Rebuilding life after a brain injury: a guide to support and compensation
For Brain Injury Awareness Week 2026, Leigh Day personal injury partner James Glasper reflects on how brain injury can affect survivors and families, and why access to the right support is so vital in helping people rebuild their lives.
Posted on 21 May 2026
Understanding brain injury: the hidden impact
A brain injury can happen to anyone at any time, with effects that are often sudden and life changing. According to the charity Headway, someone in the UK is admitted to hospital with an acquired brain injury every 90 seconds.
With the right support, survivors can adapt and find a way forward. Many of the most significant effects of a brain injury are not immediately visible. This makes specialist support essential to help address these hidden challenges. Families and loved ones are often left navigating unfamiliar and complex circumstances, and expert guidance can play a crucial role in helping them adjust and support recovery.
Can you return to work after a brain injury?
Returning to work frequently involves change. Some people go back to their previous roles with reasonable adjustments in place, while others may need to pursue a different path better suited to their circumstances. There are cases where returning to work is no longer possible, and the financial impact, alongside the cost of specialist care and equipment, can be considerable.
This highlights the importance of having a brain injury solicitor to help you understand your rights and options when it comes to workplace adjustments and compensation for lost earnings.
How brain injury compensation can help rebuild your life
For more than 30 years, Leigh Day’s specialist personal injury lawyers have championed the rights of those affected by life-changing injuries, handling complex claims resulting from road traffic collisions, workplace accidents, incidents in public spaces and home and overseas.
While no amount of money can undo the trauma and changes experienced, securing the right level of brain injury compensation can provide the foundation for a more secure and manageable future.
What does brain injury compensation cover?
Leigh Day’s dedicated team helps secure compensation to cover:
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Loss of earnings: Including lost salaries or wages, missed bonuses and lost opportunities for promotion. Some brain injury claims can include pension contributions that would have been received had employment continued.
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Rehabilitation and treatment: Access to early, specialist treatment and therapy is vital. Brain injury compensation can fund neurophysiotherapy, occupational therapy, neuropsychology and speech and language therapy, alongside private surgery and medication.
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Pain and suffering: Compensation may be awarded for physical pain, suffering and loss of amenity. Awards are assessed based on individual circumstances, guided by judicial guidelines and established case law. Brain injury solicitors ensure these assessments accurately reflect the impact on your quality of life.
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Care needs: Whether support is required on a visiting basis or around the clock, brain injury compensation can cover the cost of professional care. Claims may also include the value of care provided by family members and friends.
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Home adaptations: Depending on the severity of the injury, it may be necessary to move to a more accessible property or adapt an existing home to accommodate a wheelchair and other specialist equipment.
If you, or someone close to you, has sustained a brain injury, we are here to help.
Get in touch with Leigh Day’s specialist personal injury lawyers today:
Call us: 020 7650 1200
Email us: postbox@leighday.co.uk
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James Glasper
James is a partner and solicitor in the firm's personal injury department
Brain injury claims
Get in touch today to start your brain injury claim.
