Brain Injury Awareness Month: March ‘23

What You Should Know this Brain Injury Awareness Month

Accidental injuries are one of the leading causes of death, and brain injuries are one of the most common types of fatal accidental injuries. For this reason, the Brain Injury Association of America designated March as Brain Injury Awareness Month, aiming to increase knowledge of a type of injury that impacts tens of thousands of lives each year.

Unfortunately, there’s a serious lack of knowledge surrounding brain injuries. They are all too common and usually bring life-altering consequences for the injured person and their loved ones. Tragically, brain injury attorneys often witness how a lack of knowledge directly impacts a victim’s prognosis and financial future.

So this March, take the time to learn more about why brain injury awareness matters — and how a little education can go a long way toward protecting you and your loved ones. 

Why Brain Injury Knowledge Matters

Brain injuries are the type of injury most likely to result in permanent disability or death. They’re also one of the most devastating and expensive types of injury a person can experience. 

Spreading awareness surrounding the topic of brain injury doesn’t just increase awareness — it offers protection. Knowing the signs of a brain injury and when to call a lawyer allows you to take action, ensuring that your health and finances are protected.

Getting Financial Help for a Brain Injury

When you or someone you love suffers a brain injury, it’s important to consider the long-term financial consequences. 

Even a mild brain injury can have lasting repercussions, making earning a wage, driving a car, or performing other necessary activities difficult or impossible. When a brain injury is severe, loved ones may be left paying for ongoing surgeries and assisted living costs for decades.

But supporting a loved one with a serious brain injury requires financial resources on a level that the average person simply doesn’t have. And even if you do have tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars at your disposal, you shouldn’t have to pay for an accident caused by someone else. 

A brain injury attorney in Richmond offers financial support by building a case against the party responsible for the accident that caused the injury. An experienced lawyer can prove liability, maximize compensation, and negotiate a fair settlement with an insurance company.  

Sometimes, it’s necessary to file a brain injury lawsuit against an insurance company that won’t offer a fair settlement to an accident victim. Brain injuries come with a high cost, meaning settlements and court verdicts often bring compensation in the millions of dollars. 

Common Questions About Brain Injuries

Brain injury lawyers in Richmond hear all manner of questions on brain injuries, which is why we appreciate the need to spread knowledge on the topic during Brain Injury Awareness Month. 

After all, most people don’t know much about brain injuries until they’re personally impacted by one. However, educating yourself on the signs and impact of a brain injury helps you know when to consult with a brain injury lawyer about your options for gaining compensation. 

Here are some of the most common questions the brain injury attorneys at Commonwealth Law Group hear from new clients:

Are There Different Types of Brain Injuries? 

Any injury that impacts the brain can be considered a brain injury. However, brain injuries are identified in different ways. Depending on how long the victim loses consciousness, a brain injury can be mild, moderate, or severe. Brain injuries can also be open or closed, depending on whether an external object penetrates the skull. 

How Do Brain Injuries Happen?

Brain injuries can happen in countless ways, but falls and car accidents are two of the most common incidents that result in brain injury.

It’s common knowledge that hitting your head can lead to a brain injury, but it’s also possible to suffer a brain injury even if your head doesn’t come into contact with anything. If the head is jolted (like during a car accident), the momentum can cause the brain to slam into the inside of the skull, leading to injury. 

What Are the Common Signs of a Brain Injury?

Common signs of a brain injury include: 

• Loss of consciousness
• Seizures
• Headache
• Dizziness
• Disorientation
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Difficulty with memory or concentration

Knowing the common signs of a brain injury can be life-saving information. If you or someone you know experiences these symptoms after a car accident, it’s best to seek a medical opinion immediately.

Is a Concussion Considered a Brain Injury?

Yes, a concussion is a mild brain injury. In fact, concussions are the most common type of brain injury. Because they’re considered mild, it can be harder to recognize the signs that something is wrong. However, a concussion can have lasting consequences on cognitive function, especially when you don’t seek medical care. 

Virginia Brain Injury Lawyers Fight for Justice

A brain injury completely alters the trajectory of an individual’s future, and a person suffering from a severe brain injury is usually left without the ability to make decisions regarding their care. 

This means that the care of a person who suffers a brain injury falls to their immediate family members — and that care typically comes at an incredible price. It’s not uncommon for a severe brain injury to leave a family struggling with medical debt that can reach hundreds of thousands of dollars. 

That’s why brain injury law firms exist — to help family members fight for justice after a loved one suffers an avoidable brain injury. A personal injury lawyer builds a case to prove negligence, which shows that the incident could have been prevented with a greater level of care. 

Brain injury lawyers in Richmond, Virginia, make it possible for families to provide care for a loved one without experiencing excessive debt, bankruptcy, and other serious negative financial consequences.

Commonwealth Law Group works with brain injury victims and their loved ones to recover compensation intended to offset the damage of a serious brain injury. Contact our firm to speak with an experienced Virginia brain injury lawyer today.