When a person sustains a brain injury, there are a wide range of symptoms that they might experience, which can affect various aspects of their day-to-day lives. Because every brain injury is different, it’s hard to know exactly what each person is going through, and everyone will experience it differently.
That’s why we’ve put together this detailed resource to help you understand more about how to manage a brain injury.
We chose CFG Law and their team as they were very helpful when we were researching companies to work with. I have to say they have been brilliant from day one and the whole team has supported our family through every single step of this difficult process. The one thing that set them apart was the way they talked to us and understood what we were going through, and they got to know our whole family from the offset.”
Read Mr G's case study
A brain injury can have a lasting impact on a person's life. While it can be difficult to adapt to the changes, with the right support, brain injured people can live happy and fulfilled lives. We have a range of blogs from our two expert guest bloggers as part of our community - Brooke Trotter and Michelle Munt - who are both brain injury survivors. Find out more about their experiences below:
Brooke was involved in a road traffic collision in May 2007, which left him with a severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). Now he’s sharing his story to help raise awareness of TBI and help others going through similar experiences. Brooke is part of our community and provides useful guidance and advice on our blog for people living with a brain injury.
In 2014, Michelle was involved in a serious road traffic collision when her car was hit by a truck, which left her with a severe brain injury. After her experiences, Michelle decided to help others by sharing useful tips and advice on her website jumbledbrain.com. Her real-life stories about the struggles she has faced have offered inspiration to many.
Traumatic Brain Injuries are usually classified in three different categories: mild, moderate and severe. While these categories are not an exact science (as people recover differently), they can help to provide guidance on what to expect.
The severity of a brain injury can often be indicated by the length of time a person is unconscious after sustaining the injury. Medical professionals will also use a metric called the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) to help their diagnosis. The GCS scores the injury over three areas and adds them together to assess how severe the injury is. These areas are eye opening, verbal response and motor response.
Usually, these classifications are used immediately after someone has sustained a head injury. Although they help doctors assess how serious the injury is at the beginning, these classifications do not always indicate the long-term outcomes of the injured person.
Someone who is initially diagnosed as having a mild brain injury can sometimes go on to experience complex long-term symptoms and problems, while a person who is classified as severe can go on to make a complete recovery. Each brain injury is different, so a person’s recovery will depend on what parts of the brain have been injured and the extent of these injuries.
| Criteria | Mild | Moderate | Severe |
| VA/DoD | |||
| Glasgow coma scale | 13-15 | 9-12 | <8 |
| Loss of consciousness | 0-30 min | 30 min to 24h | More than 24h |
| Post-traumatic amnesia | Less than 24h or none | More than 24h less than 1 week | More than 1 week |
| Alteration of consciousness / mental state | A moment up to 24h | >24h, severity based on other criteria | >24h, severity based on other criteria |
A Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is often classified as mild if a person is unconscious, confused or disoriented for 30 minutes or less. Concussion is one of the most common head injuries and is often categorised as ‘mild’. Despite this, a concussion should never be underestimated. Often, an MRI or CAT scan doesn’t show the full damage to the brain caused by a concussion, with many of these injuries turning out to be more complicated than first thought. This can lead to devastating outcomes for the injured person and their family if left untreated. That’s why it’s absolutely vital to closely monitor any head injury.
A moderate brain injury is defined as a loss of consciousness for 20 minutes to 6 hours, and a score of 9-12 on the Glasgow Coma Scale. For most people, the symptoms of a moderate brain injury will gradually improve, although this can take 6-9 months. The impact of a moderate brain injury depends on a number of factors, including the severity of the initial injury, how quickly medical intervention took place, the functions affected by the injury and the patient’s physiological recovery. The resources available to help with recovery can also have an impact too.
A brain injury is classed as ‘severe’ when the person loses consciousness for more than 6 hours. This appears on the Glasgow Coma Scale somewhere between 3 and 8. Patients who have been diagnosed with a severe brain injury are likely to be hospitalised and will need rehabilitation. Common symptoms of severe head injuries include: fits or seizures, difficulty speaking, problems with senses, difficulty with walking and memory loss.
There are a number of accidents that can lead to traumatic brain injuries, and they vary by age and occupation. Here are some of the most common accidents:
Trips, slips and falls are the most frequent reasons for personal injury in the UK, and the leading cause of Traumatic Brain Injury (47%). Unfortunately, some slips and falls can cause serious, life changing injuries - from broken bones to more serious head, brain or spinal injuries.
Sports and other recreational activities are particularly common amongst children and adolescents, making up around 21% of Traumatic Brain Injuries in this age group. According to incident reports, water sports, cycling, baseball and basketball lead to the highest number of severe injuries.
According to a survey by BrainLine, 14% of Traumatic Brain Injuries are caused by traffic collisions, with research suggesting that the most severe injuries happen to pedestrians. Cyclists are also at risk, as well as motorcyclists, who are often involved in serious road traffic collisions.
All employers have a duty of care to ensure that working environments are safe and appropriate for their employees. Unfortunately, accidents do still happen in the workplace. The most common injuries are caused by lifting, handling manual equipment, and faulty or dangerous machinery.
Brain injuries can also occur as a result of a violent crime or assault. If you, or your family member, have sustained a brain injury from a violent crime, you may be able to claim compensation through the Criminal Injury Compensation Authority (CICA)
Although brain injuries are common, diagnosing them can be complicated. Problems often arise during the first 24 to 48 hours after a head or brain injury, so it’s important to monitor anyone suspected of having a head injury for worsening symptoms.
If a brain injury goes untreated, it can have serious, long-term consequences. Anyone who experiences an impact to the head and develops any symptoms associated with Traumatic Brain Injury should seek medical attention, even if the symptoms appear mild.
Research suggests that early rehabilitation is crucial to recovery. After a person has sustained a brain injury, it’s vital to have an in-depth individual plan to achieve the best possible outcome for the person and their family.
We help our clients ensure they have early access to the treatment and rehabilitation they need to achieve their best possible outcome and lead a fulfilled life. Find out how we helped one of our clients, Mr. G, get the lifelong care and rehabilitation he needed after being struck by a car.
The main concerns after an accident are your immediate needs and getting better over time. Picking a lawyer to make a claim should tick both these boxes, and a good solicitor will prioritise early treatment as well as after-care to help ensure the best possible recovery and emotional wellbeing.
Making a claim for compensation can offer a vital lifeline for patients and families living with a brain injury. A compensation claim isn’t just about compensating you for the pain and suffering you have endured. A claim can also provide much needed financial assistance (particularly if you are unable to work), and help with funding for treatment, rehabilitation, aids and adaptations, equipment and more.
It’s important to choose a solicitor who has the expertise to handle complex brain injury claims, which may not mean your most local firm. A good solicitor will travel to meet you in the hospital or at home and listen to you and your family’s needs to create an early assessment and rehabilitation plan.
Right from the start, we pull together with you and your family and get to know you. We find out what your most crucial needs and concerns are and work with you to put a plan in place to help you to start to get your life back on track. This can include the provision of emergency funding, help to access early treatment and rehabilitation, as well as providing support for the whole family.
We build a team around you and your family, choosing solicitors with specialist expertise in helping people with your specific injuries. A Client Support Manager will also work alongside your solicitor. They are highly experienced healthcare professionals who provide practical support and insight into your and your family’s needs. They work as part of a multidisciplinary team to ensure the best possible support for you and your family at all times. Our Client Support Managers will meet you at a very early stage to make sure we have a full understanding of your existing and future needs.
Providing our comprehensive support services requires time and dedication. To ensure you receive the support you deserve, our solicitors work with fewer clients than is typical in the legal industry, ensuring they have the time to dedicate to getting to know you and your family, and making sure your needs are met. It also means they can work intensively and proactively on your claim, resulting in full compensation for your injuries and the best possible outcome for you, without unnecessary delay.
CFG Law’s main aim is to work together with people affected by injury to achieve their best possible outcome. This is something that runs throughout our business and every member of the CFG Law team. Helping with your serious injury claim is only part of our service – helping you get your life back on track is our primary goal.
We know recovering from a brain injury is not easy or straightforward, which is why we provide such a wide range of services to address every challenge you and your family will face. Our aim for each client is to help rebuild their lives, with the aid of early access to funding, medical care and rehabilitation, guidance and first-rate legal advice.
At CFG Law, we believe that building strong relationships with our clients right from the start is absolutely vital. Trust is something that has to be earned - and becoming invested in what you and your family are going through is the best way to provide you with the service and support you need. To find out more, view our client stories or download our case study ebooks to see how we’ve helped people to get their lives back.
When it comes to serious injuries, we know there’s not one or two people involved on the road to recovery. As well as our expert solicitors and Client Support Managers, we work closely with a range of external organisations to achieve the best possible results for our clients.
There are a number of fantastic charities and groups in the UK who can provide tailored information and specialist support around brain injury, including:
Brain Injury is BIG
Brain Injury Rehabilitation Trust (BIRT)A division of The Disabilities Trust, BIRT is a charity that provides services to people with physical and learning disabilities, autism and brain injury.
Brain injury HubAn online support centre for the families of children affected by acquired brain injury created by The Children’s Trust.
Brain & Spine FoundationProvides a free helpline staffed by neuroscience nurses to answer questions about all neurological conditions and offer information and support on any medical or related social and emotional issues.
The Children’s Trust
HeadwayA national charity that promotes understanding of all aspects of brain injury and provides information, support and services to brain injured people, their families and carers. Headway also operates a regional network of branches and support groups.
UKABIFThe United Kingdom Acquired Brain Injury Forum (UKABIF) is a membership organisation and charity which aims to promote the understanding of all aspects of acquired brain injury.
