Head Injuries – A Growing Field of Legal Practice
Any claim resulting from a head injury should be handled by
a lawyer who focuses on these types of personal injuries. The primary causes of
head injuries are vehicle accidents – including ones involving bicycles – as
well as sports injuries, physical violence, slip and falls and recreational
injuries. As awareness grows about the frequency and causes of concussions, the
field of head injury claims also grows.
A person with a severe brain injury may
need to be hospitalized and may have long-term physical problems such as:
· Thinking clearly
· Memory retention
· Learning
new tasks
· Coordination
and balance
· Speech,
hearing or vision
· Ability
to express emotions appropriately
A severe
brain injury can
affect all aspects of people’s lives, including relationships with family and
friends, as well as their ability to work or be employed, do household chores,
drive, and/or do other normal daily activities.
Identification of Head Injuries is Difficult
The extent and severity of head injuries are often hard to
define and sometimes slow to manifest themselves. Only a full and ongoing
medical assessment can provide an accurate answer. A lawyer with experience in
head injury cases can direct you to the appropriate medical professionals.
A serious brain injury will likely result in a need for rehabilitation to restore full brain function. What kind of rehab depends on the injury and
what has been affected.
In short, a head injury can not only have a catastrophic
effect on wellness, it can be difficult to detect in the short term, slow to
manifest its full harmful effects - and difficult to treat. The issue facing
the injured person is that of obtaining a diagnosis and then getting the
appropriate medical help.
In all cases, you need a lawyer to negotiate on your behalf,
drawing on their legal skills and knowledge of how much compensation your
injuries may warrant.
It all sounds expensive – but it needn’t be. Many personal
injury lawyers will work on a contingency fee basis, which means they don’t
require money up-front. Instead, they will take their payment from the eventual
settlement. The amount of their share is determined you before they begin the
case. Some head injury lawyers will also fund a claim as it goes forward, in
order to be able to pursue the claim to its best possible conclusion, rather
than have to settle prematurely.
If you have
suffered a head injury, your first step should be to seek medical attention.
The second step is to consult with a personal injury lawyer that has experience
with head injuries. You will need to have medical assessments and documentation
completed by strict deadlines in order to achieve the best possible settlement
for your case. Only an experienced head injury lawyer can assist with meeting
these tight criteria. Contact a lawyer today.