Brain Injuries and Head Injuries
There is a wide range of brain and head injuries, the most serious of which are skull fractures, open wounds or permanent brain damage with a lifelong or fatal consequence. Injuries may also include a minor concussion or superficial head wound. Despite these injuries appearing to be less serious, scientists at Cambridge University have recently reported that even a mild knock can cause long-lasting brain damage, with 45% of patients suffering symptoms at least six months following a mild concussion, also known as a mild traumatic brain injury.
Head injuries can be especially worrying because the symptoms of long-term brain damage may not be immediately obvious after the harm is first caused. In some cases, the effects of the injury will take many years to develop fully.
If you or someone you know has suffered a head injury, it is important to make sure that the symptoms have been fully investigated. In some cases, the injury will resolve entirely in a short period of time. In other cases, the symptoms may worsen and you will require support to maximise your quality of life.
Causes of Brain and Head Injuries
Injuries can be caused by a wide range of different accidents and circumstances, often impacting brain function and resulting in difficulties with memory or motor skills. In many cases, a head injury will be caused by a road traffic collision, an accident in the workplace, a sporting injury, a criminal assault or even a fall.
People can also suffer a head injury as a result of medical negligence. For example, a doctor may have prescribed the wrong medication or there may be a delay in diagnosis of a brain aneurysm leading to a rupture. Errors made during childbirth can lead to the development of cerebral palsy, which is a specific kind of brain damage that occurs in children up to the age of 5, resulting in lifelong symptoms. If the injury suffered is as a result of medical negligence, you may be entitled to compensation.
Support from Headway - The Brain Injury Association
Headway - The Brain Injury Association is a UK-wide charity dedicated to improving the lives of brain injury survivors. They offer a wide range of services, including rehabilitation programmes, carer support, social reintegration, community outreach and respite care. Headway also provides an online resource for anyone affected by or working in the field of brain injury.
During their annual Action for Brain Injury Week, they raise awareness of the challenges faced by individuals and families affected by brain injury and encourage support from the wider public.
Headway's mission is to promote understanding of all aspects of brain injury and to provide information, support and services to people with a brain injury and assist their families and carers.
They aim to reduce social isolation and increase access to referrals. Their goal is to enable individuals with an acquired head injury to have more control over their lives. They offer group and individual support, including weekly sessions and provide free counselling.
They have established branches throughout the UK and their website provides a number of online resources for people affected by a head injury, for families and solicitors who are assisting those suffering from a head injury.
Headway regularly hosts training seminars for solicitors to aid in their handling of brain and head injuries, which in turn enables solicitors to provide better support to individuals affected and aids access to legal advice. Our Sofia Crolla recently attended a training seminar with occupational therapist Diane Watson. The training was invaluable in understanding the anatomy of the brain and how various bodily functions could be affected by head trauma. It provided useful information on how to support individuals who have suffered a head injury to make a claim and strengthened our expertise.
Compensation for a Brain and Head Injury
If you or someone you know has been affected by a head injury, you may be entitled to compensation to cover medical costs, loss of earnings and the cost of adaptations you might need to make to your home. You may also be entitled to compensation for the pain and distress of having suffered an injury that wasn't your fault.
Our Compensation Calculator illustrates the different categories of head injury and the amount of compensation that may be payable to you, depending on the severity of the injury. These figures are based on previous decisions made by the courts in Scotland, although the precise value of each case will depend on its own unique facts.
MFMac's Personal Injury Team has extensive experience in pursuing all types of claims and we will ensure we maximise the compensation you are entitled to. Our experienced Personal Injury Team will take the time to get to know you, assess your claim and support you in recovering compensation. Contact us today on 0131 247 1000 or through our personal injury compensation enquiry form.
