Barrie Traumatic Brain Injury Lawyer
The brain is the least understood organ in the body, as well as the most delicate. Even minor bruising of the brain can lead to headaches, fatigue, memory loss, confusion, anxiety, and a dozen other ailments that are difficult if not impossible to effectively treat. Victims of Traumatic Brain Injuries (or TBIs) often have lingering complications for months or years following an accident, and are prone to financial troubles due to an inability to work, depression, and other emotional and psychological difficulties. Here at the Preszler Injury Lawyers, our Barrie traumatic brain injury lawyers assist clients with financial recovery by pursuing the at-fault party whose actions caused a brain injury. It can be an uphill battle to recover the full compensation that you are owed because it is difficult to put a price tag on this “invisible” injury. Insurers are prone to devaluing the damages that victims are dealing with, and at-fault parties are quick to point the blame at someone else, or the victim themselves. As such, it is imperative that you work with an experienced Barrie lawyer who knows how to get the job done.
Brain Injuries in Canada Are a Leading Cause of Death and Disability
According to Brain Injury Canada, TBI is a leading cause of death and disability for Canadians under 40 years old. Today, over 1.5 million Canadians are living with the aftermath of a brain injury, which can include memory loss, impaired language, mood swings, impaired cognitive function, partial or complete paralysis, loss of sensation or dexterity, depression, and much more. Brain injuries are such a widespread, devastating problem here in Canada that the cost of TBI caused by lost income alone is expected to rise from $7.3 billion in 2011 to $8.2 billion by 2031, according to Personal Health News. Traumatic brain injuries are likely to increase in prevalence and severity as cell phone use while driving increases, leading to ever more distracted driving collisions. Pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists, and scooter riders are the most heavily impacted group when it comes to brain injuries caused by distracted or speeding drivers. Causes of brain injuries in Barrie include:
- Car collisions
- Truck collisions
- Motorcycle collisions
- Pedestrian collisions
- Bicycle collisions
- Work accidents
- Slip, trip, and fall incidents
- Unsafe premises incidents
- Sports accidents
- Medical malpractice
Types of Traumatic Brain Injuries
- Concussion—The word “concussion” is a layman’s term that is often used to generalize all types and severities of traumatic brain injuries. However, a true concussion is classified as a mild to moderate TBI, caused by a sudden impact to the brain that causes it to accelerate in the direction of the initial force, according to Spinalcord.com.
- Brain Contusion—A contusion is another word for bruising—burst blood vessels that have pooled blood underneath the surface. In this case, the bruising or contusion is caused to the brain after an impact. This mild bleeding of the brain is similar to the injury caused by a concussion, though if the bleeding does not stop by itself, immediate brain surgery is necessary to remove the damaged, bleeding portion. A brain contusion can be a life-threatening injury if the damage is severe, if surgery is necessary, and if surgery is not performed in time.
- Coup-Contrecoup Injury—A severe impact to the head causes the brain to slam back into the other side of the skull, causing an injury at the area of initial impact as well as an injury on the opposite side of the brain. Coup-contrecoup brain injuries are generally extreme in nature due to the forces necessary to cause such a violent whiplash effect within the skull.
- Diffuse Axonal Injury—Similar in nature to a concussion, Diffuse Axonal Injury (DAI) is caused by a violent shaking of the brain. However, a DAI is much more extreme than a concussion, as the shaking is so violent that the brain stem cannot keep up with the oscillations of the brain, resulting in minor tears in the brain tissue connections. As such, a DAI causes varying degrees of brain damage.
- Second Impact Injury—If a victim is already recovering from a brain injury and more trauma is caused to the brain, they may be in serious risk of death, vegetative state, or serious brain damage resulting in permanent impairment.
- Penetration Injury—An object that penetrates the brain, such as a bullet, blade, machinery or construction material causes a serious threat of death. Penetration injuries are usually fatal due to severe bleeding, blood clots, and lack of oxygen to brain tissue.
Why Traumatic Brain Injuries Have an Impact on the Victim’s Family and Friends
Traumatic brain injuries do not just affect the victim, they affect everyone in the victim’s community. From friends and family members to coworkers and significant others, a traumatic brain injury can impact everyone’s’ lives. TBIs often alter the victim’s mood and cognitive ability, if not for the long term then for the short term, which can last for months. Close spouses, friends, family members, and adult children often have to drop what they are doing and step in as caretakers, and being around a loved one with a serious brain injury is often an overwhelmingly stressful task. Some relationships may strengthen over the long term because of this, though in many cases these relationships are stressed to the breaking point.
Value of Your Claim
The level of compensation that you can receive depends on the skill and experience of your lawyer, the insurance policy of the at-fault party, and the value of your claim, which is based on the following damages
- Current out-of-pocket medical expenses
- Future estimated medical expenses
- At-home medical care expenses
- Rehabilitation expenses
- Current and future lost wages
- Lost earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
If the injury results in death, in addition to the above damages the loved one of a deceased victim may also claim the following
- Loss of consortium
- Loss of shared family income and other financial loses
- Funeral and burial expenses.
Contact a Barrie Lawyer at the Preszler Injury Lawyers Today
No traumatic brain injury should be taken lightly. Victims should demand full and fair compensation for their grievous damages, and the Barrie lawyers at Preszler Injury Lawyers are capable of holding the at-fault party responsible for maximum compensation. Call 1-800-JUSTICE for a free consultation with one of our compassionate TBI lawyers today.
