Penetrating Head Injuries

A penetrating head injury occurs when a foreign object or a skull fragment penetrates the brain through its outer layer and skull. These injuries may be fatal, or they may require lifetime care or an adjustment to a victim’s day-to-day activities and lifestyle. When a brain injury is the result of another party’s negligence, they should be held accountable in the aftermath. The Miami brain injurys at the Law Offices of Robert Dixon can assist people who have suffered a penetrating head injury in pursuing proper legal action. We represent victims and their families throughout South Florida in personal injury and wrongful death claims.

A penetrating head injury may be classified as high velocity or low velocity. A high velocity injury is usually caused by a fast moving projectile, and it proves fatal over 90 percent of the time. A low velocity injury may result from a myriad of situations, such as a bicycle or car accident, or even a significant fall. Most often, a low velocity injury occurs when a skull fragment penetrates the brain, causing a skull fracture.

Surviving victims of penetrating head injuries almost always need long-term medical care and rehabilitation throughout their lives. These injuries can cause repeated seizures, chronic or severe headaches, vision loss, and loss of speech or cognitive skills. In addition to adjusting to a drastically reduced quality of life and likely job displacement, these injuries are often costly to treat. Making sure that responsible parties contribute to these expenses can make a significant difference to a victim’s family.

Whether an open head injury is caused by poorly maintained property, a motor vehicle collision, or another accident resulting from negligence, a victim generally has legal recourse to seek damages in a personal injury claim. To show negligence, a victim or plaintiff must establish that a defendant owed him or her a duty of reasonable care. In a claim based on a slip and fall, for example, a property owner’s duty of care owed to visitors depends on the purpose for which they are on the premises. Meanwhile, drivers are expected to use the level of care that a reasonable driver would use in the same circumstances, including obeying traffic laws and taking road and weather conditions into account.

A victim must also show that the defendant breached the duty of care and that the breach caused the penetrating head injury, resulting in damages. Compensation available for these types of injuries may include past or future medical expenses, loss of income, lost earning capacity, or compensation for pain and suffering. In the tragic situations when an accident proves fatal, the family members of the victim may be able to pursue a wrongful death claim to seek other types of damages.

If you or a loved one has suffered any form of head trauma, the Miami brain injury attorneys at the Law Offices of Robert Dixon can help you determine your next legal steps. Our firm represents victims in every step of the process, from investigation and negotiations to any necessary litigation. If you have sustained a penetrating head injury, call 877.499.4878 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation to explore your legal options with a personal injury or wrongful death attorney. The Law Offices of Robert Dixon serves people throughout Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach Counties, including in Miami, and West Palm Beach.