North Carolina Penetrating Injury Lawyer

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Penetrating injuries are often classified as injuries in which a sharp object penetrates a  part of the body. Penetrating brain injuries occur when a sharp object pierces through the skull or a skull fracture occurs due to events such as car accidents, workplace accidents, or attacks of violence. Penetrative brain injuries fall under the umbrella term “traumatic brain injury,” or TBI. Penetrating brain injuries can be the result of penetration from sharp objects, fragments of bone, or bullets. These injuries are often severe and may be irreversible. In some cases, these injuries cause permanent damage to brain cells, which can have a tremendous effect on the proper functioning of the body.

In most cases, penetrating brain injuries are dangerous and could prove fatal. Deaths due to penetrating brain injuries occur quite often. According to recent data collected by the center for disease control and prevention (CDC), there was an estimated total of 64,362 TBI-related deaths in 2020 in the USA due to traumatic brain injuries, including both open and closed brain injuries. Penetrating brain injuries adversely affect the affected party and their loved ones. At Tatum and Atkinson, ‘the Heavy Hitters,” we work decisively to offer you the best assistance and help you after your trauma and defend your rights as a penetrating brain injury victim.

Causes of Penetrating Brain Injuries

There are several causes of penetrating brain injuries. These causes may induce head trauma directly or lead to a sharp object penetrating the skull, damaging the brain tissues.

Penetrating Injuries Due to Fall

Falling from a height may cause skull fractures. These injuries will vary in severity depending on the height from which the victim fell. These injuries are more common in children, as they may easily fall from heights during play while climbing or leaning over tall structures.

Penetrating Brain Injuries Due to Knife or Bullet

These types of injuries are common in physical assault cases. These injuries have a higher mortality rate in adults as knives and bullets directly pierce the brain tissue, damage nerves, and rupture the blood vessels. The latter causes hematomas, which are difficult to treat. Nerve damage is irreversible and can lead to lifelong adverse repercussions.

Workplace Injuries

These traumas are often unintentional, like falling at a construction site or heavy machinery falling onto the heads of victims. These head injuries usually result in skull fractures or the penetration of sharp objects through the skull the coverings of the brain.

Road  Accidents

Penetrating brain injuries may occur from all types of road accidents, including motorcycle, pedestrian, truck, and car accidents. The intense force can result in the head striking against a hard surface, resulting in scalp wounds and skull fractures. During severe accidents, the automobile is often destroyed upon impact, increasing the chances of a car accident victim receiving  penetrating injuries to the brain. Often, these accident injury victims pass away on the spot as the object may slice deep into the tissues, instantly killing the victim.

Sports Injuries

Sports, particularly basketball, football, and many other sports, can cause blunt trauma to the head and may result in skull fractures. It is often advised to athletes to use appropriate gear and protect themselves to minimize the risk of injury.

Symptoms of Penetrating Brain Injuries

Penetrating brain injuries are not hard to detect as their symptoms are visible after the accident. These symptoms include:

  • Extreme pain
  • Bleeding from the head
  • Loss of consciousness
  • Blurred vision
  • Difficulty in breathing

Diagnosis and Treatment of Penetrating Brain Injuries

Following a penetrating brain injury, victims are often rushed into an emergency room. Penetrating brain injuries, like piercing objects into the skull, are often easy to diagnose. As for skull fractures, X-rays and CT scans are often done to check the type of fracture. The treatment depends on various factors, which include:

  • The severity of the injury
  • Area of the brain damaged
  • Age of the victim

These various factors determine how doctors should approach the victim. The most common treatment is usually neurosurgery. These treatments often cost patients and their families tens of thousands of dollars. The accident injury victim may face long-term effects and require ongoing care. Many penetrating brain injury survivors develop behavioral health changes following the accident and may suffer from conditions such as anxiety, depression, and PTSD.

Possible Future Effects Following a Penetrating Brain Injury

Paralysis

One of the possible and most common effects after a penetrating brain injury is paralysis. Because brain injuries typically only affect one side of the brain, paralysis tends to likewise occur on only one side of the body. For example, if the left side of the brain sustains an injury, the right side of the body may become paralyzed. This condition is known as hemiplegia.

Seizures

The majority of penetrating brain injury victims will go on to have post-traumatic epilepsy. The symptoms usually start three months to two years after the trauma was incurred. Post-traumatic epilepsy leads to unprovoked seizures and convulsions.

Coordination and Balance Problems

When the cerebellum has been affected, such as when a penetrating brain injury is incurred on the back of the head, coordination and balance issues commonly occur, altering the victims’ daily lives.

Cognitive Disabilities

As a result of brain damage, different patients face cognitive disabilities, which might include difficulty making decisions, memory loss, and reduced problem-solving skills. Penetrating brain injury victims with cognitive symptoms may need help performing simple tasks required for daily living.

Loss of Life

One of the adverse effects anyone could face following a penetrating type of brain injury is loss of life or the loss of a loved one. Penetrating brain injuries are often fatal, as some directly affect the brain. It can lead to irreversible damage, leading to brain death.

Personality Shifts

Some patients who have suffered from penetrating brain trauma have shown different shifts in their personalities. It depends on which lobe or area of the brain is damaged, as it is most common in blunt trauma to the forehead, which contains the frontal lobe of the brain, which controls personality and emotions.

All of these effects alter the victims’ lives to a great extent. Their lifestyle, relations, job, and social life are changed. Some of these effects prevent the victims from returning to their former professions. They are unable to support themselves and their families financially. The medication, surgery, rehabilitation, and therapy are quite costly. The unfortunate tragedy turns their lives upside down. Sometimes, the victims or their families try to handle all the legal proceedings following the incident. Still, it’s always better to consult a professional penetrating brain injury lawyer, as many civilians may not be aware of their legal rights and often settle for less than they deserve.

Damages

In the case of a penetrating brain injury, the value of your claim will depend on a variety of factors, including the severity of the injury, the medical expenses incurred, the extent of property damage, and the pain and suffering experienced by the victim as a result of the accident. Traumatic brain injuries can have long-term effects on an individual’s physical, cognitive, and emotional well-being, which can impact their ability to work and enjoy a normal quality of life.

Economic Damages

When seeking compensation for a penetrating brain injury, economic damages may include losses that have caused financial harm to the patient, such as medical bills, loss of income, and property damage. These damages are relatively easy to quantify and can be demonstrated through the submission of medical bills, receipts, and wage statements.

Non-Economic Damages

Compensable non-economic damages, on the other hand, include intangible losses that are not associated with a specific dollar amount, such as emotional trauma, loss of personal relationships with the victim, and a reduction in their quality of life. These damages can be more challenging to quantify, but can significantly impact the victim’s overall recovery and well-being.

If you have suffered a penetrating brain injury, it is important to seek legal representation to help you navigate the complexities of the legal process and ensure that you receive the compensation you deserve. An experienced attorney can help you identify the types of damages that are relevant to your case, gather evidence to support your claim, and negotiate with insurance companies and opposing parties on your behalf. With the right legal support, you can achieve the best possible outcome for your case and move forward with your life.

Penetrating Brain Injury Attorney

Suffering a penetrating brain injury due to any cause can be devastating; our law firm is determined to assist and represent you in court when necessary. Navigating this legal system in the wake of a penetrating brain injury can be very complex. We are always prepared to help our clients. Our penetrating brain injury attorneys specialize in traumatic brain injuries. We understand its adverse effects on your or your loved ones’ lives. Our aim is always to recover our clients’ losses and ensure ease and facilitation in their lives. We ensure our penetrating brain injury lawyers are honest with our clients through clear and transparent communication. Our clients are always our top priority. We ensure that the person who was the cause of your loss has to pay the penalties. If you or your loved one has sustained a penetrating brain injury from an unfortunate incident, contact us today and consult with our penetrating brain injury lawyers. It’s always wise to contact a law firm as soon as you can and receive the justice you or your loved one deserves. Be sure to call (800) 529-0804 or connect with us online today to start your journey toward getting the justice and peace of mind you deserve.