Physical problems are less common but more obvious manifestations of damage to the brain. They include difficulties with balance and co-ordination, voluntary movement (dyspraxia), loss of senses (hearing, taste and smell and touch), language problems, headache and dizziness, and epilepsy.
Therapies often produce great improvements in terms of coping with these problems. A Neurophysiotherapist will help with regaining coordination and ‘relearning’ movement; a Speech and Language therapist can remedy speech and language deficits and a Vestibular Physiotherapist will treat a patient with impaired balance and vertigo.
Emotional and behavioural problems are very common after brain injury and their effects can be more serious even than physical or cognitive problems. The mechanisms are not well understood, but the initial injury can cause direct damage to those part of the brain that deal with emotions and mood. Anger, selfishness and lack of empathy, impulsive behaviour and lack of inhibition are all recognised symptoms resulting from brain damage.
In addition, the effects of the brain injury, and any other injuries, can influence behaviour and personality, so even if the accident caused no direct damage to ’emotional’ part of the brain there may still be depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress attributable to pain, disability loss of employment etc.
Cognitive problems mean difficulties with mental functioning, and in many brain injury cases there will be problems with memory, concentration, attention, speed of thought processing and understanding; motivation and planning.
Brain injury sufferers with cognitive problems often have good insight into their cognitive problems and so it can be extremely frustrating having to cope with what many perceive as a general slowness of thought and blunting of their intellectual powers.
In a brain injury case we will always try to get support to help with cognitive problems because although those problems might not be cured, they can be managed much more effectively with expert assistance. Case Managers, Occupational Therapists and support workers will teach methods and strategies to cope with mental function problems. For instance a support worker will manage a diary and prompt activities (e.g. taking medication, initiating tasks) and ‘smart’ technology will help the patient take on more tasks themselves.
Statistically we all carry a small risk of epilepsy. Following a head injury that risk is increased, certainly over the short term. The more serious the injury the greater the risk, so a bleed within the brain and a fractured skull will produce a higher risk, and a seizure will elevate the risk further. According to the studies, the risk starts to reduce if the epilepsy does not manifest in the first few years, so in many cases it can eventually reduce to the background level.
Because the effect of epilepsy can be profound, this is one of the few exceptions to the legal principle that any settlement or judgment is once and for all, so in a case where there is a significant risk of epilepsy the lawyers may advise you to seek an order from the court that allows you to reopen the case in the future if the risk materialises at some point in the future.
Accreditations



Latest Personal Injury News
Osbornes listed in The Times Best Law Firms 2021 Guide
Osbornes Law is delighted to be featured in The Times ‘Best Law Firms 2021’ guide for the third consecutive year. The 2021 guide has once again singled out the advice, […]
Read MoreInquest into Croydon tram crash adjourned due to COVID
The Senior Coroner for South London, Sarah Ormond-Walsh has adjourned the Croydon Tram Inquests, which were due to start on Monday 19 October. Coroner Sarah Ormond-Walshe said there was insufficient […]
Read MoreOsbornes partners with leading Brain Injury Charity to produce a new Q&A video series
Lights, Camera, Legal Advice! This week marks the launch of a new series of 16 legal advice videos with brain injury charity, Headway East London. The charity supports people affected […]
Read MoreCyclist whose career nearly ended following collision in London tells his story to the Evening Standard
As reported in the evening standard, a jewellery designer and maker to the stars had his career almost ended when an Uber driver ploughed into him and broke his hand. […]
Read MoreOsbornes Law joins legal panel of national road collision charity.
Osbornes is delighted to announce that the firm have joined the legal panel of the national charity for road crash victims, Roadpeace. The award winning personal injury department at Osbornes […]
Read MoreSenior lawyer to be promoted to partner while four become associates at Osbornes
London law firm Osbornes Law has announced that one of their Senior Catastrophic Injury Solicitors will become a partner in the latest round of promotions. Rob Aylott, who has 26 […]
Read MoreSenior Catastrophic Injury Solicitor Robert Aylott gains further APIL recognition
Rob Aylott, senior solicitor in the Personal Injury team has recently been confirmed as an APIL Accredited Fatal Accidents Specialist (AFAS). Already an APIL Senior Litigator Rob demonstrated to the […]
Read MoreOsbornes Law fundraiser for national brain injury charity #HatsforHeadway
Recently staff from Osbornes Law took part in #HatsforHeadway to support the fantastic work Headway do to help improve lives for those affected by brain injury. Headway is the UK-wide […]
Read MoreArt fair by victims of brain injury raises almost £5,000
An art fair featuring the work of people who have suffered brain injuries raised £4,814 for Headway East London and their talented artists who work from their art studio. Headway […]
Read MorePersonal Injury Solicitor takes on dual role
Blanca Diego Casas has recently gained dual qualification. She has qualified as a solicitor of the Senior Courts of England & Wales. This is in addition to her Spanish Abogada […]
Read More