Traumatic brain injury is one of the most serious types of injury the body can experience. It’s defined as injury to the brain which has been caused by trauma to the head. In many instances traumatic brain injuries are caused by road traffic accidents, falls and accidents at work. Below is a closer look at traumatic brain injury and how, if there was an act of negligence, you can make a claim.
TBI: Categorising Severity
After a traumatic brain injury take place, whether or not the sufferer is knocked unconscious, a state of confusion and disorientation will occur. It’s known as Post-Traumatic Amnesia and can mean that they can’t remember important everyday things or recent conversations. The length of PTA and loss of consciousness are indicative of the severity of an injury. It’s not exact but below is a quick categorisation of how severe an injury could be, using these metrics:
- Minor brain injuries are categorised by loss of consciousness of less than 15 minutes and PTA of a maximum of one hour
- Moderate brain injuries see unconsciousness for up to 6 hours and PTA of up to 24 hours
- Severe brain injuries see up to 48 hours of unconsciousness followed by up to 7 days of PTA
- Very severe brain injuries see over 48 hours of unconsciousness and over 7 days of PTA
- This time can of course be very distressing for patients and family members and it’s hard to ascertain the full severity of things until consciousness is regained.
Making a Claim
Making a claim for compensation due to an accident which caused a brain injury is common but unfortunately once injuries have occurred many people have begun to see a lack of care and support provided for their loved ones. Brain injury negligence claims have become more prevalent as people suffering from serious brain injuries haven’t been provided with the care required.
There are three elements to the compensation claim process. There needs to be evidence to show that another person, be it the medical body or a specific professional, were responsible for making the brain injury more severe than it may have been or in fact caused an injury that may not have been there in the first place. The main aim of the claim is evidently to gain financial compensation to make up for your physical and psychological losses but you may also be able to benefit from specialist services such as physiotherapy and psychotherapy if needed. Counselling too is sometime provided as post-traumatic shock is often an after effect of these cases.
Your solicitor will arrange a medical examination to determine an independent prognosis for any injuries gained and further treatment and care may be prescribed thereafter. The recommended treatment should be accessed as soon as possible. Alongside your compensation claim you are able to claim expenses too which could be anything from loss of earning to medical expenses and equipment hire to manage the condition. A qualified, professional solicitor will have no problem in dealing with all these factors for you.
Nobody wants to live with the after effects of a traumatic brain injury, especially if negligence has been instrumental in the cause but gaining the compensation you’re entitled to can make things sit a little easier.