Head injuries are unlike other types of personal injury in that even a seemingly minor accident can result in life-altering consequences. When the head is struck or moved in a violent or sudden matter, the brain may bump against the skull causing severe injury. Brain injuries are often caused by car, truck, and motorcycle accidents, but they may also be caused by many other types of accidents as well.
Regardless of how a brain injury occurs, the consequences can be dramatic. Some individuals who suffer a brain injury are unable to work or enjoy their lives in the way they did before the injury. In many cases, brain injuries incur significant medical costs including emergency room visits and ongoing doctor visits and tests. If you were injured as a result of another party’s negligence or carelessness, you may be able to receive compensation for your damages.
Brain Injuries Caused by a Motor Vehicle Accident
Many individuals suffer brain injury after being involved in a car accident. If the accident was caused by a party who was driving recklessly or negligently, it is very likely that they will be liable for the accident. Distracted driving, including texting while driving, is often considered a negligent act, but proving that the other party was distracted can be challenging. When a drunk driver causes an accident in which another individual was injured, the drunk driver is almost always considered legally responsible for the damages caused. In certain cases, individuals who are convicted of driving under the influence (DUI), which caused another person to be injured or killed can also be sued for punitive damages. Punitive damages are meant to be an additional punishment that helps dissuade the driver from driving under the influence in the future.
Types of Traumatic Brain Injuries
There are several types of brain injuries that can be caused in an accident. Concussions are one of the most common types of brain injury. A concussion occurs when a force, such as an abruptly stopping vehicle, causes the head to violently accelerate and stop. Concussions can cause pain, blurred vision, confusion, memory loss, and nausea. Direct trauma brain injuries occur when a person’s skull comes into contact with a hard surface, such as during a slip and fall accident. Indirect trauma can be caused by whiplash, Shaken Baby Syndrome, traffic accidents, and more. The resulting nerve damage from an injury such as this can cause brain damage and even death. A diffuse axonal injury occurs when the fibers which connect the brain and nerve cells are damaged. Brain injuries can also occur when the brain is deprived of oxygen. Exposure to toxic substances in an unsafe workplace environment is one way hypoxia injuries occur.
Contact a Green Bay Brain Injury Attorney
If you have suffered a brain injury due to another’s negligence, you need to speak with an experienced Appleton personal injury attorney right away. It is important to act quickly so that potentially important evidence can be identified and preserved. Call Herrling Clark Law Firm, Ltd. at 920-739-7366 to schedule a free initial case consultation.
Source:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/traumatic-brain-injury/symptoms-causes/syc-20378557