Diffuse Axonal Injury
Out of 100,000 people, there are 20-50 people every year who suffer from a Diffuse Axonal Injury (DAI). It is one of the most common and life-changing type of traumatic brain injury.
Though these injuries typically originate in white matter areas, DAIs are categorized as diffusive because they tend to spread through the brain, damaging tissue and impairing crucial functions via shearing forces that disrupt the long processes of nerve cells. DAI is the primary cause for unconsciousness and a perpetual vegetative state after someone has experienced severe head trauma; about half of all severe head trauma cases result in DAI.
If a loved one has been diagnosed with a DAI due to somebody else’s negligence, Oatley Vigmond can help you fight for their care and compensation.
Call 1-866-269-2481
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Understanding Diffuse Axonal injury
With over 40 years of experience in diffuse axonal injury litigation, the Oatley Vigmond team understands the nature, costs, and consequences of your accident.
Diffuse axonal injuries (DAI) involve microscopic damage to the axons in the brain neural tracts, corpus callosum, and brainstem. DAI is clinically defined by a coma lasting six hours or more after a traumatic brain injury is suffered. Tragically, 90% of injury victims never regain consciousness, and those who do often remain significantly impaired.
Outcomes and risk factors vary significantly depending on the force and mechanism of the injury; severe DAI is typically associated with high-energy trauma, as seen in motor vehicle accidents and catastrophic workplace injury.
An important part of treating DAIs is successful detection. However, detecting these injuries can be difficult because they do not appear on computed tomography (CT) scans, or any other macroscopic analysis. Moreover, misdiagnoses are common. The treatment of victims of traumatic brain injury is complex: close neurological monitoring, surgery and control of intracranial pressure are just some of the standards of care.
Oatley Vigmond’s legal team understands the life-changing implications of DAIs. The battle has only begun once the victim is stabilized. Families will need to secure ongoing care, make accessibility modifications at home (or arrange live-in assistance), and find ways to support the victim’s dependents, all while coping with the emotional impacts of the injury.
Why choose Oatley Vigmond? Experienced DAI lawyer
There are many law firms offering traumatic brain injury representation in Ontario, but few rival Oatley Vigmond’s experience and results.
For over 40 years, traumatic brain injury has been one of our primary practice areas. In that time, we have earned landmark verdicts and settlements, helping diffuse axonal injury victims optimize their recovery outcomes, increase quality of life, and protect their family’s financial futures.
Moreover, members of our team are Certified Litigation Specialists by the Law Society of Upper Canada. This governing body ensures that the people of Ontario are served by lawyers who meet high standards of learning, competence and professional conduct, and we are proud to have earned their recognition.
If your loved one’s DAI occurred in a motor vehicle accident, our in-house Accident Benefits Specialists can help. As former insurance adjusters, our Accident Benefits Specialists know how to navigate complicated medical and insurance frameworks. Our team will secure optimal care and benefits for your family, and ensure that your case complies with all submission deadlines and protocol.
Optimizing DAI recovery outcomes: Oatley Vigmond’s comprehensive client care
Diffuse axonal injuries typically cause severe physical, cognitive, and behavioural impairment that can be temporary or permanent (Vieira et al., 2016). This can affect the individual’s activities of daily living, as well as the lives of their loved ones.
While working with the families of DAI victims, we quickly realized how client care was not limited to the courtroom. In the immediate period after the injury, families reeling from the emotional trauma struggled to file paperwork associated with their personal injury case and insurance. Once immediate needs were met, households still required assistance after losing a full-time income or set of helping hands.
Most traumatic brain injury cases last from 2 to 4 years, and this is simply too long to leave our clients unsupported. With this in mind, we developed the Oatley Vigmond Approach to client care.
The Oatley Vigmond Approach means supporting clients from first call to final contact. We do whatever it takes to accommodate our clients’ care needs, fighting for you in and out of the court so you can focus on optimizing your family’s recovery.
Part of our commitment to our clients’ well-being involves engaging with the best health care specialists to assist with the recovery process. We help connect diffuse axonal injury survivors with high-quality psychiatrists, neuropsychologists, speech language pathologists, occupational therapists, social workers, rehabilitation support workers, and more.
We will ensure that the correct experts properly document your injury, predict your future level of impairment and calculate the economic losses that are expected to result from your impairment.
Whether you need transportation to physical therapy or assistance with the daily activities of living during your recovery, our team is here to help.
Consult with Oatley Vigmond – Understand your options
Oatley Vigmond represents people who have suffered from diffuse axonal injuries throughout Ontario. If you have been seriously injured please contact us to receive a free consultation from one of our experienced personal injury lawyers.
Call 1-866-269-2481 today.
What happens if I suffer a brain injury?
Most individuals suffering from traumatic brain injury are hospitalized for extended periods. They often are rendered incapable of returning to work. Paying for rehabilitation and intensive care is difficult enough; having to plan financially for a life without employment income can be overwhelming.
We help our clients achieve financial security so that they can look past these stressors and focus on their recovery. Brain injury survivors who have chosen Oatley Vigmond have consistently obtained settlements that help them achieve stability and normalcy.
Drawing on our extensive network of health care providers in the community, we’ll ensure your recovery includes access to the best health care specialists, including a rehabilitation team that is fully committed to your treatment and long-term well being. We connect traumatic brain injury survivors with psychiatrists, neuropsychologists, speech language pathologists, occupational therapists, social workers, rehabilitation support workers, and more.
Many brain injury survivors require lifelong care and rehabilitation to manage chronic symptoms. In addition, we assist with counselling for the families, to help them cope with the changes to their loved ones.