Massachusetts Personal Injury Library
Coping with Water-Related Child Injuries (Part B)
Water-related accidents can often lead to serious child injuries, including brain injuries. The lasting impacts of a brain injury will vary with the type of water accident and other specific circumstances related to the accident.
Water-Related Accidents and Traumatic Brain Injuries
There are various ways in which the child victim of a water-related accident can experience a traumatic brain injury. Listed below are a few examples of how a brain injury may occur during a water-related accident:
- A child might suffer a traumatic brain injury or damage as a result of a sudden impact, such as blunt force trauma during a bathtub slip and fall accident
- Acquired brain injuries can develop due to oxygen deprivation to the brain tissue, as in the event of a near drowning
Complications of Near Drowning
A near drowning can have many effects on a child, including aspiration pneumonia and hypothermia, but a major source of concern is what happens to the brain tissue. Listed below are a few ways in which a near drowning can impact a child’s brain:
- Hypoxia, or a lack of oxygen to the brain, during which permanent damage is done to the brain tissue
- Stroke
Symptoms of Traumatic Brain Injury
Each case of traumatic brain injury is unique to the victim, and the damage can vary from mild to moderate to severe. Listed below are a few symptoms that can apply to victims of a traumatic brain injury:
- Cognitive difficulties
- Seizures
- Headache
- Blurred vision
- Memory problems
- Feelings of extreme tiredness
- Confusion or disorientation
- Lack of concentration or inattentiveness
- Changes in personality
Extreme cases of traumatic brain injury might result in a coma or persistent vegetative state.
Treatments for Traumatic Brain Injuries
Because some brain damage is irreversible, the focus will be on treating the child’s injuries, rebuilding any skills that can be relearned and ensuring that your child is safe and comfortably provided for. There are many types of therapies for children with brain injuries that may lead to full or partial recoveries.
These brain injury treatments can be effective, but are often quite costly, particularly over the long-term. Listed below are a few options for medical and psychological treatment of traumatic brain injuries:
- Cognitive therapy
- Physical therapy
- Speech therapy
- Intensive pain treatment
- Emotional Counseling
If your child has been hurt in a water-related accident and suffered brain damage in Massachusetts, you should contact an Boston child injury lawyer right away to discuss your legal options.
The Massachusetts personal injury law firm Kiley Law Group, located in Andover and Boston, has fought on behalf of children for over 30 years.
Our child injury lawyers lead by Thomas Kiley, the Million Dollar Man himself, take time when speaking with you about your child’s accident and injuries. The Kiley Law Group works with you on a contingency basis, which means there are NO FEES unless our trained child injury attorneys win your case.
Contact us today for a FREE legal consultation.
