Anybody injured in a prison setup should investigate whether the injury occurred due to another party's negligence. Just because you are behind bars doesn't mean you aren't entitled to compensation if a person is liable for your injuries. Moreover, many injuries are more common in correctional facilities than the outside world; examples of such injuries include:
Traumatic Brain Injuries
According to Scientific American, the prison population is seven times more likely to suffer from traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) than those who aren't behind bars. TBI occurs when an external force, such as a knock from a blunt object, causes brain dysfunction. It can lead to seizures, nerve damage (and its associated effects, such as impaired vision), and intellectual problems, such as impaired memory.
One reason for the elevated prevalence of TBIs in American prisons is the high rate of physical assaults, especially in male prisons. According to some statistics, about 21% of male prisoners are assaulted in a six-month period.
Sexual Assault
Just like physical assault, sexual assault is also highly prevalent in American prisons, standing at between 2% and 5%. These assaults are perpetrated both by inmates and prison staff. Sexual assault is a multifaceted injury; it comprises physical injuries (for example, due to the struggle), emotional trauma, and even a sexually transmitted infection.
The risk of sexual assault is higher for some demographics than others. For example, transgender inmates, Non-heterosexual, or younger inmates are more likely to be sexually assaulted than others. Complicating matters is the fact that victims rarely come out due to several reasons including fear of appearing weak or attracting revenge attacks.
Infections
Sexually transmitted diseases aren't the only infections that plague inmates in American prisons. The overcrowded natures of correctional facilities easily lead to unsanitary conditions. Unsanitary sleeping places, poor personal hygiene, and poorly cleaned kitchen facilities are all common in correctional facilities.
Numerous infectious diseases thrive in such conditions, which is why prison or jail houses are rampant with infectious diseases, such as tuberculosis (TB) and influenza. Apart from sanitary issues, other factors that contribute to high infection rates in prison include delays in treatment, water rations, and abrupt transfers of prisoners.
Don't forget that it's more difficult to handle a personal injury claim behind bars than on the other side of the fence. For example, you may not have access to cameras or smartphones for taking and preserving pictures of evidence, such as bloodied and torn pieces of clothing. Therefore, you need all the help you can get to process your claim, chief of which is the assistance of a personal injury attorney (such as one from Putnam Lieb).
