A vestibular injury refers to damage to the vestibular system, which is a part of the inner ear and brain that helps control balance and eye movements.
When functioning correctly, the vestibular system sends signals to the brain about the position and movement of the head, allowing the brain to coordinate balance and eye movements. However, if the vestibular system is injured or damaged, it can lead to various symptoms and balance-related issues, collectively known as vestibular disorders.
Suffering a vestibular injury can be life-altering for both the victim and their family, having to adapt to a new way of carrying out their usual daily activities and dealing with the psychological effects of living with their injury.
Our team of lawyers at Major Trauma Group are passionate about our clients having access to specialist post-discharge rehabilitation and support, enabling them to have the best chance of recovery.
Vestibular rehabilitation therapy is a common approach to help individuals adapt to and compensate for vestibular dysfunction. This type of rehabilitation can be arranged for you within your claim for compensation.
What causes a vestibular injury?
The most common cause of a vestibular injury is suffering a traumatic brain injury (TBI), such as suffering a blow to the head resulting in a concussion or whiplash.
Head injuries can occur in a variety of circumstances, including incidents caused by another person’s negligence. This may include events such as road traffic collisions, or accidents in the workplace and in public spaces. It is important to know that you may be eligible to make a claim for compensation if you are suffering from a vestibular disorder that has resulted from an accident or third-party negligence.
If you experience any of the common symptoms of a vestibular injury, such as vertigo, hearing loss, dizziness, or imbalance, an ear, nose and throat (ENT) doctor or an audiovestibular physician will be able to provide you with a diagnosis and treatment. Treatment for a vestibular injury will vary depending on the cause, but it may include medications and specialist vestibular rehabilitation therapy.
Examples of vestibular disorders
There are several vestibular disorders that can affect the function of the vestibular system. Some common examples include:
- Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV): This is the most common type of vestibular disorder, and although BPPV is often idiopathic (without a known cause), head trauma is one of the potential triggers for this condition. It can cause brief episodes of intense vertigo when certain head movements dislodge calcium crystals in the inner ear, which then migrate into the semicircular canals.
- Labyrinthine concussion: A severe blow to the head can cause a concussion involving the inner ear structures, leading to symptoms of dizziness, vertigo, and hearing changes.
- Vestibular neuritis: This is an inflammation of the vestibular nerve. Vestibular neuritis can cause dizziness, vertigo, nausea, and vomiting.
- Post-traumatic vertigo: Head trauma can disrupt the normal function of the vestibular system, resulting in persistent or recurrent vertigo and balance problems.
- Vestibular migraine: This is a type of migraine that causes dizziness, vertigo, disruption of the visual system and other vestibular symptoms.
How do you make a claim?
If you have experienced a vestibular injury due to an accident or incident that was not your fault, you may be entitled to make a claim for compensation.
Your health and well-being should always be your priority. As such, you should seek the most appropriate medical attention as soon as possible after the incident, even if your symptoms appear mild. Moreover, documentation of your injuries and treatment will be essential to the success of your claim.
Gathering evidence related to your accident and your vestibular injury can also prove highly beneficial to the claims process. This may include photographs of the accident scene, contact information of any witnesses, medical records, and any other relevant documents.
Your lawyer will then help determine who was responsible for the accident or incident that led to your vestibular injury. To make a successful claim, you need to establish that someone else’s negligence or actions caused your injury.
Our solicitors will then negotiate on your behalf for the most appropriate financial settlement for your injuries alongside any specialist rehabilitation treatments.
Keep in mind that the process of making a claim for a vestibular injury can be complex, and the specific steps may vary depending on the circumstances of your case. Working with an experienced personal injury lawyer from our panel at Major Trauma Group can significantly increase your chances of a successful claim.
Rehabilitation for vestibular injury
Rehabilitation for vestibular injury, also known as vestibular rehabilitation therapy (VRT), is a specialised form of physical therapy aimed at helping individuals with vestibular disorders improve their balance, reduce dizziness, and regain their functional independence.
The main goal of VRT is to promote the brain’s ability to compensate for vestibular dysfunction, allowing the person to adapt to their condition and improve their quality of life.
VRT is typically done with a therapist who will help you to gradually expose yourself to different movements and activities that can provoke symptoms and trigger dizziness. This allows your brain to learn to compensate for the imbalance caused by the vestibular disorder.
The length of time that you need to complete VRT will vary depending on the severity of your vestibular disorder.
VRT ultimately aims to educate patients with vestibular disorders on their condition whilst helping them develop realistic expectations as to their recovery as well as developing personalised management strategies and exercise programs.
How can Major Trauma Group help?
Our member firms at Major Trauma Group are highly experienced in personal injury cases and offer their services on a no win no fee agreement, meaning that if your compensation claim is unsuccessful, then you will not need to pay us anything.
Our expert knowledge on how vestibular injuries can impact daily life drives us to strive for the best possible outcome for our clients, ultimately increasing their likelihood of a successful recovery.
If you would like to speak to a member of our team to start your vestibular injury compensation claim, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us today. You can contact us at 0330 311 2578 or email us at hello@majortraumagroup.co.uk. Alternatively, we have a live chat feature on our website.
