Brain injuries can have devastating consequences, impacting the lives of individuals and their loved ones. Tragically, Headway, the brain injury association, reports that someone in the UK is admitted to hospital with a brain injury every 90 seconds. In this blog post, our Personal Injury team aims to address some Frequently Asked Questions regarding brain injury types and situations in which a personal injury claim can be pursued.
What Are the Most Common Types of Brain Injuries?
- Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is perhaps the most well-known brain injury type and is caused by trauma to the head. Common causes include road traffic accidents, falls from a height, or workplace accidents. The severity of TBIs can range from mild concussions to severe and permanent brain damage.
- Acquired Brain Injury (ABI)
Acquired brain injuries (ABI) cover all instances of brain injury occurring since birth, excluding those caused by genetic or congenital disorders and include traumatic brain injuries. ABIs can result from infections and inflammatory diseases such as meningitis, anoxic brain injuries (when the brain is deprived of oxygen for an extended period), tumours, strokes, brain haemorrhages, or even poisoning such as carbon monoxide poisoning.
Who Can Make a Brain Injury Claim
Several incidents can lead to serious head trauma or brain injury, including:
- Agricultural accidents
- Serious road traffic accidents
- Serious workplace accidents
- Industrial and construction accidents
- Accidents in public places
- Sports accidents
- Medical negligence
- Physical assault
If these injuries occur due to someone else’s negligence, even if they were only partially responsible, you may be eligible to make a personal injury claim.
How Do You Make a Compensation Claim?
It is crucial to seek legal advice promptly since there is a three-year time limit for making a brain injury claim. Although exceptions may apply, seeking early legal assistance ensures your claim falls within these time constraints. A specialist personal injury lawyer can guide you through the legal process and determine if you have a valid case for a brain injury claim.
Collecting evidence related to your injury is also vital. This may involve medical records, accident reports, witness statements and photographs. In the event of a workplace accident, make sure to report it to your employer and ensure that they follow the correct procedures for recording the accident details and the resulting injuries. If your absence from work exceeds seven days, your employer must submit a report to the Health & Safety Executive.
Brain and Head Injury Solicitors
At Bridge McFarland LLP, our personal injury lawyers have represented individuals and their families affected by brain injuries. We can also help in cases where a brain injury hinders an individual’s mental capacity to make their own claim. In these instances, we guide loved ones through the process of claiming on behalf of the injured person.
We will fight to gain you the maximum compensation available and make sure you speak to relevant medical experts to assess your injury and quickly gain access to appropriate treatment. Our team will work closely with relevant medical experts, your friends, family, carers, and other medical professionals, assuring you receive the best possible outcome for your injury.
To speak to an experienced personal injury solicitor in Hull, Market Rasen, Scarborough, Lincoln or Louth today, please call 0800 987 8800 or email info@bmcf.co.uk.
