I have a Brain Injury - where to get help
When an individual sustains a brain injury as a result of an accident, it is a traumatic and confusing time. It not only affects the injured individual but it has a large impact on close family members too, who will be unfamiliar about the effects of a traumatic brain injury and how best to offer support.
Getting the right practical, medical, financial and legal help as early as possible, is essential. There are so many threads to follow it’s difficult for families to navigate the priorities. Those priorities will also be dictated by the severity and nature of the brain injury, as individuals will be in different situations, for example, still being in ICU, or, further down the line, having recently being discharged and, to others, may on the surface “seem okay” but actually be really struggling.
As well as medical assistance from your GP, hospital or the 111 service, there are other organisations which can help in the initial phases but also in the longer term.
Charities and Practical Support
The national brain injury charity, Headway - the brain injury association , run a dedicated helpline with specialist advisors. The Headway helpline number is 0808 800 2244. Their website address is https://www.headway.org.uk/ .?
Another outlet of support and guidance is the Brain Injury Group . They provide a wealth of information and signposting to help those who have been injured and their loved ones. Their website link is https://www.braininjurygroup.co.uk/ and their helpline number is 03300 569 510.
If a child has had a brain injury, then the Child Brain Injury Trust (CBIT) are a specialist charity in that regard. In their own words they state on their website:
“We are here to support families and professionals working with children and young people who find themselves in need of information about what’s happened and how to cope. We are here to listen and to help with practical and emotional issues which may arise over time.”
Their website address is www.childbraininjurytrust.org.uk and their brain injury support contact number is 0303 303 2248.
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I have selected charities and organisations who I am familiar with but there are of course other charities out their supporting those with acquired brain injuries, and it’s worthwhile doing some research online.
Legal Support
If someone has a brain injury following an accident, it is strongly recommended that they seek legal advice from a specialist brain injury solicitor to see if they have a claim.
It is vital to do research before selecting who to approach. It’s important that those with the brain injury feel comfortable and in control before letting in others to help them. They have sustained a life changing injury, and could be working with the lawyers they choose for a long time.
The Headway Solicitors Directory, contains details of specialist brain injury lawyers across the country, which you can find on the following link:- https://www.headway.org.uk/about-brain-injury/further-information/legal-advice/ .
Another option to consider when identifying the right lawyer, is to look at the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL) “find an injury lawyer” webpage - https://www.apil.org.uk/i-have-been-injured . This search function allows you to identify lawyers who are accredited as “brain injury” specialists in their field. For those wanting to instruct reputable solicitors and lawyers, with accreditation in this type of work, this is a valuable place to look.
Having then chosen a solicitor to assist, this should then open up the door to further support. That might include accessing help with applying for welfare benefits, obtaining interim payments through the personal injury claim to fund private rehabilitation to maximise recovery, or to help financially if there is a loss of earnings due to not being able to work.
You will find my firm and colleagues (Sintons LLP – www.sintons.co.uk/personal-injury/head-and-brain-injury-claims/ ) are in the above directories. We have an experienced and specialist Neurotrauma team on hand to advise and help those seeking advice on a brain injury claim.
I hope the above short article has been of help and for anyone who has read this article, they are welcome to contact me further.
Specializing in Optimal Brain Health. Using neuroendocrinology to address many debilitating issues. Derangement Syndrome.
2 个月https://tubitv.com/movies/100013700/quiet-explosions-healing-the-brain
Case Management & Expert Witness Referrals Coordinator - Customer Relationship & Engagement Coordinator. Working with an extraordinary group of people in Acquired Brain Injury-making a positive and lasting difference.
3 个月excellent links
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3 个月As the mother of a child who has just sustained a traumatic head and brain injury on a water slide on holiday, thank you for sharing this. It is informative and useful in our position whilst we are still stranded in Turkey and awaiting safe and appropriate medical repatriation.
MD of Lennons | Legal services across all sectors | Property law & conveyancing | Employment law | Personal injury & medical negligence | Commercial law | Family law | Private client | Litigation
3 个月Great article, Ewan. It’s so easy for people to forget about the impact of a catastrophic injury on loved ones. They don’t get direct medical support but have so much to deal with themselves. Financial worries and additional care commitments are two big ones, on top of the mental stress and strain that supporting a spouse and wider family can place upon a person. Great signposting to those organisations that provide such helpful support.