Brain injury attorneys can represent victims of a wide variety of types of accidents
According to materials presented by The Center for Head Injury Services, someone either dies or becomes permanently disabled due to a traumatic brain injury every 5 minutes. Whether the brain injury is a simple concussion or causes permanent and severe brain damage, it can be a life-altering experience for the victim and their family. Even a minor brain injury can cause changes in mood, behavior, memory, and cognitive function.
If the injury occurred as the result of another party’s negligence, an expert brain injury attorney such as Michael A. Kahn can help you hold that individual responsible for their actions and secure compensation for your suffering. Here is a brief overview of the most common causes of traumatic brain injuries that a brain injury attorney might see in his practice.
Traffic Accidents
Just over 50 percent of all traumatic brain injuries can be attributed to car, truck, bus, motorcycle, or pedestrian accidents. Even if there was not a direct blow to the head, the whiplash motion of the head jerking back and forth on the neck can still cause serious brain trauma.
Falls
About 20 percent of traumatic brain injuries are caused by falls. Very young children and the elderly are especially susceptible to this kind of brain injury.
Violence
Sadly, abuse and violence is responsible for about 12 percent of traumatic head injuries in America. In fact, child abuse, particularly shaking, is responsible for over 60 percent of infant brain injuries.
Sports and Recreation
Contact sports including football and rugby, along with recreational activities like biking, ATVing, and boating, are responsible for about 10 percent of traumatic head injuries. Young men are especially at risk, with men 14 to 24 having the highest rate of injury.
Acquired Brain Injury
Traumatic brain injuries, aka injuries involving the brain experiencing physical trauma, are not the only kind of brain injuries that a personal injury lawyer can help with. Acquired brain injuries, in which damage is caused on a cellular level, may also form the basis of a personal injury case. These types of brain injuries typically occur after an accident restricting the flow of blood and/or oxygen to the brain, such as near drowning or choking. Various types of birth injuries and other medical errors can also result in an acquired brain injury.
Seeking Compensation for Brain Injuries
So long as it can be proven that the brain injury resulted from another party’s careless or negligent behavior, a brain injury attorney can help you seek compensation. You may be able to recover damages for current and future medical expenses, lost income, loss of earning power, and pain and suffering. Your attorney will help secure all the evidence needed to document both the cause of the accident and its effects to ensure you have the strongest possible chance of receiving full and fair compensation.
