12:00:00 p.m.
THE SPEAKERS
Dr. Ronald J. Fijalkowski, senior biomechanist, ARCCA Inc.
Brendan N. Keeley, partner, Baumann, Gant & Keeley P.A.
12:03:44 p.m.
Dr. Ronald Fijalkowski
“For any injury on the planet, there is a specific way in which you have to push or pull hard enough on the human body to cause it. Traumatic brain injuries are just that way, too.”
12:04:44 p.m.
Dr. Ronald Fijalkowski
“We’ll focus on focal and diffuse brain injuries. When you think of a focal injury, think of an impact to the head. When you consider a diffuse injury, think also what happens as a result of that impact. A focal impact causes a localized trauma, whereas a diffuse injury involves sudden head rotation.”
12:08:10 p.m.
Dr. Ronald Fijalkowski
“Focal brain injuries frequently involve coup/contre-coup injuries. Typically what happens in these injuries is that the skull remains closed but there is an injury at the impact site as well as on the opposite side of the brain. Rear impacts to the skull are where you typically see coup/contre-coup pathologies.”
12:12:23 p.m.
Dr. Ronald Fijalkowski
“Diffuse brain injuries represent a spectrum of brain injuries ranging from mild to severe. Neurologic dysfunction can be subtle with no unconsciousness to very severe, where you have a permanent vegetative state associated with the victim.”
12:26:14 p.m.
Brendan Keeley
“The issue that defense counsel are consistently charged with is performing a thorough investigation, with the main goal being to establish some kind of cognitive baseline. It’s critical to do everything possible to scour the earth to find any records we can to accomplish this.”
12:28:16 p.m.
Brendan Keeley
“At the outset of any potential traumatic brain injury, it’s important to get the appropriate experts on board early. These can include a biomechanic, neuropsychologist, voc rehab, and neurologist. Get everything you can to your experts as early as possible and get their verbal opinions.”
12:29:15 p.m.
Brendan Keeley
“If there are initial complaints of loss of consciousness, dizziness, or memory loss at the scene of, say, a motor vehicle accident, and you see a Glasgow Coma Score that is lower than 15, then bells should go off.”
12:29:51 p.m.
Brendan Keeley
“Get your evidence preservation letters out immediately. You’re probably going to get some back, but in order to assist your experts, it’s absolutely critical to do whatever possible to have the physical evidence preserved, whether it’s a motor vehicle, a helmet, or anything of that nature.”