The devastating effects of brain injuries

The recent case of a woman killed as she leaned out of a train window shows the devastating effects of an accident. Bethan Roper, 28 was hit in the head by a tree branch while on board a Great Western railway service travelling at about 75mph. Sadly, she did not survive.*  However, those who do survive such accidents, road traffic collisions, or similar events are usually left with a traumatic brain injury causing cognitive, emotion and physical symptoms.

Common causes of a traumatic brain injury are as a result of a road traffic collision, a fall, an accident at work or even a violent criminal act.

Traumatic brain injuries are categorised as minor, moderate or severe depending on different parameters.  However, each individual injury is different and the effects on an individual can differ greatly.

Traumatic brain injuries do not always include an open head wound or skull fracture; loss of consciousness may not even occur. Only a handful of individuals experience cognitive and emotional symptoms a year after a mild brain injury and there is no shortage of disagreement between medical experts about the framework in which persistent symptoms after a mild head injury should be considered and treated.

Symptoms of a brain injury for a traumatic (or non-traumatic) brain injury, can include headaches; blurred vision in one or both eyes; seizures; personality changes; confusion; trouble communicating; difficulty with reasoning, focus and logic; and memory impairments (to name a few).

Individuals suffering from traumatic brain injuries need the right support from the outset as this type of injury has life changing implications for both the individual and their family. It is vital to get the appropriate treatment and rehabilitation though; the complexities of a traumatic brain injury mean you need someone with specialist expertise and experience to spot and deal with such cases from inception.

If you have been injured as a result of an accident which was not your fault, please do not hesitate to contact our injury claims team. Our team is made up of specialist injury lawyers who have many years of experience in dealing with such complex cases.