Understanding the symptoms and effects of moderate head injury
A head injury can occur in a number of different circumstances. Any incident in which the head is struck by an object or the body suffers impact forces has the potential to cause injury to the head and brain.
If you or someone close to you has sustained a moderate head injury in an incident that was caused in some way by the actions of another party, Thompsons' personal injury solicitors in Scotland may be able to help you make a head injury claim on a No Win, No Fee basis. Talk to Thompsons today for more information about how we may be able to help.
What is a moderate head injury
The accepted medical definition of a moderate brain injury is that it:
- Causes post-traumatic amnesia of up to 24 hours, or
- Loss of consciousness for between 15 minutes and 6 hours
Furthermore, anyone with a moderate head injury is likely to experience some of the following cognitive, physical and behavioural symptoms:
- Fatigue and tiredness
- Dizziness
- Difficulty concentrating
- Reduced memory
- Linguistic difficulties
- Headaches
- Irritability and reduced impulse control
- Anxiety
Types of moderate injury
Everyone will experience their moderate head injury symptoms differently, depending on their age and underlying pre-accident health, the location of the injury on the brain and the severity of impact.
Sometimes a moderate head injury can clear up within weeks, others may last for months, which itself can cause significant frustration and lead to an increase in symptoms such as anxiety, irritability and feelings of powerlessness.
Many people will feel both internal and external pressure to return as soon as possible to their pre-accident life. This may mean that they return to working life as well as a full personal life schedule before they are ready. However, it can take around nine months – or in some cases longer – to make a full recovery, so it is important to be cautious and not to overstretch yourself following a head injury.
How a moderate head injury might occur
Most moderate head injuries are caused by a traumatic blow to the head or body. Some of the most common causes include the following:
- Road traffic accidents: For example, those involving cars, bicycles, pedestrians, motorcycles or buses.
- Falls: For example falls from ladders, falls from scaffolding, falls down stairs or even incidents at ground-level such as slips on wet surfaces or trips involving portholes.
- Sports injuries: Sports such as hockey, rugby, boxing, football, martial arts, skateboarding and ice-skating all have an inherent head injury risk.
Furthermore, a person is considered at greater risk of a moderate head injury if they are under four, are over 60 or are a young adult aged between 15 and 24.
Moderate brain injuries can also occur following oxygen deprivation.
Outcomes and effects for patients and their families
Even a moderate head injury can have a traumatic impact on a patient and their family. It can be incredibly difficult dealing with the psychological, cognitive and behavioural fallout of a head injury and may lead to significant disruption and financial loss for all of those in the household of a head-injured individual.
For example, partners, parents and children of injured parties may experience anxiety, depression, sleeplessness and financial expense in helping their loved one through the head injury recovery and rehabilitation process. It is estimated that as many as half of all marriages in which one spouse has had a severe head injury end in divorce – a moderate head injury can be similarly testing.
Children who have suffered moderate head injury are likely to require additional support, may suffer poor academic performance at school and are likely to experience difficulties in their personal relationships.
Why make a compensation claim with Thompsons
Thompsons' head injury solicitors in Scotland can help ensure suitable compensation for head-injured individuals and their families so that they can manage pressing financial commitments, seek care and rehabilitation, and eventually recover.
We provide a holistic claims service that ensures full support throughout the process so that claimants and their families receive guidance on finding the best possible treatment and rehabilitation services and have full clarity regarding costs. We offer a No Win, No Fee claims service on many types of head injury claim which ensures you only have to pay costs and fees in the event your claim is a success.
We are recognised as one of the leading firms in Scotland and win more than 90% of the cases we take on, securing our clients around £1million in compensation each week. If you would like an estimate of how much compensation you might receive for your claim, take a look at our compensation calculator .
