When the force from a car accident impacts the brain, it could lead to devastating injuries, including brain stem injury. Damage to the brain stem could have an adverse effect on the injured victim's physical, mental, and financial state. If the cause of the injury is another person's negligence, the affected party could pursue compensation by filing a personal injury claim or lawsuit.
The attorneys at Powell Law Firm have resolved thousands of personal injury cases, helping protect the rights of injured victims in St. Louis, Missouri, and recovering the compensation they deserve.
Those who have suffered brain stem injuries due to another's negligence must reach out to them for legal guidance.
What Is a Brain Stem Injury?
The nerves that connect the brain to the spinal cord are often referred to as the brain stem. It plays a critical role in the central nervous system, regulating a person's circadian rhythm, balance, breathing, blood pressure, and heart rhythms. The brain stem also assists in other functions, such as facial movements and swallowing.
How Does a Brain Stem Injury Occur?
The major cause of brain stem injuries in the United States is motor vehicle accidents. When the collision causes the person to smash their head against the dashboard or against other surfaces, it can shake the brain, resulting in traumatic brain injuries.
A brain stem injury occurs when an accident causes a traumatic brain injury. The blunt force trauma to the head from a car accident or any other unfortunate event can cause the brain to swell up, putting a lot of pressure on the brain stem and damaging the nerves.
Depending on the severity of the injury to the brain stem, it could lead to loss of blood and life-threatening conditions.
Common Symptoms of a Brain Stem Injury
A brain stem damage and a traumatic brain injury have similar symptoms, some of which include the following:
Dizziness
Breathing problems
Unusual, repetitive eye movements
Irregular sleeping habits
Paralysis
Loss of vision
Loss of sense of smell
Any damage to the human brain requires prompt medical evaluation and treatment. Failure to treat the brain injury could lead to medical complications or even "brain death."
How Long Does It Take to Recover from a Brain Stem Injury?
Doctors use various tools, including the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), to determine the extent of impaired consciousness and predict how the patient may recover from the head injury.
Depending on the severity of the brain stem injuries, a medical professional may either recommend no treatment or advise the injured victim to undergo immediate surgery.
The recovery process can take time. However, the injured victim may start to feel better after completing the medical treatment. In about 25% of all brain stem injury cases, the patients recover completely, while approximately 30% do not survive. The rest have to live with some form of permanent disability.
Medical professionals may recommend rehabilitation or physical therapy to help the injured victims cope with the effects of the brain stem injuries.
Can an Injured Victim Recover Damages in a Brain Stem Injury Claim?
A severe traumatic brain injury can cause serious damage to the brain stem, affecting all aspects of the injured victim's life. From paying medical bills to lost wages, physical pain, and mental health deterioration, a brain injury can completely flip the victim's life around.
If the brain stem injury occurred due to another's negligence, it's not fair for the victim to suffer the damages.
Fortunately, under personal injury law, brain stem damage or traumatic brain injury victims can recover economic and non-economic losses by pursuing a claim or lawsuit against the negligent party's insurance company.
Economic damages in a personal injury case compensate the injured victim for the out-of-pocket expenses incurred following their brain injuries, including medical expenses, lost wages, and property damage.
On the other hand, non-economic damages compensate the injured victim for the subjective losses (non-monetary) incurred following their brain injury, and these may include the following:
Pain and suffering
Mental anguish
Emotional trauma
Reduced quality of life
A car accident can cause irreversible damage to the brain tissue, nerves, and blood vessels, leading to permanent disabilities.
It's important for the injured victim to reach out to an experienced automobile accident attorney in St Louis MO to discuss their case and improve their chances of recovering compensatory damages.
Why Should the Injured Victims Reach Out to Powell Law Firm after Their Brain Stem Injury Car Accident
Brain stem injury victims often face several hurdles when it comes to recovering compensation, which is why it is crucial for them to reach out to the experienced lawyers at Powell Law Firm.
The legal team at Powell Law Firm can help the affected parties in many ways, including the following:
Calculate the Damages
When pursuing a personal injury claim or lawsuit, it is crucial to calculate the total amount of damages incurred following the car accident.
Calculating the non-economic losses is one of the most challenging aspects of a personal injury claim or lawsuit. The experienced legal team at Powell Law Firm has access to medical experts and other skilled professionals who can provide assistance in determining the actual pain and suffering damages incurred.
Investigate the Accident
When building a personal injury case, it's essential to gather the necessary evidence, which may include pictures and videos of the accident scene, the victim's medical reports, CCTV footage, and witness statements, among many others.
The legal team at Powell Law Firm can help investigate the accident and gather the necessary evidence to build a strong personal injury case.
Handle the Insurance Company
Handling the insurance company after an accident can be hectic and tiring. When the insurer assigns the case to a claims adjuster, they use every dirty tactic to deny the claim or reduce the payout.
The personal injury attorneys at Powell Law Firm have extensive experience handling insurance companies and have recovered millions of dollars in compensatory damages for the injured victims. They can also give insight on broken ribs from car accident.
Powell Law Firm Can Negotiate a Fair Settlement for a Severe Head Injury!
A severe head injury, including brain stem damage, can cause a dent in the injured victim's finances. Those who have suffered brain injuries due to another's negligence in St. Louis, Missouri, should call to schedule a free consultation with experienced attorneys at Powell Law Firm.
The legal team at Powell Law Firm can help gather the necessary evidence, calculate the damages, and negotiate a fair settlement for the injured victim.
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