Can a Lawyer Help If I Suffer a Brain Stem Injury?
Can a Lawyer Help If I Suffer a Brain Stem Injury?
A brain stem injury is extremely serious. It can affect many vital bodily functions, including breathing, swallowing, and movement. You might struggle to talk or even think like you did before. When you have a brain stem injury, life can change in a big way. You may need long hospital stays, therapy, and help with daily tasks. The costs can add up fast, and your family might feel overwhelmed.
Many people ask, “Can a personal injury attorney help if I suffer a brain stem injury?” The short answer is yes. If your injury happened because someone else was careless, you might have the right to seek money for your medical bills, lost earnings, and pain. A Orange County personal injury lawyer knows how to gather evidence, file claims, and talk to insurance companies on your behalf. Here, we will explain why a personal injury attorney can be so valuable when you have a brain stem injury, what steps they take, and what to expect as you recover.
Schedule a Free Initial Consultation
What Is a Brain Stem Injury?
The brain stem sits at the base of your brain, where your spinal cord connects. It helps control your most basic functions, such as breathing, heart rate, and the ability to swallow. It also carries signals between your brain and the rest of your body. Because of this, an injury to the brain stem can lead to serious problems.
Common symptoms of a brain stem injury can include:
- Difficulty breathing on your own
- Problems with speech or swallowing
- Trouble balancing or walking
- Paralysis in some parts of the body
- Changes in consciousness or alertness
Even a small injury to the brain stem can cause major issues. Some people lose the ability to move or communicate well. Others might need machines to help them breathe. A brain stem injury can also affect your senses or make you feel dizzy and nauseous. Recovery can take months or years, and some people never fully get back to normal.
Why Are Brain Stem Injuries Catastrophic?
Medical professionals often call a brain stem injury “catastrophic.” This is because it affects so many key functions in your body. Even a small amount of damage can lead to big problems. You might need constant care or special equipment just to live daily. Family members often have to make big changes to their lives, helping with basic tasks such as feeding or bathing you.
When an injury is this severe, the medical bills can be huge. You might undergo surgeries, hospital stays, physical therapy, or use devices to breathe or move. You can miss months of work or never return to your old job. The stress on your family can be overwhelming. That is why many people turn to a personal injury lawyer. They need help figuring out if someone else is responsible for the accident and how to seek money for these massive costs.
Who Might Be at Fault for a Brain Stem Injury?
Brain stem injuries can happen in many ways. You might fall from a height at work, suffer a bad car accident, or get hit by a falling object at a construction site. Sometimes, a slip and fall in a store leads to a hard hit on the back of the head. A product might explode at other times, causing debris to strike the head. In all these cases, someone’s negligence can be to blame. Maybe the property owner failed to fix a broken railing, or a driver ran a red light.
It might also happen on the job. For example, working in a warehouse with poor safety rules, you can be crushed or struck by heavy equipment. Or if you handle dangerous materials like chemicals or electricity, an explosion or electrocution can damage your brain stem. If the accident was partly or fully someone else’s fault, a personal injury lawyer can assist in filing a legal claim. They will examine who owed you a duty of care and whether they broke that duty, leading to your injury.
How Can a Personal Injury Attorney Investigate a Brain Stem Injury Case?
A personal injury lawyer does not just fill out forms. They dig deep to learn what happened. They might:
- Look at the accident scene (like a construction site or the roadway)
- Talk to witnesses who saw the accident
- Review safety rules or building codes
- Work with doctors to see how bad your injury is
- Check if an employer or property owner followed state and federal safety laws
- See if a product was defective or if a tool or machine had known dangers
By gathering this proof, a personal injury attorney builds a strong case showing who caused your brain stem injury. If the lawyer finds enough evidence, they can ask that person or company (and their insurance) to pay for your damages. That can include medical bills, therapy, lost income, and even pain and suffering. A personal injury lawyer can file a lawsuit and fight in court if the other side does not pay fairly.
Why Does a Brain Stem Injury Often Need a Large Settlement?
When you have a brain stem injury, the costs can go on for years. You might need rehab to relearn basic skills, special machines to breathe, or round-the-clock nursing care. Sometimes, your home needs big changes, such as ramps or wide doors for a wheelchair. You can lose your job if you can no longer do what you used to do.
A personal injury attorney looks at all these future costs when they ask for compensation. That is not enough if the other side only pays your immediate hospital bills. You can run out of money later when your condition worsens or if you need more surgery. That is why you often need a large settlement or court award for a brain stem injury.
A good personal injury lawyer will not settle too fast. They try to get the money you truly need for the long term.
Do Brain Stem Injuries Occur in Workplace Accidents?
Yes, they can. Workers’ compensation might cover some of your costs if you are hurt. But that does not always pay for everything, especially if your injury is catastrophic. Also, workers’ comp might not cover pain and suffering or lost enjoyment of life. You might have more claims if someone else besides your employer caused the accident, like a contractor or a machine maker.
A personal injury attorney who knows workers’ compensation rules and serious injury law can see if you can file a workers’ comp claim and a personal injury lawsuit. This might allow you to receive more money. For example, if a faulty tool exploded and caused your brain stem injury, you can sue the tool’s maker. Meanwhile, you collect workers’ comp from your employer. A lawyer helps you handle all these legal details.
What About Construction Accidents and Brain Stem Injuries?
Construction accidents can be very dangerous. Falls from high places, objects falling from overhead, or explosions on site can cause severe head trauma. If your job is on scaffolding, one slip can send you falling many feet, leading to a brain stem injury. They might face responsibility if the contractor ignored safety rules or if the harness was faulty.
A personal injury lawyer checks the site has proper warnings, guardrails, or protective gear. They also see if you had training or the company was cutting corners. If they find the company was negligent, they will push for a settlement or go to trial. That way, your medical bills and lost earnings (plus the pain of living with a brain stem injury) are covered.
Are Explosions and Burns Linked to Brain Stem Injuries?
They can be. Electrocution, burns, and explosions can harm you in many ways, including a blast that throws you against a wall or the ground. If you hit your head hard, you can damage your brain stem. Burns or electrocution might not directly harm the brain stem, but they can cause other injuries that lead to oxygen loss or shock, which can also affect the brain.
A personal injury lawyer who handles catastrophic and serious injuries, such as burns or explosions, knows how these events can harm every part of the body. They also know that proving fault might involve professionals explaining how the blast happened and whether someone ignored safety rules. If an explosion at work or in a public place injured your brain stem, a lawyer can determine if a company, landlord, or product maker owes you money.
How Do I Pay My Medical Bills After a Brain Stem Injury?
Paying medical bills can be difficult. You might have multiple surgeries or months in rehab. You might need special equipment at home or visits from nurses. If you cannot work, your income might drop to zero. Many families worry about losing their house or not having enough for basic living costs.
If another person or company caused your injury, a personal injury lawyer can push their insurance to pay. They can also guide you in seeking other assistance, such as disability benefits.
Most injury attorneys work on a “contingency fee,” which means they only get paid if they win your case or settle. This helps people who cannot afford to pay a lawyer upfront. If you have a strong case, the lawyer may cover the professional costs and get reimbursed only if they win.
What If Someone Argues Your Brain Stem Injury Is Not That Serious?
Sometimes, insurance companies or at-fault parties try to downplay your injury. They might claim you exaggerate or say you can still work. A personal injury lawyer collects proof from doctors, therapists, and medical exams that show exactly how your injury affects you. They can get expert witnesses who explain the brain stem’s role and how your daily life changed.
A lawyer can take the case to court if the other side keeps arguing. A jury might be more sympathetic when they hear how this injury has truly changed your life. Many times, just knowing you have a strong lawyer on your side can push the insurance company to settle for a fair amount. They realize a jury might award you a large catastrophic injury award.
Can Slip and Fall Accidents Lead to Brain Stem Injuries?
Yes, they can. Slip and fall accidents may not sound as dramatic as a car crash or explosion, but they can still cause major head injuries. If you slip on a wet floor or trip on a broken step and strike the back of your head, you might damage your brain stem. If the store or property owner did not fix a hazard or warn you, they can be held liable.
A personal injury attorney who knows premises liability law can check if the owner knows about the danger. They can also verify if someone ignored the building code. If so, that helps prove the owner was negligent. For a brain stem injury, you often need a large amount of compensation since your care might last a lifetime. A slip and fall that leads to a catastrophic head injury is no small matter.
Do Car or Motorcycle Accidents Often Cause Brain Stem Injuries?
They can. Car accidents and motorcycle accidents often involve high speeds. A sudden stop or collision can whip your head around or slam it against a hard surface. The whiplash effect might reach the brain stem. On a motorcycle, you might get thrown off and strike your head on the pavement or a barrier. Even a helmet might not fully protect you from deep brain injuries if the impact is strong enough.
A personal injury lawyer will study the crash. Was the other driver texting, speeding, or drunk? Did a truck driver fall asleep at the wheel? If they find someone else caused the accident, they push that person’s insurance to pay. They also check if the road or your vehicle has a defect. They explore every possible angle for catastrophic injuries to ensure you get enough support.
What Can I Do to Help My Case if I Have a Brain Stem Injury?
After a brain stem injury, your main focus should be on healing. But there are a few steps that might help:
- Get medical care right away. Follow the doctors’ advice.
- Keep records of your treatments and therapy.
- Write down how you feel daily—your pain levels, mood changes, and what tasks you cannot do.
- Be careful what you share on social media. Insurance might use posts against you.
- Contact a personal injury lawyer soon to gather proof before it fades.
Your lawyer might also suggest you see certain specialists or keep a journal of your progress. The more evidence you have of your struggle, the stronger your claim becomes.
Call a Personal Injury Lawyer to Learn About Your Options After Brain Stem Injury
Remember, you do not have to face this crisis alone. If someone else’s carelessness led to your brain stem injury, you deserve help. Call Bentley & More LLP today to learn about your options. They can guide you step by step, letting you focus on healing while they handle the legal details. A caring personal injury lawyer wants to see you move forward with hope, knowing your finances are more secure and your rights are protected. Do not wait—reach out now and get the support you need.