California Traumatic Brain Injury Lawyers
If you or a loved one has suffered a serious head injury or brain trauma due to the negligence of another person, you should contact a California head injury attorney at Van Der Walde & Associates to find out if you have a case. Our firm has the experience and knowledge to represent even the most difficult brain injury case. In fact, our personal injury lawyers have successfully represented hundreds of injured clients and recovered for them millions of dollars in damages. If you or a loved one has experienced a traumatic brain injury in California, contact an accomplished Northern California head injury attorney at Van Der Walde & Associates immediately.
Brain Injury Terms
Aneurysm-a blood-filled sac formed in an artery or blood vessel by the weakening of a vessel wall or serious disease.
Anoxia-lack of oxygen to the tissues of an organ which may cause cell death.
Aphasia-loss of the ability to understand and/or produce written or spoken language as the result of a disease or serious injury.
Brain Death-an irreversible end to all brain function and activities.
Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF)-the fluid that protects the spinal cord and brain, also called spinal fluid.
Closed Head Injury-injury in which the head is fiercely shaken or strikes an object, not puncturing the skull.
Coma-sleep-like state typically caused by a serious injury from which the victim cannot be aroused.
Computed Tomography (CT)-a scan that creates a series of cross-sectional 3-demensional X-rays of organs and the head and brain. This technology is also known as computerized axial tomography or CAT scan.
Concussion-serious injury to the brain which is caused by violent shaking or a blow to the head. This injury may cause unexpected and temporary impairment of a variety of brain functions.
Contrecoup-a contusion on one side of the brain which is caused by the brain violently moving back and forth within the skull.
Contusion-swollen brain tissue (bruise) that is mixed with the blood from broken blood vessels.
Depressed Skull Fracture-a skull fracture in which part of the broken skull presses into brain tissue.
Dysarthria-inability or difficulty articulating words due to brain injury or other serious injury.
Dura Mater-a sturdy, fibrous membrane that lines the brain and spinal cord which is the outermost of the three membranes collectively called the meninges.
Epidural Hematoma-bleeding in between the skull and the dura. Also called extradural hemorrhage.
Fluent Aphasia-a condition in which a patient can fluently speak but with no meaning, and has difficulty understanding written words or spoken language.
Glasgow Coma Scale-commonly used in the medical profession to asses the level of a coma and brain injury by testing motor responses, use of spoken language, and eye opening.
Global Aphasia-inability to produce or understand speech. This disability can be caused by damage to the parts of the brain that control speech and language skills.
Hematoma-damage of a major blood vessel in the head which causes heavy bleeding in or around the brain.
Hemorrhagic Stroke-a stroke which is the result of bleeding out of one of the major arteries that leads to the brain.
Hypoxia-decrease in the amounts of oxygen in the brain or other organs.
Intracerebral Hematoma-bleeding in the brain which results from damage to a blood vessel.
Intracranial Pressure-injury which is caused by buildup of pressure in the brain.
Ischemic Stroke-This is the most common type of stroke, and it is caused by a clot that blocks blood flow within an artery to the brain.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)-a noninvasive technique which is used to detect subtle changes in brain tissue by means of magnetic fields.
Neuron-a nerve cell that makes up the spinal cord, nerves, and brain.
Neurotransmitters-movement of chemicals which transmit nerve signals from one neuron to another.
Non-Fluent Aphasia-a disorder in which people have difficulty remembering words and talking in complete sentences.
Open Head Injury-a head injury in which the skull is penetrated or punctured by a foreign object.
Persistent Vegetative State-a continuing state of severely impaired consciousness, where the patient is unable of move voluntary.
Pneumocephalus-a situation in which air is caught within the intracranial cavity.
Prosodic Dysfunction-difficulties with intonation or inflection in speech.
Seizures-convulsions, emotional problems, muscle spasms, and/or unconsciousness caused by abnormal activity of nerve cells in the brain.
Subdural Hematoma-bleeding located between the dura and the arachnoid membranes.
Subdural Hygroma-fluid build up between the dura and arachnoid membranes, caused by tears in the arachnoid membrane.
Thrombosis-a blood clot which forms on the brain in the location where an injury occurred.
Vegetative State-a condition in which serious injury patients are unconscious but continue to have a sleep/wake cycle and are sometimes alert.
Ventriculostomy-a surgical process where cerebrospinal fluid is drained from the brain through an opening called a ventricle.
If you or a loved one has been the victim of a traumatic brain injury in California, please contact a Traumatic Brain Injury attorney at Van Der Walde & Associates to discuss your brain injury case.
