What Can Happen After a Brain Injury?
Your brain is your body’s most critical organ. Without it, your other organs and their respective body systems cannot work properly or in some cases, at all. The brain is the center of the nervous system, which is the body system that handles all voluntary and involuntary movements.
When the brain or spinal cord, another key component of the nervous system, is damaged, the injury is known as a catastrophic injury. This means that the victim could suffer from severe, even life-threatening, complications following his or her injury. If you have suffered a brain injury, understand the gravity of your injury and work with an experienced accident attorney to seek compensation for your losses.
Minor Symptoms
Some of the symptoms that result from a brain injury are fairly minor. This does not mean you should ignore them if you experience them – report all symptoms you experience to your doctor because they could indicate a greater problem.
Examples of these minor symptoms include the following:
- Nausea;
- Dizziness;
- Headaches; and
- Confusion
These often occur as a result of a mild traumatic brain injury, also known as a concussion. Over time, a concussion can have more serious effects.
Disabilities
Because the brain plays such a vital role in regulating the body’s processes and symptoms, many brain injury patients suffer physical, cognitive, and behavioral disabilities as a result of their injuries. These disabilities may prevent them from living the independent lives they enjoyed before being injured, sometimes even destroying their ability to express themselves, process and use information, and interact effectively with others.
These disabilities can be mild, moderate, or severe. In some cases, an individual might only need to use a cane or a walker after the accident. In others, the victim might never walk again.
Coma and Death
A brain injury can also cause an individual to become comatose, which is the condition of being unable to move, see, hear, or speak. Patients in comas can be awakened through intensive care. This care can sometimes require the use of medication or inducing hypothermia. Comatose patients who receive treatment can sometimes gradually come out of the coma and return to normal. Others progress to a vegetative state, which is a permanent state of reduced consciousness. Still, some die without leaving the comatose state.
When a brain injury victim dies, his or her loved ones may seek compensation for their economic losses related to the death through a wrongful death claim. Examples of these expenses include medical bills for the patient leading up to his or her death, funeral expenses, and the loss of the victim’s financial contribution to his or her household. Loved ones may also seek compensation for the loss of the victim’s companionship.
Brooklyn Accident Attorney
As a brain injury victim, you could potentially be facing significant expenses. Do not carry their burden yourself. Contact our team of experienced Brooklyn accident attorneys at Peters Berger Koshel & Goldberg, P.C. today to schedule your initial legal consultation with us. Conveniently located on Court Street in Brooklyn, we are here to help you get the money you deserve. Call us at 718-596-7800 to schedule your free case evaluation with us.