An injury to the head could lead to devastating results. A head injury has the ability to end a life or alter it forever. It is a traumatic event that no one wants to experience, especially due to another’s negligent behavior. Recovering from a head injury can be long and painful. Not to mention, it can be very expensive. If you received one of these injuries, you’re entitled to a head injury compensation claim.
Gordon & Gordon Law Firm understands the stress and worry a head injury can place on you and your family. While you recover physically, we want to help you recover compensation for your losses and damages. We’ll answer your questions and tell you the next steps to take after receiving a head injury.
WHAT IS HEAD INJURY?
Head injuries are any type of injury sustained to your skull, scalp, face, or brain. These injuries can vary in severity from a bump or bruise to fatal brain trauma. Just as the severity of these injuries can vary, so can the treatments needed to recover.
The brain is one of the most vital organs, which makes the head a very delicate region. Damage to the brain can alter a person’s body and life forever. Permanent impairment is not uncommon following a severe head injury. Read more in our blog about the maximum medical improvement rating chart.
There are many different types of head injury. Injuries of the more severe cases include:
- Concussions
- Occurs when the brain hit against the walls of the skull due to some kind of hard impact.
- Edema
- Swelling of the brain. Because your head can’t stretch to accommodate the swelling, the brain presses against the bones of the skull.
- Intracerebral Hemorrhage
- Uncontrollable bleeding within the tissue of the brain.
- Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
- Uncontrollable bleeding in the space surrounding the brain and skull.
- Hematoma
- A hematoma is the clotting of blood outside the vessels. A hematoma in the brain can build up pressure in your skull and cause serious and permanent damage.
- Skull Fracture
- Any break in the cranial bone is a skull fracture. Swelling, tenderness, bruising, or bleeding from the nostrils or ears can be a sign of a skull fracture.
- Shear Injury
- A shear injury, also known as diffuse axonal injury, damages brain cells and prohibits brain function. This type of injury is not visible but can be very dangerous and can result in permanent brain damage or death.
WHAT ARE COMMON CAUSES OF HEAD INJURY?
There are many ways people receive head injuries. Any kind of sharp force or impact to the head can cause a serious injury. Excessive shaking can also cause a head injury, though this occurs the most in children or babies.
A large sum of head injuries come as a result of a car accident. Even from the less serious accidents, the force of impact can cause painful injuries. This might include slamming your head into the steering wheel or whiplash from the crash. (See: What To Do After a Car Accident Injury)
Trips, slips, and falls are another common cause of head injury. In fact, over a million people in the United States suffer severe injuries from slip and fall accidents each year.
Sports-related incidents account for several head injuries every day. Sports like football, gymnastics, and baseball all produce a large number of these types of injuries.
Another common cause of head injury comes from assault and violent attacks. In Shreveport alone, nearly 1,600 violent attacks occur per year.
Among all the different causes of head injury, there are two separate categories they fall into. These are open and closed head injuries. An open head injury occurs when something pierces your scalp and breaks through your skull. This usually means that it also penetrated the brain. Closed head injuries are much more common and leave the skull intact. These are sometimes referred to as blunt or nonpenetrating head traumas. This could include contusions or brain bleeds.
Whether the injury is a closed wound or is penetrating, it’s difficult to determine how serious it is just by looking. If you’ve experienced any kind of head trauma, you should seek medical treatment immediately to have a doctor assess your injuries.
WHAT ARE SOME SYMPTOMS OF HEAD INJURY?
There are several symptoms that suggest a head injury. Some symptoms might be immediate, while others have a delayed reaction. It is important that as soon as you experience any sort of head trauma to seek medical attention. That way, the doctor can rule out any severe damage and give you a proper diagnosis.
Symptoms can range from mild to severe. Some of these may include:
- Bruising or swelling
- Bleeding
- Disorientation
- Amnesia
- Headache
- Fatigue
- Dizziness or blurred vision
- Nausea and/or vomiting
- Fainting episodes
- Seizure
There are many more symptoms that indicate a head or brain injury. Physical, cognitive, mental, sensory, and behavioral symptoms may occur. If you experience any of these symptoms or otherwise notice a change in your mood or body, seek professional care.
WHAT HAPPENS IF I GET A HEAD INJURY AT WORK?
Over 24% of head injuries occur in the workplace. The majority of these workplace injuries are the result of something or someone falling. Falling objects, falling from heights, or slips and falls. It can also occur from car accidents experienced while on the clock.
If you suffer a head injury at work, you will need to file a workers’ compensation claim. Any employee who receives a head injury on the job is eligible for benefits.
In some cases, you might be eligible for more than workers compensation. There may be other parties involved who contributed to your head injury. This could be a property owner, a manufacturer, a contractor, or another third-party entity that played a part in your injury. In this case, you’ll want to file a third-party claim with the help of an experienced attorney.
Immediately following any workplace incident, you should seek medical attention. This is especially true if the injury relates to your head or brain. Make sure your doctor knows the injury happened on the job. You will want to save any medical records or documentation as proof of your injury. Otherwise, insurance companies might try to deny your claim altogether.
HOW MUCH CAN I GET FROM MY HEAD INJURY COMPENSATION CLAIM?
Head injury compensation claims generally have a high payout. This is because the head is such a sensitive and important region. Damage to the head or brain could alter someone’s life significantly. In the case that you experience a head injury at the hands of someone else, you should file a compensation claim.
To do this, you will need the help of an attorney. An experienced Shreveport head injury attorney is one of the most important factors in determining how much you are able to gain in a settlement or lawsuit.
Another factor that plays into the amount of compensation you’re able to get is the losses you experienced as a result of the injury. Any lost earnings or loss of possible future income are some of these. Other losses include any medical expenses or property damage that occurred.
If you need extensive, ongoing medical treatment after the incident, your attorney will work to cover those damages as well.
Any pain or suffering that you may have experienced (or still are) is also observed. Though it cannot quantify as a number amount, the judge will use this as a multiplier. Your compensation amount could multiply by two, three, or even more. Depending, of course, on how well your attorney can convince the court of the pain and suffering.
There is no set compensation rate for head injury. Every circumstance is different just as every courtroom is different. Your payout may range anywhere from thousands to millions. The more experienced your lawyer is and how well they represent you can be the difference between 5, 6, or even 7 figures.
CALL GORDON & GORDON TODAY
If you suffered a head injury at the hands of another person, call our law offices today. Gordon & Gordon Law Firm has been helping residents of Northwest Louisiana for over 30 years. Our legal experience provides us with the tools you need to get the compensation you deserve. We won’t even charge you unless you get a settlement. Call us today at 318-716-HELP or visit our website to begin your journey towards compensation.