A diffuse axonal injury (DAI) is one of the most serious traumatic brain injuries that can lead to permanent brain damage or even death. When head and brain injuries are caused by the negligent or reckless conduct of another party, injury victims have a right to file a lawsuit to recover damages.
At J&Y Law, we have extensive experience handling brain injury claims throughout California, including those arising from diffuse axonal injuries. If you or your loved one has suffered a DAI in an accident, it is crucial to seek treatment immediately. Given that ongoing medical care will likely be needed, you deserve compensation for your medical expenses and other losses. This is where our brain injury attorneys can help.
We have a proven history of achieving significant monetary settlements and jury awards on behalf of brain injury victims. When you become our client, we will provide you with compassionate, efficient representation and fight to protect your rights. Contact our office today for a free consultation.
What Is a Diffuse Axonal Injury?
A diffuse axonal injury is a type of brain damage that occurs when connective nerve fibers in the brain (axons) are torn or sheared. The axons can tear when the brain twists or rotates and strikes the skull due to a traumatic impact or violent shaking. When these pathways are damaged, brain cells can die. The term “diffuse” refers to an injury that spreads across many parts of the brain, which can affect many bodily functions.
Diffuse axonal injuries are classified into three grades, based on the severity of the injury and location of the brain damage:
- Grade 1 – a mild form of DAI that is characterized by microscopic changes in the white matter of various parts of the brain, including the cerebral cortex, corpus callosum, brain stem, and cerebellum
- Grade 2 – a moderate form of DAI that involves gross focal (local) lesions in the corpus callosum
- Grade 3 – the most severe form of DAI in which there are gross focal lesions in the corpus callosum and additional lesions on the brainstem.
Victims of diffuse axonal injuries can suffer a wide range of neurological dysfunction, from clinically insignificant to loss of consciousness to a comatose state; approximately 25% of diffuse axonal brain injuries result in death.
What Causes Diffuse Axonal Injury?
A diffuse is typically caused by trauma to the head when the brain rapidly shifts back and forth in the skull from acceleration or deceleration. The rapid movement causes the brain tissue to slide over other tissue, resulting in a shearing injury that can form brain lesions, decrease blood flow to the brain, and ultimately lead to brain damage.
Common causes of diffuse axonal injuries include:
- Automobile accidents (especially high-impact collisions)
- Truck accidents
- Slip and fall accidents
- Sports-related accidents
- Child abuse (shaken baby syndrome)
- Violent assaults
What Are the Symptoms of Diffuse Axonal Injury?
The most common symptom of DAI is loss of consciousness or a coma. Victims of mild diffuse axonal injuries may remain conscious, but still experience other signs and symptoms of brain damage, such as:
- Disorientation or confusion
- Severe headache
- Nausea and vomiting
- Fatigue
- Difficulty sleeping
- Dizziness
- Loss of balance and coordination
In many cases, DAI is difficult to diagnose because symptoms may not surface immediately and these injuries may go undetected in a CT scan or MRI. Nonetheless, victims of diffuse axonal injuries require immediate medical treatment to mitigate the potential brain damage.
Moreover, DAI survivors often require long-term rehabilitative care to regain functions lost by brain damage, including:
- Speech therapy
- Physical therapy
- Occupational therapy
- Recreational therapy
- Adaptive equipment training
- Counseling
A more severe diffuse axonal brain injury can cause long-term complications or result in death.
How J&Y Law Can Help
Diffuse axonal injuries are awful and even more tragic when severely injured victims are disabled or remain in a persistent vegetative state. Regardless of the cause, it takes a skilled personal injury attorney to help victims and their families obtain just compensation.
Our legal team has the skills and resources to handle these complex cases. We will work tirelessly to help you recover the compensation that includes economic and noneconomic damages such as:
- Lost wages
- Medical expenses
- Loss of earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Long-term care
- Rehabilitation
- Permanent disability
- Loss of consortium
- Loss of enjoyment of life
Above all, we will see to it that you have all the medical and financial resources you need. If you have lost a loved one due to a diffuse axonal injury, we can help you file a wrongful death lawsuit to obtain compensation for final medical expenses, funeral and burial costs, and the loss of support and guidance your loved one would have provided. No amount of money can undo the harm you have endured or replace a life, however, negligent parties must be held accountable and you deserve just compensation.
Contact Our Experienced California Brain Injury Attorneys
Any brain injury is serious, but a diffuse axonal injury can be life-altering. Let J&Y handle all the details of your claim and help you right this wrong. We handle all injury claims on a contingency basis, which means there is never a fee until we win compensation for you. Contact our office today so we can start working on your claim.