Brain Injuries, Car Crashes, and Medical Treatment

Brain injuries are among the most serious and most mysterious car crash injuries, which the tragic story of Allman Brothers bass player Berry Oakley clearly shows. In November 1972, Oakley was in a serious motorcycle crash. Although he was thrown off his bike and landed on his head, Oakley refused medical treatment at the scene and got a ride home with a friend. A few hours later, a latent head injury killed him. Sadly, Oakley’s wreck happened almost a year to the day, and just a few blocks away, from a similar crash that killed bandmate Duane Allman.

Oakley’s saga illustrates the three different phases of brain injury treatment, which are outlined below. Victims usually incur significant medical bills at each step. That’s why it’s so important for a Columbia brain injury lawyer to diligently build a strong case and obtain compensation for medical bills and other economic losses. Compensation is also available for emotional distress and other noneconomic losses.

Transportation

Never refuse medical treatment at a crash scene. Only a Columbia personal injury lawyer can properly evaluate your case and determine your legal options. Likewise, only a doctor can determine how badly a victim is, or isn’t, hurt.

This step is much easier said than done. Adrenaline usually masks pain. Therefore, many victims tell emergency responders they “feel fine” and they don’t need to see doctors. Head injuries deteriorate so rapidly that a few hours could make a very big difference in the victim’s prognosis, as well as the victim’s very survival.

On a related note, if victims don’t immediately see doctors, insurance company lawyers often later argue that their injuries were exaggerated.

Emergency Care

Brain surgery sounds complicated, and it is complicated. Only a few South Carolina doctors have the necessary skills, and these doctors aren’t cheap.

A Columbia personal injury lawyer connects victims with doctors who have lots of experience and successful track records. This combination gives the victim the best possible chance for a brighter future. As a bonus, since attorneys have professional relationships with these doctors, these physicians usually charge nothing upfront for their services.

Follow-Up Care

This stage usually involves strong prescription drugs and various medical devices. Severe head injury victims often have chemical imbalances in their brains that require chemical correction. Furthermore, these victims often cannot walk, talk, or do anything else.

Group health plans often cover most or all of the cost of prescription drugs and medical devices. Therefore, many people don’t know how expensive drugs and devices can be. In fact, the cost of follow-up care often exceeds the cost of emergency care, which is saying quite a lot.

Physical Therapy

Specialized doctors must treat brain injuries and specialized physical therapists must also do their jobs well.

Broken bone and injured muscle physical therapy is basically a straight line that goes up. Every session, the victim gets better. Brain injury physical therapy is different. Frequently, victims plateau or even move backwards, and then suddenly, they have breakthroughs.

Attorneys must advocate for victims during physical therapy. Insurance companies usually want to pull the financial plug if the victims don’t make steady progress. Attorneys help ensure the money continues to flow and brain injury victims continue to recover.

Rely on a Thorough Richland County Lawyer

Injury victims are entitled to significant compensation. For a free consultation with an experienced personal injury lawyer in Columbia, contact the Marc Brown Law Firm. Virtual, home, and hospital visits are available.

Source:

liveforlivemusic.com/features/berry-oakley-rip/