cIncurring an injury to the brain can be one of the most devastating and serious injuries a person can experience. The effects of injury to the brain can vary greatly, with some people suffering memory loss, poor concentration, cognitive problems and even permanent brain damage in some severe cases. Wikipedia states, “Traumatic brain injury is defined as damage to the brain resulting from external mechanical force, such as rapid acceleration or deceleration, impact, blast waves, or penetration by a projectile. Brain funtion is temporarily or permanently impaired and structural damage may or may not be detectable with current technology”.
Injuries of this type can result from a number of accidents including clinical negligence and car accidents. A recent story in the BBC concerned a man who was involved in a terrible car accident and received a debilitating brain injury. The man was parked in a lay-by next to the A55 when another vehicle travelling at 70mph crashed into the back of him causing him to smash his head against the steering wheel and sustain serious injuries. The victim has been left with permanent brain injury and a damaged frontal lobe causing him cognitive and personality problems. Liverpool Crown Court awarded the victim £3.6 million in brain injury compensation which will be used towards care for him as he can no longer live an independent life.
According to the NHS, “Each year in England and Wales, around 700,000 people attend hospital accident and emergency (A&E) departments with a head injury. While most of these are minor head injuries, around 10% are moderate or severe head injuries.” Experiencing a brain injury can drastically change your life and the life of the people around you so it’s essential that if you or a loved one has suffered an injury, which was someone else’s fault, that you consider whether you can make a brain injury compensation claim.
Money awarded through a injury claim of this type would be able to go towards treatment, long-term care and can cover the financial losses which a sufferer could experience should they be out of work for a while or not able to work at all due to their injury. If you do feel you have a case then it’s important to speak to a solicitor in a personal injury firm as soon as possible as they will be able to provide you with the help, support and guidance you need to go through what can often be a long and arduous claims process in the case of brain injuries.
When you’re deciding which personal injury firm you’d like to handle your case, it’s advisable to choose a firm which has the experience and extensive knowledge required to deal with brain injury claims – not just general accident claims. When you’re looking at potential personal injury firms, check to see if they are members of the APIL (the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers) as they have a dedicated interest group for brain injuries so you know you are dealing with people who have the specific knowledge required to take on a brain injury compensation claim.
Tags: blast waves, clinical negligence, minor head injuries, rapid acceleration, traumatic brain injury