“The Crash Reel” — It’s a documentary like no other. On HBO, it’s a series that will be airing Mondays at 9:00 p.m. and will be making its way to theaters later this year.
According to Forbes, it’s all about brain injuries. This is such a serious topic not only because these accidents are so common among residents throughout the nation, but also because they’re injuries that affect nearly every aspect of life. These injuries oftentimes affect a person’s mental, physical and social state for the rest of their life.
At Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner, Attorneys for the Injured, our Fort Myers brain injury lawyers have long supported victims of these serious and life-altering accidents. The firm was recently named Injury Prevention sponsor of the year in the inaugural awards presented by the Lee County Injury Prevention Coalition.
“The Crash Reel” depicts just how serious and unexpected these kinds of accidents can be. “I don’t think there’s been a film like this before,” says director Lucy Walker.
The film starts off by telling the story of Kevin Pearce. He’s a rising star in the professional snowboarding arena. But the glory behind the training takes a quick and devastating turn when he fails an attempt at a technical snowboarding trick (a cab double cork) and finds himself first in a coma and then in rehab for months. As everyone else continues to prepare and head off to the Olympics, Pearce is left behind fighting for the life he once knew.
Although still suffering, he is working diligently to recover from his devastating injuries. Doctors explain to the snowboarder that he’s sustained serious (and even permanent) damage to his brain. This damage has also affected his vision and his memory. They also explain the risks associated with a subsequent blow to the head.
Step by step, Pearce relearns how to walk, talk, eat and move (even hopefully snowboard) once again — failing to let this injury rule his life.
Although many of us (especially here in Southwest Florida) may not be able to relate to a lifestyle of a professional snowboarder, we can relate to the consequences and obstacles of a traumatic brain injury. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), at least 1.7 million traumatic brain injuries occur either as an isolated injury or along with other injuries each and every year.
And this awareness has taken to social media, causing thread after thread of support, even on Twitter with the tag #LoveYourBrain.
Anyone with signs of moderate or severe TBI should receive medical attention as soon as possible. Because little can be done to reverse the initial brain damage caused by trauma, medical personnel try to stabilize an individual with TBI and focus on preventing further injury.
If you’ve suffered a traumatic brain injury, it’s important to remember that you’re not alone and that there is help out there for you.
Call Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner, Attorneys for the Injured for a free and confidential consultation to discuss your rights. 1-800-283-2900.
More Blog Entries:
Florida Brain Injury Case Highlights Complexity of Brain and Spinal Cord Injury Litigation, Florida Injury Lawyer Blog, January 15, 2013