Traumatic brain injury (TBI) also referred to as intracranial injury is defined by a number of factors due to the circumstances in which the injury occurred; the site of the injury, and severity of the injury.
Ultimately, a traumatic brain injury is trauma to the brain as a result of an external impact such as a blow to the head, whether penetrative or not.
There is a diversity of circumstances where a brain injury can take place. We have found in our experience the most common cases are as a result of falling from heights when at work, road accidents, sporting injuries, as well as falling objects from building sites which strike pedestrians.
If you or someone you know as sustained a head injury through no fault of their own we would suggest you contact us without delay to seek legal advice to assess whether or not you would be entitled to claim compensation.
Rehabilitation and further medical treatment will in most cases be needed. The rehabilitation process and treatment process can be tremendously costly. The costs involved for rehabilitation equipment and modifications to a home and vehicle are expensive. Needless to say it is of great importance to ensure you receive the maximum compensation you are entitled to if the brain injury suffered was a result of an accident that was due to someone else’s negligence.
Types of Head Injury:
Closed Head Injury
Closed head injuries are associated with injuries that were caused without puncture wounds or the breaking of the skin and cranium.
This can occur when the head is violently thrown back and forth in a road traffic accident, possibly causing the brain to collide with the inside of the skull or twist due to irregular movement. Another common cause is through a blunted trauma to the head such as being struck with a heavy object or striking the head on a hard surface. An injury of this type is likely to have an effect on a number of areas in the brain, potentially resulting in further damage to the brain.
Open (Penetrating) Head Injury
An open or penetrating head injury occurs when the skull is pierced by an object. Unlike a closed head injury when a sharp object strikes a particular area of the brain the damage will likely be specific to that area alone.
In less common incidences the skull can become crushed between two objects thereby damaging part of the brain. Due to the bottom of the skull being more susceptible to an injury such as this it is not uncommon in crushing accidents for the brain stem to become damaged. The brain stem is the part of the brain responsible for some of the most basic functions such as breathing and consciousness, so if it becomes injured then you may be facing lifelong disability or even death.
Acquired Brain Injury (ABI)
Generally speaking there are two types of brain damage, traumatic brain injury (TBI) and Acquired Brain Injury (ABI).
The term ABI is used to describe a brain injury that has developed after a person is born. It can also include occurrences such as strokes, aneurysms, and ischemia (lack of oxygen) or hypoxia (oxygen deprivation). Alternatively one could suffer an acquired brain injury as the result of clinical negligence.
Symptoms of brain injury
Due to the fragile nature of the brain it is very important that any head injury or violent shaking to the head, should be checked by a medical professional. Signs there could be a brain injury include:
- Blurred vision
- Tiredness/fatigue
- Slurred speech and impairment
- Leaking of fluid from nose and mouth
- Unconsciousness / lack of consciousness
- Disorientation
- Nausea, sickness, vomiting,
- Dilation of the pupils
- Sudden mood changes
Whilst the above list is comprehensive there are of course other symptoms that are indications of brain injury. Whether or not the victim is displaying these symptoms, if they have suffered head trauma we strongly advise they seek immediate medical attention.
Effects of Brain Injury
As expected, the severity of an injury to the brain will determine the impact on an individual’s lifestyle, both in the short and long-term, as all physical functions, conscious and unconscious, are controlled by the brain.
Below are listed a number of effects that a brain injury can have:
- Paralysis
- Anosmia
- Impaired speech / vision
- Issues with balance
- Erratic behaviour
- Communication difficulties
Because the brain controls so much of what we do, to damage any part of it is likely to have an effect on some function or another. Therefore it is almost impossible to list every imaginable outcome associated with brain injuries. There are a number of organisations and brain trauma charity’s available to help and advise people.
Compensation for a brain injury
Due to the diverse circumstances a person can sustain an injury to the brain, and the degree to which an injury can affect an individual’s life, we strongly advise that you speak to one of our specialist solicitors as soon as possible, if you feel the injury has been caused as a result of someone else’s negligence.
It should always be taken in to consideration the complex nature of brain damage and the possibility there still may be symptoms and complications that are yet unknown.
Our specialist injury solicitors have years of experience dealing with head injury claims and will be able to answer any questions you have with regards to making a claim for compensation and the process of rehabilitation.
Our solicitors will handle your claim from start to finish on a ‘no win, no fee’ basis so you will not have to be concerned about how your claim will be funded.
