The Trusted, Experienced Legal Help You Need After A Traumatic Brain Injury
We all know how precious our brains are, and so what may appear to be a simple blow or sudden movement to the head can have a catastrophic impact on the most basic of functions and movements in our everyday lives. Traumatic brain injuries come in a wide range of forms and have the potential to cause devastating lifelong damage. Anybody who suffers a brain injury will see their entire world turned upside down in a split second. Just like that, you can be facing a lifetime of medical bills, adaptations, loss of earnings, pain, suffering, and lifelong implications, which can have severe consequences for you and your family.
If you or a loved one become the victim of a brain injury, speaking to an attorney can be invaluable in determining your next steps. The initial discussion is to see if there is anyone who can be considered liable for your injury, either through an actual act or through negligence. Here at Hilbrich Law Firm, we have worked with many victims of traumatic brain injuries. Our knowledgeable team can offer advice and support to help you gain a better understanding of your rights and legal options.
Common Causes Of Brain Injury
Brain injuries are often the result of trauma and there is a range of circumstances and situations which can cause a brain injury. These include:
- Falls: Falling from a high point and hitting your head is one of the most common causes of traumatic brain injuries and is particularly prevalent in older adults and young children.
- Assaults and violent attacks: A blow to the head as the result of a violent attack can cause traumatic brain injury. Domestic violence, gunshot wounds, and assault may all be responsible, and babies may suffer brain injuries as a result of violent shaking, known as shaken baby syndrome.
- Motor vehicle collisions: If you are a victim of an auto accident involving a car, truck, bicycle or motorcycle, you may suffer a brain injury as a result.
- Sports injuries: Many contact sports carry a high risk of damage, especially boxing, football, soccer, baseball, lacrosse, or anything high-impact. The head is often the target for a stray ball or fist, and the results on the brain can be devastating.
- Explosive blasts: Loud explosive blasts and other combat injuries are common causes of brain damage often seen in active military personnel or those who work in construction.
- Falling items: If falling debris strikes the head, or the body collides with an object, there may also be damage to the brain.
While some of these injury scenarios can easily be linked to another party’s negligence or intentional actions, others may seem like mere accidents at first. Before you decide you are out of legal options, however, please speak to one of our experienced attorneys. Negligence may have been a hidden factor. If so, we can help you seek damages for current and ongoing medical expenses as well as compensation for disability, impairment, pain and suffering, loss of earnings (past and future), and in some cases, wrongful death of a loved one.
What Are Some Of The Long-Term Consequences Of TBIs?
Any traumatic brain injury is likely to have long-term consequences for your overall health and quality of life. You may be unable to return to work or suffer permanent problems with memory and emotional control. Some of the most common issues include:
- States of altered consciousness: Also known as a coma or a vegetative state, a state of altered consciousness is a genuine risk even with mild TBI. The delicate make up of the brain means that any trauma or damage can result in it essentially shutting itself down as a form of self-protection.
- Blood vessel damage: Damage to the intricate blood vessel of the brain and the inside of the skull can result in bleeding on the brain, clots, and strokes. The victim may be at risk of an aneurysm, and even a small, seemingly insignificant bleed could have damaging long-term consequences.
- Damage to the senses: Depending on the area of the brain which is impacted. There may be permanent or short-term damage to sight, hearing, smell, taste or touch.
- Intellectual and cognitive issues: Victims of a TBI may find that they have problems learning new concepts, making reasonings and judgments, suffer from their attention span, and experience damage to long and short term memory.
- Life functioning problems: Basic skills such as planning and organizing may be impacted, and the patient may struggle to problem solve. Cognitive issues mean that performing tasks such as walking, talking, and gripping objects could become difficult or impossible.
- Communication issues: The victim may find it impossible or difficult to speak and understand speech and may lose the ability to read and write. A reduced attention span means that following conversations can become challenging, as can concentrating for an extended time.
- Emotional and social issues: If the brain is damaged, it can become difficult to interact socially with other people. Sufferers of a TBI may behave inappropriately and without inhibition, struggle to maintain a stable emotional state, or have issues in selecting the correct social interaction for the occasion.
- Degenerative brain diseases: Any TBI has the potential to trigger further conditions in the future. Alzheimer’s, dementia, and Parkinson’s often appear following even a mild TBI, and post-traumatic epilepsy is prevalent.
It will take some time to determine the full effects of the injury, but you cannot wait too long to take legal action. In Indiana and Illinois, an adult generally has a total of two years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit. The court may not hear any cases or claims made after this period. Claims against governmental entities and schools have additional filing requirements and shorter deadlines.
Take Advantage Of A Free Case Assessment – Contact Us Today
Hilbrich Law Firm has offices in Highland, Portage and Crown Point, Indiana. To discuss your legal options with one of our attorneys in a free consultation, call us at 219-444-4330 or reach out online.