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About Brain Injuries and Head Injuries
Information about serious head injuries and brain injuries
Claiming Personal Injury Compensation
How much can be claimed in compensation for a brain injury or head injury?
Compensation Claim Advice
How to obtain advice from a specialist personal injury solicitor about a brain injury or head injury
Client Stories
Information about cases Thompsons have dealt with
News about Brain Injuries and Head Injuries
News reports published by Thompsons Solicitors about Head Injuries and Brain Injuries
Useful Links
Links to organisations which may be able to help head injury or brain injury victims
Preventing Head Injuries and Brain Injuries
Practical ways to minimise the risk of a head injury or brain injury
According to the Brain Injury Resource Foundation, approximately 125,000 people suffer some sort of brain injury which requires hospital admission in the UK each year.
Brain Injuries or Head Injuries can be caused in many different ways, such as from an accident at work, a road accident, an accident in a public place or an assault / attack. Brain Injuries can also be caused by clinical negligence.
Effects of brain injuries and head injuries vary – there could be cognitive difficulties, memory loss and / or poor concentration through to permanent brain damage and / or physical disability.
You might be thinking of making a compensation claim for a brain injury or head injury that you, or a relative is coping with and that you feel was caused as a result of an accident. The change to lifestyle, the cost, the financial strain can be overwhelming, getting involved in a legal battle is often a daunting and unwelcome additional strain. We help individuals make the right decisions and the legal battle is to secure compensation that helps you deal with the changes to lifestyle and the financial impacts.
As specialist personal injury solicitors dealing with a claims for compensation in cases where a person has suffered a brain injury or head injury we will need to work closely with the family of the injured person and carry out home or hospital visits. We make every effort to explain the issues to you in plain English and to put you at your ease throughout.
The amount of compensation awarded for a brain injury claim or head injury claim will obviously be a lot higher than an average personal injury compensation claim.
The compensation awarded must take into account, not only the pain and suffering the person has endured together with initial costs but also any future losses they may incur such as rehabilitation costs, nursing care, disability aids or specialist equipment as well as transport costs or the cost of having their house modified to suit their needs. The damages awarded would also need to take into account any future lost earnings if the injured person is unable to return to work.
A personal injury compensation claim for a brain injury or head injury will require more work to be carried out by the personal injury solicitor involved; therefore, it is very important that you seek immediate legal advice.
If you or anyone you know has suffered a brain injury, head injury or any other serious injury, telephone us now for accurate claim advice.
There are strict time limits in place to make any injury claim. For further information, contact us or visit our Questions Answered page.
Thompsons Solicitors are experts in all personal injury matters. We will be able to advise you whether or not you have a valid claim for compensation. Our specialist personal injury lawyers will be happy to talk you through the process of making a claim in plain English and will be happy to answer any questions or queries you may have. If you do have a valid personal injury compensation claim and you decide to instruct Thompsons Solicitors to deal with the matter for you, we will recover our legal fees from the person responsible for your injury, ensuring that the entire procedure is cost-free for you. Telephone us now on 08000 224 224 or complete one of our online compensation claim forms.
£2.4 million compensation for spinal injury and head injury
When Thompsons Solicitors recovered £2.4million in compensation for Greg Arde, the story was covered by the National Press. To read the story published by the BBC, visit “Paralysed worker's £2.4m payout”.
Mr Arde had been working for a company in Wales where he was asked to drive a fork lift truck without any training or a valid licence. The truck toppled over onto him and crushed him causing spinal injuries and head injuries.
Mr Arde said that he was happy with the amount of compensation he was awarded, which would help to pay for a specially adapted house for him to live in and round-the-clock care costs.
Mick Antoniw from Thompsons’ Cardiff office said the figure was decided upon following "a period of intense negotiations".
"As far as I am aware this is one of the largest ever settlements for an adult in south Wales.
"Greg is a remarkable individual who has learned to cope with catastrophic injuries. The compensation will help him put the accident behind him and reconstruct his life."
"He used to be a keen rugby player and he still goes to watch sports matches. He was a very fit young man."
"The money is a relief to him that it's over. It had to be in this region for him to be able to pay for his care regime that gives him his quality of life."
£1.6 million compensation for brain injury after car accident
ASLEF and its lawyers has secured a £1.6 million compensation settlement for the son of a member who suffered a severe head injury and resultant brain damage when he was hit by a speeding car.
The money will be administered by the Court Of Protection and an appointed Receiver.
The teenager was knocked down near to his home in March 1999. The car, which was being driven at speed on the wrong side of the road and past several traffic islands hit the victim as he crossed the road. It did not slow or stop until some 70 metres after the collision.
The driver was later jailed for one year and disqualified from driving for three years. His victim suffered a fractured skull and was in a coma for some time. He underwent rehabilitation at two specialist brain injury centres, but continues to suffer significant symptoms of head injury.
Now aged 23, he has a mental age of about 16, may always be dependent on carers, cannot forge relationships or hold down a permanent job.
At the time of the accident, the victim was a schoolboy, keen to forge a career as a film industry lighting technician after finishing his GCSE’s. But the accident left him unable to finish his GCSE’s and there is now little prospect that he will ever achieve his ambition.
His father, whose membership of ASLEF enabled his son to be represented by the union’s lawyers Thompsons, which has a specialist serious injury unit, said that the years since the accident had taken their toll.
“It’s been a very trying time. My son has had his future destroyed. He is now dependent on others to look after him, and he probably always will be. We have however had fantastic support from the brain injury association Headway, from Hillingdon’s Children With Disabilities Team, from ASLEF and from Thompsons. I’m not sure how we would have coped without Headway, in particular.
“It’s been a long wait for compensation for my son. It was a complex case and without the expertise of Thompsons we may not have succeeded in securing a settlement.
“No amount of money can make up for what happened to my son. He will never achieve his ambitions, never enjoy the future that he had planned. But at least it will pay for the care, accommodation and other special needs that he will require over the years.”
In the past we have published many news stories about head injuries and brain injuries within the Newsdesk section of the website. A selection can be found below:
24 January 2006 - Nightclub owner liable for bouncer's attack on fire fighter
19 September 2005 - Thompsons demands criminal injury compensation review after payout for tragic boy
20th July 2005 - Welsh UNISON member receives £390,000 for road collision with trailer
11 January 2005 - Nightclub chain responsible for attack by doorman
2 April 2003 - Machete attack children finally win compensation
There are a number of associations for support, guidance and information regarding brain and head injuries for not only the person affected, but family and friends as well.
Headway (The Brain Injury Association) - is a registered charity in England. Our aims are to promote understanding of all aspects of head injury and to provide information, support and services to people who have suffered a head injury, their family and carers.
Brain Injury Resource Foundation - The mission of the Brain Injury Resource Foundation is to provide education, advocacy and support for persons affected by brain injury.
NHS Direct Online Health Encyclopaedia – Symptoms, causes, treatment and prevention of brain injuries.
The Child Brain Injury Trust () - The Child Brain Injury Trust (Cbit) supports children, young people and families affected by an acquired brain injury to enable them to achieve their potential.
If you suffer a head injury or brain injury due to an accident or incident which was not your fault, you may be able to make a claim for compensation; however, preventing the injury to begin with is obviously the best option.
Safety Helmets
British standard safety helmets are already a legal requirement for motorcyclists and are a sensible choice for pedal cyclists too. It is advisable to invest in a helmet which fits properly and is of a good standard as safety helmets can reduce the risk of a serious head injury by 85% if you are involved in an accident.
Both adults and children taking part in dangerous or high-speed sports, such as skateboarding, horse riding and go-karting should also be encouraged to wear safety helmets.
If you work in a hazardous environment such as a building site, construction site or warehouse, you should ensure that your employer provides you with protective head wear. It is common for objects to fall from a height and injure workers below.
Seatbelts
Seatbelts save lives and it is a legal requirement for all car drivers and passengers to wear seatbelts in the front and the rear seats of a car. It is also a legal requirement for baby car seats and booster seats to be used where necessary. Wearing a seatbelt can minimise all types of possible injuries including brain injuries and head injuries.
Slow Down
Exceeding the speed limits stated causes accidents and subsequently injuries. Travelling at excessive speeds can also cause serious injuries to occur such as head injuries or brain injuries in comparison to low-speed collisions which may only cause minor injuries.
Be Seen
If you are out after dusk for any reason you should make yourself as visible to motorists as possible. Whether you are out walking, jogging or exercising your dog, a cyclist or a horse rider, make sure you wear light coloured or preferably reflective clothing to make your presence obvious to other road users. If you can be clearly seen by motorists this will decrease your change of being involved in an accident and suffering a head injury or brain injury.