Even the most innocuous activities in Delaware can lead to someone getting hurt. While broken bones and cuts can heal, one of the most damaging types of injuries is to the brain. Those who have suffered brain injuries will have a great deal to handle in the aftermath. Medical expenses are a given, but there could be ancillary problems that will exact a significant toll on the individual and his or her family.
A seemingly harmless event turned dangerous when two people were hurt during the “Punkin Chunkin” show in which pumpkins are shot into the air through air cannons. A 39-year-old woman and a 56-year-old man were hurt when the air cannon broke apart at around 2:40 p.m. Pieces of the cannon flew through the air and hit the woman in the head and face. She was flown to the hospital via helicopter. The man who was hurt was taken to the hospital with injuries that were not life-threatening. This was the first time in three years that the event was held, as there was a previous lawsuit after a volunteer was hurt in 2013.
When there is an injury to the head and face, particularly due to a large object flying through the air, it might not be known how severe the damage is until well after the incident. A brain injury often has symptoms that are not immediately known but can cause long-term issues to the person and his or her family. Since the brain is such an integral factor in normal functioning, any issue large or small is a negative. The person might need therapy, rehabilitation, surgery and other treatments. Even that cannot guarantee a return to normal functioning. It might be necessary for the person to have round-the-clock care.
In this accident, a woman who was simply attending an event in which pumpkins are shot from an air cannon ended up in the hospital with major injuries. Given that her condition was listed as critical and the extent of the damage is not yet known after she was hit in the head and face by a metal object, it is possible that she will need extensive medical care. Victims of brain injuries can accumulate significant medical expenses. Therefore, those who experience a brain injury due to another’s negligence may want to pursue for litigation with help from an experienced attorney.
Source: delawareonline.com, “2 hurt, 1 critically, after Punkin Chunkin explosion,” Brittany Horn, Nov, 7, 2016
