A diffuse axonal injury (DAI) is one of the most severe brain injuries a person can sustain and may result in life-changing consequences. If you or someone you love is dealing with a diffuse axonal injury, Nadrich Accident Injury Lawyers is here. They will help you understand more about this condition and how to recover compensation for your injury.
Our firm handles various types of personal injury cases, including those involving traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries and diffuse axonal injuries. If you or a loved one has suffered a diffuse axonal injury in an accident which was not your fault, you may qualify for financial compensation with the help of a California brain injury attorney at our firm.
We have been representing severe traumatic brain injury victims, including those who have suffered diffuse axonal injuries, since 1990. We have recovered over $750,000,000 on behalf of our clients in that time. Our experience and expertise mean that we can obtain for you the largest possible financial recovery in an injury claim or lawsuit.
We do not charge a fee to represent injury victims until we obtain financial compensation for them. The only fee we charge is a percentage of any recovery we obtain. In other words, we will not charge you a fee until we win your case.
If you can’t afford medical treatment for your injuries, we can get you to experienced medical providers in California who won’t charge you for treatment until your case is over. Doctors agree to provide this service for our clients because they know about our long track record of successfully obtaining financial compensation for injury victims.
Call an experienced personal injury attorney at our firm today for a FREE consultation at (800) 718-4658 or contact us if you or a loved one suffered a diffuse axonal injury.
How Much Is a Diffuse Axonal Injury Case Worth?
The possible value of a diffuse axonal injury lawsuit may widely vary. The average settlement may range from thousands of dollars to millions of dollars, depending upon the injury severity and how it impacted the victim.
Traumatic brain injury cases involving mild injuries might lead to settlements in the five-figure or low six-figure range. Severe injuries, particularly those involving long-term disability may lead to traumatic brain injury settlements in excess of $1 million, possibly reaching into the eight-figure range.
Numerous factors influence the potential value of these cases, including:
- Injury severity: Mild injuries often lead to smaller settlements than severe cases of diffuse axonal injury, which can include a need for ongoing care, or lasting disabilities.
- Medical bills: The cost of ongoing and immediate medical care, including initial treatment costs, therapy, rehabilitation and future medical needs will significantly impact the value of your case.
- Lost income: Your ability to work as well as earn a living, in the future and in the present, is a critical factor. You can recover compensation for lost wages and lost earning potential.
- Pain and suffering: The emotional and physical pain you suffered, as well as cognitive decline and the injury’s impact on your quality of life, gets considered. Post-traumatic stress disorder is often an issue which is involved.
- Negligence: How negligent the at-fault party was will play a role in determining the value of your case.
- Long-term care needs: If your injury leads to a permanent disability or a need for long-term care, your case will probably be worth more to cover those costs.
- Insurance policy limits: How much insurance coverage is available from the at-fault party will influence the value of your case.
It’s vital to consult with an experienced injury attorney to assess your claim’s value. A lawyer can help you to understand what represents fair compensation in your case and navigate through the legal process in order to maximize the compensation you receive.
How Nadrich Accident Injury Lawyers Can Help You After DAI Diagnosis
Nadrich Accident Injury Lawyers are attorneys experienced in helping clients seek recovery in brain injury cases. Working with a lawyer alleviates you and your loved ones from managing the many steps involved in filing a personal injury lawsuit.
Our law firm can help you by:
Understanding Diffuse Axonal Injuries
We have in-depth knowledge of the symptoms, long-term effects and causes of diffuse axonal injuries, as well as how these injuries differ from other brain injuries. We understand that these cases can involve proving injuries which are subtle, as well as dealing with symptoms with a delayed onset.
These injuries can be difficult to diagnose. They aren’t always immediately apparent via standard imaging such as CT or MRI scans. Our experience with these injuries can allow us to make sure your injury gets properly documented and identified.
Gathering the Facts
There are plenty of facts and information that need to be gathered. These include things like:
- Accident reports
- Medical records
- Eyewitness statements
- Expert testimony
- Photos
- Surveillance footage
- Income information (to calculate financial loss)
A personal injury attorney will investigate your accident and gather the facts and information in your case in order to prove your injury’s extent and establish liability.
Building a Strong Case
Once the attorney has the information, they build the case. Their goal is to prove how the other party is at fault (or mostly at fault). In some instances, an accident may be considered both parties’ fault, according to the report. However, your personal injury attorney will work to show how the other person was negligent and bears a greater responsibility for damages. We will identify all responsible parties and establish their fault or negligence.
We also work with medical professionals such as neuropsychologists and neurologists in order to accurately diagnose injuries and establish their connections to accidents. We work with a network of professionals such as medical experts who can help us build the strongest case possible.
Determining the Damages
These injuries can end up leading to significant lost income, long-term medical needs and other losses. We will assess the evidence to determine what damages apply to your situation. Then we will calculate how much the costs are and what you can get for the various damages.
Managing All Communications
There will be many incoming and outgoing communications that an attorney will handle for you while you recuperate. Written, electronic, and telephonic communications will be managed with ease, so you can recover.
Negotiating a Reasonable Settlement
In many instances, a case doesn’t need to go to court. While insurance companies might be reluctant to acknowledge your injury’s severity or might attempt to minimize your claim, we are able to negotiate a fair amount with the other party or their insurance company and settle the case out of court. This saves time and hassles, and ensures that you recover the financial compensation you deserve for your medical expenses, lost wages, pain, suffering, emotional distress and more.
Taking the Case to Trial
Sometimes it’s not possible to work out a decent settlement with the other party. When that happens, your attorney will move forward and take it to trial. You can count on having a voice representing you in the courtroom, fighting your case.
Focusing on Long-Term Care
We recognize that diffuse axonal injuries can have consequences which are lasting. We advocate for financial compensation which covers potential future needs such as rehabilitation and ongoing medical care.
Navigating Complexities
Diffuse axonal injuries involve complicated legal and medical issues. Our lawyers can help you to navigate these complexities in order to achieve the absolute best possible outcome.
Providing Compassionate Support
We provide compassionate support to our clients as well as their families during the legal process. We offer assistance and guidance during challenging times. We understand the financial and emotional toll on victims and victims’ families.
What Is a Diffuse Axonal Brain Injury?
A diffuse axonal injury is classified as a traumatic brain injury (TBI) and affects several areas of the brain. TBIs can range from mild to severe, with a severe type categorized as diffuse axonal injury. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that there are more than 1.5 million cases of traumatic brain injury every year in the United States.
TBIs are the leading cause of death in certain populations of people, namely children and young adults. Even for those who survive a diffuse axonal injury, there can be debilitating consequences due to the nature of the injury.
Knowing the brain’s anatomy can help you understand how a diffuse axonal injury occurs.
About the Brain
Your brain consists of white, grey and dura matter. You’ve probably heard of white and grey matter because it makes up the larger part of your brain. The dura is a thin layer of matter that helps protect the white and grey matter. Then outside of the dura is your skull and your scalp.
White matter is made up of many nerve fibers called axons. They form a large network in the brain that allows the exchange of information and communication between different areas of your brain. You could consider it the main communication center.
The grey matter consists of neurons that work to process and release information. It does so by working through axon signaling found in the white matter. The grey matter is responsible for movement, memory and emotions.
How Does an Axonal Injury Occur?
A diffuse axonal injury occurs when the connective nerve fibers found in the white matter (axons) tear (called shearing). This happens due to an accelerating or decelerating force that suddenly causes the brain to move back and forth. The rotating movement of grey and white matter slides over each other, leading to shearing and axonal injury. Most of the tearing happens where the grey and white matter intersect. Diffuse axonal injury can also cause microscopic harm to the axons.
An axonal injury is often the result of an auto accident because it causes the sudden, jarring movements described above. Research indicates that there is no connection between skull damage or fractures and DAI, but it is what occurs behind the layer of the skull that leads to DAI. Some people involved in an auto crash may initially be diagnosed with a TBI but later discover that diffuse axonal injury is the specific type of TBI they have. This diagnosis can be relevant for the prognosis and treatment plan.
Symptoms of Diffuse Axonal Injury
If you sustained a head injury and are suffering from DAI, there are a range of symptoms you may experience. One of the most common is a loss of consciousness. However, people can experience other symptoms, too.
If your axonal injury case is mild, you may present with diffuse axonal injury symptoms that are similar to a concussion, such as:
- Headache
- Fatigue
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Dizziness
If the diffuse axonal injury is severe, other more serious symptoms and complications can occur. Some people lose consciousness and remain in a persistent vegetative state for a period of time or indefinitely. A small number of those in a vegetative state due to DAI regain consciousness after a year. Those who are unconscious for a short period may still experience communication problems, cognitive deficits and motor function issues because of injury to the brain. The extent to which these symptoms present depends on which part of the brain is damaged.
Another neurological condition that may result from DAI is dysautonomia. This refers to a dysfunction of the nerves that regulate nonvoluntary body functions, such as blood pressure, heart rate and sweating.
Diffuse Axonal Injury Grades
DAI is a clinical diagnosis, but since no precise lab tests can determine it, doctors use various axonal injury grades to diagnose the condition. Diffuse axonal injury grades help physicians understand the prognosis and treatment plan. These are as follows:
- Grade 1: These more mild traumatic brain injuries involve diffuse axonal damage within the white matter of the brain, specifically the cerebral hemispheres and where the grey-white matter intersects. Results in a brief loss of consciousness.
- Grade 2: Brain tissue tear and hemorrhaging is present. Axonal damage is in the white matter of the brain, including Grade 1 regions and the territory of the corpus callosum. Recovery varies with coma having an unclear duration.
- Grade 3: These severe injuries include the Grade 2 findings with tissue tear hemorrhages within the brainstem. Additionally, there is an instant coma with posturing, and recovery is incomplete.
Another axonal injury classification model used is the Adams Diffuse Axonal Injury Classification. It provides insight into the severity of the person’s brain trauma. It is as follows:
- Grade 1: A mild diffuse axonal injury. Microscopic white matter changes in the brainstem, corpus callosum and cerebral cortex.
- Grade 2: A moderate DAI with focal lesions in the corpus callosum.
- Grade 3: A severe diffuse axonal injury with all the Grade 2 findings and additional focal lesions in the brainstem.
Diffuse Axonal Injury & Car Accidents
Studies reflect a definite link between diffuse axonal injury and car accidents. According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information, motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of diffuse axonal injury. Motor vehicle accidents contribute to the majority of diffuse axonal injury cases and other brain traumas. Some studies put the number of diffuse axonal injuries caused by auto accidents at 50%.
Some people involved in an auto crash may initially be diagnosed with a TBI but later discover that diffuse axonal injury is the specific type of TBI they have. This diagnosis can be relevant for the prognosis and treatment plan.
Why is there a link between DAI and car accidents? When you get violently struck by another vehicle, your head is thrown forward or backward at a speed that is too fast for the brain. The skull moves but the brain lags. This type of rotational force causes the tearing action in the brain. The grey and white matter in the brain is severely shaken, causing them to override each other and become damaged. This incident can lead to extensive brain damage, coma, or death.
Treatment for Diffuse Axonal Injury
Since this type of head injury tends to damage several areas of the brain, diffuse axonal injury treatment may involve several components. The most important thing is to begin treatment immediately because of the brain’s neuroplasticity after a head injury.
Neuroplasticity is the brain’s ability to relearn new information by reorganizing its neural connections. In other words, even though brain pathways are damaged, neuroplasticity allows for creating new pathways to aid in accomplishing necessary tasks.
Neuroplasticity works through repetition and practice. Some brain functions may be restored or improved as the person undergoes diffuse axonal treatment. Treatment may fall within the following categories:
- Physical therapy: This helps you regain control over specific parts of the body that may be affected.
- Occupational therapy: Many people need help with various activities to become more independent. Occupational therapy assists you with developing whatever skills are needed to accomplish this goal. Some of the activities you may need help with after a brain injury include getting dressed, feeding yourself, and moving items from one hand to another.
- Speech therapy: Speech therapy is necessary if your diffuse axonal injury affects your ability to speak or swallow. You will practice special exercises during speech therapy to strengthen your face and mouth muscles.
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy: Enduring a life-altering incident, such as an axonal injury, can leave a person with psychological trauma. Going to cognitive-behavioral therapy will help you cope with the difficulties of life.
Diffuse Axonal Injury Prognosis
The diffuse axonal injury prognosis depends on the severity of the brain injury. There are three levels of severity to any traumatic brain injury. Doctors assess the severity using the Glasgow coma scale (GCS). Doing so determines if the brain injury is mild, moderate, or severe.
The Glasgow coma scale measures the three functions as follows:
- Eye Opening (E): 4-automatic/spontaneous, 3-opens to voice, 2-opens to pain, 1-does not open.
- Verbal Response (V): 5-regular conversation, 4-oriented conversation, 3-words, but incoherent, 2-no words, only sounds, 1-no words or sounds.
- Motor Response (M): 6-normal, 5-localized to pain, 4-withdraws to pain, 3-decorticate posture, 2-decerebrate.
A mild brain injury patient would have a total score of 13 to 15 on the GCS. A score of nine to 12 is considered moderate traumatic brain injury, and anything eight and below is clinically significant for a severe brain injury.
What Is the Survival Rate for a Diffuse Axonal Brain Injury?
Health experts have an unfavorable prognosis for people who have severe DAI. High mortality rates are associated with severe DAI. People with moderate brain injury are likely to stay in the hospital for more than ten days, and at three months, there is a 25.6% mortality rate. Furthermore, traumatic brain injury is a leading cause of permanent disability. So, for those who survive, many life challenges exist.
For a more detailed look at diffuse axonal injury survival rates:
- Mild injury: Survival rates are quite high. Most individuals experience near-full recovery.
- Moderate injury: Survival rates are also typically good, but residual effects may remain, and it may be necessary to get rehabilitation.
- Severe injury: Survival rates are lower. A significant number of individuals with catastrophic injuries remain in comas or vegetative states.
Factors which influence outcomes and survival rates include:
- Injury severity: Higher grades of injury are associated with a higher chance of mortality.
- Age: Younger patients might have better outcomes because of superior brain plasticity.
- Initial GCS score: Lower GCS scores, which indicate more severe injuries, are associated with a greater chance of mortality.
- Presence of other injuries: These injuries also happen alongside other brain injuries. The presence of other injuries can affect outcome and survival.
These injuries are complex. The recovery process can significantly vary from person to person.
Can You Fully Recover From a Diffuse Axonal Injury?
It is possible to almost fully recover from a diffuse axonal injury. However, it heavily depends upon the injury severity and your response to treatment.
Some with milder injuries may experience near-complete recovery. Others with more serious injuries might require ongoing care and face long-term challenges.
Factors which influence recovery include:
- Injury severity
- Health
- Age
- Brain lesion locations
- Quality of care
- Neuroplasticity
These injuries cannot be “cured” fully because nerve fiber connections and dead brain cells cannot be restored. However, those with minor injuries may experience near-full recoveries.
Why Should I Seek a Diffuse Axonal Injury Lawyer?
- To understand your legal rights: A diffuse axonal injury attorney can help you to understand your legal options and rights regarding the pursuit of financial compensation.
- To navigate the legal process: Brain injury claims can involve a complex legal process. An attorney can guide you through every step.
- To maximize your financial compensation: A lawyer at our firm can help to maximize the compensation you recover in order to cover any costs, including medical costs, linked with your injury.
Contact a Diffuse Axonal Injury Lawyer
Our brain injury lawyers have been helping injury victims like you for over 35 years, and have recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for clients.
We can help you get treatment for your injuries, and won’t charge you any fee until we win your case.
Call a knowledgeable personal injury attorney at our firm today for a FREE consultation at (800) 718-4658 or contact us if you or a loved one has suffered a diffuse axonal injury.
