Accident Injuries Leading to Coma in Pennsylvania
We Can Help with Seeking Compensation if a Loved One is in a Coma from an Accident in Yardley, Croydon, Bensalem, Northeast Philadelphia & Bucks County, PA
A coma is considered a deep state of unconsciousness. While the individual is not brain dead, they cannot move or respond to stimuli in their environment. Comas may stem from an underlying illness but can also result from a traumatic injury, usually to the head. Those in an unconscious state will often require years of medical treatment to help them recover from these conditions. Unfortunately, some individuals may never recover from a coma, remaining in a vegetative state for the remainder of their lives.
If your loved one has suffered from a coma after being involved in an accident that was caused by the negligence of someone else, we encourage you to contact our experienced personal injury lawyers to learn more about your rights and whether the law may provide you with options for obtaining compensation. You deserve support, knowledgeable guidance, and a representative who is unafraid of the challenges often involved in getting your full monetary damages for the physical, psychological, medical, and long-term costs of the coma and the car accident, truck accident, motorcycle accident, slip and fall incident, or other events that led to it. Contact our Personal Injury Firm, Cohen & Riechelson, at (215) 337-4915 for a free case review with an injury attorney now.
How Much Time Can a Coma Last?
According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, most comas rarely last more than two to four weeks. However, the outcome will depend on the severity, cause, and site of the injury. While most individuals may wake from a coma, they could experience many intellectual, physical, or psychological difficulties that could require lifelong medical treatment. Some individuals could remain in a coma for years or decades without emerging from that state.
Consequences of Traumatic Accidents That May Lead to a Comatose Condition
Any injury that damages a specific brain section may lead to a coma when the nervous system cannot send a signal from the brain to the rest of the body. Not all brain injuries will lead to a coma, but any severe injury to the brain increases the chance of slipping into one. When someone has suffered from a traumatic brain injury, it can cause a physical change in the brain, like swelling. Sometimes, the lack of oxygen could also disrupt normal brain signals. All those conditions can make a person lose consciousness and fall into a coma.
What Makes a Coma Occur?
Numerous incidents can lead to a coma. Traumatic brain injury is one of the top causes. Many times, these injuries are caused by a sharp blow to the head. Comas can also happen if someone needs to be resuscitated after an accident. When the brain does not receive enough oxygen, it could lead to a comatose state. Sometimes, the medical team may put a person into an induced coma to help them heal from excruciating injuries stemming from an accident. Strokes, tumors, and infections are other ways a person can end up in a coma.
Common Accidents Causing a Coma
In an accident, any sudden jerk or jolt of the head can cause a traumatic brain injury, often leading to a coma. The motion of an accident allows the brain to bump and bounce in the skull. Along with neck and spinal injuries, brain injuries are common in accidents, especially those involving vehicles. In some situations, the victims may not feel immediate pain or other symptoms, but there are underlying brain injuries. For that reason, it is imperative for anyone involved in an accident to seek medical assistance.
However, vehicle accidents are not the only incidents that can cause a coma. Any accident that results in trauma to the head could lead to a coma for the victim. These accidents include slip and fall accidents; on-the-job accidents; sporting accidents; and assaults.
Long-Term Effects and Potential Consequences of Coma Injuries
If the brain injury is not severe, the outlook is usually good for the victim. In most cases, the rehabilitative treatment allows the person to regain physical and cognitive functions to live a normal life. According to the Mayo Clinic, doctors can reverse the effects of the coma. However, that is not always the case. Some coma injuries damage the brain, and the individual will need medical assistance for the rest of their life. Not all cases are the same, and the long-term outcomes of a coma can vary.
Types of Compensation for a Loved One in a Coma Due Negligence
If the coma was the result of negligent action, then the person or their family can receive compensation for a wide range of damages and losses in Pennsylvania, such as lost wages; medical and hospital bills; physical therapy expenses; caregiving or home-care nursing costs; nursing home or assisted living arrangements
Contact our Bensalem Personal Injury Lawyers for a Free Coma Accident Case Review
Entering a coma can have lifelong consequences for the victim and their family. These individuals will face extensive medical bills and treatment costs for many months or years down the road. When the negligent party could have prevented the accident or caused the accident itself through their conduct, it leads to more financial and emotional difficulties for the family. An experienced injury attorney at Cohen & Riechelson in Bensalem will examine the facts of the case and determine the type of compensation you could receive for the accident.
You need a skilled and reputable personal injury attorney who will be ready to fight for your legal rights and the rights of the person you love who has been forced to cope with the consequences of another person’s or party’s bad decisions. Contact us at (215) 337-4915 for a free consultation and discuss with a skilled accident attorney serving Langhorne, Newton, Southampton, Warrington, Bristol, Tacony, Doylestown, Fairless Hills, and areas throughout Philadelphia and Bucks County, Pennsylvania.