Over one million people each year suffer some form of brain injury. A brain injury can range from a minor brain injury, perhaps involving a short period of lost consciousness through to a moderate brain injury from which it is hoped that a full recovery will be made with time to a severe brain injury which involve lengthy periods of unconsciousness.

Brain injuries can effect many lives and will often effect not just the suffering but the family who are left to care and attend to the individual who is left with a lifelong disability.

Although it is hoped that with time many brain injury suffers will make progress, only a small percentage of those that suffer a severe brain injury are able to return to work and many require full time care for the rest of their lives. Where these people have suffered an injury and have not pursued a claim for their injuries the care which they receive is often provided by their family and loved ones who supplement the assistance which can be provided via the Health Service.

A brain injury can affect someones life overnight. Serious physical impairment can arise as a result of the brain injury and it is often the case that individuals cognitive functions are effected and there are often emotional and behavioural complications.

Common causes of brain injury can include:-

• Road traffic accidents
• Motor cycle accidents
• Sporting accidents
• Industrial accidents
• Accidents at work
• Assaults

A brain injury can occur in a number of ways. The skull is intended to provide protection to the brain. The type of injury is often categorised medically as either a closed, open or crushed injury. Closed injuries are the most common and involve no break to the skin or open wound being visible. Open injuries are where the brain is damaged and exposed and are not so common. Probably the least common injury is a crushing injury where the brain is itself crushed between two solid objections.

The brain injury can occur instantaneously as a result of a blow to the head and often the successful treatment of such injury depends upon the degree of early medical intervention.

A brain injury can have devastating effects on the individual and their loved ones. The effects can include:-

• Unconsciousness
• Lapsing into a coma
• Effects on the speech and use of language
• Short-term memory loss
• Long-term memory loss
• Use of the limbs
• Paralysis
• Loss of sensation
• Epilepsy
• Reduction in communication skills
• Loss of vision

It is also possible that the individual suffers a memory loss following the incident giving rise to the personal injury claim which is often categorised as Post Traumatic Amnesia. It is the view of Neurologists that when assessing a personal injury claim a degree of Post Traumatic Amnesia can give a good indication as to the severity of the injury.

In a brain injury, personal injury claim, it is important that your representatives thoroughly investigate the claim and ensure that claims are advanced under headings which include the following:-

• Pain suffering and loss of amenity
• Past medication costs
• Future medication costs
• Rehabilitation
• Future rehabilitation
• Treatment costs Future treatment costs
• Loss of income
• Future loss of income
• Disadvantage on the labour market
• Past care
• Future commercial cared
• Future care by family and loved ones.

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