Thunder Bay Traumatic Brain Injury Lawyer

Any accident can result in devastating, catastrophic injuries. Some of the worst injuries leave victims suffering from paralysis for the rest of their lives. In most situations, paralysis occurs after a head or spinal cord injury or a stroke. Paralysis is defined as the loss of at least one muscle function. It may be accompanied by a sensory loss. When it happens in the lower part of the body, it is called paraplegia. If it occurs in both the arms and legs, it is called quadriplegia.

The impact of paralysis is not just physical. It can be emotionally devastating and overwhelming, as well. In some situations, paralysis results from injuries incurred in car accidents, sports accidents, and slip and fall accidents. In many situations, paralyzed accident victims can seek compensation for their losses through a personal injury claim.

What Is a Traumatic Brain Injury?

Spinal cord injuries and traumatic brain injuries, also called TBIs, can change the lives of the victim and his or her loved ones in an instant. When that injury is the result of the carelessness of another person, an experienced Thunder Bay injury lawyer may be able to help ease the burden on the family and victim by helping them pursue compensation from the at-fault party.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines a traumatic brain injury as a jolt or blow to the head that disrupts the function of the brain. Statistics show that some 165,000 Canadians suffer from brain injury every year and roughly one in three people in Canada are impacted by traumatic brain injuries in some capacity. Some of the most common causes of traumatic brain injuries include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Slip and fall accidents
• Auto and trucking accidents
• Sports injuries
• Bicycle accidents
• Motorcycle accidents
• Being struck by an object
• Playground accidents
• Assault

TBIs are classified as either mild or severe. A mild traumatic brain injury is one that causes the victim to be disoriented, confused, or unconscious for less than 30 minutes. The victim may suffer symptoms such as difficulty concentrating, headaches, visual disturbances, sleep issues, loss of balance, nausea and vomiting, depression, confusion, sensitivity to light and/or sound, seizures, mood swings, memory problems, or feelings of frustration. A severe traumatic brain injury causes the victim to experience amnesia and loss of consciousness for an extended time period. The victim may be comatose, have cognitive deficiencies, have speech or vision impairment, be unable to move or have limited movement of the arms and legs, have sleep disorders, suffer from epilepsy, or have emotional issues.

A traumatic brain injury happens when the brain suffers an injury due to trauma or a sudden force. The brain is often driven into one side of the skull. When this happens, the brain may swell and bruise. Blood vessels may be torn and cause intracranial bleeding. This is called a closed head injury and can lead to serious damage and paralysis if the pressure inside the skull is not relieved. A penetrating, or open head injury, is one that involves a fracture to the skull.

The Impact of Traumatic Brain Injury and Paralysis

Spinal cord injuries and traumatic brain injuries can be caused by car accidents, work-related accidents, slip and fall accidents, motorcycle accidents, bicycle accidents, sporting accidents, or a variety of other accidents. While some injuries are temporary and can be healed with rehabilitation, others result in permanent paralysis. Paralysis can result in long-term health consequences and extensive medical expenses. Most people who are paralyzed must go through rehabilitation therapy and other types of therapy for the duration of their lives. They often require continuous home health care and frequent monitoring by a team of physicians and therapists. It is estimated that a little over half of the people who suffer from traumatic brain injuries and paralysis are covered by medical insurance, which means that most need to find monetary compensation by some other means, and an experienced personal injury lawyer can help.

Types of Spinal Cord Injuries

Just like traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries can be caused by a wide variety of incidents including auto accidents, slip and fall accidents, diseases such as cancer or arthritis, sporting accidents, construction accidents, slip and fall accidents, and medical negligence, just to name a few.

Spinal cord injuries happen when the spinal cord is damaged from either an external force or internal forces like internal bleeding. Spinal cord injuries often result in some type of paralysis, including:

• Paraplegia – This type of paralysis occurs when the lumbar, sacral, or thoracic portions of the spinal cord are damaged. People who suffer from paraplegia often lose feeling and movement in the lower parts of their bodies, typically below the waist.
• Quadriplegia – This type of paralysis occurs when the cervical section of the spinal cord is damaged. The victims of this type of paralysis typically lose sensation and movement in both the upper and lower portions of their bodies and all of their limbs are impacted.

Roughly 80% of all spinal cord injuries happen in men with the leading age group between the ages of 16 and 30. Car accidents are the leading cause of this type of injury in people under the age of 65. Those over the age of 65 who have spinal injuries likely sustained their injuries in a fall. People who have spinal cord injuries may not only have issues with paralysis but may suffer from incontinence, circulatory issues, changes in sexual function, lack of sensation, and difficulty breathing.

CALL PRESZLER INJURY LAWYERS TODAY

When the negligence or recklessness of another person results in a brain or spinal cord injury to you or your loved one, you may be able to collect financial compensation to cover lost wages, medical expenses, and more. Preszler Injury Lawyers may be able to fight for your rights whether your injuries were the result of a car accident, workplace accident, sports injury, or something else. Our goal is to help our clients get the most favourable results for their situation. Contact us today to schedule a consultation.