Brain And Head Injury Claims

Suffering a traumatic brain injury or a serious head injury can have a devastating impact on your life. It can lead to you or your loved one needing round-the-clock care and support, rehabilitation, physiotherapy, specialist equipment, and adaptations to your home.

Severe brain and head injuries (sometimes called acquired brain injuries) can happen for many reasons, including road traffic accidents, accidents at work, accidents in public places or at events, sports accidents, criminal assaults,  and due to medical negligence.

If you or a family member has suffered a traumatic brain injury or a serious head injury that wasn’t your fault, our expert brain injury lawyers can help you secure maximum compensation and access to the specialist care and support you deserve.

We know the thought of making a brain or head injury claim can seem daunting, but we specialise in traumatic brain and head injury compensation. And we will do everything we can to ensure the claims process is as straightforward and stress-free as possible.

Our specialist brain injury solicitors know what you are going through and understand you and your family’s needs. We have a strong track record of success in complex, high-value brain injury compensation claims and are often asked to take over claims from other law firms.

No traumatic brain injury is ever the same. You or your loved one’s needs will be quite different to another person’s needs, so we take the time to listen and expertly assess your needs now and into the future.

We will ensure your compensation can help you cope with the financial impact of your brain injury, such as:

• Loss of income
• Future loss of earnings
• Travel expenses to medical appointments
• Adaptations to your home or car
• Specialist equipment or mobility devices

Brain and head injury compensation can also help pay for:

• Private medical treatment
• Expert rehabilitation
• Physiotherapy
• Your care needs
• Psychological support, and more

Our regional offices in Bristol, Cardiff, the Isle of Wight, Plymouth, Salisbury, Southampton and Swindon, offer a personal and professional service to brain injury survivors throughout England and Wales.

We offer No Win No Fee funding, which means there is no financial risk to you or any hidden, unexpected costs. In the highly unlikely event your claim is unsuccessful; you will not have to pay a penny. Find out more information about No Win No Fee.

Call us now on Freephone 0345 357 9645, email customersupport@simpsonmillar.co.uk or complete our online enquiry form for a free, ‘no strings attached’ chat and expert brain or head injury advice.

Our expertise with brain and head injury claims

Over the years, we have helped many people who’ve sustained severe brain and head injuries due to:

• Road traffic accidents
• Accidents at work
• Medical negligence
• Motorcycle accidents
• Cycling accidents
• Sports accidents
• Horse riding accidents
• Accidents at public venues or events
• Accidents in private properties or places
• Carbon monoxide poisoning
• Military accidents
• Serious criminal assaults

How making a brain injury compensation claim works

Free initial consultation to see if you can make a claim

We offer a free initial consultation if you or a family member has suffered a traumatic brain injury due to someone else’s negligence and think you may have a claim.

Call us now on Freephone 0345 357 9645 , email customersupport@simpsonmillar.co.uk or complete our online enquiry form for a free chat and expert brain or head injury advice.

Investigating your brain injury claim

If you or a family member has been severely injured in an accident or been harmed due to medical negligence and has sustained a serious brain or head injury, contact our expert brain injury lawyers today.

Our specialist team will listen to what happened to you and give their FREE expert opinion on whether you have grounds for a successful brain injury compensation claim.

If we take on your case, our solicitors will get to work and gather all the evidence required to make your brain injury claim.

We will also obtain clinical advice from leading independent medical experts and brain injury rehabilitation specialists to ensure you have the strongest case possible. Our expert brain injury solicitors will consider your pain and suffering, and any costs you have incurred as a result of your life-changing injury, as well as future expenses and care costs.

Working out how much brain injury compensation you are owed

The value of your brain injury compensation claim is calculated using several factors. These include:

• General damages – how much pain and suffering you are experiencing and the impact of your head injury on the quality of your life
• Special damages – the financial impact of your brain injury, including loss of earnings, medication and treatment costs, rehabilitation and care costs, travel expenses to appointments, house and vehicle adaptations, and any specialist equipment you may need.

Click here to find out more about how compensation is calculated or contact our expert team for a free chat about your brain or head injury claim.

No Win No Fee brain injury claims

Making a brain injury claim with Novum Law is easy and stress-free. Our brain and head injury claims are funded on a No Win No Fee basis, which means you do not have to worry about legal costs as we progress your claim.

If your claim is unsuccessful, you will have nothing to pay. Click here to find out more about No Win No Fee.

Time limits for brain injury claims

There are specific time limits for making brain and head injury claims, so it’s vital to speak to a specialist brain injury solicitor as soon as possible.

In most brain injury cases, you have three years from the date your injury happened to make a compensation claim. This time limit is often referred to by lawyers as ‘limitation’.

There are some exceptions to the three-year time limit. For example, if you are making a brain injury compensation claim on behalf of a child, the time limit does not start until their 18^th birthday. Your child then has a further three years to bring their own claim.

If your child has sustained a brain injury, it can take years for you to find out exactly how they have been affected. That is why there are longer timescales in which you can start to make a child’s brain injury claim.

If you are making a claim for someone who lacks mental capacity and cannot make their own decisions, there are no time limits for making a brain injury claim on their behalf.

Sometimes the effects of a brain injury are not always immediately apparent. For example, if you’ve been harmed due to medical negligence, it can take much longer than three years to realise that you or a loved one has suffered an acquired brain injury due to negligent care. In these types of cases, the three-year time limit starts from the point you are aware of the negligence.

To learn more about time limits, you can read our blog article.  Limitation can be complicated, so if you have any questions, you can call us on Freephone 0345 357 9645 or email customersupport@simpsonmillar.co.uk, and we’ll be happy to help.

Settling a brain injury claim out of court

Most brain injury claims are settled without the need to go to court. This means an agreement with the defendant  will be reached sooner, and you will get your compensation quicker. If an agreement cannot be found, your case may have to go to court, but our specialist brain injury team will be with you every step of the way to guide you through the process so that you are fully prepared.

Taking your brain injury claim to court

If there is no agreement reached (for example, the defendant does not accept the blame for your accident or does not agree with the compensation amount) the case may have to go to court. Even if this happens, it does not necessarily mean you will have to go to court. In many brain injury cases, the claim settles before the official court hearing date. However, if your claim does have to go to court, your specialist  brain and head injury solicitor will help you through the entire process offering expert support and guidance.

Making a brain injury claim for a baby or child

If your baby or child suffers a brain injury, it can have serious consequences that can be life-changing. It can sometimes be challenging for medical experts to give a definite assessment of the impact of the brain injury because all children develop at different rates, so assessing what is ‘normal’ and what has been caused by the brain injury can be difficult. Sometimes the full extent of your child’s brain injury will only become more apparent as they get older and their brain fully develops.

What this means is that it may take years for you to find out exactly how your child has been affected, especially with babies and toddlers. For this reason, there are longer timescales in which you can start to make a child’s brain injury claim.

Frequently Asked Questions about brain and head injury claims

What is a brain injury?

A brain injury or an acquired brain injury (ABI), as it is sometimes called, is an injury to the brain caused by a violent jolt or sudden blow to the head or if an object penetrates the skull and damages your brain. There are many possible causes, including a road traffic accident, a fall from height, medical negligence or if your brain is deprived of oxygen due to carbon monoxide poisoning or a stroke.

What is anoxic and hypoxic brain injury?

Anoxic brain injuries are caused by a complete lack of oxygen to the brain resulting in the death of brain cells. Hypoxic brain injuries are brain injuries due to a restriction of oxygen being supplied to the brain. Anoxic and hypoxic brain injuries can be caused by strokes, heart attacks, low blood pressure, near drowning, carbon monoxide poisoning, choking, drugs overdoses, complications of general anaesthesia, and electric shocks.

What are the symptoms of traumatic brain injury?

The symptoms of a traumatic brain injury depend on several factors such as the type, location and severity of the injury. Symptoms can be wide-ranging and may include headaches, dizziness, balance and coordination problems, memory and concentration problems, excessive fatigue and emotional issues, such as anger. If a brain injury is severe, the person may suffer life-changing and debilitating problems involving cognitive, behavioural and physical disabilities. In some cases, those with severe brain injuries are in a minimally responsive state or a coma. They may need constant care and support for the rest of their lives.

What are the signs of head injury?

The signs of a head injury may include:

• Headache
• Nausea or vomiting
• Fatigue or drowsiness
• Speech problems
• Dizziness or loss of balance
• Blurred vision
• Inability to taste or smell
• Sensitivity to light or sound
• Loss of consciousness
• Memory or concentration problems
• Mood swings or changes to your mood
• Difficulty sleeping
• Mental health issues such as depression or anxiety

How much compensation will I get for a brain injury?

The amount of compensation you can expect to receive depends on the severity of your injury and your particular situation. No two brain injury claims are the same. Compensation for severe brain injuries is often substantial to cover future needs. When calculating your settlement, our expert brain injury lawyers will consider your loss of income and the medical expenses incurred, as well as the physical and mental impact your injury has had on you and your family. At Novum Law, we will do all we can to secure maximum compensation for you.

Can I claim compensation if a loved one dies from a brain injury?

Yes, if your loved one died from a brain injury and someone else was to blame, you may be able to claim on behalf of their estate of dependants. Generally speaking, you will have three years from the date of their death to make a claim. Compensation for a fatal brain or head injury may cover:

• Funeral expenses
• The loss of your loved one’s income
• Loss of services provided by your loved one (e.g. childcare, gardening, DIY, etc.)
• Normal household costs
• Medical expenses
• Childcare costs
• Counselling

Find out more about fatal injury claims

I’m not happy with my current solicitor. Can you take over my brain injury claim?

Our specialist brain injury team often hears from people who are already making a brain injury claim with another law firm but are unhappy with the way their claim is being handled. Often this is because they feel things are not progressing fast enough or because their current law firm has undervalued their compensation.

If you are in the process of making a brain injury claim with another solicitor and you would like a free second opinion on how they are managing your case, we are happy to help. When we take over claims from other law firms, we are typically able to get a significantly higher settlement and secure maximum compensation faster.

Do you have a question we have not answered?

If you have a question that is not listed above, please visit our FAQs page. Alternatively, please get in touch, and we will be happy to answer your query.

Book your free initial consultation with our brain and head injury solicitors

If you believe you or a loved one may have a brain or head injury claim, our specialist solicitors in Bristol, Cardiff, the Isle of Wight, Plymouth, Salisbury, Southampton and Swindon are here for you.

To start the process of making your compensation claim, contact us on Freephone 0345 357 9645 or online for a free, no-obligation chat.