On this episode of Mind Matters: Navigating Head Injuries and Concussions, host Kiley Como sits down with Dr. Jeremy Hertza of Neurobehavioral Associates in Augusta, Georgia, to unravel one of the most misunderstood topics in personal injury law: traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) and concussions.
While broken bones show up clearly on X-rays, brain injuries often don’t—and that makes them harder to diagnose, treat, and prove in court. But that doesn’t mean they’re any less real.
Dr. Hertza, a board-certified neuropsychologist with over a decade of experience, explains how neuropsychological assessments can uncover the invisible injuries that follow trauma. Together, Kiley and Dr. Hertza explore the medical-legal intersection of TBIs, from expert testimony and care coordination to cutting-edge diagnostic tools and why recovery is always possible—no matter how much time has passed.
The Four Questions Every Brain Injury Case Must Answer
Dr. Hertza outlined four foundational questions that every brain injury case—especially those involving litigation or disability claims—must address:
- Was there an injury?
- How severe is the injury?
- How does that injury impact the person’s function?
- What are the current and future care needs?
Neuropsychological testing, he explained, is uniquely positioned to answer all four in one comprehensive assessment. It not only confirms injury but quantifies impairment and builds a roadmap for rehabilitation and future planning.
This information is gold for attorneys building a strong personal injury case—it supplies objective, validated data to support claims and helps paint a clearer picture of damages for settlement or trial.
The Truth About Expert Testimony: “It’s Not Always One Thing”
When asked about challenges in testifying as an expert witness, Dr. Hertza offered a brutally honest answer: “People want one clean answer. But life doesn’t work that way.”
TBI symptoms often overlap with other health issues like ADHD, sleep disorders, chronic pain, and even past trauma. Sometimes clients want to know how much of their problem is due to a concussion versus something else. The truth? It’s usually both—and neuropsychology helps untangle that.
As Dr. Hertza put it, “We all come into accidents with our full life history. It’s my job to make sense of all of it—not just the parts that fit neatly into a box.”
The Power of Integrated Care (and Why Most Patients Never Get It)
One of the biggest frustrations for brain injury survivors? Fragmented care.
Patients bounce from neurologist to psychiatrist to physical therapist, often without understanding why—or how any of it connects. Dr. Hertza calls this the “silo effect,” and it’s one of the reasons many clients don’t get the outcomes they deserve.
At Neuropsych Centers of Georgia, he and his team work to eliminate that fragmentation. Their integrated model combines neuropsychology, psychiatry, psychotherapy, medication management, speech therapy, and physical rehab—all under one coordinated plan.
“We make sure everyone’s working toward the same goal,” said Dr. Hertza. “When the lawyers are gone and the case is over, we’re still here. We’re still helping.”
New Tools in Brain Injury Diagnosis
Dr. Hertza highlighted several exciting advances in TBI research and diagnostics:
- Biomarker blood tests that can detect axonal injury
- Vestibular–ocular testing to track eye-brain coordination and neurological disruption
- Hyperbaric oxygen therapy and targeted infusions showing promise in treatment
But he cautioned: “There’s no magic bullet. Recovery comes from multiple angles—and matching the right treatment to the individual.”
Whether new or well-established, the right interventions depend on understanding the person, not just the injury.
Advice for Lawyers and Healthcare Providers
Dr. Hertza had a clear message for legal and medical professionals working with TBI clients:
- Don’t use a piecemeal approach. If you must, have someone coordinate care.
- Always get a neuropsychological assessment—it offers crucial information on severity, function, and malingering.
- Understand that it’s never too late to seek treatment or support new pathways to recovery.
He emphasized: “The brain can still form detours. It can still learn. We can always help improve someone’s life—whether that’s through new routines, compensatory strategies, or emotional support.”
Trauma, PTSD, and the Brain
As the conversation wrapped, Dr. Hertza shared one of the most eye-opening perspectives of the episode: All mental health disorders are neurological.
He explained how PTSD, depression, and ADHD all have specific brain circuitry behind them—and when combined with a traumatic brain injury, they don’t just coexist, they compound one another.
His clinic also conducts neuropsychological pain assessments for non-TBI patients to understand how pain, mood, and medication are affecting cognitive function and emotional regulation.
“All psychology and psychiatry,” Dr. Hertza said, “is neuropsychology. It’s all brain-based. And the more we understand that, the better we can help.”
Final Thoughts: A Message of Hope
This episode is more than a lesson in neuropsychology—it’s a message of hope for survivors and advocates.
At Shane Smith Law, we believe recovery isn’t just medical—it’s emotional, legal, and personal. And we’re proud to partner with experts like Dr. Hertza who treat the whole person, not just the chart.
If you or someone you love is struggling after a head injury, you’re not alone.
In pain? Call Shane. 980–999–9999.
Let us help you get the care—and the compensation—you deserve.
🎧 Subscribe to Mind Matters for more expert conversations about head injuries, brain trauma, and healing after impact.
New episodes drop regularly on YouTube and wherever you listen to podcasts.
