Signs of a Brain Injury

Signs of a Brain Injury in Young Children

The signs of a brain injury look very different for adults than they do for young children. Because babies and toddlers cannot verbally express their symptoms, parents should know about the indicators of a brain injury in small children.

According to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), some of these symptoms include:

• Excessive crying
• Sensitivity to sound and light
• Dilated pupils
• Problems with one’s attention span
• A change in a child’s pitch or tone
• Irritability
• Changes in mood
• Excessive drowsiness

If left untreated, a brain injury can result in permanent disabilities or death. If you suspect that your child suffered a brain injury, you should take them to a medical professional as soon as you can.

Treatment for a Brain Injury

Mayo Clinic reports that most mild brain injuries can be relieved with rest and over-the-counter medications. However, in severe cases, immediate medical attention may be warranted. To diagnose one’s condition, a doctor may perform an array of imaging scans, such as a computerized tomography (CT) scan or a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan. From there, the type of recommended treatment will depend on one’s condition.

For instance, if someone is suffering from brain swelling, then they may be given a diuretic intravenously. This would expel excess fluid from the body and help relieve pressure from inside the skull. In other cases, surgical intervention is necessary. This happens in cases where severe damage has been done to brain tissue.

Some types of surgical interventions include:

• Removing skull fragments
• Stopping brain bleeds
• Relieving pressure in the skull
• Removing blood clots

Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) require long-term rehabilitation. After receiving a TBI, patients may be at a heightened risk of having seizures. They may also develop anxiety or depression as a result of their condition. However, with time, many people with TBIs are able to maintain their quality of life.

You May Be Entitled to Compensation Following a Brain Injury

Depending on the specifics of your injury, you may be entitled to compensation for your various expenses. For instance, if you slipped and fell at a chain grocery store, you could have a case against the overseeing corporation. However, if you suffered injuries in a car accident, you could have a case against the negligent driver.

If you have the basis of a personal injury case, some compensable damages in your case may include:

• Healthcare expenses. You may be entitled to compensation for hospitalization, medications, surgery, and doctors’ visits.
• Rehabilitative care. Many brain injury patients need rehabilitation. You could secure a financial recovery for the cost of in-home care, physical therapy, and assistive devices, like a wheelchair.
• Lost wages. If your brain injury caused you to miss time from work, your lost income, wages, tips, and benefits are compensable.
• Reduced future earning capacity. Some TBIs result in lifelong impairments. If your earning power was affected by your condition, you could include these losses in your claim.
• Pain and suffering. The physical and emotional trauma of being injured can be included in your claim for compensation. Each insurance company has a different method of calculating this expense.

Unfortunately, some brain injuries are fatal. If you lost a loved one due to a brain injury, some compensable losses in your case may include the decedent’s medical bills and lost income. You could also receive compensation for loss of consortium, loss of household benefits, and loss of parental guidance.

New York’s Statute of Limitations Could Affect Your Case

How long you have to take legal action under New York’s statute of limitations will depend on how your injury occurred. For instance, if you were injured in a car accident or slip and fall, you typically have three years to bring your case to court (outlined under New York Civil Practice Law & Rules (CVP) §214(4) and §214(5). If you lost a loved one due to a brain injury, you usually have two years from the date of their passing to file a wrongful death lawsuit, per Estates, Powers & Trusts (EPT) §5-4.1.

The statute of limitations may differ depending on who was responsible for your losses. For instance, if you have a case against a government department, your time to file an insurance claim or lawsuit could be shorter than the timelines listed above.

Call the Law Office of Cohen & Jaffe, LLP for Legal Help

If you or a loved one suffered from the signs of a brain injury, you could be able to recoup the cost of your injury-related losses. You can learn more about your financial recovery options by calling the Law Office of Cohen & Jaffe, LLP today at 866-878-6774.