Seemingly Minor Head Injuries Can Get Serious Fast – Err on the Side of Caution

Mike Ferrara — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 23:17:35 GMT

Actress Natasha Richardson’s traumatic and unexpected death after a skiing accident this week illustrates the dire importance of taking head injuries very seriously.

Richardson’s injury initially appeared innocuous. She was taking a ski lesson on a Canadian bunny slope when she fell and hit her head, and according to officials present, was joking and talking afterward, and didn’t complain of pain. In her hotel room an hour later, however, she developed a severe headache and had to be rushed to the hospital. She eventually died of blunt impact to the head.

It's very common for someone who's had a fall or been in a car accident to appear perfectly lucid just after the impact but then to suddenly, rapidly deteriorate, Dr. Carmelo Graffagnino, director of Duke University Medical Center's Neurosciences Critical Care Unit, told CNN…"A patient can appear so deceivingly normal at first," said Graffagnino…"But they actually have a brain bleed and as the pressure builds up, they'll experience classic symptoms of a traumatic brain injury." –CNN

Tragically, the first ambulance to arrive at the ski resort after Richardson’s fall was refused and paramedics were told (we don’t yet know by whom) that their services were unnecessary. By the time Richardson did get to the hospital, the damage to her brain caused by swelling was irreparable.

If you or someone you’re with sustains a head injury, however seemingly minor, please err on the side of caution and allow a medical professional to evaluate your condition.

Even if it looks dorky, always wear a helmet when engaging in potentially dangerous activities such as biking, horseback riding, skiing or snowboarding.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Mike Ferrara

New Jersey Appellate Court Rules 911 Operator Not Immune From Liability For Botched Call

Mike Ferrara — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 09:30:00 GMT

A three judge panel of the Superior Court of New Jersey's Appellate Division ruled today that a 911 operator and her employer are not immune from liability. Today's unamious rullng reversed the decision of trial court judge Charles Little who found in favor of the 911 operator Marie Cuparo and her employer, the City of Camden (N.J.).

In this case, a call came in to the 911 operator for the City of Camden describing an abduction in progress at the Ferry Avenue, Camden, Hi Speedline station parking lot. The operator said: "it sounds like a domestic dispute". Incredibilty she never dispatched police officers who were 400 yards away.

Expert testimony revealed that had the call be properly entered in the computer, the officers would have gotten to the scene in time to prevent the abduction and eventual murder of 26 year old Christine Eberle. Instead of entering the call into the computer as she was required to do, she wrote it on a slip of paper and never dispatched the police.

The effect of today's ruling is that the case wil be returned to the trial court in Camden County where it will proceed to a jury trial. Attorneys hailed the ruling, saying that Judge LIttle's opinion was wrong and he should never have dismissed the case in the first place. Fortunately, the appeals court agreed. The murder occurred in November of 2001. Christine is surved by her parents, Linda and Charles Reis, her sister Mandy and brother C.J.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Mike Ferrara

Cherry Hill, New Jersey Personal Injury Lawyer - Head & Brain Injuries

Seemingly Minor Head Injuries Can Get Serious Fast – Err on the Side of Caution

New Jersey Appellate Court Rules 911 Operator Not Immune From Liability For Botched Call