What is Brain Injury?
The impairments associated with brain damage vary in type and severity, depending on the nature of the injury. Brain trauma can usually fall into one of two categories: traumatic brain injury and acquired brain injury.
Traumatic Brain Injury
Attorney Halström represents brain injury victims who have suffered from Traumatic Brain Injury. This category of brain injury usually occurs as a result of a serious head trauma or a head injury. Most commonly, traumatic brain injury is the result of injuries sustained from automobile accidents, sports accidents, Shaken Baby Syndrome, or violence.
Auto Accidents – Because of the high speeds at which cars and other vehicles travel, it is no surprise that auto accidents result in the highest number of traumatic brain injury cases in Boston and nationally. The likelihood that a victim will sustain serious and lasting brain injury complications increases if he or she was not properly protected by a seat belt, helmet, or other protective gear. Sometimes, though, others act in negligent ways, making it impossible to avoid head trauma.
Sports Accidents – With increasing participation in competitive, contact sports, brain injuries for athletes have become somewhat common. Athletes who compete in physical sports such as football, rugby, hockey, and horseback riding are at risk. It is important for athletes who participate in these sports to wear the proper protective gear in order to avoid sustaining a head injury. Even with the proper gear, however, sometimes the injury is unavoidable because another party was negligent. In such cases, it may become necessary to hire a head injury lawyer.
Shaken Baby Syndrome – Sadly, Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS) is the number one cause of death among infants. SBS occurs when a baby or infant is violently shaken, causing the brain to hit the skull. When this occurs, serious brain and head injury can occur, even sometimes resulting in death.
Violence – Elder abuse, child abuse, and domestic violence are all examples of violence that can lead to head and brain injury. For the elderly individual, brain damage can occur if the victim is hit repeatedly in the head or if the victim is pushed or falls down. In adults and children, abuse often results in battery of the head, which causes brain damage. Unfortunately, violence is a leading cause of brain injury among adults, and it often goes unreported.
Acquired Brain Injury
Acquired Brain Injury occurs when the brain is deprived of oxygen. Often, this occurs because the victim suffers from a heart attack, stroke, or other health condition that restricts the oxygen flow to the brain. In some cases, however, Acquired Brain Injury is the result of negligence on the part of a medical provider or caretaker.
What Should I Do if I Am a Brain Injury Victim?
Confusion and anger may be your first response if you or a loved one is a victim of head trauma. Boston attorney, Frederic Halström, knows that you will probably have many questions and maybe even be unclear about your rights. In such cases, Attorney Halström recommends that you take the following steps:
- Review the Facts: How did the brain injury occur? If it was in an automobile accident, was the other driver following the traffic laws? Was he or she driving in an aggressive or distracted way? If the injury was sustained during a medical procedure, can the physician give a strong explanation for the injury? If you are still unsure or suspicious about the circumstances surrounding your brain injury, our Boston law firm can help.
- Document Everything: Try to keep records, receipts, and statements from the incident in which you or a loved one received head trauma. It is important to document your account of the incident as soon as possible so that it is fresh and clear in your mind.
- Act Quickly: If you believe that you or a loved one have been the victim of negligence, resulting in a brain injury in the Boston area, Attorney Frederic Halström recommends that you contact our law firm as quickly as possible. The sooner you contact us, the easier it will be for our attorneys to collect valuable information and data that can determine the success of your case.