The Brain Injury Association of America

De Caro & Kaplen partner Michael V. Kaplen, a three-term president of the Brain Injury Association of New York State, and professorial lecturer at law, teaching a course in brain injury law at the George Washington University Law School, discusses The Brain Injury Association of America.

What is the Brain Injury Association of America?

The Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA)today is the oldest and largest brain injury advocacy group in the United States. Its mission is to advance awareness, research, knowledge, and to improve the quality of life for all individuals suffering from brain injury. A national organization that promotes research understanding, and  awareness of traumatic brain injury.

What are the origins of the Brain Injury Association of America?

• Founded 40 years ago by parents whose children were discharged from acute hospital care and originally known as the National Head Injury Association to improve the quality of life for persons with a brain injury.
• Lack of awareness of long term needs of brain injury survivors.
• Need to advocate for quality care of brain injury survivors in a non-institutionalized environment.
• Need to advocate for improved quality of life for brain injury survivors.

What needs did parents determine association needed to provide to brain injury survivors?

Parents of children with a traumatic brain injury determined there was a need to educate public health officials, other parents, healthcare professionals, and the public at large that children who sustained severe brain damage deserved more than being warehoused in institutions. Children with catastrophic brain injury deserved a quality of life which could only be supplied if they received good quality care both in an in-patient rehabilitation setting and at home.

How is the Wizard of Oz relevant to traumatic brain injury care?

Dorothy, who sustained a traumatic brain injury in The Wizard of Oz accurately described the need for home care by saying, “there’s no place like home”.

Why Do Brain Injury Attorneys Michael V. Kaplen and Shana De Caro Support the Brain Injury Association of America?

• The Brain Injury Association of America seeks to improve the quality of life for all individuals suffering from brain trauma.
• The Brain Injury Association of America believes in people first.   
• Persons with a brain injury are entitled to be treated with compassion, with respect, with understanding, and are entitled to a quality of life, with full support and rehabilitation.

About The Author

Michael V. Kaplen represents victims of vehicle collisions, unsafe buildings and construction sites, and medical malpractice, and is a preferred attorney of The Brain Injury Association of America.

Michael is board certified as a Civil Trial Advocate and board certified in medical malpractice litigation. He is a Professorial Lecturer in Law, The George Washington University Law School, The Legal Aspects of Traumatic Brain Injury.

Michael is past chairman of the American Association for Justice (AAJ) Automobile, Highway and Premise Liability Section, past chairman of the AAJ Traumatic Brain Injury Litigation Group, three term president of the Brain Injury Association of New York State served two terms as chair of the New York State Traumatic Brain Injury Services Coordinating Council and vice-president, New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers.

He was invited by President Obama to participate in the White House Healthy Kids & Safe Sports Concussion Summit.

He is admitted to courts in New York, Florida, and Washington, DC. He has been selected as a New York Super Lawyer and recognized by Best Lawyers of America and U.S. News and World Report in personal injury law.