Baltimore Injury Lawyer Blog
Injuries affecting the brain stem can have devastating consequences, leading to the loss of motor skills, cognitive function, intense pain, and even fatalities. Regrettably, the repercussions don’t solely end there. A brain stem injury can profoundly impact not just physical and mental health but also one’s financial stability. Should you or a family member suffer a brain stem injury due to another party’s negligence, you may have grounds to file a personal injury lawsuit seeking damages.
The idea of pursuing legal action after a severe brain stem injury can feel overwhelming. Such injuries can occur in various scenarios, including car accidents, hazardous work environments, or due to the use of faulty products. Our brain injury attorneys have a track record of securing maximum compensation and holding accountable those responsible for negligence across diverse personal injury cases. Our team offers a complimentary consultation for those seeking guidance.
About Brain Stem InjuriesÂ
The brain stem is a cluster of nerves that act as a bridge connecting the brain to the spinal cord. This vital structure plays a crucial role in various essential functions, including regulating circadian rhythms, maintaining balance, controlling breathing, and managing heart rhythms. Moreover, the brain stem is associated with functions like swallowing and coordinating facial movements. While some individuals with brain stem damage may recover, others might necessitate full-time care and might never achieve complete recovery.
Often, brain stem damage stems from a traumatic brain injury, even if the initial accident didn’t directly affect the brain stem. Traumatic brain injuries span a spectrum from mild concussions to severe, life-threatening damage caused by a diffuse axonal injury. Damage to the brain stem can also result from brain swelling, exerting pressure or causing damage to this critical region. For instance, a penetrating head injury at a workplace or a coup contrecoup head injury sustained in a rear-end collision could potentially lead to brain stem damage.
Severe brain stem damage or disruptions in blood and oxygen supply to the brain can culminate in “brain death.” In situations where a loved one succumbs due to a brain stem injury caused by someone else’s negligence, you may have grounds to seek damages through a wrongful death lawsuit. Seeking guidance from a spinal cord injury lawyer is advisable in such circumstances.
Common Causes of Brain Stem Injuries
Various circumstances can lead to a brain stem head injury. To qualify for compensation for your damages, the injury must result from negligence by a party responsible for ensuring a duty of care. For instance, an allegation of negligence might be directed at a drunk driver responsible for a head-on collision or an employer who neglected to furnish necessary safety equipment for scaling a building. A proficient brain injury lawyer possesses the expertise to identify potentially liable parties in your particular situation.
Auto Accidents
Car accidents and truck accidents are always one of the leading causes of brain stem injuries. Brain stem damage may arise when a driver or passenger experiences a forceful impact against a rigid surface or undergoes abrupt, forceful movements, causing rapid back-and-forth jerking. Such accidents can affect individuals across various age groups and backgrounds, occurring in diverse settings.
Wearing seatbelts while driving and helmets while biking has demonstrated effectiveness in shielding individuals from these injuries. This safeguarding stems from a reduction in the likelihood of extreme forward or backward bending of the neck and minimized twisting movements—two actions that could potentially result in brain stem injuries.
Recreational Accidents
Numerous individuals partake in water-related activities like boating and diving, but unfortunately, these pursuits carry a risk of traumatic brain injury (TBI). For instance, in a boating mishap, a reckless operator might abruptly halt the vessel to avoid a collision, causing passengers to collide with hard surfaces or be ejected into the water, resulting in brain trauma.
Even recreational pursuits on land pose a risk of brain stem injuries. Various sports and activities expose children to these types of injuries. Falls from playground equipment, accidents while skateboarding or biking, horseback riding incidents, and engaging in contact sports all present the potential for brain stem injury. The utilization of protective headgear can help mitigate or prevent serious head injuries among both youths and adults.
Workplace Falls and Accidents
Employees in various industries face an elevated risk of sustaining workplace injuries, particularly in fields such as construction or roles like firefighting. Brain stem injuries can result from falls from elevated surfaces like scaffolding, windows, ladders, or rooftops. While less frequent, white-collar workers are also susceptible to these injuries. If you’ve experienced a brain stem injury in your workplace, you’re likely eligible for workers’ compensation benefits provided by your employer’s insurance coverage. In cases of severe brain damage leading to an inability to work or live independently, you might qualify for more comprehensive disability benefits.
Damages Available in Brain Stem Injury Lawsuits
A brain stem injury can significantly impact various aspects of your life, spanning from financial matters to your mental and physical well-being. The duration and extent of these challenges can be prolonged, potentially lasting a lifetime, contingent upon the severity of the injury. If your brain stem damage stems from someone else’s negligence or carelessness, you likely have the opportunity to pursue a claim against them to recover your losses.
In a personal injury lawsuit, your brain injury attorney will likely recommend seeking economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages, such as medical bills or expenses for essential equipment like a wheelchair, have identifiable monetary values. On the other hand, non-economic damages are often more intricate to assess as they involve emotional or intangible losses, such as a loss of independence or bodily function. Both categories of damages hold validity. A proficient personal injury attorney can assist in assessing the worth of these losses considering your specific health condition, lifestyle, and occupational circumstances.
Contact Miller & Zois About a Brain Stem Injury Lawsuit
If you or a family member suffered a brain stem injury in accident, call our brain stem lawyers at 800-553-8082