Brain injury occurs as the result of a blow to the head, an object penetrating the skull, acceleration/deceleration incidents that cause the brain to knock against the sides of the skull, and incidents in which the brain is deprived of oxygen. About 1.4 million Americans sustain a brain injury every year—235,000 of those are hospitalized, and 50,000 die.

A brain injury affects how the brain functions, both in the short term and in the long term. Injuries can be classified as “mild,” “moderate,” or “severe.” All brain injuries behave differently, which makes long-term prognosis difficult. While it’s logical to assume that mild brain injuries almost always result in complete recovery and severe brain injuries cause the most critical long-term effects, in fact even a minor brain injury can result in life-long issues and problems.

Brain injury can cause significant physical and emotional ramifications, as well as serious financial hardship. In addition to focusing their efforts on recovery from the brain injury, most survivors and their loved ones find themselves spending a large majority of their efforts hassling with insurance companies over treatment, and dealing with large medical bills.

If you or a loved one has recently sustained a brain injury, contact Newsome Law Firm and fill out a case evaluation form today. Our experienced team of attorneys can give you the legal guidance you need, and can help you get the compensation you deserve.

Causes of Brain Injury

The most common causes of brain injury include the following:
• Automobile accidents
• Slips and falls
• Sports-related injuries
• Violence
• Choking, near drowning, and other incident in which the brain is deprived of oxygen
• Birth-related injuries
• Medical malpractice

Effects of Brain Injury

The outcome of a brain injury varies with each person, but short-term and long-term effects can be life changing. Cognitive issues, emotional issues, problems with the senses such as vision and hearing, and motor skills can all be affected by brain injury.
Most survivors of brain injury require inpatient and/our outpatient rehabilitation that focuses on returning them to the maximum amount of function possible. The survivor’s rehabilitation program will be individually structured depending upon his or her needs, and may require the use physical and occupational therapists, speech/language pathologists, vocational and recreational therapists, and counselors and psychiatrists. Some survivors of brain injury may require adaptive equipment or long-term care.

What to Do Immediately Following Brain Injury

Any person who suspects brain injury in himself/herself or a loved one should seek medical attention immediately. As soon as the victim is stabilized, the injured party or his or her loved ones should begin to get finances and insurance in order, and should request master copies of health insurance and automobile insurance policies, as well as any other insurance policies that may cover the accident.
If other individuals or organizations were involved in the incident, take care not to sign any insurance papers until your attorney has had a chance to review them. An attorney will ensure the survivor isn’t waiving his or her rights or agreeing to a settlement sum that isn’t adequate to cover his or her care. Finally, because statutes of limitations vary from state to state, it’s important that the person who has sustained a brain injury contact an attorney right away.

If you or a loved one has recently sustained a brain injury, contact Newsome Law Firm and fill out a case evaluation form today. Our experienced team of attorneys can give you the legal guidance you need, and can help you get the compensation you deserve.