A 28-year-old man from Carlsbad was involved in an accident during a Las Vegas softball tournament that left him with brain damage, according to recent reports.
Mike Petracca was walking between two baseball fields on Saturday afternoon when a softball bat slipped from someone’s hands and flew almost 90 feet over a fence, striking Petracca in the head. Petracca immediately fell to the ground, causing his head to slam against the asphalt.
When he was rushed to the hospital, doctors quickly determined that he had suffered a fractured skull and had brain swelling. Even though he underwent emergency surgery, scans on the part of his brain associated with speech showed the area was still damaged.
His doctors explained that that specific area of trauma was not able to be treated with an operation. They said he could regain speech his speech in a couple of days, but it could also take a couple of years; it is also possible he may never regain his speech ability. The Thursday after his accident, Petracca was able to utter his first actual word: “Mom.”
Petracca’s close friend Brian Burnett decided to set up a GoFundMe page in order to help raise money for his friends medical expenses. He said the response was simply overwhelming, with 488 people donating more than $33,600 in just one day.
Petracca’s motor skills are improving each day, and doctors seem to be hopeful about his current facial paralysis healing over time. He continues to see his neurologist and will also continue his treatment and rehab at the Palomar Hospital Rehabilitation Center.
Brain Injury At Its Worst
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC, report that almost 1.7 million people suffer from some form of traumatic brain injury or TBI every year. Injuries like TBI are highly variable among different individuals. A slight fall that barely injures one person could kill or severely maim another.
Many victims who suffer TBIs face long-term care, both medical and rehabilitative, which could come at an incredible expense. Dan Gilleon, an attorney located in San Diego, has been helping victims of TBI and other personal injuries for decades. He understands that the road to recovery is a long one, but he wants his clients to get the compensation they deserve. Let the knowledgeable and determined attorneys at the Gilleon Law Firm, APC help you pursue compensation for your damages. If you or a loved one has suffered a TBI, call today for a free initial consultation.