Head & brain injury compensation claims

When a head injury first happens, it can be difficult to know how serious it is, and whether the brain has been injured. The Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) is used to assess a person following a head injury.

Head injuries and traumatic brain injuries are often described according to how severe they are (i.e. minor, moderate or severe). The Brain and Spine Foundation explains that head injuries can be described as:

• Closed: the brain has been affected by a strong force, but the skull hasn't been fractured
• Penetrating: the skull is pierced
• Crushing: the head has been squeezed

Headway, the Brain Injury Association, says that where a traumatic brain injury has occurred, there can be a loss of consciousness and/or a period of confusion or disorientation (‘post-traumatic amnesia' or ‘PTA'). The length of PTA and/or loss of consciousness can indicate the severity of a head or brain injury.

If a head injury results in a hospital stay, health professionals will carry out observations to make sure your condition doesn't get any worse. They'll check your heart and breathing rate, blood pressure, level of alertness, temperature and oxygen saturation among other things. You may also be referred for a CT scan or MRI scan if doctors need more detailed information.

Serious head and brain injuries can significantly affect your daily life. They can also affect those around you, especially if you need extra help and support with tasks that you used to take for granted.

If you're not sure whether you or someone close to you could claim for a serious head or brain injury, then we can help. As a rough guide, if any of the following factors apply (or have applied) to you, then it's likely that you've suffered a serious head or brain injury that may mean you're owed compensation:

• You need ongoing medical support
• You've been off work for a long time, or can't return to work at all
• You can't manage the same job or have had to reduce your hours
• You've received care or support from loved ones
• You can't continue with the hobbies or activities that you used to enjoy

If you think you've experienced a serious head or brain injury, you may be entitled to make a head or brain injury compensation claim. Contact us free on for free, no-obligation advice on whether you could claim. But please seek urgent medical attention to ensure that you receive the necessary treatment.

Some of the most common types of brain injury include:

• Minor head injury and concussion
• Traumatic brain injury
• Aneurysm
• Brain haemorrhage
• Brain tumour
• Carbon monoxide poisoning
• Encephalitis
• Meningitis
• Stroke
• Hypoxic or Anoxic brain injury

If you or someone close to you has suffered a head or brain injury that wasn't their fault, no matter how minor, you could be entitled to make a head injury compensation claim.

Our head injury claims solicitors may be able to help. For more information, call 0800 376 0150.

Head and brain injuries fall into a number of categories, all with their own prognoses and treatments. Here, we explain the most common types of injury:

Concussion

Concussion is a type of brain injury that often happens after a head injury such as a bump on the head. It may or may not make a person lose consciousness, and often results in confusion and/or dizziness.

Common symptoms of concussion include:

• Losing consciousness
• Headaches
• Confusion, forgetfulness or feeling disorientated
• Memory loss
• Feeling dizzy or having difficulties with balance
• Finding it difficult to speak or slurring
• Vision problems

Concussion affects different people in different ways, and can be worse in certain circumstances, e.g. if a person is elderly, has been taking alcohol or drugs, or bleeds easily.

People experiencing concussion may need to go to hospital for investigations and monitoring. The symptoms of concussion may be signs of a more serious brain injury such as a subdural haematoma or subarachnoid haemorrhage.

Subdural haematoma

A subdural haematoma is a serious condition which causes blood to collect between the skull and the surface of the brain. Symptoms include:

• Headaches that get worse
• Feeling or being sick
• Confusion
• Drowsiness
• Losing consciousness
• Personality changes

Symptoms of a subdural haematoma can develop immediately after a head injury or slowly in the weeks following a more minor head injury (subacute or chronic subdural haematoma).

It's important for people experiencing these symptoms to seek medical treatment immediately, as it is considered to be a serious injury.

Subarachnoid haemorrhage

A subarachnoid haemorrhage is a serious condition caused by bleeding on the surface of the brain. It's a rare form of stroke and can be fatal.

Symptoms include:

• A very severe headache
• Feeling and/or being sick
• Vision problems (blurred or double vision)
• Losing consciousness
• A stiff neck
• Convulsions
• Sensitivity to light.

Some risk factors for subarachnoid haemorrhages are smoking, high blood pressure and excessive alcohol consumption. Severe head injuries can cause subarachnoid bleeding which is a separate condition called a traumatic subarachnoid haemorrhage.

Open-head injury

Open-head injuries (or ‘penetrating head injuries') happen when a person has violently hit their head, or an object has pierced their skull.

They have a variety of causes such as trips and falls, workplace accidents and violence. Symptoms and treatment for open-head injuries can vary depending on the severity and location of the injury.

Diffuse axonal injury

Diffuse axonal injury is a traumatic brain injury causing damage to multiple areas of the brain. It happens when the brain moves around quickly in the skull (a “shearing injury”) and damages the connections between cells in the brain.

Car accidents, falls and sporting injuries are common causes of diffuse axonal injuries. This type of brain injury can have serious consequences.

Our solicitors have vast experience in making traumatic brain injury compensation claims and know how distressing they can be. If you decide to make a claim, they'll explain everything to you, every step of the way.

We have years of experience in making brain injury compensation claims. While head and brain injuries have several causes, below is a list of the most common examples we deal with:

• Road traffic accidents
• Workplace incidents
• Public liability claims
• Medical negligence
• Criminal injuries

If you're unsure of whether you can make a head injury compensation claim, or who you can claim against, we can help. Give us a call for a  free, no-obligation chat and our experienced advisors will tell you whether you can make a brain injury claim. If you decide to make a claim, our head injury claims solicitors will take it from there.

If you suffer a serious head or brain injury, it's important to know that you generally have 3 years from the date of the incident to make a personal injury claim. This period is often referred to as the limitation period and refers to the time by which you must either settle your claim or start court proceedings. It's best to claim as soon as possible so your memory is fresh, and evidence is recent and easier to gather.  

You can claim compensation for most accidents that happened to you up to 3 years ago but in some cases, this time frame could be longer or shorter:

• Claims on Behalf of Children: You can claim at any point before the child's 18th birthday. After turning 18, they have until age 21 to make their own claim.
• Mental Capacity: There are no time limits for claims made on behalf of someone who cannot manage their own case. This has to be assessed on a case-by-case basis and means more than requires assistance. It should also be noted that should the claimant regain capacity at any time after the accident, however briefly, the usual 3 years will start from that date.

There are many causes of head and brain injuries, e.g. a car accident, a fall from height or an accident in the workplace.

If you've suffered a brain or head injury, it's likely that you'll need help and support. It can be a traumatic and life-changing event for both you and those close to you.

While we know head and brain injuries are all different, and there isn't a ‘one-size-fits-all' solution, they're often serious and have the potential to significantly affect your life. In the most severe cases, they can even be fatal.

Even if you feel your injury isn't serious or life-changing, we may still be able to help. We believe that if you've been injured in an accident that wasn't your fault, and it's had an emotional, physical or financial impact on your life, you should be compensated.

A compensation claim can't make you better, but it can help you to cope with day-to-day life.

You may need extra money for:

• Treatment such as physiotherapy or occupational therapy
• Adaptations to your home
• Loss of future or past earnings (for you or a loved one who has been caring for you)
• Psychological therapy such as cognitive behavioural therapy
• Specialist equipment to help you with day-to-day activities
• Modified or increased transport costs

Your head injury claims solicitor will take any rehabilitation and treatment costs into account when helping with your claim and will do their best to make sure these expenses are covered. They'll also consider loss of earnings both since your accident and in the future.

In some cases, you may be able to receive an interim payment before your final head injury compensation amount to cover the immediate costs of treating your brain injury.

A successful brain injury claim can get you the compensation you deserve. Your final settlement can reduce the impact of a head injury on your daily activities and can help you live your life to the fullest.

Whatever your circumstances, it's worth giving us a call to talk things through on 0800 376 0150. All calls to us are free and confidential, and there's no pressure to make a brain injury claim.

We've got years of experience dealing with head and brain injury compensation claims. Our expert advisors can help you to claim the head injury compensation that you need and deserve.

First, they'll ask you a few questions so that they can understand your circumstances, so it's a good idea to make a note of a few things in advance:

• Roughly, when did your accident happen?
• What medical treatment and/or care have you received and when did it start/finish?
• Do you still experience pain?
• Did you or anyone close to you need to take time off work?
• How has your daily life changed?
• Have you had to buy things or change the way you live, e.g. adaptations or equipment?

If we think you have a good chance of making a successful claim for head or brain injury compensation because of what has happened to you, we'll tell you during your initial call. If you decide to make a claim, we'll ask for your permission to put you in touch with a head injury claims solicitor, who'll take it from there.

You're not under any obligation to make a brain injury claim, and your call will be completely confidential.

When you feel ready, give us a call on 0800 376 0150. 

You might be worried that you'll lose money if your claim isn't successful, or that you'll have to pay for your solicitor up front.

You needn't worry.

We specialise in 'no win, no fee' agreements - also known as conditional fee agreements. This means you will only pay our fee if your claim is successful.

If eligible for a no win, no fee claim, a no-upfront-cost insurance policy will be taken out before starting your claim. This policy is designed to protect you from costs and expenses during your compensation claim, like court fees, legal expenses and medical reports.

This means that if your claim doesn't succeed and you adhere to the terms and conditions of your agreement, you won't be burdened with legal fees or expenses.

Call us on 0800 376 0150 to start your claim today.

If you need to make a claim on behalf of someone else, we're here to guide you through the process. Below are common situations where you could act on behalf of a loved one as a litigation friend:

Claiming for a Child:

• Children under 18 cannot legally make a claim themselves.
• A parent or guardian acts as a ‘litigation friend' to manage the claim.
• You can start a claim at any time before the child turns 18.
• If unresolved by 18, they can pursue the claim until their 21st birthday.
• Your lawyer will work closely with you to ensure your child's needs are fully represented.

Claiming for Someone Who Lacks Mental Capacity:

• For someone unable to make decisions due to a mental health condition or brain injury, a family member or guardian can act as their litigation friend. Mental capacity will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.
• There's no time limit for making a claim unless they regain capacity, however briefly.
• If capacity is regained, the three-year time limit starts from that date.
• Your legal team will ensure compensation truly reflects their immediate and future needs.

It can be daunting to claim on behalf of someone else. But don't worry, we'll ensure both you and the person you're assisting are supported throughout the process, with clear guidance from your legal team at every stage.

Read more about making a brain injury claim on a loved one's behalf. We also have a page dedicated to making a claim on a child's behalf.

As a litigation friend, your role is to guide and support your loved one through the claim process stages and act on their behalf. In some cases, the person you're assisting will need to be present for key steps in the claim process, such as medical assessments. They must participate in the claim wherever possible, and your responsibility is to ensure their input is included, their voice is heard, and instructions are made accordingly.

While it can seem daunting to claim on behalf of someone else, your legal team will be with you every step of the way, helping you understand your role and making sure the claim progresses smoothly. We'll provide clear guidance on how to manage the process and ensure that both you and the person you're assisting feel supported throughout.

When you make a personal injury claim, your compensation is designed to cover the full impact of your injury on your life including:

• Your pain and suffering
• The lifestyle impact and any changes in your life, home, or work you've had to make.
• Financial losses like medical bills and lost wages.

Everyone's circumstances are different, so head injury compensation can vary. This means it's difficult for us to give you an accurate figure until we get to know you and your situation better.

Call 0800 376 0150 or request a callback to talk it through with our experienced advisors. Once we know more, we can give you a better idea of how much head injury compensation you could be entitled to.

At National Accident Helpline we've been helping people just like you for over years_since years. Our expert knowledge has even earned us a rating of ‘Excellent' on Trustpilot.

We're here to help you get the head injury compensation you deserve. Give us a call or complete the callback form below and one of our experienced advisors will get back to you. If you decide to make a claim, we'll refer you to an expert head injury claims solicitor.