By Rick Shapiro, Traumatic Brain Injury Attorney in Virginia

A man who became permanently disabled after falling backwards off a Segway during a company-sponsored demonstration of the two-wheeled motorized scooter and sustaining a traumatic brain injury has won a $10 million jury award in Connecticut (CT). Evidence presented at trial showed that Segway representatives allowed the man to ride the vehicle through an obstacle course while blindfolded and without wearing a helmet. According to the brain injured man’s attorneys, Robert B. Adelman and Neil Sutton, the company reps brought no helmets to the demonstration at all.

As this clip from The Ellen DeGeneres Show indicates, crashing and falling from a Segway is surprisingly easy:

The talk show host suffered no injuries, but the man in this case sustained a TBI and brain damage that forced him to drop out of college just one year shy of earning his bachelor’s degree. During the trial, the brain damaged man’s lawyers emphasized the neglect and recklessness Segway reps showed in not providing helmets and the loss of future earnings and quality of life for their client, who now works as a low-paid handyman.

As a Virginia (VA) personal injury attorney whose firm often represents traumatic brain injury victims, I have seen firsthand how a closed head injury can adversely affect a person for a lifetime. I also know that no person on a motorized scooter should ever ride without a helmet, let alone be allowed by a responsible party like a Segway representative to operate the vehicle while not having his or her head protected. No one should ever suffer a TBI due to another person’s negligence.

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About the Editors: The VA-NC brain injury lawyers at Shapiro, Lewis & Appleton have experience handling traumatic brain injury and general head injury cases. Our head injury attorneys achieved the largest verdict in Virginia’s history for a brain-damaged client in 2000. The initial award of $46 million rose to $60 million with interest when an appeal was settled confidentially. Check out our other case results to see our track record of success in brain injury and other lawsuits. We have offices in Virginia Beach and Hampton, Virginia (VA), along with an office in Elizabeth City, North Carolina (NC). Rick Shapiro and James Lewis have been listed among the Best Lawyers in America since 2008. They have also been named Virginia Super Lawyers since 2010, an honor fewer than 5 percent of outstanding attorneys receive. To get more information about traumatic brain injury law and what to do after an accident, take a look at this free consumer guide written by a brain injury attorney who is licensed in VA and NC.

By Emily Mapp Brannon, Virginia Child Injury Attorney

When it comes to products our children use, we want to make sure they’re safe and effective. Ikea is recalling high chairs after reports that a faulty buckle can lead to babies falling out of the chair and suffering injuries. To learn more, visit “IKEA Recalls Baby High Chairs Over Fall Risks.”

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About the Editors: The VA-NC brain injury lawyers at Shapiro, Lewis & Appleton have experience handling traumatic brain injury and general head injury cases. Our head injury attorneys achieved the largest verdict in Virginia’s history for a brain-damaged client in 2000. The initial award of $46 million rose to $60 million with interest when an appeal was settled confidentially. Check out our other case results to see our track record of success in brain injury and other lawsuits. We have offices in Virginia Beach and Hampton, Virginia (VA), along with an office in Elizabeth City, North Carolina (NC). Rick Shapiro and James Lewis have been listed among the Best Lawyers in America since 2008. They have also been named Virginia Super Lawyers since 2010, an honor fewer than 5 percent of outstanding attorneys receive. To get more information about traumatic brain injury law and what to do after an accident, take a look at this free consumer guide written by a brain injury attorney who is licensed in VA and NC.

By Kevin Duffan, Carolina Car Accident Attorney

Family road trips around the holidays are pretty common, so it’s terrifying to imagine a drunk driver crossing your path. Unfortunately, a North Carolina (NC) family lived that nightmare and ended up in the hospital when a man now facing DWI and hit-and-run charges hit their SUV. To learn more, visit “Drunk Driver Causes Guilford County, NC Accident, Sends Nine to Hospital.”

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About the Editors: The VA-NC brain injury lawyers at Shapiro, Lewis & Appleton have experience handling traumatic brain injury and general head injury cases. Our head injury attorneys achieved the largest verdict in Virginia’s history for a brain-damaged client in 2000. The initial award of $46 million rose to $60 million with interest when an appeal was settled confidentially. Check out our other case results to see our track record of success in brain injury and other lawsuits. We have offices in Virginia Beach and Hampton, Virginia (VA), along with an office in Elizabeth City, North Carolina (NC). Rick Shapiro and James Lewis have been listed among the Best Lawyers in America since 2008. They have also been named Virginia Super Lawyers since 2010, an honor fewer than 5 percent of outstanding attorneys receive. To get more information about traumatic brain injury law and what to do after an accident, take a look at this free consumer guide written by a brain injury attorney who is licensed in VA and NC.

By Randy Appleton, Brain Injury Victims’ Attorney in Virginia

An attorney with the Shapiro, Lewis & Appleton law firm has published an article discussing how important it is for traumatic brain injury victims to hire a law firm whose lawyers have experience handling serious brain injury cases. To learn more, take a look at “Brain Injury Specialists in Virginia Beach Understand How to Handle TBI Claims.”

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About the Editors: The VA-NC brain injury lawyers at Shapiro, Lewis & Appleton have experience handling traumatic brain injury and general head injury cases. Our head injury attorneys achieved the largest verdict in Virginia’s history for a brain-damaged client in 2000. The initial award of $46 million rose to $60 million with interest when an appeal was settled confidentially. Check out our other case results to see our track record of success in brain injury and other lawsuits. We have offices in Virginia Beach and Hampton, Virginia (VA), along with an office in Elizabeth City, North Carolina (NC). Rick Shapiro and James Lewis have been listed among the Best Lawyers in America since 2008. They, along with fellow attorney John M. Cooper, have also been named Virginia Super Lawyers since 2010, an honor fewer than 5 percent of outstanding attorneys receive. To get more information about traumatic brain injury law and what to do after an accident, take a look at this free consumer guide written by a brain injury attorney who is licensed in VA and NC.

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By Richard N. Shapiro, Virginia Brain Injury Attorney

A recent quote from a news report about a head-on collision in Virginia Beach, VA, caught my attention. A driver had to be flown to the hospital by helicopter after a serious car crash on Indian River Road and Orchard Spring Way. In the report, police were mentioned as saying that the injured person “is expected to be okay.”

As a Virginia (VA) personal injury attorney, I can tell you that anyone involved in a head-on in a car accident and having to be airlifted to the hospital probably won’t be “okay” for a long time, if ever.

The statement would have been a lot more accurate if the police spokesperson had said the victim is expected to live. I’m certainly glad the person survived the accident, but he and his family have a long road to recovery.

Even the best VA personal injury attorney will tell you that the effects a serious car accident injury do not end at the scene of the wreck or the emergency room. Even after an injured victim is released from the hospital, he or she usually faces months, sometimes years, of physical, emotional, and financial challenges.

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About the Editors: The VA-NC brain injury lawyers at Shapiro, Lewis & Appleton have experience handling traumatic brain injury and general head injury cases. Our head injury attorneys achieved the largest verdict in Virginia’s history for a brain-damaged client in 2000. The initial award of $46 million rose to $60 million with interest when an appeal was settled confidentially. Check out our other case results to see our track record of success in brain injury and other lawsuits. We have offices in Virginia Beach and Hampton, Virginia (VA), along with an office in Elizabeth City, North Carolina (NC). Rick Shapiro and James Lewis have been listed among the Best Lawyers in America since 2008. They have also been named Virginia Super Lawyers since 2010, an honor fewer than 5 percent of outstanding attorneys receive. To get more information about traumatic brain injury law and what to do after an accident, take a look at this free consumer guide written by a brain injury attorney who is licensed in VA and NC.

By Kevin Duffan, Virginia Brain Injury Attorney

It’s not true that humans only use 10 percent of their brains; each part of the brain has a purpose. When any part of a person’s brain is damaged, long-lasting problems can result. The choice many injured people have to make is between taking a lump sum or a structured settlement. An experienced Virginia (VA) personal injury attorney reviews both choices.

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About the Editors: The VA-NC brain injury lawyers at Shapiro, Lewis & Appleton have experience handling traumatic brain injury and general head injury cases. Our head injury attorneys achieved the largest verdict in Virginia’s history for a brain-damaged client in 2000. The initial award of $46 million rose to $60 million with interest when an appeal was settled confidentially. Check out our other case results to see our track record of success in brain injury and other lawsuits. We have offices in Virginia Beach and Hampton, Virginia (VA), along with an office in Elizabeth City, North Carolina (NC). Rick Shapiro and James Lewis have been listed among the Best Lawyers in America since 2008. They have also been named Virginia Super Lawyers since 2010, an honor fewer than 5 percent of outstanding attorneys receive. To get more information about traumatic brain injury law and what to do after an accident, take a look at this free consumer guide written by a brain injury attorney who is licensed in VA and NC.

By Kevin Duffan, Virginia Brain Injury Attorney

A new study has revealed the dangers associated with heading balls on the soccer field. Researchers at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine have found that repeatedly hitting a soccer ball with one’s head increases the risk for brain injury and cognitive impairment.

The researchers studied 38 amateur soccer players who had played the sport since they were children. They were asked how many times they headed the ball in the past year. Then, the researchers ranked the players based on heading frequency and compared their brains images. What did they find? That frequent headers showed brain injury akin to that of patients with concussions.

Because soccer is such a popular sport, parents across the country need to consider this study before allowing their children to play. Some 18 million Americans play soccer, and 78 percent of them are children. This news could potential affect millions of young athletes across the country.

Brain injuries cannot be taken lightly. The researchers said many of the effects of heading injuries aren’t noticed by parents, or even doctors. Because the effects can be so long term, they are often misdiagnosed. “The impairment will not be immediate and can easily be attributed to other causes like ADHD or learning disabilities,” said Dr. Michael Lipton, associate director of Einsteins Gruss Magnetic Resonance Reseach Center.

The purpose of this article is not to create panic, or have parents pull their children out of youth soccer league, but parents should be informed about all of the risks associated with the sport. Heading the ball is an essential part of the game, and is unlikely to be eliminated despite safety concerns. The study shows even heading the ball once and a while  may cause long-term damage, especially at the higher levels where the ball is traveling up to speeds of 34 mph.

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About the Editors: The VA-NC brain injury lawyers at Shapiro, Lewis & Appleton have experience handling traumatic brain injury and general head injury cases. Our head injury attorneys achieved the largest verdict in Virginia’s history for a brain-damaged client in 2000. The initial award of $46 million rose to $60 million with interest when an appeal was settled confidentially. Check out our other case results to see our track record of success in brain injury and other lawsuits. We have offices in Virginia Beach and Hampton, Virginia (VA), along with an office in Elizabeth City, North Carolina (NC). Rick Shapiro and James Lewis have been listed among the Best Lawyers in America since 2008. They have also been named Virginia Super Lawyers since 2010, an honor fewer than 5 percent of outstanding attorneys receive. To get more information about traumatic brain injury law and what to do after an accident, take a look at this free consumer guide written by a brain injury attorney who is licensed in VA and NC.

By Emily Mapp Brannon, Bus Accident Attorney

As parents, we hope to put our children on the school bus safely and soundly. Unfortunately, bus crashes do happen. Nine children were taken to hospitals after a Chesapeake, Virginia (VA), public school bus crashed into a ditch. To learn more, visit “Nine Students Injured in Chesapeake, VA Bus Crash.”

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About the Editors: The VA-NC brain injury lawyers at Shapiro, Lewis & Appleton have experience handling traumatic brain injury and general head injury cases. Our head injury attorneys achieved the largest verdict in Virginia’s history for a brain-damaged client in 2000. The initial award of $46 million rose to $60 million with interest when an appeal was settled confidentially. Check out our other case results to see our track record of success in brain injury and other lawsuits. We have offices in Virginia Beach and Hampton, Virginia (VA), along with an office in Elizabeth City, North Carolina (NC). Rick Shapiro and James Lewis have been listed among the Best Lawyers in America since 2008. They have also been named Virginia Super Lawyers since 2010, an honor fewer than 5 percent of outstanding attorneys receive. To get more information about traumatic brain injury law and what to do after an accident, take a look at this free consumer guide written by a brain injury attorney who is licensed in VA and NC.

By Jim Lewis, Carolina Brain Injury Attorney

In his latest post to our firm’s Carolina personal injury attorneys’ website, my colleague Randy Appleton reports on a fatal moped accident in Piedmont, South Carolina (SC). Police determined that neither the driver of the motorbike nor the passenger who lost her life were wearing helmets. Randy notes that “no piece of safety equipment is more important than a helmet for a biker.” To read more, click over to “South Carolina Moped Crash Takes Teen’s Life.”

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About the Editors: The VA-NC brain injury lawyers at Shapiro, Lewis & Appleton have experience handling traumatic brain injury and general head injury cases. Our head injury attorneys achieved the largest verdict in Virginia’s history for a brain-damaged client in 2000. The initial award of $46 million rose to $60 million with interest when an appeal was settled confidentially. Check out our other case results to see our track record of success in brain injury and other lawsuits. We have offices in Virginia Beach and Hampton, Virginia (VA), along with an office in Elizabeth City, North Carolina (NC). Rick Shapiro and James Lewis have been listed among the Best Lawyers in America since 2008. They have also been named Virginia Super Lawyers since 2010, an honor fewer than 5 percent of outstanding attorneys receive. To get more information about traumatic brain injury law and what to do after an accident, take a look at this free consumer guide written by a brain injury attorney who is licensed in VA and NC.

By John Cooper, Virginia Brain Injury Lawyer

Traumatic brain injury is an all-too-common among children, especially those involved in contact sports, car crashes and bike accidents. An increasing number of injured children have been coming for help to the Children’s Hospital of Richmond’s Traumatic Brain Injury Clinic, according to Richmond, VA’s NBC affiliate, Wave3. The story reports the need for getting help for young victims of traumatic brain injuries — injuries that are not always easy to detect.

According to a doctor from the TBI Clinic, concussions are an “invisible injury” and are “tricky” to diagnose.  Headaches, sleeping and memory problems can often be signs. The Brain Injury Association of America’s website says of brain injuries that they are “the start of misdiagnosed, misunderstood, underfunded neurological disease,” and those that suspect they have sustained them “must have timely access to expert trauma care.”

Earlier this year, I helped settle a case for a child client who was hit by a drunk driver. The car accident resulted in a concussion, a mild form of TBI. The concussion caused the child headaches that lasted a month. Since Virginia allows for something called punitive, or punishing, damages, our firm was able to settle with the drunk driver’s insurance company for an undisclosed, but substantial, sum that will provide funds for the boy’s college education.

No parent wants a life-altering accident to happen to his or her child.  If the unthinkable happens, and your child suffers from a TBI or experiences any sort of trauma that leads to headaches or learning issues, it is important that you get it checked out by a doctor.  Please read our firm’s guide to traumatic brain injury and know what signs to look for.

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About the Editors: Shapiro, Cooper Lewis & Appleton is a law firm whose attorneys focus on injury and accident law and have experience handling traumatic brain injury and general head injury cases. Check out our case results to see for yourself. Our primary office is in Virginia Beach, Virginia (VA) but we also have an office in Elizabeth City, North Carolina (NC). Our attorneys achieved the largest verdict in Virginia’s history for a brain-damaged client in 2000. The initial award of $46 million rose to $60 million with interest when an appeal was settled confidentially. Rick Shapiro and James Lewis were included in the 2011 issue of Best Lawyers in America. They, along with fellow attorney John M. Cooper, were also named 2011 Virginia Super Lawyers for Personal Injury Law, an honor which fewer than 5 percent of outstanding lawyers receive. Our injury lawyers also host an extensive injury law video library on Youtube. Further, our lawyers proudly edit the Virginia Beach Injuryboard, Norfolk Injuryboard and Northeast North Carolina Injuryboardblogs as pro bono public information services. While not every brain injury case meets our criteria, if you or a loved one is thinking about taking legal action against a possibly at-fault person or company that caused your injury, call our office at (800) 752-0042 for a free consultation. If you cannot get through due to high call volume, be sure to leave a voicemail. We will return your call.