The Role of the Neuropsychologist

Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, New York

Each year, thousands of people suffer traumatic brain injury (TBI) as a result of an accident. The severity of TBI ranges from mild to severe. The more severe cases usually result in obvious disability and impairment. The milder cases are harder to discern, often requiring a specialist to classify. In personal injury cases, the role of the neuropsychologist is to quantify the level of impairment for brain injury cases. At the law offices of Silberstein, Awad, & Miklos, P.C., we understand the importance of establishing a clear case in personal injury cases involving TBI.

Traumatic Brain Injury

Traumatic brain injuries have three broad categories:

• Open brain injury – These are the most obvious injuries with penetrating wounds and possibly exposed brain matter.
• Closed brain injury – Harder to define, these injuries include concussions and brain contusions.
• Diffuse axonal brain injury – Even harder to detect, the axons of the brain are stretched like a rubber band. Cognitive abilities might appear even when no physical trauma can be observed.

Neuropsychology

Traumatic brain injuries that result in obvious brain damage are relatively simple to quantify for a jury. The physical disabilities can be seen and the level of impairment is easier to establish the lower levels of TBI.

Neuropsychology is the science of linking cognitive, higher order brain functions and the physical damage done to the brain.

Cognitive abilities include:

• Long term and short term memory
• Appropriate social behavior
• Thinking and learning processes
• Motor skills

Cognitive ability in adults is traceable over a lifetime of employment, educational testing, and observed abilities. Changes in behavior and other cognitive functions can point to the extent of the damage done.

When working with children who suffer TBI, it is more difficult to assess damage because there may not be a historical record of development to go by. The role of the neuropsychologist is to identify these cognitive deficiencies scientifically.

Expert Testimony

In a personal injury lawsuit, two of the key criteria in proving a case include:

• Showing that the responsible party caused an injury
• That the injury resulted in loss of ability and caused a financial burden

A neuropsychologist may be called to testify in your personal injury lawsuit as an expert witness. Through extensive testing, this testimony will help our team prove your case and get you fair compensation for your claim.

To find out more about the role of neuropsychology in personal injury cases involving mild to severe traumatic brain injury, please contact the brain injury experts a Silberstein, Awad, & Miklos, P.C. for a free initial consultation.

Silberstein, Awad & Miklos, P.C.
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