A brain injury is a serious hardship to cope with for an accident victim of any age. For a child, a head injury is an especially poignant piece of misfortune. The Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA) reports that traumatic brain injury is the leading cause of death and disability among children. The organization also reports that the age groups most prone to head and brain injury are ages 0-4 and 15-19.
A boy or girl whose brain is still growing and developing very often experiences developmental challenges after suffering a head injury. Lingering or worsening effects can show up long after the accident, in the form of poor social adjustment, difficulty concentrating at school and other functional disorders. Specific short-term symptoms and long-term effects as outlined by the BIAA include:
- Physical symptoms, such as speech disorders, headaches and seizures
- Cognitive symptoms, such as memory deficits, limited attention span and poor judgment
- Emotional symptoms, such as mood swings, anxiety, depression and restlessness
Child victims of traumatic brain injury (TBI) often suffer their injuries in serious accidents and triggering circumstances such as:
- A car or truck accident
- A fall from a high place or on a hard surface (on a playground, for example)
- A sports injury
- Physical abuse
A child dealing with effects of a head injury may require special education, tutoring, therapy and counseling over the years. In severe cases, children with traumatic brain injury will be dependent on others for a lifetime. It is important to get the most thorough and reliable prognosis possible before accepting a settlement offer as compensation.
Our Austin Child Head and Brain Injury Lawyers Help Parents Understand Settlement Trust Funds
If your child does receive a settlement or verdict payout after a traumatic brain injury, most or all of the funds are likely to go into a trust. Allison & Ward, L.L.P., seamlessly passes clients on to respected accountants, tax attorneys, and probate and estate planning law firms. If you need to tap into the funds for the sake of raising your child living with a brain injury, we can help you petition the court to allow withdrawals from the trust fund.
Contact an Austin Child Head Injury Lawyer
Suffering a traumatic brain injury during childhood is often disabling. An injured child and his or her family will need guidance, direction and practical assistance. Our Austin child head injury lawyers are skilled at determining liability and obtaining compensation from liable parties. To schedule a free initial consultation with a personal injury lawyer in Austin, call 512-474-8153 or contact us online.
