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 Brain Injury Awareness Month 2024.
What is Brain Injury Awareness Month 2024?
Brain Injury Awareness Month is intended to focus attention and raise awareness of acquired and traumatic brain injury. The challenges brain injury survivors face, the latest advances in research and treatment, and preventive efforts.
When is Brain Injury Day 2024 and What is Taking Place?
As part of awareness month, the Brain Injury Association of America with other brain injury advocacy organizations is holding meetings and events in Washington D.C. on March 5th and March 6th. March 6th has been designated Brain Injury Awareness Day on Capitol Hill to meet with and discuss pertinent issues with members of Congress, their staff and federal agencies.
Why is Brain Injury Awareness Day Important in 2024?
This year, Brain Injury Awareness Day takes on added importance because of the need to secure reauthorization of the Traumatic Brain Injury Act. This landmark legislation first enacted in 1966 addresses TBI prevention, research, and service delivery through state grants.
Additionally, the Act establishes and reauthorizes important surveillance programs to establish the full extent of this invisible injury, funds brain injury research and requires federal agencies to develop coordinated planning regarding brain injury programs.
Where can I obtain further information about Brain Injury Awareness Month and Brain Injury Awareness Day?
Visit the Brain Injury Association of America website at: www.biausa.org
Why is Brain Injury Awareness Day and Awareness Month Important to All Americans?
Because a brain injury can happen to anyone, anytime and anyplace and is a leading cause of death and disability in the United States and has reached epidemic levels.
The most recent statistics from the Centers for Disease Control report at least 2.87 million Americans sustain a concussion each year, and that’s only those individuals who are examined in hospital emergency departments.
What’s not included are those who are only seen in a physician’s office or an urgent care center and those who may have received no diagnosis or treatment. If these individuals are extrapolated, there are over 3.5 million Americans each year who sustain a brain injury.
25% of women will be victims of domestic violence during their lifetime and greater than 90 % of all injuries secondary to domestic violence are to the head, neck or face;
Brain injury is the signature wound of returning service members who face lifelong challenges including failures by the Veterans Administration to properly diagnose a TBI and failures to provide disability compensation for disabled veterans suffering the long term consequences of brain injury.
Studies of our homeless population and in those incarcerated find the majority of these persons have been victims of a brain injury sometime in their lives.
Covid-19 has created an alarming new subset of individuals suffering long term cognitive and emotional impairments known as long-covid that mimic the cognitive, physical, emotional, and behavioral symptoms faced by traumatic brain injury survivors.
Proper identification and proper guidelines for return to play for those who sustain a concussion while engaged in athletic activities is essential.
Children who return to the classroom following a brain injury must receive adequate support.
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.