Northern Ireland Man Faces Unfair Scrutiny After Traumatic Brain Injury

The family of a Londonberry man who was reduced to a vegetative state following a brain injury is highly offended that the government has challenged the true extent of the victim’s injuries.

The UK’s Social Security Agency sent a large amount of paperwork to the victim’s family, inquiring as to if and when 36-year-old Paul McCauley may be able to return to work. For a family already dealing with a permanent and life-changing injury to their son, the intrusive government request seems to be insensitive at best.

As for traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) in the United States, the Centers for Disease Control has classified such injuries as a “serious public health problem in the United States,” with well over 1.7 million victims per year. There are two types of TBIs:

• Penetrating TBIs, caused by a foreign object, such as a knife or bullet, entering the skull.

• Closed TBIs occur when the brain collides with the skull inside the victim’s head. Common causes for closed TBIs include a motor vehicle collision or a slip-and-fall.

The economic cost of TBIs is staggering and could well exceed $76 billion annually. The noneconomic costs, such as pain and suffering, loss of consortium and loss of lifestyle, are nearly incalculable. To obtain fair compensation for these injuries, speak with an attorney right away.

• If a person sustains a penetrating TBI as a result of a knife or gunshot wound, you may be eligible for compensation from both the offender and the Florida Crime Victims’ Compensation Trust Fund.

• If a person’s TBI is caused by a motor vehicle collision or a slip-and-fall, the victim may have a negligence action or a premises liability action against the responsible party.

It is important to remember that you have a limited time to act in such cases. To preserve any rights you may have, contact us.