Traumatic Brain Injury — with Coma

Washington, D.C., Maryland, & Virginia

A traumatic brain injury (TBI) can lead to a variety of serious impairments and disabilities. In severe cases, it may even result in death. Sometimes, the victim of a TBI lapses into unconsciousness. When this state is diagnosed as a coma, it is marked by a severe lack of response to external stimuli.

You can read more about the different varieties of brain injuries at our Traumatic Brain Injuries: Severity and Types page.

Depth of Coma

With some coma cases, doctors adopt a "wait and see" attitude about the patient's recovery. A longer but less significant coma can be better than a shorter one marked by a more severe lack of responsiveness.

When determining a patient's prognosis for a full recovery, doctors will use either:

• The Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), which typically focuses on symptoms and helps to determine the severity of a TBI
• The Rancho Los Amigos Cognitive Functioning Scale (Rancho Scale), which focuses on how the patient might recover any cognitive functions as he or she passes through the various stages of a coma

Most comas are not permanent. They last days or weeks, depending upon how severe the original injury was. However, the longer a patient remains in a comatose state after a TBI, the smaller his or her chances are of a full recovery. On average, a patient who is in a coma for four months or longer is unlikely to progress beyond the vegetative state.

Please see Frequently Asked Brain Injury Questions for more details.

Litigation for a TBI with Coma

At Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C., we have vast experience evaluating the types of medical evidence needed to successfully litigate claims involving a TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury) and coma. This experience can greatly increase the probability of a favorable outcome in your case. We have experience working with medical professionals who are experts at interpreting a prognosis under both the GCS and the Rancho Scale.

When this prognosis is bleak, a coma patient will need constant care to avoid complications like pneumonia, which may be deadly to a person in a persistent vegetative state. Caretakers also need to provide physical therapy. Additionally, when a person does recover from a coma or a vegetative state, he or she may have permanent physical, intellectual, or psychological problems.

The Law Offices of Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C. specialize in personal injury law. We have represented many patients and their families when a loved one has suffered a traumatic brain injury that led to a coma. In most cases, these patients need continuous care. Our attorneys can help you structure a settlement that will provide for the cost of ongoing medical and attending care.

If you need assistance with a claim involving a traumatic brain injury and coma, please email our Maryland, Washington, D.C. and Virginia personal injury attorneys or call us for a free and confidential consultation.

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