Although any injury suffered in an accident can create a negative impact on the victim’s life, traumatic brain injuries can be catastrophic. Brain injuries can affect the victim’s cognitive abilities, including speech and memory. Many brain injury victims are left with long-term or permanent disabilities that require extensive medical care. When the victim was injured in an accident that was a result of someone else’s negligence, they may be able to file a Virginia personal injury lawsuit for financial compensation for many of the losses and expenses they have been left with.
There are a few different types of common brain injuries that accident victims may sustain. The following are the most common that the personal injury lawyers at our firm handle.
Concussion
Concussions are the most common type of traumatic brain injury suffered in an accident. Concussions are caused by a direct impact on the head. This can happen in a fall, whiplash injury, or a number of other ways. Most people do not lose consciousness when they have a concussion and may not even be aware they suffered one. Symptoms of a concussion include dizziness, confusion, and fogginess in thinking. An undiagnosed and untreated concussion can be very dangerous and cause permanent damage.
Contusion
Contusions are also caused by a direct impact on the head. A contusion is the result of some type of localized bleeding in the brain and depending on the severity of the issue, surgery may be necessary in order to avoid the formation of a blood clot. Blood clots, especially in the brain, can be lethal. Another type of contusion that can occur is when the impact the victim suffers has such force that their brain slams into the other side of the skull.
Diffuse Axonal Injuries
When the victim is severely shaken, the skull can tear the edges of the brain. These tears cause neurochemical disruptions in the brain. Symptoms of this type of injury include disruption of memory, disruption of motor function and/or motor sensations, disruption of olfactory functions, and more. Depending on what part of the brain has been torn and the extent of damage, the victim can suffer permanent brain damage, coma, or death.
Penetration Injuries
These injuries occur when the object that hits the victim’s head actually penetrates through the skull and into the brain. This can cause rupturing, shearing, or tearing of brain tissue. Many penetration injuries are fatal and those victims who do survive, are usually left with permanent and significant disabilities.
Cost of Brain Injuries
Medical expenses for brain injuries can be astronomical due to hospital stays, surgeries, and therapy. It may be necessary for the victim to have extended or permanent home care because the brain injury has left them unable to care for themselves.
In some cases when the brain injury is particularly serious, the victim may be unable to recover or survive and the family is then left without their loved one. In these tragic situations, the family may be able to file a wrongful death lawsuit on their loved one’s behalf.
Let Our Personal Injury Law Firm Help
A brain injury is often a long-term or permanent injury requiring rehabilitative care. The financial costs of caring for a brain injury victim through the course of their life can be overwhelming and carry heavy financial burdens. A Virginia brain injury attorney can pursue financial damages against the at-fault party that will assist your family in providing the care your loved one needs, including future medical care, loss of income, pain, mental anguish, and permanent disability.
Contact the legal team at Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp today to schedule a free and confidential case evaluation to find out how we can help.
RELATED CONTENT