What is a brain injury?
There are two main types of brain injury:
- A traumatic brain injury, which is caused by some form of external trauma to the head.
- An acquired brain injury, which can refer to any injury caused to the brain since birth. This can include a traumatic brain injury as well as an injury caused by a tumour, stroke or brain haemorrhage.
Brain injuries can vary in severity. Bolt Burdon Kemp have experience representing those who have suffered a wide spectrum of brain injuries, from subtle brain injury through to severe brain injury.
Causes of brain injury
Within the military, a brain injury can be caused by accident or medical causes, such as:
- Accidents while on active duty;
- Training accidents;
- Skiing accidents;
- Accidents which occur off duty;
- Falls;
- Motor vehicle accidents;
- Assaults;
- Sports and recreation injuries;
- Medical mistakes.
Brain injury symptoms
The complexity of the brain means that the effects of a brain injury, and the symptoms that follow, can be wide ranging.
These can include invisible symptoms affecting:
- Memory;
- Concentration and attention span;
- Communication; and
- Processing information and problem solving.
Damage to the brain can impact upon physical processes which take place in the body, and can lead to problems with mobility, fatigue and speech impairment.
It is also common for someone with a brain injury to experience a change in their personality and suffer with mood swings as well as symptoms such as depression and anxiety.
The impact of a brain injury
While many people recover quickly after an injury, this is not always the case and some people can experience problems for months or even years after the injury. In some cases, the effects of a brain injury can be life-long.
Service personnel often work in physically demanding roles and are tasked with jobs that require great focus and concentration, so it can very challenging for someone with a brain injury to work in this type of environment.
A brain injury can have a devastating impact on someone’s career as a prolonged recovery period will often result in them being downgraded and medically discharged. Going through this process can be distressing and will often exacerbate the effects of the injury itself.
Making a claim for brain injury
We are experienced in acting for individuals who have been injured in these circumstances, and securing them compensation for lost earnings, pension and employment benefits, as well as compensation to cover the cost of:
- Any specialist treatment and support they might need;
- Aids and equipment;
- Assistance finding accommodation;
- Rehabilitation and help finding work.
If you have suffered a brain injury and would like to discuss making a claim then you can contact one of our solicitors.
You may also be eligible to receive compensation under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme.
To find out more about the military claims process please visit our dedicated page here.
