Woman struggles against, improves after, traumatic brain injury

An out-of-state woman who was involved in a serious car accident a little over two-and-a-half years ago has been fighting to make improvements after suffering a traumatic brain injury in the crash. The 21-year-old female was unable to talk or walk for over a year as a result of the accident. If a Maryland resident suffers a brain injury in a similar accident that was due to the negligence of another party, the victim is typically entitled to file a personal injury claim against the responsible party.

The accident occurred on Aug. 8, 2013. The woman suffered several serious injuries, which resulted in her being left in a coma. She was rushed to a medical center, where doctors later had to remove one part of her skull in order to relieve pressure that the traumatic brain injury caused.

Approximately 1.7 million people suffer traumatic brain injuries annually, according the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. They may be caused by any number of things, including bumps or blows, as well as penetrating head injuries that results in the normal function of the brain being disrupted. The severity of an injury ranges from “mild,” resulting in a brief change in the victim’s mental status to “severe,” in which there is typically a lengthy period of unconsciousness or even amnesia.

Currently, the victim is thriving, and she consistently makes the dean’s list at the university she attends, wrote a book regarding the entire experience and has even been a guest speaker at several events in order to raise awareness of TBIs. However, not every story involving an accident victim’s traumatic brain injury outcome is so rosy, with many requiring extensive medical care and years of physical therapy. When a Maryland resident suffers an injury of this magnitude that another individual’s negligence caused, a successfully presented personal injury suit may result in compensation, which can help lessen some of the victim’s financial burden. The victim typically begins this process by seeking the help of an experienced personal injury attorney in order to assess the validity of the claim and to gain assistance in pursuing a favorable outcome in court.

Source: thedailystar.com, “Area woman battles back after brain injury, coma“, Jessica Reynolds, March 23, 2016