New Jersey man’s brain injury leads to unpredictability

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The least predictable of all medical maladies are brain injuries. Brain trauma can result in unexpected behavior and rage in individuals that never was associated with the individual prior to the injury. A New Jersey man was struck by a vehicle operated by a drunken driver and his body was thrown 26-feet before striking pavement. The man underwent brain surgery and spent approximately three weeks in a coma. He suffers from cognitive problems that are described as permanent, has trouble speaking and has lost his sense of taste and smell. For this man's wife, the most unbearable symptom that has developed due to the brain injury has been uncontrolled weeping that has become worse over time. There was no explaining as to what kind of events would set the crying off. There have been dramatic changes to the man's behavior that was all new to his family. In many ways, his family has suffered every bit as much as he has in dealing with the behavior. One of his daughter's is currently dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder that was likely triggered by her father's accident. Because of the severity and likely permanency of such injuries, attorneys handling lawsuits on behalf of the injured party and family will have to bring a variety of concerns to the court. The injured individual will likely require full time care, counseling, therapy, medications, medical treatment and rehabilitative care. Likewise, the family may require psychological counseling and care, assisted care that may be very expensive and compensation for lost wages and medical costs that came about because of the accident. The New Jersey man likely is suffering from something called pseudobulbar effect that can accompany a brain disorder. Drug therapy for this individual has seemed to help as the weeping episodes have diminished. Hopefully future medical research will come up with a means of further alleviating his symptoms. Source: The Washington Post National, "Medical mysteries: Was crying caused by man's severe depression?" by Sandra G. Boodman, Feb. 20, 2012