Head Injury Claims Solicitors.

Head injuries are typically classified into two main types – open and closed head injuries – depending on whether or not the skull has been penetrated due to the impact.

Closed head injuries include:

• Concussion – This is usually caused by a heavy blow to the head which may cause the person to become unconscious. Concussion interrupts the ability of the brain to function properly, therefore affecting cognitive abilities like concentration, memory, speech, coordination, and balance. The person may also experience ongoing headaches and problems with their vision, and will usually need to be treated in A&E.
• Scalp lacerations – A head injury can cause cuts to the scalp. These are often minor and will heal quickly on their own, however sometimes a laceration to the scalp will require stitches, so it’s always best to seek medical help.

Open head injuries include:

• Skull fractures – The skull can fracture in different ways as a result of a head injury. Linear fractures are the most common and fairly straightforward to heal. Depressed skull fractures refer to part of the skull being indented due to the head trauma, and often require corrective surgery. Diastatic skull fractures cause the skull bones to separate when two interconnected areas are broken. And finally, a basilar fracture is when a break occurs at the base of the skull, potentially affecting the spinal cord.

Whatever type of head injury you have sustained, we always advise you to seek medical help as soon as possible. Head injuries which are left untreated can lead to long-term complications, including stroke, brain damage, and seizures.

Head injuries are classified based on their cause. A head injury can occur due to a number of different types of accident, in particular at work, road traffic, on private property, or in a public space, or around the home:

• Road traffic accidents – For example if you are the driver or passenger in a vehicle which is involved in a collision, or a pedestrian who is struck by a moving vehicle
• Assaults – If you are involved in a fights, mugging or shaking
• Accidents at work – For example an object could fall from a height, and you may sustain an injury if you were not provided with adequate PPE such as a hard hat or harness resulting in a fall from scaffolding
• Slips, trips or falls – These can happen anywhere; you could slip on wet floor in a supermarket, or trip over some debris and bang your head

Wherever your head injury occurred, if the accident happened through the fault of others you may be entitled to claim compensation, even if you think it is your own fault you may still have a claim. Our team of specialist head injury solicitors can offer the help and advice you need to seek justice and financial compensation for your accident.

If you have sustained an injury to the head, it is always advisable to seek immediate medical attention. In many cases, the head injury is likely to be minor, but it is always best to have it checked by a doctor, in case it is a more severe injury or there are any underlying issues a hospital attendance may be more appropriate.

Mild head injuries typically present symptoms such as:

• Loss of consciousness which lasts for less than a minute
• Headache
• Nausea
• Short-term memory problems
• Dizziness or problems with balance
• Extra sensitivity to light or sound
• Blurred vision
• Ringing in the ears
• General mental fatigue
• Changes to your regular sleep pattern

Severe head injuries typically present symptoms including:

• Unconsciousness that lasts for several hours or more
• Experiencing convulsions or seizures
• Incoherent speech
• Serious confusion and incoordination
• Loss of control of bladder or bowel
• Tingling or numbness in the fingertips
• Nausea and vomiting
• Personality changes

The severity of your head injury will be taken into account when your case is being valued, with more severe injuries typically receiving a higher pay out as they tend to be accompanied by long-term repercussions. If you, or someone in your family, have been injured in an accident that wasn’t your fault, and have experienced any of the above symptoms, please get in touch with us today and our team will be happy to discuss your potential compensation claim and any support and advice you may require.

If you’ve been involved in an accident that has led to you suffering a head injury, your priority is likely to be recovering and getting back on your feet, and compensation may be the furthest thing from your mind. However, making a claim for compensation after a no-fault accident can help you financially whilst you recover, as well as helping to ensure the same thing does not happen to anyone else in the future.

If the accident occurred at work you may be able to make a claim against your employer if it turns out that they were at fault. Making a claim not only ensures that you are financially repatriated for the trauma you have suffered, but it will likely also ensure your employer makes the relevant changes necessary, to prevent anyone else suffering the same fate. For example, if your head injury was caused, or made worse, due to a lack of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) or a lack of health and safety, your employer should look to rectify this and provide employees with the right equipment and a safe place or system of work in the future.

If your head injury occurred as a result of a slip, trip, or fall in a public space or a supermarket, the chances are someone was liable for ensuring the area was well-maintained and free of hazards. Making a compensation claim against the organisation responsible for your head injury will most likely mean they will carry out further risk assessments and put additional policies and procedures in place, to ensure the ongoing safety of the general public.

However, if it is a serious head injury then the journey to recovery will be more challenging and you are likely to require a more holistic approach, we have a specialist team to assist with catastrophic injuries.

If you are considering making a claim after sustaining a serious head injury but are unsure where to begin, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us here at Lanyon Bowdler. Our specialist personal injury lawyers have the knowledge and expertise to help and advise you in claiming the compensation that you deserve.

If you or a member of your family have  been involved in an accident and have sustained a head injury there are a number of things that you or your family should do, whether or not you plan to make a claim for compensation, including:

• Gather photographic evidence – take photos of your injury, the location of the accident, what caused the accident, and anything else that might be relevant in a compensation claim.
• Collect witness details – if anyone was there to witness the accident be sure to ask for their contact information and a short statement, and confirm that they consent to being contacted by a solicitor.
• Obtain documents – such as an accident at work form, or driver’s insurance details.
• Seek medical assistance – even if you feel fine straight after the accident, it’s important to see a medical professional as soon as possible. Some symptoms of a head injury may not be immediately apparent and could be detected during a medical examination. Seeing a doctor also ensures there is a medical record of your injuries, and it is helpful if you can keep a copy of the medical notes to assist your claim.

The more information you are able to provide us with at the start of your claim, the easier it will be for our team to assist you in your claim for compensation. If you have any questions at any point, please do get in touch and we’ll be happy to help.

Depending on the severity of the injury, after a head injury it is important to rest and recover before attempting to resume your usual daily routine. This typically means taking time off work, or maybe even giving up your existing job altogether, depending on the severity of your head injury and the nature of your job. As well as taking time away from work you may also incur medical expenses, along with the travel costs to get to different medical appointments. All of these things can place a financial burden on you whilst you heal from the trauma of the accident.

Claiming compensation for your head injury can help to provide you with a financial buffer, allowing you the time and space to recover from your injuries. Where possible we endeavour to obtain early interim payments to assist our clients. We are signatories to the Serious Injuries Guide, and adopt the Rehabilitation Code. We are proactive and enter into early discussions with the other side, to establish funding, a therapy team and rehabilitation route.

When your claim is being assessed, a number of different factors will be taken into consideration, including:

• Loss of earnings already incurred due to taking time off work
• Predicted future loss of income and pension – i.e. from taking further time off work and the financial implications of doing so, together with any retraining or vocational support
• Domestic support costs – i.e. care workers, cleaners etc, anyone you have had to pay to carry out the domestic tasks you are unable to do after your injury
• Rehabilitative care costs – for example a case manager to organise your rehabilitation programme and source therapists, including, physiotherapists, speech therapists, and any other treatments provides to aid your recovery
• Home adaptations – dependant on the extent of your head injury you may have life-long disabilities and require adaptations to your home to aid your independence
• Specialist medical treatment – in addition to treatment that is available on the NHS you may need to pay for private specialist care, both now and in the future
• Special educational needs – if the injured party was a child, they may require additional support throughout their education
• Travel costs – you can claim for the costs incurred travelling to and from medical appointments, including fuel costs, parking charges, and train/bus fares
• Any other out of pocket expenses – for instance, aids and equipment and information technology

As you can see, a compensation claim is definitely worth pursuing if you were injured in an accident which wasn’t your fault. We understand that no amount of money can make up for what has happened to you, however the financial repatriation you will be awarded can allow you to recover at your own pace and move on with your life.

Yes. As with the majority of personal injury compensation claims, court proceedings should be started within three years of the incident. If the claimant is under the age of 18 at the time of the incident, the time limit for making a claim is extended until their 21st birthday.

If a claim is not brought within the three-year window then a claim can still be brought if permission is granted by the Court, however they will only agree to do this in exceptional circumstances.

Another exception, particularly with head and brain injury claims where the person lacks the capacity to bring about a claim, or to manage their own affairs, is that the three-year time limit does not start to run.

In these circumstances any claim will be brought by their litigation friend. A litigation friend is someone who is able to act in the best interests of the person suffering from the serious brain or head injury.

If you have any questions about your eligibility to claim, please get in touch and our personal injury solicitors will be happy to discuss your situation with you.