What is acquired brain injury?

Lasting physical and mental affects

Acquired brain injuries are very serious and have lasting medical effects on the person who has this type of brain injury. The brain controls our entire body and is necessary for speech, movement, and other functions of the body so this type of injury can affect speech, motor functions, and even social functions.

What is an acquired brain injury? It is a brain injury that occurs after birth and causes extensive damage to the brain.

How does one get this type of injury? Falls, accidents, car accidents, and physical abuse can cause a traumatic brain injury. Most people with traumatic brain injuries have had some type of impact to the head which resulted in their injury.

How serious are brain injuries? Brain injuries can be very serious and sometimes people do not even know how serious it is until they begin to experience the side effects. Some of these side effects include: headaches, fatigue, epilepsy, incontinence, loss of sensation, loss of speech, and loss of motor functions.

How is this type of head injury treated? Depending on the severity of the traumatic head injury, the person will need some sort of medical care. Usually, the person will need help from nurses, doctors, speech therapists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, social workers, and clinical psychologists.

What are other forms of traumatic brain injury? Other forms include the following: stroke, tumors, hemorrhages, hematoma, encephalitis, and hypoxia.

What necessary documentation will a lawyer need to represent you? Your lawyer will need to assess your case by reviewing the incidents that took place before and after the brain injury occurred. The lawyer will review your medical records; read any necessary police reports, and see what your prognosis is and assess how much compensation you will need to sue for. It is important that you choose the right lawyer because they will represent your interests. The lawyer needs to do the proper research on head injuries and traumatic brain injuries so that they can present a well rounded case to the judge.

What is the claims process like? The claims process involves the following steps: show the cause of your injury and who is to blame, have a complete medical examination, and assess your prognosis to determine proper compensation. These steps need to be taken before you can file your claim and go before a judge in a court of law.
How do traumatic brain injuries affect families? Depending on the severity of the injury, families can be very affected by their loved one’s brain injury. Some people with traumatic brain injuries become comatose or cannot even speak or take care of themselves. This leaves their care to either a long term facility or other family members. This can be a very difficult situation to deal with especially if the person has a family and children to take care of. Families grieve in different ways after their loved one has changed because of a head injury. It can be over whelming and it does take a while for people to get used to their new family situation.

What types of support are out there for people and families affected by traumatic brain injuries? There are web sites for sufferers such as Aphasia Now, Brain Injury Association of America, and Brain and Spine Foundation. These resources can be very beneficial to traumatic brain sufferers and their families. If you or a family member has suffered a traumatic brain injury then please speak to a lawyer who specialises in this area of law.

Article ends

Serious Law - Specialist support services for those affected by acquired brain injury from the UK's leading specialised injury law practice.