Accessible Legal Support for Individuals Living With Brain Injury

“Working with the amazing team and members of BIST has been a profoundly rewarding experience. Navigating the legal system following a life-altering injury can be extremely difficult. Organizations like BIST provide essential resources, information and assistance that help to make the legal process less confusing and stressful for survivors and their families.”

“I would encourage people … to reach out to local brain injury associations like BIST. When a brain injury victim has to get involved in the legal system and has to retain a lawyer, they’re going through one of the more difficult times in their lives, and when their brain injury causes what the law calls mental disabilities that make communication or understanding things difficult or challenging, that makes them a little bit vulnerable. It’s important for lawyers as advocates for these clients to understand, appreciate and accommodate these people so that they can participate.”

“Since working with BIST I have been able to see the impact such an organization has on people living with ABI’s. Understanding how to navigate the legal system is challenging for even a lay person, so add this complication in to the mix for someone living with a brain injury, would make it almost impossible to understand. Thanks to BIST, survivors and families now have a resource to assist navigating this incredibly difficult process during these incredibly difficult times.”

"Lawyers have to be flexible and encourage the participation of support persons in interviews in client meetings, and even in court procedures. There is case law that has acknowledged the role of support persons and companions, and has even extended legal privilege to discussions involving companions and support persons.”