Traumatic Brain Injury

Legally reviewed by: LPC & GDL Matthew Shiels Updated: May 24, 2023

Suffering from a traumatic brain injury is life-changing for all involved. A huge deal of support is needed in adjusting to day-to-day life and providing the appropriate care that is needed. Claiming traumatic brain injury compensation is vital to getting the very best of both care and support.

What is a Traumatic Brain Injury?

A traumatic brain injury is defined as a brain injury that is caused by trauma to the head. A brain injury is caused by the initial outside force, but it also includes the complications which can follow. These are categorised as primary and secondary brain injuries.

Secondary brain injuries can include:

• Hypoxemia
  This is a below-normal level of oxygen in your blood, specifically in the arteries.

• Hypotension
  This is low blood pressure.

• Intracerebral haematoma
  This is also known as a cerebral bleed or an intraparenchymal bleed, and it is a sudden bleeding into the tissues of the brain.

As well as resulting from external head trauma, secondary injuries can also be due to medical negligence in cases of surgery that has gone wrong, or in a birth process that has caused minor damage to the baby’s head, known as cephalohematoma.

Some traumatic brain injury symptoms can include:

• Loss of memory
• Coma
• Paralysis
• Loss of cautiousness

There are also two different types of brain injury that can be categorised as a severe traumatic brain injury or a minor traumatic brain injury. These are:

• A closed brain injury
  This happens when there is a nonpenetrating injury to the brain with no break in the skull. A closed brain injury is caused by a rapid forward or backward movement and shaking of the brain inside the hard skull that results in bruising of the brain tissue and blood vessels. This kind of brain injury is usually caused by car accidents, falls, and increasingly, in sports. Shaking a baby can also cause this type of injury.

• Penetrating brain injury
  This is when there is a break in the skull, such as when a sharp object or a bullet pierces the brain.

Traumatic Brain Injury Treatment

The initial test that medical professionals will carry out after you have suffered from a brain injury is the Glasgow Coma Scale. This is a 15-point test that helps a doctor to assess the initial severity of the brain injury by checking the patient’s ability to follow directions and move their eyes and limbs. The coherence of speech also provides important clues. Abilities are scored from three to 15 in this scale, and higher scores mean less severe injuries.

After this, treatment is generally based on the severity of the injury. It could involve over-the-counter pain medication, but it could also need immediate emergency care or surgery in severe cases.

How We Can Help

If you, your child, or a loved one has suffered from a minor to serious traumatic brain injury, then our professional legal advice can help you to get the support that you need.

Get in touch today.