Your Personal Injury Lawyers
Ottawa Traumatic Brain Injury Lawyer
Falls. Car crashes. Medical negligence. Sporting injuries. These are just some of the most common causes of traumatic brain injuries. These injuries can affect all areas of a person’s life including how they think and move. Consequently, many people with traumatic brain injuries require intensive medical treatment and are unable to return to work, which results in lost wages and additional hardships.
An experienced Ottawa personal injury lawyer appreciates the substantial impact that a traumatic brain injury can have on a person’s life and will remain committed to fighting for the results you deserve. Our experienced lawyers have helped many people suffering from traumatic brain injuries hold the parties responsible for their injuries accountable.
Common Causes of Traumatic Brain Injuries
Many accidents that cause brain injuries can be prevented. Some of the most common causes of traumatic brain injuries include:
- Falls from elevated heights. Many people who fall from ladders, roofs, or scaffolding experience brain injuries. A number of people who are struck by falling objects at construction sites also experience traumatic brain injuries.
- Medical negligence. Many people experience traumatic brain injuries due to the negligence of medical professionals. Individuals of all ages are at risk of being harmed by medical negligence including newborns, who can receive traumatic brain injuries as a result of improper force or pressure during the delivery process.
- Motor vehicle accidents. A number of traumatic brain injuries occur from car accidents due to the great degree of force required to stop a vehicle. Vehicle occupants can be ejected during impact, as well. When pedestrians are struck by vehicles, traumatic brain injuries are common.
- Slip and fall accidents. These accidents occur when a person allows dangerous conditions to exist on a property. Some of the conditions that are known to cause slip and fall accidents to include broken rails, broken stairs, ice, pools of liquid, poor lighting, snow, uneven flooring, and unmaintained carpeting.
- Sports and recreation. A number of people each year end up facing traumatic brain injuries after engaging in sporting events. There are also some cases in which people injured at sporting events end up facing traumatic brain injuries.
What Constitutes a Traumatic Brain Injury?
Brain injuries are divided into two categories — acquired brain injuries, which are caused by internal factors and traumatic brain injuries, which are caused by external factors.
Traumatic brain injuries can impact the way that a person communicates, controls emotions, experiences sensations, and thinks. While some people are able to recover from traumatic brain injuries and return to how life was before the accident, other people end up facing medical conditions that forever change the quality of their lives.
The Signs Accompanying Traumatic Brain Injuries
If you have suffered a traumatic brain injury, it is vital that you promptly seek medical attention. Seek medical care if you display any of the signs associated with traumatic brain injuries, even if you believe you were not injured in your accident. The severity of brain injuries varies, and only a medical professional can advise you on the best course of treatment.
Individuals with mild traumatic brain injuries may lose consciousness momentarily after impact. Some other symptoms of mild traumatic brain injuries include blurred vision, confusion, dizziness, headaches, and lightheadedness.
Individuals with moderate to severe traumatic brain injuries often lose consciousness after impact. The symptoms associated with moderate to severe traumatic brain injuries are more intense and include nausea, numbness in the extremities, seizures, slurred speech, and vomiting.
Common Types of Traumatic Brain Injuries
There are several common types of traumatic brain injuries that people often face, which include the following:
- This is the least serious type of traumatic brain injury, but it can still involve a victim to experience a brief bout of unconsciousness. Even a single concussion creates a risk that a person will later experience additional head trauma, which can eventually lead to chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).
- A bruise on a person’s brain often occurs after a direct impact to the head. The swelling associated with contusions can be life-threatening. The most serious contusions require surgery to alleviate bleeding in the brain.
- Coup-contrecoup. When both sides of a person’s brain are damaged, a person can end up facing coup-contrecoup. These injuries occur when the force of an impact is so substantial that one side of the brain is forced against one side of a person’s skull, bounces off, and then the other side of the brain is forced against the other side of the skull.
- Diffuse axonal. This type of traumatic brain injury results in substantial damage and is caused by severe jerking or shaking of the head.
- When an impact results in the skull breaking and/or foreign objects entering the skull cavity, the resulting injuries are usually catastrophic. Even if a person survives a penetration injury, he or she often ends up experiencing impaired nerves and motor abilities.
The Treatment of Traumatic Brain Injuries
There are a number of medical procedures used to treat a person with a traumatic brain injury. Some medical procedures commonly used include CT scans, intensive care, medication, MRIs, surgery, and x-rays. Many people with traumatic brain injuries require the assistance of a number of different types of medical professionals including neurologists, surgeons, physical therapists, and psychologists.
Some patients with traumatic brain injuries spend time in rehabilitation centers following their stays in the hospital. During rehab, medical professionals will help the individual focus on improving a number of skills required to achieve daily living tasks.
In many cases, the costs associated with treating traumatic brain injuries is anywhere between hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars. Furthermore, many victims end up facing impairments that forever impact their quality of life.
Speak with an Ottawa Traumatic Brain Injuries Lawyer
If you or a loved one has experienced a traumatic brain injury as a result of another party’s negligent or reckless conduct, it is important to remember that you have the right to pursue compensation. An experienced lawyer at Preszler Injury Lawyers can help fight for the results you deserve. Contact our law office today to schedule a free initial consultation.
