Brain Injury Lawyer

Today I attended the Brain Injury Association of New Jersey's 24th Annual Seminar entitled "Brain Injury: Creating Opportunities Through Winning Strategies". I was very excited to hear this morning's featured speaker Ernie Irvan, who gave this morning's keynote address. Ernie, is a former NASCAR Winston Cup driver who sustained a traumatic brain injury on August 20, 1994 when his race car crashed in turn one at the Michigan Speedway. Through hard work, Ernie was able to fight his way back onto the racetrack only to suffer another brain injury exactly four years later, once again at the Michigan Speedway. Ernie's inspirational talk was hope for all survivors of traumatic brain injury. Ernie also shared with us his work in helping others who have sustained a traumatic brain injury with his Race 2 Start and his LAPS program.

Following Ernie’s presentation, I attended a workshop given by George Carnevale, Ph.D., who is a clinical neuropsychologist at Rehabilitation Specialists here in New Jersey. Dr. Carnevale’s workshop centered on behavioral changes following brain injury and Dr. Carnevale presented his research on behavioral management. I found this workshop to be extremely important as often clinicians fail to address the behavioral problems that survivors with brain injury encounter, focusing instead on the cognitive deficits.

After lunch, I attended a workshop given by Jonathan M. Silver, M.D. Dr. Silver is a clinical neuropsychiatrist, past president of the American Neuropsychiatric Association and lead editor of the American Psychiatric Association's "Textbook of Traumatic Brain Injury". Not surprisingly, Dr. Silver's workshop revolved around the issue of psychiatric disorders and traumatic brain injury. Dr. Silver reviewed the present research literature discussing such co-morbid psychiatric disorders such as depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder and the relationship with traumatic brain injury.

I certainly look forward to tomorrow's concluding day of this wonderful program as BIANJ celebrates its 25th year.