When a person suffers a brain injury, its impact can be far-reaching, and it isn’t just the injured person who is affected.
Ellie Marriott is an Associate in the Neurotrauma team at Sintons. Ellie outlines what can happen when a serious brain injury occurs: “A traumatic brain injury (TBI) refers to a brain injury that is caused by an outside force e.g. from a car accident or fall. Common long‑term effects can include cognitive impairment, personality or behavioural changes, as well as physical ones. Symptoms may arise or develop in the months or years after an accident as time goes on and you reach new life milestones.”
Ellie explains the repercussions of a brain injury for those closest to the injured person: “You can experience shock, grief, and uncertainty following someone’s injury. You may feel lost when your loved one experiences a brain injury – the focus is often on the injured person but partners, parents, and others like you are suddenly navigating complex emotional, medical, and financial challenges with little preparation.”
New roles and responsibilities
Loved ones often become full‑time carers overnight. This can be not only physical care, but also emotional and psychological, which can take its toll. Brain injuries can alter mood, behaviour, and temperament, sometimes making the injured person seem like a “different person.”
Aside from the practical caring aspects, loved ones may need to navigate legal matters and make big decisions.
Ellie points out how vital the right legal help is in these circumstances: “Catastrophic brain injury claims require specialist legal expertise by a firm with experience to ensure your needs – along with the injured party’s – are heard and addressed where possible. Sintons have extensive experience in advising and acting for clients – and their loved ones – who have been affected by a traumatic brain injury.”
Rehabilitation is often vital to help an injured person begin their recovery or start to navigate life with their symptoms. Ellie explains, “Personal injury claims can help obtain the funds for the injured person to access much-needed rehabilitation. Early legal advice can be fundamental when it comes to securing interim payments for rehabilitation and getting support following an injury. Sintons Neurotrauma and Personal Injury lawyers are skilled at acting quickly to put the correct support in place for injured clients where required.”
With excellent relationships with rehabilitation services and charities, such as Headway, Sintons can help clients access assistance they may need. Ellie adds, “The Neurotrauma team work closely with Case Managers to ensure clients feel supported and heard. We also can highlight facilities and charities that can help clients and their loved ones, and in certain circumstances we can arrange for support, brain injury education, or counselling as part of the claim.”
For more information on Sintons’ Neurotrauma and Personal Injury teams, click here.
