Personal Injury Victims and Traumatic Brain Injury

For personal injury victims, their accident can be the most traumatic and difficult part of the life. Part of the job of a personal injury lawyer is to realize the accident and immediate aftermath isn’t the end of the victim’s struggles. Many personal injury victims who receive injuries to their head suffer from traumatic brain injury. Traumatic brain injuries are listed as the most frequent disability for people under the age of 50. The effects of these injuries have a lasting impact on the family members of personal injury victims as well as the victim themselves.

Every year nearly 50,000 people die from traumatic brain injuries in the United States. Nearly 70,000 others suffer from impairment due to their injuries. The most frequent causes of traumatic brain injuries are slips and falls, and car accidents and motorcycle accidents. Brain injuries can range in severity and long term impact. Injury victims with mild brain injuries may have lost consciousness and may suffer from disorientation, dizziness, confusion, headaches, vision problems and memory loss. These symptoms can last up to a year. Victims with moderate brain injuries typically lose consciousness for 30 minutes to 24 hours and may suffer from partial paralysis, reduced communication and cognitive skills. Finally, personal injury victims with severe brain injuries may be in a coma for over 24 hours and may suffer from permanent disabilities such as a permanent vegetative state.

Needless to say, brain injuries can have a lasting impact. Even minor traumatic brain injuries can change a person’s life forever. Victims can have enormous medical bills, lost wages and future earning ability, a decreased quality of life, and long term care costs. Many times victims have trouble adjusting to their previous lives. Memory problems, personality changes and simple critical thinking skills can limit a victim’s ability to be successful in their employment and relationships with loved ones. Caring for family members who have suffered severe brain injuries can place a huge financial burden on families. Hospital stays can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. The victim may require months or years of physical therapy or life care if they are in a permanent vegetative state. The family members may also suffer from the loss of income the love one may have provided. A victim’s family members may loose over a million dollars of future earning capacity if their loved one is permanently disabled.

Every individual should take it upon themselves to take steps to prevent these types of injuries. Always wear a seatbelt while driving, or riding in a car. Though New Hampshire doesn’t require helmets for motorcyclists, wearing one can greatly decrease your chances of suffering brain injuries if you are in an accident. If you or a loved has suffered even mild brain injuries from an accident, it may be advisable to consult with an experience personal injury lawyer.