I still remember my accident like it was yesterday. One minute I was driving my daughter to school and the next I was waking up in a hospital bed. It was frustrating to deal with the emotional trauma of forgetting an entire week of my life, in addition to stressing about my small child. Fortunately, we were both able to recover, but it wasn't easy walking dealing with the medical bills that accompanied the accident. I found myself struggling with things as simple as answering the phone, because I was nervous about dealing with another insurance adjuster. Fortunately, by working with a lawyer, I was able to make sense of my situation. I know that you can overcome difficult challenges too, which is why I shared my story on this website.
Debra Hawkins
Each year, over 10 million Americans suffer abuse at the hands of an intimate partner. Not only does the abuse cause mental, emotional, and physical damage when it occurs, it can lead to the onset of injuries that have a long-lasting negative impact on the victim's health. Recently, attention has been drawn to the fact that many domestic abuse survivors suffer traumatic brain injuries that frequently go
Domestic Abuse and Traumatic Brain Injuries
The brain sits suspended in liquid in the skull. It's only attached to the body at the base where it's connected to the spinal cord. If a person is hit hard enough, it can cause the brain to move around in and even hit the skull. Unfortunately, victims of domestic violence are
The symptoms of a traumatic brain injury may manifest
Immediate treatment is often necessary to mitigate the effects of the injury. Many abuse victims, though, only seek out medical care if their injuries are severe (e.g.
Pursuing Compensation for Damages
Domestic violence is assault, pure and simple, and there are legal remedies victims can use to make the perpetrators pay for the physical damage they caused. If you win your case, you may be awarded money for medical bills, lost wages, relocation expenses, and possibly punitive damages.
However, there are many challenges involved in litigating a personal injury lawsuit against an abuser. Perhaps the most pressing is that you will be forced to confront the defendant in court, which may not be easy or safe. You also have to consider whether the person has the financial resources to pay the court award. There's no sense in putting yourself at risk if the abuser doesn't have the money to pay.
Possibly even more challenging, though, is connecting your brain injury to the abuse you sustained. Since traumatic brain injuries can be caused by other things besides domestic abuse, you'll need to clearly demonstrate to the court's satisfaction that the defendant is at fault. The more time that has passed between the assault and the court case, the more difficult it may be to connect the dots.
If you're suffering from a traumatic brain injury and want to pursue compensation for damages, connect with a personal injury attorney who can help you put together a compelling case so that you achieve the outcome you want. To find out more about personal injuries, contact someone like Goldman & LeBrun.