The seemingly miraculous recovery of Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords has inspired people across the country. But underscoring that success is the expert medical care she has received at every stage. Whether a head injury victim suffers harm that is immediately apparent or the injury is only detected by later diagnosis, access to the best neurological specialists and other health care professionals can make a tremendous difference in a patient's long term prospects for full recovery.

A gunshot to the head is an extremely serious injury - only about ten percent of the wounded survive. Within hours of her traumatic brain injury, Ms. Giffords was treated by University Medical Center brain surgeons who removed a section of her skull and induced a coma state to reduce brain swelling. Her doctors soon included a top U.S. Army neurologist, who was sent from the staff of the Uniformed Services University to Tucson to consult on her condition.

Within three weeks of the shooting, her condition had been elevated from "critical" to "good." Ms. Giffords was recently transferred to Memorial Hermann Medical Center Institute for Rehabilitation and Research in Houston to receive ongoing physical therapy and rehabilitation. Doctors have expressed further optimism about her recovery across a range of abilities, including speech and reading comprehension, emotional control, problem solving ability and motor skills.

Assessing and Treating a Traumatic Brain Injury Requires Great Resources

Medical experts consistently emphasize the importance that brain injury victims receive all necessary care to maximize their recovery of functions and aptitudes. This is the same whether the injury resulted from a vicious assault, car or truck accident, construction accident, participation in sports or other circumstances.

While immediate expert medical care is the most important factor in recovery, brain injury victims and their families also benefit from legal advice and dedicated service from a personal injury law firm. A consultation with an Arizona brain injury lawyer helps potential clients understand their options and future financial burdens, including in-home care, lost earning potential, adaptive equipment and other long-term needs caused by a serious brain injury.