Each year, around 62,000 children sustain a head injury. Of those, around 2,500 will suffer fatality, 37,000 will be hospitalized, and another 435,000 will simply be treated in an emergency room and then released. Those that suffer fatality are, by far, the most devastating of all cases. However, even when children survive the injuries sustained during an auto accident, fall, abuse, or while playing sports, their road to healing can be a difficult one. A new study, published in the medical journal, PLoS Medicine, indicates that journey may be even more complicated than previously realized.

Disability, Psychiatric Problems, and Early Mortality

In a study that tracked the life trajectories of more than a million Swedish children, researchers examined the likelihood of long-term complications and difficulties in the lives of those that had suffered a head injury before the age of 25. Results showed that these individuals, when compared with their peers, were more likely to have a shorter, more difficult life.

When you have been injured, and the medical bills and other expenses start to pile up, you may start to wonder just how much your case might be worth. There are many factors, and every personal injury case is unique. However, there are some cases that may bring more in damages than others. The following information can help you decide if you have a valid claim, and what kind of damages you might expect in your case.

Is Your Claim a Valid One?

Cases that are eligible for a personal injury claim must contain some element of negligence. It can be a driver who was texting when they crashed into you, a store owner that failed to clear off their walkway, a pet-owner that let their dog run loose, a doctor that was intoxicated while providing services, or any other form of reckless, careless, or irresponsible behavior that places others at risk for injury. Only an attorney can tell you for certain if your case contains this element of negligence, but most victims have a pretty good idea as to whether it played a part in the accident that caused their injury. At the very least, they may suspect possible negligence was a factor.

Each and every year, hundreds of thousands of people suffer an accidental injury, but not all of these cases are personal injury cases. Some of these incidents are caused by the injured. Others are the victims of unavoidable accidents caused by acts of God or nature. So how do you tell if your injury is the kind that could lead to a personal injury case? The following can help you decide.

Was the Injury Caused by Negligence?

Only certain types of accidents are considered personal injury accidents. For example, those that are caused by acts of nature or not caused by negligence are not covered under personal injury law. Automobile accidents, medical malpractice accidents, dog bites caused by an off-leash dog, slip and fall accidents, and construction accidents are examples of situations that may contain negligence (failure to exercise the same care that a reasonable person would use in the same circumstance).

Whiplash has remained one of medicine’s strange mysteries, especially in cases where there are long-term pain and complication. However, a new study has devised a way that may help in predicting which patients are likely to experience long-lasting symptoms, which can prove to be beneficial in ensuring proper treatment and interventions are provided. Though only a single study at this point, this new diagnostic method could prove to be highly beneficial in treating automobile accident victims in the future.

Risk Group Division and Long-Term Complications

Conducted by the Danish “Whiplash Study Group” and presented at the Second Congress of the European Academy of Neurology (EAN) in Copenhagen, the study followed the outcomes of 326 automobile accident victims diagnosed with whiplash. Each had received a clinical examination within four days of the injury and were then assigned to a risk group, based on factors relating to the type and nature of their pain, type and number of painful complaints, and mobility of their neck. Those that complained of severe headaches, strong neck pain, and displayed a negative emotional state were placed in the highest risk group. The rest were categorized according to the severity of their symptoms.

Victims of truck accidents, pedestrian accidents, bicycle accidents, and motorcycle accidents are more vulnerable than other drivers when it comes to severe injury. Paralysis, caused by spinal cord injuries, are especially common. For most, this means a complete change of life, a decreased life expectancy, and possibly even heavy reliance on a loved one and/or medical professionals. But what if there was an option that allowed them to function a little more independently? A way to help them walk again?