A head injury can change how you live your life, but a New Orleans brain injury attorney can help you get your life back on track. At Scott Vicknair, we handle injury cases of all shapes and sizes. We understand how serious a brain injury can be, and we’re ready to help you fight for your future.
Brain injuries can be forever, but it doesn’t mean you should give up fighting. Read on to learn more about how we can help with your catastrophic injury case, and reach out to us for a free consultation.
The Challenges of a Brain Injury
If you experience a brain injury, there’s a very real chance that it’ll be permanent. Brain injuries are often debilitating, and no matter the cause, they’re always serious. Survivors of brain injuries often need to relearn how to perform basic, day-to-day tasks, and they may need in-home care for the rest of their lives. A brain injury is a lifelong challenge, and it’s a challenge you shouldn’t face alone.
The Difference Between a Personal Injury and a Catastrophic Injury
In the field of personal injury law, there’s a division between what is commonly referred to as a “personal injury” and what is instead referred to as a “catastrophic injury”. Personal injuries are usually recoverable. They may include broken bones or whiplash.
On the other hand, a catastrophic injury is typically permanent, and will require a lengthy period of rehabilitation. Catastrophic injuries can result in amputations, paralysis, or loss of cognitive or motor function – and a brain injury is a clear example of a catastrophic injury.
You Deserve Compensation
If your brain injury was caused by the negligence of someone else, you shouldn’t have to foot the bill all by yourself. Negligence is the deciding factor in injury cases, and if someone’s actions – or inactions – can be proved to be linked to your injuries, they may be on the hook for financial damages.
A brain injury is a lifelong battle, and lifelong battles cost money. Aside from what your insurance provider may pay, you deserve enough compensation to carry you through the rest of your life. Fortunately, a New Orleans brain injury attorney from our office can help you move forward with your case.
Brain Injury Symptoms
As you can learn from a trusted lawyer, a brain injury is one of the most serious types of injuries anyone can suffer from after an accident. They are difficult to treat, and patients must receive medical attention right away otherwise the consequences can be severe, or even fatal. As a lawyer like one at Scott Vicknair, LLC can tell you, as soon as you notice symptoms and signs of brain injury, go to a hospital as soon as possible. Be aware of these common signs of a brain injury so that you can recognize when you should seek treatment.
Headaches
People who sustain brain injuries tend to experience severe headaches. The headaches can be especially painful and can last for a longer period of time than normal headaches. Headaches can result in a throbbing pain that can result in vomiting. If you experience a headache shortly after being involved in a car accident, do not ignore it and seek medical attention right away because it can indicate a brain injury.
Dizziness
Brain injuries commonly result in dizziness. Victims of personal injury accidents such as car accidents or falls can suffer blunt force trauma to their head, causing a brain injury. They may report feeling dizzy or that the world seems to be spinning. Sensitivity to light and sound can also worsen dizziness in some people. If dizziness lasts for an unusually long period of time and does not seem to be going away, seek medical attention immediately. Do not ignore prolonged dizziness if you have recently been in an accident.
Loss of Balance
A typical brain injury symptom is also loss of balance. People who suffer head injuries can have difficulty walking in a straight line, getting up or sitting down from a chair, or have trouble staying in a standing position. They may feel wobbly even while on level ground. Brain injuries can result in dizziness because the part of the brain that processes balance may be damaged.
Memory Issues
Issues with memory are also common symptoms that many brain injury patients report. Parts of the brain that control memory include the amygdala and hippocampus. When these parts of the brain sustain trauma, they are easily damaged, which can result in memory problems. A person who has a brain injury may have trouble recalling basic details such as what they experienced the day of the accident or they may not be able to recognize or recall names.
Difficulty Concentrating
Brain injuries tend to result in concentration problems. A person with a brain injury may not be able to concentrate for a long time, or can easily get distracted. They may have a hard time focusing on a problem or completing a specific task.
If you have recently been in an accident that resulted in a brain injury, you may want to speak to a trusted lawyer for assistance. Contact a reputable brain injury lawyer like one at Scott Vicknair, LLC near you now so that you can get the counsel you need to obtain the best possible compensation.
Brain Injury Care
While a New Orleans TBI lawyer is here to fight for your basic legal rights, you should also make sure to have the proper emotional and health support behind you during your recovery. If you are someone who is currently taking care of a family member or loved one with a serious brain injury, there are a few elements to keep in mind while you help them through this trying time.
Providing Structure
As a caregiver to someone with a brain injury, you want to provide a day-to-day environment with structure. Essentially, having a routine, simplified schedule makes your loved one feel as comfortable as possible while they are adjusting and healing from their brain injury. A concrete structure to their day and surrounding lowers any potential issues to their new normal. It’s important as the caregiver to be disciplined with this strategy and be cautious of how much the loved one is physically doing every day. A person with a brain injury should avoid being overly fatigued at all costs.
Communication is Key
Verbal communication and support are vital while dealing with a brain injury. If you are the caregiver, you should focus on communicating clearly with your loved one. Make sure while you’re communicating instructions or any kind of information that you are speaking concisely. Don’t give your loved one too much to process and handle in a small amount of time. Work at a slower pace, even if it feels uneasy. In terms of support, it’s imperative to give encouragement to their healing progress and let them know that they’re doing a great job at their recovery. Do not grow impatient at their slow pace, and do not get frustrated if you have to repeat yourself.
Learning About Their Injury
A caregiver should intentionally educate themselves on the nature of the brain injury that their loved one has. This is a good practice to show that you’re involved in their recovery process. If your schedule permits, it’s also helpful to attend any meetings with their New Orleans brain injury lawyer or doctor. Being in the room with them as they receive new information is an incredible sign of support. If you’re equally aware of all the parameters surrounding their injury, it’s one of many ways that make your loved one feel less alone in this difficult time.
Being Aware of the Recovery Process
A good caregiver is hyper-aware of how a person with a brain injury is behaving. Someone with a brain injury can easily get frustrated with how slow their healing may be going, but as the caregiver, it’s important for you to emphasize patience, and ultimately the reality of the situation. Do not let your loved one push themselves too hard or too quickly. You want to be able to monitor them for as much time as you can, especially in more critical stages.
Caring for Yourself
Last but not least, you should take personal time for yourself as a caregiver. Your own health is equally important – and if you are slacking off in caring for your loved one because you aren’t getting sleep, you aren’t doing a service to anyone. Working with a TBI lawyer is one of the best ways to remove any worry or stress from yourself and your loved one. A lawyer removes any legal burdens with the hospital, doctors, case, etc. while you focus on helping your loved one to a stable life again.
Get in Touch with a New Orleans Traumatic Brain Injury Attorney
At Scott Vicknair, we’re committed to your case. A brain injury is a catastrophic injury that will take a lifetime to come to terms with, and you should pursue as much compensation as possible to reflect this fact. You shouldn’t suffer any more than you already have because of someone else’s negligence, irresponsibility, and downright dangerous behavior. You should fight back.
Your accident was just the beginning. You’ll have to deal with medical bills and injury-related expenses, possibly for the rest of your life. But you shouldn’t give up on living the best life possible. Get in touch with a New Orleans traumatic brain injury attorney from Scott Vicknair today, and see what we can do for you.
