If you or a loved one has suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI), you have a lot to manage. The assistance of a skilled brain injury attorney with experience handling cases like this can help you move forward thoughtfully and logically.
Traumatic brain injuries are life-altering. Those whose lives are impacted by them often face uncertain futures, as do their loved ones. With worrisome questions regarding the possibility of a full recovery and the ability to live independently, the period after an accident is stressful. Our TBI lawyers understand your position and have the knowledge and experience necessary to help.
A TBI can turn your life upside down in a matter of seconds. These injuries can lead to long-term problems that may plague an individual and his or her family for a lifetime, requiring costly care and therapy. Many who have suffered a TBI are frozen with fear and not sure what to do.
That is where the brain injury attorneys at Stoddard can help. We assure our clients and their families that their legal issues are under control, providing them the peace of mind they need to focus their attention where it is most necessary — on their recovery. When you engage us, we handle everything on your behalf including:
Conducting an investigation into the cause of your TBI
Drafting all legal documents and filing them within the appropriate time frame
Determining and proving the entirety of your damages (economic, non-economic, and punitive, if applicable)
Managing all communication with insurance companies and other attorneys
Negotiating for an appropriate settlement and litigating if necessary.
Basically, we do it all. The legal process regarding brain injuries is complex and time-consuming.
You need advice and counsel from a professional who understands the law and appreciates the stress you are experiencing.
If you or someone you love has suffered a brain or head injury, you must get the appropriate legal guidance quickly. Contact The Stoddard Firm, your Atlanta brain injury lawyer, today at 470-467-2200.
Why Hire Us?
Our Firm Has the Experience You Need to Win
If you have suffered a TBI, you are facing an uphill battle, both personally and legally. Recovery from a brain injury requires considerable time and a great deal of medical attention, both of which can be costly. Your physicians and therapists can help you with your medical issues while our TBI lawyers handle your legal concerns.
Clearly, you need to work with a seasoned TBI attorney. The personal injury laws that govern traumatic brain injuries are complicated, and the legal process is complex. You must engage a firm that not only has an in-depth understanding of Georgia law and firsthand experience handling cases like this, but one whose approach is geared toward serving an individual and family that may be in distress. The Stoddard Firm possesses these important qualities and more. We are:
Well-versed in Georgia Law: For over 25 years, our founder and TBI injury lawyer, Matthew Stoddard, has been in practice in Atlanta. Initially, he worked defending corporations from personal injury (including TBI) and wrongful death cases. In 2011 he changed tracks, choosing instead to provide quality legal representation to individuals who were victims of injury and illness. He understands all of the technical aspects of personal injury law from both sides and has a proven reputation for success.
Familiar with the Atlanta Legal System: When you work in a certain geographic area, you regularly encounter the same professionals, time and time again. Knowing them and their tendencies is an asset in building a case. Because of the firm’s long history in Atlanta, our attorneys have a strong foundation on which to serve you. We know what to expect and will leverage this information on your behalf.
Compassionate Yet Aggressive: You have been through a devastating experience. When moving forward, you want to work with a professional who understands your position and will take the time necessary not only to know your case but also to know you. Our team is well-regarded for the compassion with which we communicate. Our past clients generously share testimonials about their experience with us. We appreciate how difficult everything is right now and will give you all of the time you need. However, while we may be kind and patient when working with you, we will negotiate and litigate for you aggressively.
Maximizing your settlement is our ultimate goal and we will work tirelessly to get you all that you deserve. In short, our firm is uniquely qualified to serve you. We have significant knowledge, unmatched experience, and a unique perspective. Reach out to us today to schedule a consultation.
Understanding Traumatic Brain Injuries
Your Brain Injury Lawyer Discusses: Mild TBIs Versus Moderate/Severe: All Can Be Devastating
As with most illnesses and injuries, the seriousness of brain injuries varies considerably. While some are much more severe than others, all can impact your abilities and your life. The following information comes from the Mayo Clinic.
Mild TBIs have a broad range of symptoms. These can be categorized as physical, sensory, and cognitive. Physical symptoms include, among others:
Headaches
Nausea
Fatigue
Speech issues
Dizziness.
Sensory symptoms include:
Ringing in the ears
Blurred vision
Bad taste in your mouth.
Finally, cognitive symptoms include:
Any loss of consciousness
Confusion
Memory and concentration issues
Mood swings
Depression and/or anxiety
Sleep changes.
Those affected by a moderate to severe TBI can experience any of the symptoms listed above.
Additionally, other physical and cognitive issues may appear in the days following the injury.
Cognitive symptoms may appear as severe confusion, slurred speech, and atypical behavior. Some individuals with severe TBIs may be in a coma; these injuries can also result in death.
Causes of TBIs
Traumatic brain injuries are among the most challenging conditions to overcome. They occur when head or neck injuries impact your brain. According to the Mayo Clinic, TBIs can occur after a blow or jolt to the head or body, when an object penetrates the skull and brain, or when the skull is fractured. A TBI can be as simple as a concussion or as serious as a deadly head injury.
TBI symptoms may be minor and temporary, or they can be permanent and serious, and not all symptoms present immediately. Unfortunately, even mild TBIs, like concussions, can impact your future. More serious head injuries may cause symptoms that do not appear until days after the accident.
Some TBI victims experience physical disabilities if the connection between the brain and the body is disrupted. Sometimes TBI patients suffer depression, personality disorders, and detachment disorders.
Our TBI attorney knows that the symptoms and consequences of TBIs can significantly impact the quality of life.
Additionally, extremely serious TBIs are often fatal.
Frequently Asked Questions Regarding TBI Lawsuits
Our Atlanta Brain Injury Attorney Responds to Your Pressing Concerns
Individuals considering a personal injury lawsuit for a TBI tend to have one thing in common: they have a lot of questions. This is to be expected. Your life has been turned upside down, and the process you are considering is both unfamiliar and complicated. Below we have shared some of the questions most frequently raised, as well as our brain injury attorney’s response.
Why should I hire a TBI attorney?
The complexity of TBI claims necessitates experienced legal representation. Your attorney must not only be able to prove negligence, but also accurately quantify your damages. At The Stoddard Firm, our TBI lawyer is experienced in this and has a proven reputation for successfully representing his clients.
How long do I have to file my lawsuit?
According to the Statute of Limitations in Georgia, personal injury cases, under which traumatic brain injuries fall, must be filed within two years of the date of the injury. That said, some exceptions exist. Our brain injury lawyer would be able to explain these to you should they impact your case.
How can I prove my traumatic brain injury damages?
As your traumatic brain injury lawyer, we will engage a host of experts to testify on your behalf. Those we may work with include, but are not limited to, doctors, neurologists, and neuropsychologists.
How much can I expect to receive for my traumatic brain injury?
It makes sense that the damages awarded would differ depending upon the specifics of your case. In Atlanta, your brain injury attorney can file for economic, non-economic, and perhaps even punitive damages, depending upon the circumstances surrounding your injury. All are discussed lower on this page.
Will my traumatic brain injury case go to trial?
Our goal is to settle your case and get you an appropriate settlement during the negotiation phase of the legal process. If our brain injury lawyer is unable to reach a satisfactory agreement, we will not hesitate to go to court. We are known for being aggressive litigators and will put all of our resources to work for you.
Of course, the questions and answers above cover just the tip of the iceberg. They provide general information that we hope you find helpful as you begin this process. Contact our Atlanta brain injury attorney at 470-467-2200 to schedule a consultation during which we can get a greater understanding of your situation and provide more tailored answers to your concerns.
TBI Lawsuits: Recovering Some of What You Have Lost
When TBIs Occur Due to Negligence
If your brain injury was the result of the negligence of another individual or organization, you may be able to file suit for compensation. This situation is not uncommon.
When another party is responsible for causing the TBI, the injured individual or the affected family has the right to file a personal injury claim.
In such circumstances, a lawsuit can secure funds to pay for recovery, long-term care, and other associated expenses.
Most brain injury lawsuits are negligence claims. In these situations, the injured victim or their family believes that someone’s inappropriate behavior (or lack of necessary oversight) was to blame for the TBI. That said, you can’t just claim negligence: you must prove it.
An experienced TBI attorney in Atlanta can help determine whether your case qualifies. Basically, to succeed in making a negligence claim, you must be able to prove the following:
Duty of Care: The person or organization you believe caused your injury had a responsibility to you.
Breach of Duty: The party you believe is responsible failed to exercise reasonable care in fulfilling the duty.
Cause of Injury: Because of the direct action or inaction of the other party, the injury occurred.
Damages Occurred: The injuries or losses occurred as a direct result of the negligence and are significant enough to warrant a claim.
Proving negligence can be complicated. Working with an Atlanta brain injury attorney is critical in order to achieve a positive result.
The Stoddard Firm Can Help
Our Past Successes
We know how to handle TBI cases. We have an in-depth understanding of both the causes and effects of these injuries, and we are experienced in negotiating and litigating them. Some of our successes include:
An $8 million settlement for an individual who suffered serious head injuries from hitting a sprinkler pipe in a parking garage while driving. The judgment was based on The Stoddard Firm’s helping to prove that the parking garage management was negligent by not identifying the sprinkler as a hazard or fixing it.
A $2.1 million judgment on behalf of an individual who suffered a brain injury as a result of an electrical shock while at work. The Stoddard Firm showed that the shock was caused by faulty wiring.
A $700,000 settlement for an individual who suffered a concussion (and permanent corneal scarring) in an auto accident with a truck. Expert witness testimony was leveraged to prove the extent of the injury.
A $500,000 settlement for an individual who suffered a brain injury as the result of a fall down a staircase. With expert witness testimony, The Stoddard Firm proved that the staircase was dangerous and did not meet building code requirements.
Our TBI attorneys are proud of our past success and are confident we will continue to serve our clients well in the future.
Understanding How Our Atlanta Brain Injury Lawyers Work
Recovering from a TBI can be complicated, slow, and painful. It will likely require all of your efforts, not to mention a great deal of assistance from your loved ones.
As we plan for your TBI lawsuit, first we will gain a complete understanding of your story. Not only do we want to know how the accident happened, but we also want to understand you. We need to know about your life before the accident as well as what it is like today. We also must look to the future.
Insight into the timeline of your recovery and expectations regarding your abilities are crucial to building your case.
We know that TBIs can be “tricky.” While the effects of this type of injury can be significant, they are not always visible, and the future is unsure.
We will accurately depict what happened to you, your health today, and how the future looks regarding both your medical and care expenses and your ability to work. We will conduct a thorough investigation, leveraging expert witnesses in any number of areas (including those in your industry as well as highly regarded physicians and therapists, just to name a few) to paint a clear picture of your life and your future.
Additionally, our brain injury attorney will work with these experts to accurately quantify the costs associated with your injury. We want to make sure that we account for all past and future expenses.
Damages in Brain Injury Cases
Every Case Is Unique
In Georgia, the law allows TBI victims to be compensated for a range of damages including economic, non-economic, and punitive. More specifically, these may include:
Medical Expenses: With regard to TBIs, medical expenses can be astronomical. Emergency care, follow-up medical appointments, therapies, rehabilitation services, and medication all must be tracked. Additionally, because the effects of a TBI can be long-lasting (sometimes for a lifetime), it is important to gain an accurate accounting of future medical expenses in addition to those already incurred. Other costs that fall under the umbrella of “medical expenses” are care (both in-home and in-facility) and even specialized transportation.
Lost Wages (both past and future): Commonly those who experience brain injuries are unable to work, particularly right after the incident. You may be entitled to compensation for the wages you lost while recovering from your injury. Some who suffer from TBI will be unable to work in the same capacity in the future. If this is the case, you may be eligible to be compensated for the future wages you will be unable to earn. Legally, this is known as diminished capacity.
Loss of Consortium: These damages may be available to the spouse of a person who suffered a TBI. This civil law term is used to identify losses experienced by the spouse of a person who was injured due to negligence.
Pain and Suffering: Traumatic brain injuries quite clearly result in tremendous pain and suffering, in both the short and long terms. In addition to physical pain, the injured may face limitations on their abilities. These could result in a reduced quality of life.
Punitive Damages: These can be awarded when the negligence was particularly reckless. Designed to punish the at-fault individual or organization, these are awarded only in cases of gross negligence. In some cases, a portion of the punitive damages must go directly to the state. Your brain injury attorney can explain these instances and determine whether your case would be one in which this rule applies.
Whether your injury was caused by a car accident, a fall, or even an accident at work, we can help. Contact our TBI attorney today at 470-467-2200.
Client Testimonial
”I am truly thankful to the entire Stoddard team for all of their hard work! The staff made sure that I was taken care of every step of the way! It was my pleasure to have such wonderful people going to bat for me. I am extremely satisfied with the end results! Thanks again for everything!” – T P McCrary (Google Review)
Attorney Matt Stoddard
Matt Stoddard is a professional, hardworking, ethical advocate. He routinely faces some of the nation’s largest companies and some of the world’s largest insurers – opponents who have virtually unlimited resources. In these circumstances, Mr. Stoddard is comfortable. Mr. Stoddard provides his strongest efforts to his clients, and he devotes the firm’s significant financial resources to presenting the strongest case possible on their behalf. Matt understands that his clients must put their trust in him. That trust creates an obligation for Matt to work tirelessly on their behalf, and Matt Stoddard does not take that obligation lightly. [ Attorney Bio ]
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Get Legal Help to Move Forward After a Traumatic Brain Injury
Understanding the Process
Appreciating how the legal process works in Georgia with respect to TBI and personal injury cases can help you establish realistic expectations. Certain steps must be taken, and the proceedings can be lengthy. While it can be extremely difficult, patience is key. The Stoddard Firm brain injury attorneys will work to make the experience as easy as possible.
Once we have determined that your claim is valid and that your TBI was the result of the negligence of another person, we will begin to work on your behalf.
Our brain injury lawyers will research all aspects of your case, quantifying past, present, and future expenses to determine what we believe is appropriate compensation. Of course, we will attempt to reach an out-of-court settlement. However, if we are unable to reach an agreement, one that compensates you for your past costs, future expenses, and losses, we will go to court. During the hearing we will call expert witnesses, whenever relevant, to provide important information regarding your case.
We invite you to reach out to our Atlanta brain injury attorney today at 470-467-2200 and learn just how powerfully we can support you.
Matt Stoddard is a professional, hardworking, ethical advocate. He routinely faces some of the nation’s largest companies and some of the world’s largest insurers – opponents who have virtually unlimited resources. In these circumstances, Mr. Stoddard is comfortable. Mr. Stoddard provides his strongest efforts to his clients, and he devotes the firm’s significant financial resources to presenting the strongest case possible on their behalf. Matt understands that his clients must put their trust in him. That trust creates an obligation for Matt to work tirelessly on their behalf, and Matt Stoddard does not take that obligation lightly. [ 
