Serious brain injuries can occur in any circumstances in which an accident victim sustains a traumatic impact or jolt of the head. In many accident cases, victims sustain their head injuries as a direct result of another person’s carelessness or negligence. When that happens, the accident victim may be in a position to file a claim or a lawsuit directly against the individual or entity who acted unreasonably under the circumstances.
It goes without saying that some accidents are more severe than others, and some accidents are more likely to lead to a traumatic head or brain injury than others.
Some of the most common types of negligence that can lead to traumatic brain or head injuries include:
- Motor vehicle driver negligence – Operators of cars, trucks, and other motor vehicles are responsible for following the Georgia rules of the road and putting them into practice when they are operating their vehicles. When a motor vehicle operator fails to follow the rules of the road or engages in distracted driving that results in a collision with another vehicle (or a pedestrian), the accident victim may strike something inside the vehicle and sustain a serious head injury. In the case of a motor vehicle accident where the negligent driver causes their vehicle to collide with a bicycle or motorcycle, the collision’s force may cause the cyclist to fall off the bike, striking their head on the ground and sustaining a traumatic injury.
- Premises accidents – The owners and operators of various premises, including restaurants and stores, owe their guests a duty. Specifically, these individuals must undertake reasonable efforts to ensure that their properties are free from dangerous defects and known hazardous conditions. If areas of the property are defective, property owners and operators have a duty to either repair the defects or to at least warn visitors of the defects on the premises. When property owners and operators fail to act with the necessary amount of reasonable care, surface defects can cause individuals to slip and fall on the premises. In a slip-and-fall accident, it is very easy for an individual to strike their head on the floor, resulting in a serious injury.
- Product malfunctions – Just like premises owners are responsible for maintaining their properties in a safe condition at all times, product manufacturers have a duty to ensure that their products are adequately tested and are in a reasonably safe condition before being put up for sale on the market. If a product malfunctions in a way that results in an injury to the accident victim’s head, the manufacturer, or any other entity in the design or supply chain, may share in the liability. The same holds true if a motor vehicle, bicycle, or motorcycle part does not work correctly, leading to an accident that results in a severe head injury.
- Healthcare malpractice – Doctors and other healthcare providers have a duty to act in a reasonable manner when treating their patients and to perform medical procedures within their designated specialty. In some cases, especially during the birth of a child, a patient might suffer a brain injury due to a doctor’s errors. If a doctor’s negligence caused a person’s head injury, then the injured patient may file a claim against the healthcare provider for medical negligence or malpractice.
If you or a person you love has sustained a head or brain injury due to one or more of these types of negligence, the skilled legal team at Brauns Law Accident Injury Lawyers, PC is ready to help you. Our legal team can investigate the circumstances of your accident and determine if negligence occurred. If so, we can assist you with pursuing monetary compensation for a head or brain injury that you may have sustained in your accident.
