Seattle Injury Lawyer Blog

Brain injuries in Washington

August 6, 2015 | Kraft Davies Olsson PLLC

Emergency room physicians and neurologists in Washington now have a new tool at their disposal that may help them more accurately predict the outcomes of patients who have suffered from traumatic brain injuries. Researchers have developed a new diagnostic test that identifies a specific protein found in the brain that shows a fall in levels after a person has suffered a serious blow to the head.

After conducting studies of three different proteins that play a significant role in neurological cell activity, one distinct type, brain-derived neurotropic factor, was found in decreased amounts post cerebral trauma. Data suggests that the lowered supply of the protein coincides with the severity of the injury. Patients with moderate brain trauma presented with levels consistently 30 percent less than a control group, and individuals with severe injuries showed levels 15 times lower than normal.

Medical professionals are hopeful that the new blood test that identifies the specific protein will help physicians and auxiliary staff determine more relevant courses of treatment and reliable expectations for rehabilitation. The new test may also help researchers more accurately track medications and activities that help restore the protein during the recovery period.

New pill could reduce CTE in Washington patients

July 30, 2015 | Kraft Davies Olsson PLLC

Research done on mice with concussions could ultimately lead to a treatment for humans who are suffering from chronic traumatic encephalopathy. CTE is a progressive disease that is often seen in boxers or football players who routinely take blows to the head. By simulating mild and severe concussions in mice, scientists realized that CTE is caused by tangles in a brain protein called tau.

At first, they were not sure how these tangles occur. However, they believe that the tangles may begin as irregularly shaped tau proteins that may be eliminated with an antibody. The antibody would bind to the irregular protein and let the body know that it is an unneeded protein that should be cleared away. The findings may present a pathway to creating a drug that could help those who have CTE.

Scientists involved in the say that the next step is to humanize the mouse antibody, which could be done in the next couple of years. If successful, a new drug could stop CTE or brain damage after a major brain injury or even help to prevent Alzheimer’s Disease. Funding for the project was provided by the National Football League Players Association, the National Institutes of Health and the Alzheimer’s Association.

4 dead, 5 injured after pickup hits limousine in wine country

July 23, 2015 | Kraft Davies Olsson PLLC

Washington motorists may have read about a deadly incident involving both that occurred on the opposite side of the country on July 18. In a highly-publicized accident, four women were killed when a pickup truck collided with a limousine in which they were riding on Long Island, New York.

Sources report that four additional limo passengers were seriously hurt during the incident and that the driver was also injured. The man who was behind the wheel of the pickup was also taken to the hospital for his injuries. The women had hired the limo for an excursion to New York’s wine country, and the fatal accident occurred as it was leaving a vineyard. The driver was executing a legal U-turn at an intersection near that location when the truck reportedly slammed into its passenger side. The limo driver, who was interviewed extensively by police following the crash, claims that he did not see the pickup as it approached.

Tests indicate that the limo driver was not impaired by alcohol or drugs at the time of the incident, and no criminal charges are expected to be filed against him, according to a local district attorney. However, the driver of the pickup is now facing charges of misdemeanor DWI, and authorities indicate that the charges may be upgraded after chemical test results become available.

Brain injury patients need early movement to promote healing

July 15, 2015 | Kraft Davies Olsson PLLC

There are a variety of causes of brain injuries. The common thread that binds most of them together is the need for extensive medical care after the injury. For many Washington patients, that means long stays in hospitals or rehabilitation centers. While these patients often spend a lot of time in bed, a recent study suggests that these patients should get out of bed and start moving as soon as possible.

As part of the study, several hundred patients were followed after they had incurred a brain injury. More than half of those studied got out of bed as early as the first day when they were admitted into the intensive care unit. The study noted that the patients that got up and moving that early fared better than those who remained in bed for prolonged periods of time.

Some of the benefits noted included less time on the ventilator and fewer pressure sores for the patients who get moving faster. It isn’t always easy to get brain injury patients up and moving. In some cases, it can take multiple workers and considerable time to get the patient out of bed. Even then, if it is beneficial to get the patient up and moving, staff members should work to do just that.

Risks of teen drivers to Washington residents

July 10, 2015 | Kraft Davies Olsson PLLC

Although only 10 percent of drivers in America are under the age of 21, they are responsible for 17 percent of alcohol-related fatal crashes. This is despite the fact that in most states, minor drivers who have a blood-alcohol content of over .02 percent can be charged with a DUI.

Texting while driving is another risky behavior that teens tend to engage in while behind the wheel. Each year, 3,000 teenagers are killed in accidents related to using a cell phone while driving, which is more than the 2,000 who die each year in alcohol-related crashes. Overall, sending a text message while driving increases the odds of a crash by 23 percent. Additionally, it can reduce a teenage driver’s reaction time to that of an average 70-year-old driver.

Those who study the issue say that the best way to reduce risky behavior is education. Parents should talk to their teens about the risks of using a phone while driving and that calls and texts should only be made when a car is parked. Teens who know where to go for help may also be less likely to operate a motor vehicle while impaired or ride with someone who is impaired.

The risks of driving as an older adult

July 1, 2015 | Kraft Davies Olsson PLLC

Washington drivers who are 65 or older may not be aware of the increased risks that occur as they age. While drivers who continue to operate vehicles as they age are more likely to be more independent and stay mobile, the risks of injuries or death also increase. On average, more than 580 older adult drivers suffer injuries while 15 older drivers die in car accidents every day. In 2012, this amounted to more than 214,000 older drivers being injured and more than 5,500 being killed.

Increased car accident rates among drivers who are at least 70 years of age are associated with the loss of vision and a decline in cognitive functioning, including the individual’s memory and reasoning skills. Additionally, older individuals are more susceptible to injuries and complications from medical treatment.

Although there are major risks, there are ways that older drivers can reduce the risks of injury or death caused by car accidents. For example, older drivers should ask their doctor or health care provider about any medications they are taking to ensure that there are no dangerous side effects. Drivers should also have their vision checked and should wear their glasses or contacts as advised. Additionally, older drivers should avoid driving during bad weather.

6 students killed in balcony collapse

June 24, 2015 | Kraft Davies Olsson PLLC

People in Washington may have heard about the tragic accident that recently happened in Berkeley. According to authorities, a total of 13 people fell four stories when the apartment balcony on which they were standing suddenly gave way, killing six of them.

Sources indicate the students were at the apartment to celebrate a friend’s birthday. Five of the students who died were from Ireland, while the sixth was from California. All were either 21 or 22 years old. Besides the six who died, seven more were transported to area hospitals for treatment of serious injuries.

Authorities were uncertain about what caused the balcony to fall. The structure had a concrete floor and it appeared to have torn free from the building. Reportedly, people had called earlier in the evening to complain about the noise from the party, but police were attending to other calls in the area. Upon receiving 911 calls following the collapse, police were apparently on-scene within two minutes.

Washington brain injury patients and trauma caused over time

June 19, 2015 | Kraft Davies Olsson PLLC

Washington residents may be interested in a Stanford University study that examined the relationship between traumatic brain injuries and small hits to the brain. When the brain is bashed against the inside of the skull multiple times, the small injuries can have large cumulative effects. Unlike larger hits, however, they do not produce concussions. These injuries are common in contact sports such as football.

Every year, an estimated 1.7 million people in the United States sustain traumatic brain injuries. Of those, 80 percent are mild with no concussion. Severe external force trauma does not cause most mild traumatic brain injuries. Instead, these injuries most often result from the inertia of the brain as it collides with the skull after the head comes to an abrupt stop.

Researchers found that the typical rate of movement for normal actions, such as turning one’s head, is 5 hertz. The brain can be damaged at 15 hertz, and contact sports can cause it to move at 20 hertz. While concussive injuries occur in an instant, inertia-related brain injuries can happen multiple times over the course of a game. These injuries build up and cause cumulative brain damage as the brain rattles inside the skull. Researchers hoped that the findings could inform future protective helmets to prevent the brain from moving at dangerous speeds inside the skull.

Government agency wants safer vehicles

June 11, 2015 | Kraft Davies Olsson PLLC

If the recommendations of the National Transportation Safety Board are followed, motorists in Washington and other parts of the country may soon be driving vehicles that feature special sensors to reduce the incidence of collisions. These systems could include rear-mounted and forward-facing monitors that do everything from helping drivers apply brakes to providing warnings that collisions are about to occur. The NTSB says that more than 80 percent of rear-end collisions that cause injuries and fatalities could become less dangerous if new vehicles had such devices.

In a 60-page report released in early June, NTSB officials once again offered their opinion that collision-avoidance mechanisms should be standard in all new commercial and passenger vehicles. When confronted with the idea that this may significantly increase purchase costs for new car buyers, the NTSB chairman pointed to the example of seat belts to illustrate the point that drivers shouldn’t have to pay extra for potentially life-saving equipment.

A trade group for automakers has said that consumers should have the choice whether or not to purchase vehicles with the additional safety hardware. Nonetheless, NTSB officials have pressed forward, noting that only four 2014-model-year vehicles actually offered standard collision avoidance systems. The agency has suggested that the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration should begin including collision-avoidance technology ratings in its current safety scale for new vehicles.

A look at the primary causes of traffic fatalities

June 3, 2015 | Kraft Davies Olsson PLLC

While not yielding the right of way on occasion may seem like standard behavior for some drivers, it is actually the primary cause of fatal traffic collisions in Washington. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration keeps records of all known fatal crashes involving vehicle occupants as well as pedestrians. The Auto Insurance Center has recently used that agency’s Fatal Accident Reporting System data from 2009 to 2013 to find the primary causes of fatal crashes nationwide.

While Washington’s problem seems to be the right of way, in neighboring Oregon and Idaho, drivers’ failure to remain in their lanes leads to the most fatal crashes. The compiled data also allowed for the examination of other factors, such as the prevalence of fatal intoxicated driving crashes in each state. Such crashes are more common in states with large rural areas where drivers have less access to public transportation. Rural areas are also more likely to have more fatal crashes caused by speeding due to long stretches of road with little traffic.

Weather also plays a role, and Washington drivers are more likely to have a fatal crash in the rain than in the snow, which may be due to the frequency of the rain during the winter months. However, snow is far more likely to lead to a fatal crash than fog, and sleet is a much greater danger for drivers and pedestrians than crosswinds.