Living with a Severe Head Injury

Living with a severe head injury can be a daily struggle. What many people do not realize is even after the initial injury is treated and there are no longer any physical signs of the injury left such as bruising, stitches, etc, the effects of this type of injury linger on, sometimes for the life of the individual. Our lawyers understand that if you have suffered damage as the result of an auto accident, workplace injury, airplane crash, or some other traumatic event, you may be entitled to compensation depending on the circumstances of your case. Our lawyers are experienced trial attorneys who will act in your best interests. Complete the Contact Form to find out more.

Physical and mental trauma of head injuries

There are two main areas where living with severe head injury has its most pronounced affect. These are the physical and mental aspects of the injury. Although they may be interrelated, they are not always and dealing with a new disability or handicap is extremely challenging for most. Both long term and short term issues need to be addressed. These issues include but are not limited to loss of memory and difficulty retaining information, changes in speech and vision, and decreased physical ability, as coordination and balance are often impacted negatively. Further discussion of these issues is definitely in order.

Mental suffering

The mental aspect of living with a severe head injury are huge. There are short term or temporary problems as well as long term or perhaps even lifelong issues that will need to be dealt with. Changes in memory and retention of information, vision, speech and coordination are challenges that people living with severe head injury confront daily. Where once things were easy, now balance and just walking to the store may be a difficult task. Driving may not be possible, especially short term. This results on a greater dependency on family and friends. For individuals who were self sufficient and self reliant this is a devastating situation. While many of these issues can be addressed through therapy: physical, occupational, and psychological, it does take its toll on self esteem and self worth. This may be the hardest part of living with a severe head injury.

Physical disabilities from head injuries

The physical aspects of severe head injury are also enormous. Changes in how your body works and responds are greatly impacted. Vision may be blurred or changed in a way that a person cannot return to their former employment. For example, an aircraft pilot would no longer be able to fly an aircraft safely. Changed in balance and coordination are also affected and this too can have an adverse affect on returning to work. Constantly dropping objects, losing balance, and changes in long and short term memory can prevent an individual from returning to their normal profession. These issues are pronounced as they affect a person's ability to earn a living and support themselves and their families. While some of these issues may be temporary, others will be ongoing and some will be lifelong, depending on the severity of the head injury sustained. Overall, there is a great adjustment period following the onset of severe head injuries. Treatment and rehabilitation take months, and sometimes years.

Memory issues are one of the most common complaints of people suffering from severe head injury. Many claim that they feel as if they are in a fog and the fog never lifts. Some cannot remember their current phone numbers or addresses; however, they can remember places they lived in 15 years ago. Learning new information and tasks takes a very long time and it is much harder than it used to be. Relearning tasks sometimes is necessary and this too takes much longer. Overall, living with a severe head injury is very different than life was prior to the onset of that injury.

Financial Loss because of Injury

Living with a severe head injury becomes a lifelong task. Diminished physical and mental abilities need to be overcome or worked around. New employment may need to be secured as old professions may no longer be suitable for the person recovering from a severe head injury. In addition, one may have to accept long term disability in lieu of working. For those individuals without medical insurance the results of a severe head injury can mean financial ruin. For others, it means never returning to a lifestyle enjoyed prior to the injury. No matter how you look at it, living with a severe head injury is a challenge.

The financial loss and medical expenses can be enormous. Ongoing physician bills, loss of income from not being able to work, inability to take care of yourself or your family. If you have suffered an injury as a result of negligence, malpractice, or fault of another person or party, you may be able to get compensation monies. A compensation settlement or award by a court, can assure you of some financial security.

Do not delay in seeking legal advice as there are timeframes imposed by law. If you don't make a claim within the legal timeframe, you may lose your entitlements all together. Contact us right away.