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Blunt Force Trauma and TBI
Traumatic brain injury is more commonly known by its medical name as either a coup and/or contrecoup injury – the initial impact and the counter impact.
One of the leading causes of death in the U.S. for people under the age of 45 is traumatic brain injury. In fact, a TBI happens every 15 seconds. “Furthermore, there are roughly 5 million Americans that, right this moment, suffer from some form of TBI as a result of car crashes, falls and sports injuries,” explained Lance Sharp, an Austin personal injury lawyer at The Sharp Firm.
While one may be excused for thinking the skull is tough as nails, the brain on the other hand is a great deal more fragile, more fragile than we might think. “Not only is it one of the most complex organs we have, but it is also very soft and extremely vulnerable with a general consistency of slightly firm pudding,” outlined Sharp. It’s no wonder that it is susceptible to bruising injuries when it is smacked about inside the cranium.
The brain may be traumatized in two ways. In one instance the cerebral cortex may suffer a contusion after the head has hit a hard object or an object has struck the head (windshield or a bat). In another form of TBI, the deep white matter may suffer from something called diffuse axonal injury, as the result of the head being whiplashed about without striking a hard object, etc. “Depending on how serious the whiplash is, the axons may be stretched so far out of shape they are badly damaged,” said Laura Sharp, an Austin injury lawyer at The Sharp Firm.
The bruising of the brain, or the creation of the contusions, mostly happens to the tips of the frontal and temporal lobes, largely because this is where the brain tends to hit when the head impacts an object or is hit by an object. “No matter how mild, moderate or severe the TBI happens to be, these kinds of injuries must be seen and assessed by a medical professional. Time is of the essence in these cases as well,” added Laura Sharp.
The symptoms of TBI vary dramatically and are not always easy to identify, however some people may present with headaches, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, difficulty balancing, a spacey feeling, poor motor skills, one pupil larger than the other, seizures, slurred speech, numbness and either/or a mood or personality change.
In all cases where TBI is suspected, contact a highly qualified personal injury lawyer immediately and discuss the case with them. The attorney will assess the case based on the details and advise how to proceed to justice. One such firm, with attorneys offering over 40 years of combined legal experience is The Sharp Firm in Austin, Texas.
To learn more about Austin personal injury lawyer, Austin injury lawyer, Austin personal injury, visit Sharpfirm.com.
Tired Deadly Truck Drivers
While there are many reasons why big rig truck accidents happen, one of the more common cited reasons is being dead tired at the wheel and still trucking.
It’s hard to imagine that one of the more common causes of large commercial truck accidents is fatigue, although it makes sense when the whole picture of the trucking industry is brought into focus. Jockeying a big rig doesn’t always pay the best rates and drivers often need to drive for much longer than the legally allowable maximum time on the road. “Approximately 750 people die every year and over 20,000 are injured because of fatigued drivers on the roads with their rigs,” outlined Lance Sharp, an Austin, Texas, attorney at The Sharp Firm.
It’s not too hard to figure out that being sleep deprived will make a trucker, or other driver, drift off while driving, causing the vehicle to swerve into another lane. Other dangerous results due to a lack of sleep may include jackknifing, rollovers and improper down-braking. Unfortunately, when a big rig is involved in an accident, it often winds up involving multiple vehicles. “Over 600 truck drivers a year meet an untimely end as a result of accidents they cause themselves while driving their rigs while not completely awake and alert,” said Sharp.
“Even though it is a legal requirement that log books must be kept, there have been cases where two books are kept instead of one – one showing the required hours a trucker has been driving, and the other showing the actual hours on the road,” explained Sharp. Finding these logs are helpful when it comes to litigating big rig accidents. In addition, if a truck has a “black box” on board, it will help reconstruct what happened prior to the accident.
“Dealing with a large truck accident is most often a mass confusion of overlapping regulations and laws. In most instances trucking accident lawsuits are brought against the trucking company and driver,” commented Laura Sharp. However, there may also be another entire cast of characters thrown into the mix that involves insurance companies, mechanics, government agencies, manufacturers and maintenance companies.
In cases like this, the complete history of the truck, its inspections etc., are crucial to establishing what condition the vehicle was in prior to a collision. Road conditions and maintenance will also play a part in this story.
When there has been a large truck accident, it is vital to contact a large truck accident attorney to have the case dealt with expeditiously. One such law firm in Austin, Texas, is The Sharp Firm, where Lance and Laura Sharp have over 40 years of combined legal experience at your service.
To learn more about Austin personal injury lawyer, Austin injury lawyer, Austin personal injury, visit Sharpfirm.com.
Wrongful Death Suits
Wrongful death suits are litigation filed against someone who is responsible for a person’s (wrongful) death. This isn’t a criminal matter. It is civil law.
A wrongful death may take place literally anywhere, at any time and occur at the hands of a variety of people. “For instance, a wrongful death may involve a medical error, a murder, or a faulty product or equipment,” outlined Lance and Laura Sharp of the Sharp Firm of Austin, Texas. While the reasons for a wrongful death are virtually endless and no one denies that a death occurred, many people don’t “get” why a wrongful death suit is really necessary.
In the case where there is a deliberate killing, the general public figures that justice will be done through the criminal courts. They don’t comprehend why someone would hire a wrongful death attorney to file a civil claim. “There are two different courts involved in settling a criminal case as opposed to a wrongful death case, and they each rely of different standards of proof,” explained Lance Sharp.
In a criminal court, the defendant must be proven to be guilty beyond all reasonable doubt. “On the other hand, civil courts only need a preponderance of the evidence,” said Lance Sharp. This means a civil court only needs to have enough evidence that points to the guilt of the defendant. In some instances, when a criminal court declares a person not guilty, filing a wrongful death suit in civil court provides the family with a shot at getting justice.
It is far more common, however, in wrongful death cases the charges are laid against people who have accidently caused a death as a result of their negligence. Needless to say, these cases are fraught with some very volatile emotions and for this reason it makes good sense to hire a highly skilled wrongful death attorney, familiar with these kinds of issues. Such an attorney may be found at the Sharp Firm in Austin, Texas, where Lance and Laura Sharp have over 40 years of combined legal experience.
Wrongful death cases may award damages for medical costs, funeral expenses, loss of wages, loss of companionship, and many other items that a good attorney will not only know about, but will fight aggressively in court to win these damages for their client. In some respects, civil suits brought as the result of a wrongful death serve as a reminder to others that the law is indeed keeping a watchful eye on them.
To learn more about Austin personal injury lawyer, Austin injury lawyer, Austin personal injury, visit Sharpfirm.com.
The Trauma of Brain (TBI) Injuries
It’s virtually inevitable that those who suffer traumatic brain injury and survive will be left with some form of difficulty for the rest of their lives.
One of the most telling differences in a traumatic brain injury survivor is a change in their personality. “Much of that however, is dependent on the severity of the initial trauma, the victim’s original personality, and where the injury to the brain is located,” explained Lance and Laura Sharp of the Sharp Firm of Austin, Texas. These factors alone will usually dictate what type of deficits may be present in a TBI patient.
The most common differences in TBI patients have been noted as being short-term memory loss, lacking in motivation, difficulties remaining focused, lack of empathy, impatience, a marked increase in being self-centered, depression, bouts of anger, poor judgment, and the inability to follow written instructions. “This isn’t to say that every TBI case will manifest with these symptoms, but there are many that do, in addition to other difficulties as well,” commented Lance Sharp.
In TBI cases, it is critically important to contact a highly skilled TBI attorney who is able to fight for damages that will sustain the injured party for the rest of their lives. The accident may have only happened once, but the TBI is always with the victim every day after the accident. “There are extensive changes in lifestyle for many TBI patients as well, not to mention the sometimes extensive rehabilitation that they need to undergo in order to be able to cope with life, as they now know it,” explained Lance and Laura Sharp of the Sharp Firm of Austin, Texas,
Only a thoroughly qualified TBI attorney will be able to lay out the areas where damages may be claimed in a TBI case. They are many and varied, but having a reputable lawyer assist clients in formulating a life plan to achieve a reasonable lifestyle for the future is vital to a client and their families.
A TBI lawsuit is a lengthy process and the attorney chosen must fight aggressively for the welfare of their client. Clients would be in good hands with the Sharp Firm in Austin, Texas, headed by Lance and Laura Sharp who have over 40 years of combined legal experience at their fingertips.
To learn more about Austin personal injury lawyer, Austin injury lawyer, Austin personal injury, visit Sharpfirm.com.
The Signs of Child Care Abuse
There are signals and subtle signs that a parent should be aware of if they suspect their child is being abused at a day care facility.
While it isn’t always obvious that your child is being abused at a day care facility, there are some things that will tell you something is definitely wrong. “The abuse may be one or more of several types - verbal, physical or sexual abuse, and neglect,” outlined Lance Sharp of The Sharp Firm in Austin, Texas.
Emotional or verbal abuse usually comes in the form of words, meaning the abuser says things to the child that causes emotional or mental harm. Physical abuse is fairly clear, in that it means the abuser is intentionally hurting a child. There are also two forms of sexual abuse, non-contact and contact.
“In situations dealing with non-contact sexual abuse, the perpetrator is showing a child pornographic behavior using videos, pictures, or putting on a live demonstration,” said Sharp. Contact sexual abuse involves the offender forcing the child to perform sex acts alone or with others, or the perpetrator sexually touching the victim.
Neglect is fairly easy to identify and comes in the form of the day care not providing a safe environment for children and not providing proper shelter, food or attention. Of course, any of these situations may cause mental, emotional and physical damage to the victims.
Be aware of these warning signs that show something may be wrong with a child. There will be a change in the child’s behavior and they are suddenly too quiet or are acting out more than they ever did before. They may fight and cry more often, come home with different injuries daily or weekly, insist they don’t want to go to day care and if pushed, pitch a tantrum.
If there is a suspicion of abuse, do not wait to consult with a highly skilled attorney who will assess the case when the full details are provided. Waiting will only prolong a child’s discomfort, pain and fear. An experienced child day care abuse lawyer has the ability to get to the heart of the matter in a way that will comfort both parents and the child involved.
Speaking to Lance and Laura Sharp of The Sharp Firm in Austin, Texas, is one of the smartest moves a person could make. The Sharps have over 40 years combined legal experience and know precisely how to handle these kinds of exceedingly delicate cases.
To learn more about Austin personal injury lawyer, Austin injury lawyer, Austin personal injury, visit Sharpfirm.com.
Sexual Abuse Begins at Home
Statistics have proven time and again that most instances of sexual abuse happen at home, within the family unit. The “stranger” scenario, while possible, does not happen very often.
“The actual facts of the crime of child sexual abuse show that close to 80% of children who do suffer abuse, do so at the hands of a family member,” explained Lance Sharp of the Sharp Firm of Austin, Texas. Further, roughly 19% are abused by peripheral members familiar to the family unit – meaning a good friend, a known and trusted coach, minister, cub or scout leader, etc.
The percentage of children abused by total strangers runs in the area of approximately 1%. While this doesn’t make the numbers any less horrific, it does point out that the myth stating most sexual abuse cases are perpetrated by strangers is just that – a myth. “The problem is that the media makes a huge issue of stranger sexual abuse cases, as it sells papers,” said Sharp, who has, with his partner, Laura Sharp, over 40 years combined legal experience.
Many people also make the mistake of thinking that sexual abuse is something that only happens to smaller children. “This is not the case. It happens at any age and if not stopped, often continues until the child is able to leave the family home,” explained Lance Sharp. If it isn’t bad enough that abuse happens at home, many of today’s youngsters are also exposed to people trolling the Internet for “game,” to abuse. Whether that happens online or offline often depends on if the child is convinced to meet the predator.
Speaking of online stalking for abuse victims, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children discovered during a survey of 13 to 17 year olds, that virtually 4% of them did meet an Internet friend in person. A staggering 30% opined they’d considered meeting someone they only know over the Internet, and over 71% said they got messages from people they didn’t know, who were them asking personal questions. Those kinds of statistics drive cold fear into the heart of any parent with children, and at the Sharp Firm, Lance and Laura Sharp know these issues and how to deal with them professionally and with dignity.
No matter how a child comes to be a victim of sexual abuse, there comes a time when the family needs to consult with a compassionate and skilled attorney. Choose one who has a demonstrated track record in dealing with issues of this nature, an attorney with the sensitivity to deal with the many heart-wrenching issues that cases such as this encompass. One such firm of Austin, Texas attorneys is Lance and Laura Sharp of the Sharp Firm.
To learn more about Austin personal injury lawyer, Austin injury lawyer, Austin personal injury, visit Sharpfirm.com.
Brain Injuries Can Be Silent
Closed head injuries, or silent injuries, are often a reality in the aftermath of car crashes.
“It’s a hard cold fact, that more than 2 million Americans suffer closed head injuries yearly, and just because their heads are not bleeding, does not mean they haven’t sustained any injuries,” stated Lance Sharp of The Sharp Firm in Austin, Texas.
Closed head injuries can be the result of the head hitting a hard surface at a high rate of speed, and the object hit does not penetrate the head. One may also recognize the other name for this type of head injury as a contrecoup injury or traumatic brain injury. Alternatively, it could be a simple fall and the head just hit the ground, the wrong way. Closed brain injury will severely affect the victim and his or her family. “It’s quite common to see physical, cognitive, social and vocational changes, that may require years of aftercare,” added Sharp.
Often those involved in a car accident will impact with windshields, steering wheels, dashboards, car seats and air bags as they are deploying. As tough as we may think our heads are, the brain is actually the most fragile organ in the whole body. While smacking into a stationary object may cause brain damage, even whiplash has been known to cause a closed head injury.
The frightening thing about this type of injury is that most people who have suffered it don’t know they have, because the symptoms may be pegged as being muscle spasms or even just a pesky headache. There are some visible signs and they include loss of hearing, fluid drainage from the ear or nose, confusion, lethargy and slurred speech.
When a person sustains a head injury it is important to seek medical care. Even if there does not appear to be an injury, it is important for a medical professional to check the head. The recent death of Natasha Richardson who fell while snow skiing is a tragic example.
With injuries like this, time is a critical factor, so don’t delay contacting a closed head injury attorney who will immediately assess the case and start getting the pertinent information required to file a lawsuit. “We look at each case with a fresh point of view, because each case is unique in its own right,” said Sharp, of The Sharp Law Firm, who has over 40 years combined experience practicing law with Laura Sharp in Austin, Texas.
To learn more visit http://www.sharpfirm.com.
Adviatech Corp. PR for The Sharp Firm
9280 Bay Plaza Blvd Suite 706
Tampa, FL 33619
1.813.600.3017
Car Accidents Are Expensive
Car accidents are seldom what they seem to be on the surface and signing off on any injury claim prior to speaking with a competent lawyer is a very bad idea.
“Having had a significant amount of experience in this area,” said Lance Sharp of The Sharp Firm in Austin, Texas, “I know there are generally many injuries that are more severe than they appear to be on first glance.” Lance and Laura Sharp have over 40 years of combined experience as Austin personal injury lawyers.
Car crashes typically involve not just property damages, but personal bodily injury and while it is expensive to get the vehicle fixed, that pales in comparison to an undiagnosed injury that could make itself known later, after accepting a damage settlement from an insurance company. “Typically we recommend that our clients do not take the first damage settlement that an insurance company offers,” indicated Sharp. The major reason being that often it is not enough to cover the real costs of the accident.
Car accidents mean vehicle repairs, so there is the nuisance of losing decent transportation. More than that, however, are injuries that on the surface may seem minimal, but may actually require some serious medical intervention. For example, what may appear to be a strained neck may turn out to be a herniated disc that could require surgery.
“This is one of the many reasons we tell our clients to discuss any proposed settlements with us,” stated Sharp, “as we are well acquainted with the fact that car accidents may cost way more than just the face value of the damages – to the vehicle and the person.” Other incidental and not anticipated costs may run the gamut from lost wages to long-term physical therapy.
Even if the car accident appears to be minor, never assume that what you see is all there is to see. Assume that there is more to the situation, and make a call an experienced Austin personal injury lawyer such as Laura or Lance Sharp of The Sharp Law Firm in Texas. The Sharp’s years of experience will be able to bring justice to the forefront, deal with any pain and suffering, and ensure an adequate damage award based on the circumstances of the case.
To learn more visit http://www.sharpfirm.com.
Adviatech Corp. PR for The Sharp Firm
9280 Bay Plaza Blvd Suite 706
Tampa, FL 33619
1.813.600.3017
Hands Free Talking, While Better, May Still Be Unsafe
It had to happen – hands free cell phones as a way to communicate while driving. In some ways this is a good development, in others, well, there is still some doubt about how safe talking on a cell phone (hands free or not) is while driving.
Not all cell phone use is simply talking. Many cell phones act like a computer in the car with graphics, games and videos capable of distracting even the otherwise safest of drivers. The hands free Blue Tooth cell phone applications are making things much easier to talk to others when in transit from one place to another. “While this certainly does have it advantages, it is still distracting for drivers,” pointed out Lance Sharp of The Sharp Law Firm in Austin, Texas.
Sharp and his partner, Laura Sharp, have over 40 years combined legal experience in various areas of the law, and they definitely understand the ramifications of car crashes as a result of talking on cell phones. “It was once just talking on the cell phone while driving that was a problem, now it’s a whole array of other distractions like downloading maps, checking email, surfing the Internet, and playing games,” said Sharp. Add to this mixture the dashboard mini TV, movie screen or GPS location device and the recipe for a disaster in the making just got more complex.
Hands free is certainly a step up from trying to hold the cell phone in hand and drive at the same time. However this doesn’t seem to stop those who don’t want to spend the money for a hands free model; and who are trying to juggle things. Police on patrol have reported witnessing motorists trying to drive with their knees while talking on a cell phone and checking out their appearance in the vanity mirror.
While the hands free is touted as a wonderful solution to cell phone users causing accidents, it is still a distraction. Remember a driver’s main task is to drive safely. Those who multi-task while driving and try to use things like a fax and hunt up a map at the same time as talking are not driving optionally, even if both hands are free.
The accident statistics are high enough as it is without the added variation of hands free cell phone use causing collisions. It’s not that far fetched to think accidents will still happen as a great many people tend to slow down abruptly with no warning while they are driving and on the phone (hands free or not).
Anyone who has been the victim of a car collision where the other driver was at fault because they were on a cell phone, watching an electronic device, or using a map device needs to immediately call highly competent car crash attorneys, such as Lance and Laura Sharp at The Sharp Firm in Austin, Texas. “Once we are consulted on cases like this, we immediately go into action collecting the information we will need to either negotiate a settlement, or take the case to court,” explained Sharp.
To learn more visit http://www.sharpfirm.com.
Adviatech Corp. PR for The Sharp Firm
9280 Bay Plaza Blvd Suite 706
Tampa, FL 33619
1.813.600.3017
The Contested Will and Breach of Fiduciary Duties
Contested wills happen when beneficiaries don’t like the provisions contained within a will. At this point, it’s time to call expert lawyers like Laura and Lance Sharp at The Sharp Law Firm in Austin, Texas.
It’s very important for those who wish to contest a will that they are aware that if they successfully manage to contest a will, it will be set aside. Once it is set aside a previous will is then considered to be the valid will and its provisions will dictate how the estate is divided. It would be a smart move to make sure the older will, if there is one in existence, is beneficial to those contesting the current will.
If there isn’t an older will, then the one that was set aside would be dealt with as if it were intestacy. This means the courts will then decide how things will be distributed. So unless there is some significant benefit to be had by contesting a will, which happens to be a long, involved and expensive process, then it may be a wise move to go with the current one.
Basically a contested will is a formal objection raised about how valid the will actually is, with the main objection usually being that it doesn’t reflect the real intent of the testator. This most often happens in cases where there are large estates and a lot of money or people involved. An executor is required to defend the deceased’s will.
Wills are contested on a variety of grounds that include the person who wrote the will was delusional, insane or subject to undue influence of some type. In instances where a will is contested, there are three kinds of people objecting – those named in the will, those who inherit if the will is invalid, and those who claim they should have been included in the will, but were prevented by someone who is in the will.
You need to give consideration to what may happen when the trustee doesn’t follow the wishes specifically outlined in the will. You also need to think about what might happen if Uncle Frank or Aunt Sally use the money for his or her own needs. If things like this happen, the people involved have breached a fiduciary duty to the trustee. This is the time to call an experienced lawyer such as Laura or Lance Sharp at The Sharp Firm.
Hiring a wills attorney with the kind of expertise that Lance or Laura Sharp of The Sharp Law Firm in Austin, Texas, possess ensures that a contested will case is handled with dignity and discretion.
To learn more visit http://www.sharpfirm.com.
Adviatech Corp. PR for The Sharp Firm
9280 Bay Plaza Blvd Suite 706
Tampa, FL 33619
1.813.600.3017
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