Day: March 18, 2009

Another interesting fact about the Richardson case is that she wasn’t wearing a helmet. If a civil law suit is commenced for damages against the resort you can bet that will become an issue i.e., is there a duty on the resort to have told her to wear a helmet? What safety precautions were in place? Also, in the alternative should Richardson having been an avid skier known better than to venture out without a helmet?

I remember a story from grade 8 where a really nice teacher of mine who looked exactly like Gargamele had his son completely paralyzed from a skiing accident. That teacher was never the same. He changed completely in his attitude and the attention he gave to his students waned considerably. Eventually, he passed away and many said it was due to the grief. His son was never the same and required 24 hour assistance.

Such accidents can have a profound impact on families and loved ones.

Many are already aware that actress Natasha Richardson was seriously injured in a skiing accident in Canada. Today, CNN reported some interesting findings about brain injuries:

A blow to the head that at first seems minor and does not result in immediate pain or other symptoms can in fact turn out to be a life-threatening brain injury, experts tell CNN.

Immediate treatment is essential after a brain injury because damage caused by swelling is often irreversible.

It''s very common for someone who''s had a fall or been in a car accident to appear perfectly lucid just after the impact but then to suddenly, rapidly deteriorate, Dr. Carmelo Graffagnino, director of Duke University Medical Center's Neurosciences Critical Care Unit, told CNN.

The article refers to this as epidural hemorrhage.

Early investigations are key as the article states:

If an individual isn't medically evaluated after a car accident, sports injury, or just a slip in the driveway, recognizing the signs brain injury early is critical.

Therefore, it’s crucial that accident victims seek medical assistance immediately. Moreover, additional investigations should be pursued.