Understanding brain injury
A brain injury refers to any harm that alters how the brain functions, arising from diverse causes such as traumatic impacts to the head, deprivation of oxygen, underlying infections, or even mistakes during medical procedures. These injuries span a spectrum, ranging from mild cases such as concussions, where symptoms may resolve quickly, to severe injuries necessitating constant care and often resulting in the loss of independence. The onset of symptoms can be immediate or delayed, sometimes emerging subtly over time.
Many individuals with brain injuries experience challenges such as troubles with memory, confusion, or difficulty processing information. Changes in personality, mood swings, and alterations in behaviour may emerge, making interactions and daily routines unpredictable. Physical struggles are common as well, including issues with movement, speech, or comprehension, while senses such as vision and hearing can also be impaired. Every case is unique, but the shared feature is that a brain injury has far-reaching effects across a person’s cognitive, emotional, and physical life.
A brain injury can occur in various ways, though some examples that could involve a brain injury claim include:
- a car crash, motorcycle accident or other road traffic incident
- accident at work including poisoning
- a violent attack
- sports injury
- an incident involving an animal
- poor care during birth or pregnancy
- poor care of a stroke, medical negligence, medical misdiagnosis, or surgical negligence that leads to long term brain injury.
A brain injury can impact the survivor in many ways, many of which are not visible to the naked eye. Following a brain injury, someone may find it difficult to concentrate, experience problems with co-ordination or speech, develop behavioural issues or suffer impaired mental capacity. Any of these can leave you needing extra support in life and that’s something a brain injury claim can help with.
