Trauma to the brain is one of the most serious injuries that can result in catastrophic long-term consequences. It is among the most common causes of disability in adults. It can affect all aspects of a person’s life including mobility, bodily functions, emotions, cognitive abilities, vision, speech, hearing, and more. It can impact the victim’s ability to work, drive, and do normal activities that most people take for granted.
Not only does this affect the victim, but it has devastating effects on the family as well. Therefore, if you or a loved one experienced a traumatic brain injury, it is vital that you have the best Atlanta brain injury lawyer in the field represent you. Let our personal injury lawyers from The Herro Law Firm in Atlanta fight for you in recovering damages for your injuries.
How Do I Know if I Have a Brain Injury?
Any sudden, external physical impact on the head, even if it does not look serious on the surface, can potentially injure the brain. If that happens to you, you need to be evaluated by a medical professional immediately to avoid serious consequences. You should seek medical attention if you experienced any of the following:
- You lost consciousness after a fall and hit your head.
- You have recurring headaches or feel dizzy.
A qualified medical professional can conduct an MRI or CT scan of your head and a neurological assessment to determine if you had suffered a brain injury. Do not delay getting an evaluation because delayed treatment can make the injury worse.
What are Some of the Leading Causes of Traumatic Brain Injury?
Brain injuries can be caused by a number of things that happen every day. They do not always result in an open wound because the damage can be internal. Common causes include:
- Car accidents: The head can hit any hard surface inside the car during impact and sustain injury.
- Sports accidents: Contact sports or getting hit by a ball or sports equipment can cause serious head injuries.
- Slips and falls: When you slip and fall, you can hit your head on a table or on the floor and injure your head.
- Violent acts, and assaults: Someone intentionally attacking you or hitting you on the head can cause you serious head injury.
What Are the Types of Brain Injuries?
There are different categories of brain injuries depending on the location of the impact, the kind of impact that caused the injury, and the degree of impact on the head. Here are the main categories:
Open injury
An object breaks the skull and penetrates the brain. An example is a bullet or a sharp object.
Closed injury
The skull is not broken, but the brain is injured and starts to swell. This generally happens from a car accident, a fall, or a blunt force.
Deceleration injury
Seen most in car accidents and sports. When the car makes an impact, the person’s body abruptly stops but the brain inside the skull keeps moving forward and hits the inner surface of the skull, resulting in injury. It is a type of diffuse brain injury where the rapid movement of the brain inside the skull causes bruising and tearing of the brain tissues.
Chemical/Toxins
Toxic chemicals and gases go through the respiratory system, into the bloodstream, and into brain tissue, causing damage to the brain and nervous system. Examples are pesticides, carbon monoxide, and poisonous gases.
Hypoxia
Any time when the brain does not receive enough oxygen, brain tissue starts to die. This can result from a stroke, drowning, choking, and infections.
What are the Symptoms of a Traumatic Brain Injury?
A traumatic brain injury can manifest in different symptoms depending on the extent of the brain injury. Losing consciousness is the main symptom. Some people experience confusion for a short time while a more serious injury may result in a coma. Symptoms can appear right after the injury or days after the injury.
Here are some of the more common symptoms of a traumatic brain injury:
- Recurring headaches
- Constant fatigue
- Dizziness
- Memory problems or confusion
- Difficulty in concentrating
- Seizures or convulsions
- Vomiting and nausea
- Difficulty with balance
- Slurred speech
- Sensitivity to light, sound, and smells
- Vision changes.
- Depression, uncontrollable emotions, or mood changes
- Irritability and anxiety
- Altered sleep patterns
- Difficulty in performing daily tasks
Why Is It Important to See a Doctor After a Head Injury?
Sometimes symptoms of a head injury do not show up until days or weeks after the injury. The injuries can be subtle. Blood clots can form inside the brain without external symptoms, which can lead to strokes. The danger of waiting until you notice symptoms is that if there are internal injuries in the brain, these can get worse over time.
The longer you wait, the more risk you place on yourself. Therefore, after any type of accident or trauma to the head, no matter how minor, you should seek medical attention as soon as you can to have your injuries evaluated to prevent the injury from getting worse.
Why Should I Hire a Traumatic Brain Injury Lawyer?
Legal issues around brain injuries can be quite complex. Dealing with insurance companies can also cause a lot of stress during a time when you should be focusing on healing. The attorneys at The Herro Law Firm in Atlanta are some of the most experienced in dealing with traumatic brain injury cases.
We are well-versed in how the insurance industry works, and we know exactly how to present your case in order to maximize your settlement. When you let us represent you, you can rest assured that we will not rest until we help you get the compensation that you deserve.
Can Insurance Companies Obtain My Past Medical Records?
Your medical records relating to your head injury are part of the evidence that supports your claim. Therefore, the insurance companies will request that in order to substantiate your claim. However, you have full control over what you release to them.
Only the medical records that are relevant to the case should be released, and nothing more. Your medical privacy needs to be protected at all times. Therefore, you should let your Atlanta brain injury lawyer deal with the requests for medical records to make sure that the insurance companies do not get more than what is pertinent.
What Happens if the Insurance Company Refuses to Pay My Medical Bills?
Unfortunately, insurance companies sometimes will add insult to injury by refusing to pay medical bills. In that case, the insurance company is required by law to give you written notice explaining the reason behind its refusal, and it must do so in a timely manner. It is required to inform you of the appeals process.
When you get this letter, contact your brain injury lawyer at The Herro Law Firm. We have extensive experience dealing with insurance companies that play hardball, and we can help you dispute their refusal in a court of law.
What Compensation Can I Receive for a Brain Injury?
If your brain injury was caused by the recklessness or negligence of another person or entity, the party at fault should be held responsible for damages. The compensation that you are entitled to can include the following:
Medical bills: These include all past medical bills (emergency room, hospitalization, medicine, surgeries, and more) that you have incurred in treating your brain injury. They also include ongoing and future medical bills that you incur as you continue physical and occupational therapy, rehabilitation, doctor’s visits,` and other medical costs.
Lost income: If you are not able to work because of your injuries, your lost wages can be claimed.
Pain and suffering: These are non-monetary damages to compensate for the loss of quality of life
Cost of the funeral or burial: This should be compensated if the brain injury resulted in wrongful death.
Are There Time Limits for Filing a TBI Claim in Georgia?
In Georgia, you have two years from the date of the accident or incident that caused the brain injury to file a traumatic brain injury lawsuit. This is known as the statute of limitations.
Have An Experienced Atlanta Brain Injury Lawyer Fight On Your Side
A traumatic brain injury can do irreparable damage to the victim’s physical and mental health. Not only does the victim suffer, but the family suffers as well. Long-term care puts a major strain on the family’s finances. If you or a loved one suffered from a traumatic brain injury, no amount of money can make up for your suffering, but an experienced brain injury lawyer can help you get a settlement that can ease the financial burden caused by the injury.
The Herro Law Firm in Atlanta has some of the best brain injury lawyers in traumatic brain injury cases. We know how to gather the right evidence to prove the severity of the brain injury and push back until you get the settlement that you are entitled to. We will fight for you every step of the way.
You do not have to settle for less than what you deserve. Call us today at (404) 433-6876 for a free consultation. Our Atlanta brain injury lawyers your case and go over what you can expect if we proceed. Let us help you ease the financial burden that you will be facing so you can focus on healing and recovery from your injuries.
