Any degree of injury has the potential to be painful. When the brain is involved, however, the damage can be irreversible. Sustaining a brain injury means seeking immediate medical attention. If the injury was the result of another’s negligent actions, the victim has a right to file a personal injury claim. Our Midland brain injury lawyers are here to help.
Head injuries are expensive in more ways than one. Not only is the sufferer likely to have extensive medical bills, but they may be unable to work for some time. Sick days don’t last forever, and paying bills becomes challenging when paychecks aren’t being deposited regularly. A brain injury claim can provide the victim with the compensation they need to take the necessary time to recover as fully as possible. Monetary recovery can also be sought to handle future expenses and life alterations.
Causes of Brain Injuries
Any accident can cause a brain injury, especially if the head is hit with force. Trauma, however, doesn’t always have to be present for the brain to sustain damage—like in the event of oxygen deprivation. Some of the most common causes of brain injuries include the following:
- Motor Vehicle Accidents. Head trauma is not uncommon in a car accident. While the majority of brain injuries resulting from crashes are not severe, the damage is likely to be significant if a tractor-trailer or motorcycle is involved.
- Slip and Falls. Property owners are supposed to ensure their home or facility is safe. When a floor isn’t maintained or a walkway is uneven, someone could fall and hit their head.
- Medical Malpractice. Negligence during any medical procedure could result in brain damage—especially if the brain doesn’t get the oxygen it needs. Even if doctors can reverse the cause, the damage could be irreparable depending on how much time passed without the proper amount of oxygen.
- Jobsite Accidents. Some fields are more dangerous than others. For example, working on a construction site or oil field can result in brain injuries because of the presence of heavy machinery.
- Assault. Head trauma from an assault can result in a serious traumatic brain injury (TBI) or wrongful death.
When you seek medical attention for a brain injury, the attending physician will most likely be able to determine the cause. If you choose to file a claim with our help, we’ll use your medical records to prove your injury resulted from someone else’s negligent decision.
Understanding the Types of Brain InjuriesÂ
In order to understand how severe a brain injury can be, it’s important to recognize the different types. If you or a loved one has sustained a head injury, it’s possible you could be diagnosed with one of the conditions discussed below.
Acquired Brain Injuries
An acquired brain injury, also referred to as a non-traumatic injury, demands treatment just as quickly as a TBI. While it’s less likely for an acquired brain injury to be the result of negligence, it does happen. For example, if a surgeon uses unsterilized equipment during surgery, an infection could set in. This can undermine the brain’s function and health.
The loss of oxygen, as mentioned above, can also cause brain damage. Hypoxia refers to reduced oxygen to the brain, while anoxia is total oxygen deprivation. The latter is more dangerous, but both can have devastating consequences. Minor damage can set in as fast as one minute without oxygen. At the four to six-minute mark, oxygen loss can become fatal. In a medical setting, this could happen if a patient is administered medication they are allergic to. If they go into anaphylactic shock, they could suffer brain damage.
Traumatic Brain Injuries
Traumatic brain injuries are the most common variety of brain injury, as they affect over two million people every year. A TBI occurs when there is physical trauma to the head. Common types include concussions, contusions, and diffuse axonal injuries (DAI).
Concussions are generally the mildest form of TBI, but the injury can be severe depending on the type of accident. They’re common after traffic wrecks because they happen when a sudden blow to the head causes the brain to accelerate in the direction of the force.
A brain contusion is similar to a concussion and can occur at the same time. It causes blood to pool in the area of impact. If the bruise does not stop bleeding on its own, surgery may be necessary. The severity of this type of injury depends on factors like the size of the bleed, the length of time it lasts, and the location of the injury.
A DAI is also similar to a concussion, but much more severe. It happens when the head moves too violently that the brain stem cannot keep up with the movement. As a result, there are often tears in the connection to the brain. Even microscopic tears can produce varying degrees of damage. The symptoms are dependent upon the area of the brain that’s affected and the presence of other brain injuries.
Filing a Brain Injury Claim in Midland
Although brain injuries aren’t always visible, their effects can be incredibly damaging. If you’re considering filing a claim against the party you believe caused your injury, it’s imperative to keep an accurate account of your medical records. It’s also a good idea to keep track of how the injury is affecting you on a daily basis.
Working with a lawyer is important because valuing a claim is challenging. There are a number of factors that go into deciding how much compensation to seek, and it’s likely you’re going to get pushback from the opposing side. We can handle the negotiations for you, so you can focus on your recovery.
In the event we’re not able to reach an agreed-upon compensation amount through settlement, we’re prepared to take your case to court. Sometimes, filing a lawsuit is the only way to get what you deserve.
Get Help From Buckingham Barrera Vega Law Firm
No matter the severity of a brain injury, the repercussions can be life-altering. The long-term consequences can have an effect on a person’s employment, social interactions, and relationships. The victim’s family members are also affected emotionally and financially. In order to secure your future, our Midland brain injury lawyers are ready to fight for you.
We know how challenging brain injury litigation can be. Pursuing a successful claim isn’t easy, but we have the experience and dedication needed to prove you were wronged. We’ll compile compelling evidence, call upon medical experts, and calculate what your brain injury has cost you. To get started with your claim, schedule a case evaluation with our attorneys.
