Need to File a Burlington Traumatic Brain Injury Claim?
People are resilient. More often than not, they can recover fully from accidents. However, injuries inflicted on a person’s neurological system are much more likely to cause permanent, deleterious effects. This is common in head injuries, particularly if a blow to the skull resulted in a traumatic brain injury (TBI).
TBIs often occur in severe collisions between cars, trucks, and motorcycles, as well as serious falls. The long-term costs of these injuries can be extensive. In the short term, you may have to deal with emergency treatment, but many victims require therapy, medication, and additional treatment to recover from a TBI. For the average worker in Burlington, the costs of such an injury can be astronomical.
However, if your injuries were caused by someone else’s negligence, then you might be able to file a personal injury claim to recover full compensation for your medical treatment. In these situations, the team at DiBella Law Injury and Accident Lawyers, can provide the legal guidance you need. We have experience recovering compensation for clients who have sustained head injuries and other damages due to the negligence of others. Contact our Burlington brain injury lawyers today at (781) 262-3338 for a free consultation.
At DiBella Law Injury and Accident Lawyers, we have experience recovering compensation for clients who have sustained head injuries and other damages due to the negligence of others. Contact our lawyers today for more information.
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What Are Symptoms of Traumatic Brain Injury?
Although many who sustain TBIs are greatly affected or incapacitated, some people who sustain TBIs are unaware of their condition. In the days and weeks following a blow to the head, a person with a traumatic brain injury may feel irritable, confused, and agitated. The person may consider himself or herself “foggy-headed,” but may fail to conclude the incident has caused serious neurological damage. Often, loved ones recognize the behavioral, social, and cognitive effects of TBI before the victim does.
Regardless of the cause of the brain injury, the damage can be profound, including:
- Confusion
- Headaches
- Inability to focus
- Inability to form new memories
- Difficulties remembering simple information
- Sensitivity to light and sound
- Clumsiness or dizziness
- Chronic inconsistence
- Loss of senses like sight and hearing
- Loss of cognitive function
- Irritability and mood swings
- Nausea
- Fatigue
- Numbness in parts of the body
If you or someone you love is experiencing any of the above symptoms after suffering a head injury, it is important to schedule a doctor’s appointment or visit an emergency room. While an urgent care can provide some helpful first aid services, the doctors there will likely refer you to an ER (like the Lahey Hospital & Medical Center in Burlington). It is important that you visit a doctor even if you do not believe your injuries to be severe, as all medical records are important if you file a lawsuit.
A neurologist can discern the often-subtle signs of brain injury during an office visit and perform a thorough exam to diagnose your condition. An MRI or CT-scan may also be necessary to determine the extent of the damage. Even for a minor TBI like a concussion, doctors may keep you overnight to review your condition.
Common Types of TBIs
There are various brain injuries that can occur following an incident, including:
- Concussion: The most common mild traumatic brain injury is a concussion: a sudden impact or jarring of the brain, causing chemical changes. These can sometimes result in a short loss of consciousness and temporary or permanent brain damage.
- Contusion: Contusions are bruises caused by bleeding on the brain. Brain bruises occur as a result of a blow to the head. A contusion can occur alongside a concussion, and a serious contusion will require treatment from a medical professional. In extreme cases, surgery may be needed to remove the contusion from a victim’s brain.
- Closed head injury: Any internal head damage that occurs as a result of a violent impact or shaking, including concussions, contusions, coup-contrecoup, and diffuse axonal injuries. Depending on the amount of force, the resulting damage to the brain can leave the victim suffering from disabilities that can last for the rest of his or her life.
- Open head injury: Open head injuries are caused by an outside object penetrating a person’s skull and damaging the brain. For example, if someone is shot in the head and the bullet penetrates the brain, or a skull is penetrated in a construction site accident. These injuries require immediate medical treatment, for they can result in permanent injury or fatality.
We've offered crucial support and guidance to individuals who have suffered injuries, ensuring their financial and emotional well-being.
How Do TBIs Occur?
While our brains are protected by the thick bones that make up our skulls, they are not impervious to damage. Oftentimes, a TBI can develop when there is no damage to the skull or even the scalp. Instead, the brain may become damaged when knocked against the skull in a fall or vehicle collision. A blow to the head can lead to internal bleeding and bruising from burst blood vessels, as well as nerve damage.
Some common situations that lead to brain injuries include:
- Motor Vehicle Accidents: Car, truck, and motorcycle accidents all frequently result in serious head trauma, even in minor accidents, and are the second leading cause of TBI-related hospitalizations. The impact can whip a head back and forth and drive it into parts of the car. Even with airbags or a helmet, it’s possible to sustain a serious TBI.
- Falls: Any fall, whether down a flight of stairs, off a balcony, or due to a loose carpet, can have catastrophic results. In fact, falls are the leading cause of TBIs in Massachusetts, as it is very easy for accident victims to strike their heads when they lose their footing. TBIs are common in instances of slip-and-falls or workplace accidents, which can typically be attributed to a negligent property owner.
- Struck By/Against Object: These incidents include getting struck in the head by a falling object and being pinned against a fixed object. While this is common on construction sites, it can also occur at other unsafe properties. For example, if a homeowner left an unsecured potted plant on a balcony and it fell and hit a party guest, that guest should be able to pursue a premises liability claim.
- Assaults: A person may suffer a TBI after being attacked and struck in the head. While you can hold the person who struck you at-fault in a criminal court, if your injury was the result of an unsafe property – such as a store, shopping mall, or apartment building – then you may be able to hold the property owner accountable for negligent security.
- Toxic Exposure: Dangerous chemicals, including those found in household products, can cause serious internal injuries, including brain damage, if inhaled. Pesticides, cosmetics, and toxic metals can all cause a TBI. Toxic exposure can be blamed on a negligent property owner, especially if they allowed guests to be exposed to pesticides or if they started renovations that damaged a gas line.
- Swimming Pool Accidents: If a swimmer slips and strikes her head on the ground, she could suffer a TBI or, if she’s in the water, drown. Submersion under water can lead to a condition called anoxia, which occurs when the brain does not receive enough oxygen to maintain consciousness. Even if the swimmer survives, she may develop a permanent TBI. If a pool owner acted irresponsibly and caused you or someone you love to suffer a TBI, you may have good cause to file a premises liability claim.
Let’s say you were rear-ended at the intersection of Burlington Mall Road and the Middlesex Turnpike, resulting in you striking your head against the steering wheel. In this situation, you could hold the driver who struck you liable for not only your emergency room treatment, but any long-term care you require if you suffered a TBI.
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The Consequences of a TBI
TBIs are extremely expensive. Very few Burlington residents can handle the sudden costs of an emergency room bill and a visit with a neurologist, much less the long-term costs of treating a disability. In severe cases, a TBI can lead to mobility issues, permanent loss of certain senses (sight, hearing, taste, etc.), mood swings, chronic migraines, loss of fine motor control, and mental illnesses. This can affect everything from your career to your personal relationships.
Not a single cent should be left out of your claim, which is why it is important to discuss a Life Care Plan (LCP). LCPs are detailed documents that explain the lifetime costs of a TBI, including treatment plans, medical equipment, quality of life, and potential complications. They are prepared by medical professionals who can thoroughly review the financial and personal impact of a TBI on an accident victim. These documents are designed to be objective and can help demonstrate how serious your condition is to an insurance company or jury.
Our Burlington TBI attorneys at DiBella Law Injury and Accident Lawyers, work with consultants in the medical community who can help you determine a dollar value for your injury. If you bring your case to us, we can consult with your doctors to develop an in-depth LCP, collect evidence of negligence, and vigorously advocate for the full value of your claim.
What Can I Recover in a TBI Claim?
If you suffered a TBI at someone else’s hand, then you may be able to file a personal injury claim to cover the total costs of your injuries, including financial and personal damages. By working with the experienced lawyers at DiBella Law Injury and Accident Lawyers, you may be able to recover compensation for:
- Medical expenses, both past and future
- Income lost due to your injury
- Lost earning potential
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life, hobbies, and daily activities
- Inability to perform daily tasks
- Cost of vocational retraining
- Cost of ongoing rehabilitation, nursing care, and other required services
Why You Should Call DiBella Law Injury and Accident Lawyers
In a recent year, more than 2.5 million emergency room visits in the U.S. were due to TBIs, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Roughly 812,000 of these incidents involved trauma suffered by children, who can experience extreme difficulties for the rest of their lives due to brain damage. There is no overstating how serious a TBI is and the impact it can have on someone’s life. That is why, when a negligent party causes a TBI, they should be held accountable for the victim’s recovery.
But the road to receive compensation for a TBI can be long and difficult without an experienced Burlington personal injury attorney. At DiBella Law Injury and Accident Lawyers, our legal team provides compassionate and thorough legal representation for TBI victims and their families. For nearly two decades, our lead attorney Christopher DiBella has successfully advocated for full compensation for accident victims. He has been selected to the Massachusetts Super Lawyers list; an honor only bestowed on the top 5% of attorneys in the state. If you work with us, you can trust that your case will be handled with diligence and professionalism. To discuss your case in a free consultation, call our office at (781) 262-3338.
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