The skull protects the human brain, but a sudden physical trauma may lead to an injury. This might be the head forcefully encountering the dashboard during a car accident, a gunshot wound or some other situation. Automobile accidents remain the major cause of a head injury. How does a victim know when or if he or she should hire a traumatic brain injury attorney? Before this question can be answered, patients need to understand the symptoms and effects of an injury of this type and how they affect his or her life.
The Prevalence of Traumatic Brain Injuries
An estimated 2 million people in the United States suffer a traumatic brain injury every year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Some recover rapidly with little medical intervention. Others, however, find their lives altered forever and require extensive care and rehabilitation. A brain injury affects the lives of the victim and his or her loved ones, and individuals always need to take any injury involving the brain seriously.
Symptoms of a Traumatic Brain Injury
Several symptoms might accompany a traumatic brain injury, and they range in severity from mild to extremely severe. Symptoms often don’t appear immediately after the event that led to the damage. Headaches and blurred vision frequently appear, and the victim may lose consciousness. Dizziness or a loss of coordination and/or balance has been reported by several victims along with fatigue, nausea and vomiting.
Many victims of a traumatic brain injury find their sleep pattern changes and they discover they are now more sensitive to sound and/or light. Mood changes are often reported, and countless individuals find they have difficulty remembering things or concentrating. This type of injury might lead to permanently impaired functioning. Traumatic brain injury attorneys at Hadley Law Firm are available to assist these individuals as they move on with life and make accommodations for the symptoms they are experiencing.
Why Traumatic Brain Injury Attorneys Should Be Consulted
Due to the wide range of symptoms individuals might experience after a brain injury, victims should consult with a head injury attorney soon after the incident that led to the damage. The attorney is of great help as the case moves forward and can ensure the victim is treated fairly throughout the process and obtains the compensation he or she needs and deserves to live the highest quality of life.
The problems individuals may have after the incident often make it difficult to deal with the party or parties responsible for the injury and their representatives. The victim may forget something if he or she does not write it down, might have trouble concentrating when speaking to others involved with the case, or could find it difficult to read documents relating to the case. The attorney is there to work with the client and handle tasks the client finds challenging because of the injury and the accompanying symptoms.
When to Retain the Best Traumatic Brain Injury Lawyer at Hadley Law Firm
Victims need to begin contacting traumatic brain injury lawyers promptly after the incident that led to the injury. This is especially true when another party was responsible, and insurance companies, investigators, and others wish to speak to the victim. The injury could lead the victim to provide conflicting information or forget vital details important to the case. The parties responsible will look for any conflicting information or changing stories and attempt to use them to discredit the victim in order to reduce liability or provide less compensation.
A lawyer handles communication with others involved in the case to protect the victim as he or she recovers and works to overcome the the injury. The attorney and the loved ones of the victim are often the only people who are working to protect the victim.
Traumatic Brain Injury Victims Need Expert Witnesses
Victims of a traumatic brain injury typically find they must meet with one or more medical professionals during the recovery process. A neurologist will be called in to deal with the problem, and therapists may be needed to help the individual regain the maximum level of functioning. These professionals help prove the extent of the injury and the effects it has on the victim’s life.
Other experts might need to be called on to provide information about the case. An experienced traumatic brain injury lawyer relies on his or her network of contacts to make certain the victim’s case is solid and will hold up in a court of law.
While the medical team helps provide the right care for the victim, certain people don’t feel comfortable in a court of law and may speak above the jury’s head. The lawyer locates those experts who can explain things in layman terms, so everyone fully grasps the extent of the trauma and the effect it has on the victim’s life.
Victims Should Appoint Someone as Power of Attorney
It is highly recommended a traumatic brain injury victim appoint someone to serve as their power of attorney. This provides the designated person with the right to handle certain matters as the victim recovers. The power of attorney may be specific, or it can be general. For instance, a person may grant another the power of attorney to handle all medical decisions, but retain control over his or her finances. Attorneys help create this document and ensure the rights of the victim are protected.
Brain Injury Lawyers Work to Ensure All Evidence is Collected
Depending on the nature of the accident that led to the traumatic brain injury, an investigation might be conducted to prove the facts of the case. The attorney works to ensure all evidence related to the accident and the injury is preserved so it is available as the case progresses. This process needs to begin as soon as possible after the incident for the best results.
Professional Traumatic Brain Injury Team at Hadley Law Firm Understands the Law
Nuances of the law could have a major effect on a traumatic brain injury case. For this reason, an attorney should be contacted as soon after the accident as possible. Lawyers can explain the law to the victim and his or her loved ones and how it relates to the case. A slight change in wording on a document might have a major impact on the compensation a person deserves. Attorneys make certain victims understand any document they are asked to sign and the implications of doing so.
Demonstrating Intent
Insurance company representatives strive to pay the least amount possible when settling a claim. They use many tactics and tricks to persuade a victim to accept the lowest settlement possible. An individual who suffers from a traumatic brain injury is more susceptible to falling for these methods for a variety of reasons. That is why a traumatic brain injury lawyer should always be the one speaking to the insurance company. The attorney ensures the client receives the compensation he or she deserves.
Retaining an attorney also alerts the other parties to his or her willingness and intent to take the case all the way to court if necessary to ensure fair compensation. The attorney negotiates on behalf of the client and appears in court if an agreement cannot be reached. The insurance company realizes this case won’t be settled quickly if they don’t act fairly and in the victim’s best interests. This is often enough to make them provide a fair settlement in a timely manner.
Obtaining Compensation
The party responsible for the traumatic brain injury needs to cover all expenses related to the injury. All medical costs must be paid by this party along with repairing property damage and replacing lost wages. Any expenses related to the victim’s rehabilitation also fall under this category. An attorney can help determine the victim’s diminished earning capacity and its effect on his or her future. Lawyers can also calculate an amount for the pain and suffering experienced by the victim.
Additional expenses might be eligible for compensation. If a child care provider needs to be called in to watch over the victim’s children while he or she obtains the needed care, the attorney requests compensation for this. When the victim cannot cook his or her own food due to fears of forgetting to turn the stove off or something of that nature, the attorney may ask to be compensated for any food preparation service that is used. These are only two examples of additional expenses for which a victim might receive compensation.
Focusing on Recovery
The most important reason to hire traumatic brain attorneys immediately after the accident is the victim and his or her loved ones need to focus on the recovery. This tends to be a long process because new symptoms may appear over time. When the victim and family spend a great deal of time worrying about the mounting medical bills, lost wages, the other party’s insurance company and other elements of the case, the recovery process may be put on the back burner. The attorney handles several tasks so this isn’t a concern and recovery remains the top priority.
Don’t wait to speak to the traumatic brain injury lawyers at Hadley Law Firm. It’s always best to contact one immediately following an injury of this type. Even if the victim does not feel confident obtaining representation right away, he or she and their family will better understand what steps need to be taken as the case moves forward.
Speaking to an attorney early also allows the victim to choose representation promptly if the need arises at any time during the case. The victim already knows whom they feel comfortable with, which is importance due to the amount of time settling the case may require.
Make an Appointment Today
Contact Hadley Law Firm today to schedule a consultation for peace of mind and better understanding about how to proceed with a traumatic brain injury case.
