Your brain is the most complex organ in your body. Controlling your entire nervous system, your brain is both strong and fragile, requiring immediate attention at the first sign of damage. In Canada, the instance of brain injury is greater than incidents of spinal cord injuries, breast cancer, multiple sclerosis and HIV/AIDS combined. Thus, protection of your head is of the utmost importance when you engage in activities in which the head might be injured.

What is a Brain Injury?

A brain injury can occur at anytime and to anyone. Brain injuries can occur as the result of driving a car, playing in a sporting event, riding a bicycle or simply walking down a sidewalk. A multitude of incidents can cause damage to your brain, including strokes, brain infections, lack of oxygen, a brain tumour, or a blow to the head. And, for the most part, if you sustain a brain injury due to the negligence of another, you may have a legal right to compensation for your damages.

There is, however, a distinction among brain injuries when it comes to what types of brain injuries puts victims in a position to receive compensation. Referred to as an acquired brain injury, a brain injury for which you might have a legal claim to collect reimbursement is a brain injury that is the result of damage because of an event or incident that happened after birth. Survivors who suffer brain injury as a result of a birth injury do have some legal options in the medical malpractice realm, but brain injury damage collection is primarily reserved for those who receive a brain injury after birth. In other words, the damage to your brain must be the result of an illness or injury, not as the result of a degenerative illness like Alzheimer’s disease or multiple sclerosis.

Regardless of how someone obtained a brain injury, the condition can be devastating to the survivor as well as their families. A serious brain injury changes the life of its victim forever and it isn’t easy for the survivor or his or her family to adjust to the changes. To give you an idea of the facts surrounding brain injuries and the likelihood of you or a loved one falling victim to the condition, refer to the facts below.

• Your brain can be damaged by bleeding, bruising, fever, swelling, fever, lack of oxygen and  strong, rapid forces.
• Brain injuries are twice as likely to happen to males as compared to females.
• Over 11,000 Canadians die annually as a result of a traumatic brain injury.
• Approximately 6,000 Canadians become permanently disabled annually from a traumatic brain injury.
• Survivors of a brain injury are at a three times greater risk of experiencing a second brain injury, and face an eight times greater risk of sustaining subsequent injuries as a result of their initial injury.

Acquired Brain Injury Survivors Face a Number of Challenges

Acquired brain injury survivors face a number of challenges that range from those that are easily overcome and those that are completely debilitating. The Brain Injury Association of Canada compiled the following list of things that acquired brain injury survivors want others to know about their
challenges.

• It takes courage to keep going after a brain injury.
• Regardless of challenges, brain injury survivors want to be treated with dignity, respect, and love.
• Brain injury survivors rely on the good advice of care givers and family to sustain them.
• They want to know the facts and be aware when improvement will take a long time.
• Brain injury survivors want others to get to know them as a person and learn to communicate with them.
• Brain injury survivors need encouragement to do their best.
• Positive feedback is far better than patronization.
• Brain injury survivors need to take risks now and then.
• It is difficult for old friends to cope with the injury, and it is difficult for brain injury survivors to make new friends.

Contact an Experienced Ottawa Brain Injury Lawyer for Assistance with a Brain Injury Claim

If you or a loved one has been sustained a brain injury at the hands of another due to an accident, you may be entitled to sue that individual or entity for assistance with the financial damages you have incurred. Contact an Ottawa brain injury lawyer for assistance with your brain injury claim and learn what compensation you may be entitled to.