Traumatic Brain Injuries Lawyers

Tbis in Two Types

There are two basic classifications of traumatic brain injury--closed and penetrating. A closed head injury occurs when a person's head endures a blunt force from hitting or being hit by an object. Penetrating injuries to the head occur when an object penetrates the skull and enters into the brain at high speeds. Both types of traumatic brain injury can have devastating and long-lasting effects, making immediate treatment and a proper diagnosis critical.

Symptoms of a traumatic brain injury include:

• Nausea
• Headaches
• Mood swings
• Convulsions
• Slogarious speech
• Depression
• Irritability
• Stiff neck
• Vision blurred, or lost
• Behavioral issues
• Emotional problems
• Cognitive impairments
• Brain damage
• Paralysis
• Coma
• Death

Concussion

Concussions are the most serious injury to the brain. Concussions are generally less severe than other brain injuries, but the long-term consequences can be devastating if they're not treated properly.

Even mild trauma to the brain can lead to serious conditions that cause lifelong problems or impairments.

A concussion usually happens when an impact on the skull causes blood vessels in the brain to expand while damaging cranial nerves. In many serious brain injury cases, the victim does not lose consciousness, even for a few seconds, but is dazed by the impact. Concussions can cause nausea, headache, blurry vision, disturbed sleep patterns, dryness, dry mouth and fatigue.

How to Calculate the Financial Value of Your Brain Injury Claim

Permanent disabilities can result from brain injuries. You may experience cognitive and physical changes that can cause permanent disabilities.

Clearwater brain injury victims can receive a wide range of damages. As a general rule, more serious and permanent brain injuries will result in higher compensation awards.

Despite this, even a mild traumatic brain injury can significantly interfere with your life. At Zehl and Associates, we'll use our six decades of experience to negotiate the highest available compensation award in your case. That might include money for:

• Medical bills
• Lost wages
• Future medical expenses
• Lost future earning capacity
• Therapy
• Rehabilitative care
• Long-term care
• The two most painful things in life are suffering and pain
• Mental anguish
• Depression and anxiety
• Diminished quality of life
• Your independence is at risk
• Damages for wrongful death

Negligent people are responsible for any damage that they do. That includes both tangible and intangible losses. Our lawyers will fight to hold all negligent parties fully accountable.

Tbis Causes

Traumatic brain injuries can be caused by many different kinds of personal injury. The most common according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, however, are falls (47%), struck-by object (15%), and auto accidents (14%). Violent crimes such as physical assault also commonly cause TBIs, as do sports and recreation incidents (e.g., a baseball striking the head or a rough tackle in football). It is possible to recognize the causes of TBIs and take steps to avoid or minimize them. It's sometimes impossible to stop someone's negligence. In these cases, it's important to contact a brain injury lawyer to hold the responsible accountable.

Importance Of Experience

A traumatic brain injury attorney should be consulted by anyone who seeks to consult with them. Traumatic brain injuries can be somewhat difficult or tricky to present to a jury.

Anyone who meets with a personal injury lawyer should be comfortable in their knowledge and experience in representing the claim before a jury. Individuals should feel confident in the suitability of the lawyer for their particular case.

An attorney understands that trauma to the brain can cause long-term and lasting damage for both the victim as well as their extended families. A lawyer believes that people who have suffered traumatic brain injuries have the right to be compensated for their injuries, and believe that the at-fault party should be held accountable for their actions.

The Cost Of Sustaining A Traumatic Brain Injury

We have already discussed the emotional, psychological, and physical effects of traumatic brain injuries, but there is one aspect that remains to be explored: financial. It is not hard to deduce that brain injuries can take a toll on the lives of the victims but nothing compares to the heavy financial burden that they're subjected to, which of course, is another source of mental stress.

Victims have to seek medical attention in time if they want to stand a chance at recovering from the effects of the injury. The recovery may not be complete, but the treatment process will involve medical experts like:

• Experts in physical therapy
• Psychiatrists
• Neurologists
• Speech experts
• Vocational rehab experts
• Pain management experts

The largest portion of total cost will be borne by this panel of experts, but there are other costs to take into account:

• LOST LOCAL WORKERS
• Even partial loss of earnings potential
• Extra expenses necessitated by the accident
• Property damage (for automobile accidents)
• Long term medical expenses

This forms the financial aspect of the losses experienced by the victims, if, of course, they survive the incident and have to live through the ordeal (in which case, it may be a permanent disability). Another possibility also exists and that is of wrongful death, i.e. if the victim succumbs to the injuries. The survivors (spouse, children, parents) can seek fair compensation for financial and emotional losses.

Although the emotional impact of losing a loved is immense, a financial settlement can help to compensate. As for the financial aspect, in this case, the personal injury claim would become a wrongful death claim and cover things like funeral costs, loss of income for the family, loss of potentially inheritable estate (it would be lower than otherwise), and so on.

The most important thing to note in this regard is that if you contact your traumatic brain injury attorney on time and start preparing for your case early on, you stand a better chance of getting the maximum compensation you are entitled to.

Factors That Affect The Severity Of A Brain Injury

Even mild brain injuries can lead to long-term disabilities.

• Frontal lobes - The frontal lobes are the largest in the brain. A brain injury that affects these lobes can result in cognitive issues, such as difficulty speaking, memory issues, and more.
• Cerebellum Damage - Cerebellum injury due to brain traumas can often cause coordination problems and may also lead to muscle loss.
• Brainstem – This type of brain injury is the most severe. This can render it difficult for the body's to regulate heartbeat, swallowing and breathing.

Types Of Brain Injuries Common To Accidents

Many brain injury types may be applicable to you. We've identified the following traumatic brain injuries as the most likely to occur from the negligent actions of others:

• Concussions - These occur when your brain is jolted violently against the skull, causing dizziness, headaches, and in some cases bleeding on the brain. They are slightly different from TBIs because the discomfort and pain fades much faster.
• Coup-Contrecoup - This is either a single cerebral contusion (coup) or contusion to both sides of the cerebral area (contrecoup), closely associated with subarachnoid hemorrhaging.
• Diffuse Axonal Injury (DAI). Your brain can violently shift within your skull when an accident occurs. This causes scattered lesions within your gray- and white matter tracts. This can cause problems with balance and walking, as well as difficulty retaining memories or concentration.
• Hematoma or Blood Clot - These injuries are caused by large swelling and clotted blood. They can cause permanent brain damage, or even death.

While some of these injuries may be treatable, many permanently change the lives of victims. Zehl and Associates Lawyers has handled cases of varying severity.

Get medical attention immediately after any head injury or trauma.

It is a good idea to visit a doctor after just about any motor vehicle accident, even if you do not think you were seriously hurt. Some injuries are not immediately apparent or do not manifest until days after the accident. This is especially true with brain injuries, where a timely and accurate diagnosis is essential to treating the injury. It is advisable to have a doctor evaluate you any time you get a serious knock to the head in a motor vehicle accident, fall or other incident. If you have any of these symptoms following a head injury, you should see your doctor immediately. Contact our office to learn more about the possibility of filing a lawsuit against Ohio for traumatic brain injuries.

• Dizziness
• Loss of consciousness
• Confusion or disorientation
• Headache
• Blurred vision
• Nausea, vomiting
• Slogarious speech
• Depression or changes in mood or personality
• Numbness or paralysis
• Hypersensitive to bright lights or noises
• Ringing ears persisted
• Changes in sleeping patterns (insomnia or overtired)

Where Can A Person Go For Brain Injury Treatment In Chicago, Illinois?

We are blessed to be able to find many hospitals in the Chicagoland region that specialize in treating patients with mild to severe traumatic brain injuries (TBI).

Among the leading facilities for brain injury rehabilitation are:

• Shirley Ryan AbilityLab (Formerly RIC), 355 E. Erie St. Chicago, IL 60611
• Rush University Medical Center, 1653 W. Congress Parkway Chicago, IL 60612
• Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation 710 North Lake Shore Drive #1022, Chicago, IL60611
• Schwab Rehabilitation Hospital 1401 S. California Ave., 60608
• Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital 26W171 Roosevelt Road, 60187

Watch Out For These Brain Injury Symptoms

A brain injury could be accompanied by the following symptoms:

• Perception loss
• Blurred or double vision
• Loss of balance
• Seizures
• Vomiting
• Nausea
• Lethargy in the legs or arms
• Slurred speech

Some brain injuries don't manifest themselves for hours or even days after an accident. That's why Clearwater accident victims should always seek medical attention near them immediately. A few signs that a brain injury might not be obvious immediately are:

• Headaches
• Dizziness
• Sensitivity towards light and sound
• Changes in behavior
• Mood swings
• Anxiety and depression
• Vertigo
• Drowsiness and fatigue
• Loss of your ability to concentrate
• Ringing the ears

Most of these symptoms are short-term. They can be corrected with proper medical attention. But, serious brain injuries may also have long-term effects.

Zehl and Associates

Many multi-million-dollar verdicts have been achieved because of our attorneys' skill in using expert witness testimony.

Zehl and Associates brain injury lawyers work closely with experts in medical to help them prove causation. This is one of the most important and difficult elements of a successful negligence lawsuit.

In order to demonstrate a link between the defendant's negligence and our client's injuries, these experts will examine medical records, and conclude whether the medical professional failed to meet the standard of care required by his or her profession. They will also compile evidence to prove the failure, such as creating computer simulations of the accident.

Jurors, who don't have the medical expertise to make their own decisions, are helped by the testimony of our experts. They see a link between negligence and brain injuries. While past success does not guarantee the future, expert testimony from our lawyers has helped to achieve many settlements and verdicts.

We will fight for what you owe us

The insurance company may try to offer a lowball settlement - if it offers a settlement at all. A common argument we see is that the insurance company believes the damage will not be permanent or severely disabling. This is where substantial medical evidence is necessary.

Your traumatic brain injury lawyer in Columbus can seek experts in the medical field who know just how serious a TBI can be for a victim. Temporary or permanent symptoms such as vision loss and cognitive impairment may occur after an injury.

In cases of permanent disability, this is a life-altering situation that deserves full compensation for your suffering. An expert medical professional can confirm the severity of the injury as well as the prognosis. TBI cases are handled so that victims are financially able to handle whatever necessary life changes and future care they may need.

Our Columbus law team can assist you in pursuing the right compensation as soon as you reach out to a lawyer for traumatic brain injuries.

Get a free case evaluation now

Treatment For A Traumatic Brain Injury

Although traumatic brain injuries can cause severe damage, there are ways to make the victim's experience as painless as possible. There are many ways to treat brain injury. If an initial brain injury is severe, then immediate care from skilled healthcare providers will be necessary in order to preserve as much brain function as possible.

One potential treatment option could be emergency surgery to stop bleeding in the event of a skull fracture or other severe traumatic brain injury. It may be necessary to remove part of the skull so the brain can swell. This could result in permanent brain damage. After the swelling has subsided, you can attach the removed skull. Often, once hair grows back, it won't be noticeable.

Why Do I Need A Brain Injury Attorney In The First Place?

You don't want to be the sole legal representative for someone who caused you brain injury. If you do, you'll be going up against incredibly skilled professionals - such as insurance company adjusters and lawyers - who will very likely be able to pick your case apart.

In order to have the best chance of obtaining compensation, you'll need the experience of a brain injury attorney. Brain injury cases are incredibly complex and require professional legal assistance.

You can focus your attention on the recovery of your skull fracture, or other severe brain injury. A brain injury lawyer can help you with the rest.

Q: How Long Do I Have To File A Traumatic Brain Injury Lawsuit?

R: The statute of limitations in Pennsylvania for most injuries cases is 2 years. This means that you only have 2 years to file a lawsuit against the negligent party. Each case is unique and therefore the statute of limitations will vary depending on each case. An experienced personal injury attorney can assess your case and help you determine the time limit to file a claim.

Are There Any Options If My Loved One Dies from Brain Injury?

Wrongful death may be filed if an accident caused by another resulted in death, even if the death was not immediate. In some situations, it may be prudent to have the decedent's estate file a survival action to recover damages your loved one incurred while alive, as well. This area of law is very complex and we recommend that you consult an expert lawyer.

Keeping Everything Related To Your Medical Care

We want to assign an accurate value to your case. As such, you should keep everything related to your medical care. It will allow us to determine how much your healthcare costs are. Examples of items to keep include:

• The dates of any follow-up appointments
• Cost of all assistive devices such as wheelchairs
• All medications that are required
• The names of your healthcare providers and where you sought treatment
• Co-pay Records
• Communications between yourself and the insurance company

Which are the Leading Causes of Traumatic Brain Injury?

A traumatic brain injury occurs when brain tissue is bruised or torn. This damage can be caused by either a strong blow to the head, or an object like a broken piece of skull that tears through brain tissue.

The majority of TBI cases in the United States are caused by motor vehicle accidents and accidental falls. Other common causes of traumatic brain injuries include sports accidents, assaults, combat, being hit by an object, or contact during recreational activities.

FAQs on Brain Injury

We understand brain injuries will leave victims and their families with many unanswered questions. Below, you can find answers to some common questions related to accidents, law, and time limits for filing claims.

Award-Winning Brain Injury Attorneys In Escondido

Zehl and Associates Lawyers works to help brain injury victims get maximum compensation. Every day accidents happen and innocent victims are often hurt by the negligence of others. It is your right in the State of California to seek financial compensation for suffering an injury caused to you. Failing to seek medical attention can affect your future and failing to hire an attorney for your injury will likely limit your personal injury claim. Our team will take on your injury case with pride.

Traumatic brain injuries in personal injury cases

We are dedicated to helping each client get the best possible compensation. As part of our law practice, your brain injury attorney will represent victims with various head trauma.

No matter what type of brain injury you have, our head injury attorneys will provide personalized representation so that the insurance companies understand the severity of your injury. In addition, our traumatic brain injury lawyers will evaluate the personal injury claim to maximize the value of each client's brain injury lawsuit.

Injuries and Common Incidents That Lead To Diagnosis Of Brain Injury

Although any impact to the head or trauma could result in brain injury, the following are the most frequent causes:

• Intensive wave pressure explosions

Due to differences inconsistency, this causes axons (spinal and brain nerve cells) to tear or "shear" and neurons to die. Secondary and prolonged effects of an initial impact may cause further damage to the brain, such as hemorrhaging, oxygen deprivation (hypoxia,) and swell (cerebral edema.)

Protecting Your Rights as a Brain Injury Victim

A lawyer will also defend your rights as a brain injury victim. If you suffered this debilitating injury as the result of someone's negligence, then the accident was avoidable. By filing a personal injury lawsuit, you're asserting your rights as a victim to receive fair compensation for your loss.

Additional Symptoms

TBIs can also manifest as:

• Sensitivity to light or sound
• Slogarious speech
• Ringing in the ears
• Temporary loss consciousness following the incident
• Coma

If you've been in an accident, you might want to consider whether you've experienced any of these symptoms. You can also ask your family members or friends if you've experienced these symptoms. This can be a good way to determine whether you need to consult your doctor for a possible TBI.