all of the following symptoms:

• loss of memory
• headaches
• difficulty in concentration
• slowed reaction times
• sleep disorders (difficulty sleeping or sleeping too much)
• speech problems
• sensitivity to light (“photophobia”)
• ringing in the ears (“tinnitus”)
• blurred vision
• dizziness or imbalance (vestibular disorders)
• irritability
• aggressive behavior
• depression
• short temper
• lethargy

Moderate or Severe brain injuries can cause the symptoms above or the following problems:

• Longer periods of unconsciousness or disorientation
• Vomiting or nausea
• Weakness of limbs
• Fluid coming out of the ears or nose
• Fatigue
• Severe headache that does not go away
• Dilated pupils in one or both eyes
• Confusion
• Slurred speech
• Violent or combative behavior

If you have suffered any of these after any head injury, it is important to see a doctor to find out if need treatment. This is especially true if you have suffered any loss of consciousness, even for a few seconds. It is an indication that the brain has suffered a trauma.

Traumatic Brain Injury – Conclusion

Traumatic brain injuries are far too common. Over 235,000 people are hospitalized each year for brain injuries. Between 50% and 70% of brain injuries are caused by car crashes.

The earlier someone obtains care and treatment for a brain injury, the better their chances of a recovery.  Because the brain is so complex, research is always under way to determine how to evaluate, assess and treat brain injuries.

At Leighton Panoff Law, our team of brain injury lawyers will help you or your loved one navigate the legal and medical hurdles to enable the best possible recovery. We understand brain injuries and the issues facing people who have suffered them.