The Process of Brain Injury

Delayed Cellular Damage

The Defense Argues

The Plaintiff was able to say: "Yes, I'm fine. I'm okay. I was wearing my seat belt," to various questions.

When he exchanged information: "Look in my briefcase. There's my business card."

He knew where it was.

Source: Graham, Gennarelli, Greenfield's Neuropathology, ©1996 Oxford University Press, page 209.)

Cellular Damage

"In various combinations and various severities, the resultant cellular dysfunction (of brain injury) defines the nature and extent of the primary injury, the outcome of which may not become apparent for several days or even weeks after injury." (Graham, Gennarelli, Greenfield's Neuropathology, 1996, page 197.)

Cellular damage occurs predominantly to the axons.

Shear Can Cause Delayed Effects

• Immediate Cell Death
• Delayed Cell Death

"It appears that ionic changes at cell membranes initiate events that cause a progressive cascade that can be potentially deleterious. Therefore, most TBI is not immediate. Brain damage is a process, and not an event, that is set into motion by the ionic fluctuations that occur immediately. "

Source:(Graham, Gennarelli, Greenfield's Neuropathology, © 1996, Arnold, page 208.)

It is not necessary to have a loss of consciousness to suffer permanent brain injury.

Source: Definition of Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Developed by the Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Committee of the Head Injury Interdisciplinary Special Interest Group of the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine. J Head Trauma Rehabil 1993:8(3):86-87

Contact the Brain Injury Law Group: 1-800-992-9447

This site is brought to you by the advocates of the Brain Injury Law Group, a community of plaintiff's trial lawyers across the United States united by a common interest in serving the rights of persons with traumatic brain injuries and a common commitment to fully understanding the anatomic, medical and psychological aspects of TBI.