The United States has approximately a rate of 570,000 people treated by emergency services annually who suffer from a head injury. Of these, around 15% die before or upon arriving at the emergency department. In places such as Washington D.C., head injuries continue to remain the leading cause of death for anyone under age 45. With permanent disabilities affecting a large percentage of sufferers, the medical costs are high. A head injury attorney is one means of helping to reduce the cost and obtain compensation. Such a specialist can also carefully demystify the classifications of head injuries and act as a resource for his or her clients.
Head Injuries: Classifications
Every year, at least 90,000 patients become disabled because of head injuries. This becomes a financial burden to families to the tune annually of about $75-100 billion. Head injuries become classified as either primary or secondary.
- Primary injury: The primary cause is mechanical force. It occurs at the moment of impact. It results from either trauma from an object striking the head or from the result of acceleration-deceleration forces
- Secondary injury: This is not mechanical in nature. It is delayed to a period following the incident. It may superimpose itself upon an injury already present from the mechanical injury
In the case of the former type of head injury, an attorney will specifically talk about TBI or traumatic brain injury. In both types of head injuries, however, the results may focus on the scalp and skull region (focal or localized injuries). Problems may also be spread throughout the various components of the brain (diffuse injuries). In either instance, the results are traumatic and dramatic for the victim and the family.
The Most Common Cause of TBI
According to statistics, while head injuries do occur because of several events, the most common cause is motor vehicle collisions. If you are involved in a motor vehicle accident in Washington D.C., your skull may connect with a hard object, such as a windshield. The forces of acceleration and deceleration may also shake your head roughly. In both instances, head injury can result changing your life forever. The immediate injury is not the sole result from the accident. The complications from head injuries can be extensive. They include
- Posttraumatic seizures
- Cognitive decline
- Posttraumatic depression
- Hydrocephalus
- Insomnia
- Deep vein thrombosis
- Spasticity
- Gait abnormalities
- Posttraumatic headache
Talk to a Head Injury Attorney
A head injury is a personal injury case. To be successful, you must prove negligence. This involves proving four specific legal concepts: duty, breach, causation and damages. Head injury law is specialized. You will need someone who is an expert in this field. Contact a head injury attorney to help ensure the case you file has the best chance of winning the compensation you and your family deserve from this tragic incident in Washington D.C.
If you live in Washington D.C. a Head Injury Attorney at Brain Injury Counsel can help you recover losses from TBI. As specialists in this field, we understand the difficulties facing you and your family. We also know the law. We will work with you to help you evaluate the situation. Drawing on our expertise and professional team of medical professionals, we will help you file a claim for medical and other expenses resulting from this tragedy. Do not hesitate. Contact us today online at Braininjurycounsel.com for more information on how our team can help you.
