Bret Michaels says that an accident he was involved in while performing at the 2009 Tony Awards caused him to develop a near-fatal brain injury several months later. He is seeking unspecified damages from CBS and Tony Award Productions.
The rocker was struck by a piece of scenery while he and his band Poison were performing at the show. He injured his lip and broke his nose. In his Los Angeles injury complaint, Michaels contends that he wasn't warned about any dangers presented by the descending scenery piece. He also says that he was not told that the set was going to change after the performance or that the scenery piece that struck him was going to be coming down. Michaels says that the defendants have been blaming him for what happened, claiming that he "missed his mark."
Although his injuries seemed minor at the time, Bret says that it is no coincidence that he went on to develop a subarachnoid brain hemorrhage. He notes that head trauma is a common cause of this kind of hemorrhage, which is what happened when the set piece struck his face.
Subarachnoid Brain Hemorrhage
A Subarachnoid brain hemorrhage can occur when a blood vessel bursts in the area just outside of the brain. Common causes for this type of brain injury include head injury, infection, aneurysm, arteriovenous malformation, and atherosclerosis. About 1/3rd of people suffering from a subarachnoid brain hemorrhage end up dying from it.
Our Anaheim brain injury lawyers would be remiss in covering a story about a Los Angeles brain injury case without notifying our readers that March is Brain Injury Awareness Month.
CDC Traumatic Brain Injury Estimates:
• About 1.7M people sustain a TBI each year
• 52,000 die
• 275,000 are hospitalized
• 1.365M receive emergency care
Common causes of brain injuries include fall accidents, near drowning, traffic crashes, impact with a hard surface or object, and recreational activities.
Bret Michaels Sues -- The Tonys Almost KILLED Me, TMZ, March 25, 2011
Brett Michaels Sues the Tonys over 2009 Accident, NBC Chicago, March 25, 2011
Related Web Resources:
Brain Injury Awareness Month, Brain Injury Association of America
Aneurysms and Subarachnoid Hemorrhage, Cedars-Sinai
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
More Blog Posts:
Toddler Attending Los Angeles Lakers Game Dies After Falling 50 Feet from Staples Center Luxury Seats, California Injury Lawyers Blog, November 22, 2010
$5.5 Million Los Angeles County Medical Malpractice Settlement Reached with Family of Redondo Beach Cheerleader who Sustained Permanent TBI, California Injury Lawyers Blog, August 26, 2010
$40 Million Irvine Wrongful Death Lawsuit Seeks Compensation Over Woman's Fatal Orange County, California Slip and Fall at Great Park Ice Skating Rink, California Injury Lawyers Blog, August 4, 2010
