Symptoms of a brain injury you should not ignore after a crash

Posted on April 13, 2020June 14, 2024 by Walter Law Group

After any car accident, victims can experience a wide range of injuries. And these injuries can change a person’s life in the blink of an eye.

For example, brain injuries are not uncommon in a crash, and they can be particularly catastrophic. However, too many people think that a brain injury has to be severe to be devastating. That is not true: Even a mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI) has the potential to change a person’s life forever.

Symptoms of a traumatic brain injury

When brain injuries are severe, the symptoms are typically acute and obvious. A severe brain injury resulting in physical damage to a brain can result in:

Loss of consciousness
Seizures
Coma
Slurred speech
Fluid draining from ears or nose

Seemingly minor traumatic brain injuries (MTBI), like concussions, can also have devastating consequences for accident victims. However, the symptoms may be more subtle. It can also take some time for victims to recognize something as a possible sign of a brain injury. Therefore, you should be mindful of the following signs of an MTBI:

Headaches
Changes in mood, behaviour or personality
Trouble sleeping
Vomiting or nausea
Difficulty concentrating
Poor balance

These symptoms could mean that a person’s injury resulted in damage to brain cells or structures.

Impact of MTBIs

These and other symptoms of MTBIs can affect a person’s life in many ways.

MTBI sufferers who experience anxiety, depression or other mental conditions after an accident can require ongoing therapy, medication and possibly professional observation.

Personality changes after a brain injury could strain personal relationships and disrupt familial ties and marriages. Personality changes could affect a person’s lifestyle and well-being if these changes make a person more irritable or less averse to risk-taking.

Symptoms like loss of balance, headaches and difficulty concentrating could make it all but impossible for a person to go back to their job or perform well in school.

Considering the toll MTBIs can take on a person, it is critical to take symptoms of concussions and other brain injuries very seriously. Even if symptoms seem minor, victims should discuss them with their doctor.

Do I Get Employment Benefits If I Get Fired?

Posted on August 16, 2019June 14, 2024 by Walter Law Group

The answer to this question is complex. The reason is because the officials who evaluate unemployment claims need to investigate the nature of the dismissal. If the findings reveal that you are at fault, then it’s possible you may not receive employment insurance benefits.

So how does the government figure out if you are entitled to receive unemployment benefits?

As outlined on the Government of Canada website, it can be an arduous process. First, an agent assigned to your employment insurance claim will review the details of your dismissal. The agent may contact you for further details about the dismissal from your point of view, but may also require an interview with your former employer as well as other related parties in order to properly assess your claim.

In the end, there are a number of reasons why an employer could have decided to let you with “with cause” and there are a number of reasons why it’s possible the dismissal, while justified, could have occurred (for example, maybe you were unaware of a certain policy or procedure).

If the final outcome results in justification for a “with cause” dismissal, you will likely not receive regular employment benefits. However, you may still qualify for other benefits, such as maternity or compassionate care. In order to receive employment insurance benefits, you will need to have worked for the required number of employable “insured hours”.

If you have been dismissed by your employer with cause, it’s best advised that you consult with an experienced employment lawyer. He or she can evaluate your case and advise you on what your options if your wish to take legal action or what type of compensation you can pursue.

Wrongful Dismissals: Pursuing Compensation

Posted on June 19, 2019June 14, 2024 by Walter Law Group

If you have been suddenly dismissed by an employer, it can come as a shock. What can be even more shocking is realizing that you could have received more time or notice for the termination, especially when you are working in a position within middle to senior level management.

It can be even more shocking to a person to realize how much compensation may have been left on the table if they don’t understand how the termination process works. There are legislative guidelines for how much notice, or payment in lieu of notice, an employer is supposed to give an employee.

Sometimes, the legislative guidelines may not cover your position, contribution or length of service for a company. And if there is a case to be made where you were entitled to more compensation or notice, then it could be a case of wrongful dismissal.

If you have a valid case of wrongful dismissal, you can pursue higher amounts of compensation than what the company owed you. But, there could be other sources of compensation that are available as well.

If the court rules in your favour for wrongful dismissal, it’s possible you may be able to receive more than just compensation. It’s possible a judge could also give out punitive damages as well.

In an article posted by the Canadian HR Reporter, the impact of an employer’s actions was analyzed in situations where a court may find the employer wrongfully dismissed an employee. In cases where an employer decided to counter-sue the employee – and even claim just cause afterwards – when the employee’s claims were found to be valid, a judge could inflict additional punishable measures, such as punitive damages.

If you believe you have been wrongfully dismissed by your employer, it’s best to consult with an experienced employment lawyer. He or she will be able to assist you with pursuing financial compensation to cover your losses and protect your legal rights.