- July 2, 2024
- Attorney Matt Stoddard
- Personal Injury
Traumatic brain injuries are catastrophic injuries that can change a person’s life forever. Yet symptoms of these severe injuries aren’t always immediate. They can show up days, week, or even months after a fall, car accident, sports accident, or other dangerous incident.
If you’ve discovered you suffered a TBI due to another party’s negligence, don’t hesitate to consult with a catastrophic injury lawyer to learn about your possible right to compensation.
What Is a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)?
A TBI is a brain injury caused by a bump or blow to the head or violent shaking of the head. It can also be the result of something penetrating the skull and entering brain tissue. Traumatic brain injuries range from mild to life-threatening. Concussions, which are generally considered mild TBIs, are the most common traumatic brain injury. But even though they are mild, concussions left untreated can cause lifelong problems, say medical experts.
Why TBI Symptoms Can Be Delayed
TBI symptoms can be delayed based on the part of the brain injured and the power of the impact. A severe blow to the head could cause someone to be immediately knocked unconscious, an obvious symptom of possible TBI. Someone who sustains only a mild blow may not immediately feel anything. But as they go about their business the injury may worsen and the symptoms start to show up. The worse the injury becomes, the more it will impact your life in physical pain, emotional distress, and financial loss going forward.
Specific Symptoms to Watch For
According to the Mayo Clinic, symptoms of traumatic brain injury can be physical, mental, and sensory. Some of the symptoms of concussion and mild TBI to watch for include:
- Headache
- Nausea and vomiting
- Drowsiness
- Dizziness or balance problems
- Blurred vision
- Ringing in ears
- Difficulty sleeping or sleeping more than usual
- Anxiety or depression.
The worse the TBI injury, the more severe the symptoms. Signs of a more serious TBI include convulsions and seizures, inability to awaken, dilated pupils, clear fluid draining from ears or nose, profound confusion, and slurred speech.
Don’t Delay in Seeking Help
Because symptoms of TBI don’t always show up right away, don’t wait to see a doctor when you have been in an accident and hit your head, even if you don’t have obvious signs. If you have obvious TBI symptoms following an accident, get emergency medical treatment.
While taking care of your health is most important, you should not delay in getting legal help if you were injured due to the careless actions of another party. TBI injuries are expensive to treat and can last a lifetime. You may be unable to work and feed your family during your recovery. You may need assistance with basic self-care and household tasks.
There is nothing wrong with seeking compensation from the person responsible for your changed life circumstances. When you have already been harmed physically and emotionally, you shouldn’t have to suffer financially as well because of their actions.
The Road to Recovery
Every TBI is different. Your medical team will determine what the most effective treatment plan is for you. But in general terms and depending on how bad the injury, treatment for TBIs may include emergency surgeries such as for skull fractures or brain bleeding, pricey drugs to control further damage, and extensive rehabilitation to relearn to walk, speak, and perform other everyday life skills.
You may spend significant time in the hospital or in a skilled nursing or rehab facility. Once you are released you may have to undergo ongoing outpatient rehabilitation. When medical bills are adding up and you cannot work due to injuries, you could find yourself in dire financial straits.
Damages in a Traumatic Brain Injury Claim
In a personal injury claim for your TBI, you could potentially receive damages to pay for:
- Current and future medical expenses—This includes emergency treatment, surgeries, doctor visits, and physical, occupational, and other therapies.
- Prescription and non-prescription pain relievers and other medications.
- Care in a skilled nursing facility or rehabilitation facility.
- Assistive equipment and devices.
- Household help, childcare, transportation, and other assistance you may need.
- Lost wages and benefits from time missed at work during recuperation.
- Loss of earning capacity if you are unable to work in future or your work is limited.
- Pain and suffering.
- Emotional distress.
If the other party was grossly negligent, you might also seek punitive damages. These damages are meant to punish bad behavior and keep it from happening again.
Filing a Claim for Compensation
When you have suffered a life-altering TBI because of the negligence of another party, you can file a claim against them for compensation. For example, if you slipped and fell and hit your head because of spilled water in a store aisle that workers knew about but didn’t clean up or warn shoppers about, you may be able to get payment for your damages through a premises liability claim. If you were in a car accident, you can seek compensation from the driver. Sometimes more than one party may be at fault, depending upon the circumstances.
When you work with our firm, we will investigate the evidence to determine liability and then pursue compensation from all liable parties. We seek maximum results in traumatic brain injury cases.
Often, we are able to negotiate fair settlements with the insurance companies of the at-fault parties. But if the insurer does not make a fair offer, we will counsel you about resolving your case at trial.
Get Help from A Knowledgeable Georgia Attorney Today
We understand the physical and emotional pain you are experiencing after sustaining a TBI. If the evidence shows that you were the victim of another person’s negligence, we will fight to get you the best possible outcome. We can’t change what happened, but we may be able to relieve the financial stress and pressure from your accident.
Contact our Atlanta catastrophic injury law firm to arrange a free, no-obligation consultation with an experienced attorney by calling 470-467-2200.
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 ]