Traumatic Brain Injury

Traumatic Brain Injury is often caused by a sudden impact of force on the head or on the spinal cord region, either due to a fall, road mishap or sports accident. The impact can be so severe to cause swelling of the brain tissues, which acutely interferes with the brain's intake of oxygen. In the event that the supply of oxygen to the brain is diminished, traumatic brain injury can occur.

Severe traumatic brain injury is characterized by concussion to the brain that can lead to coma, uncontrollable seizures, or paralysis of the limbs or the total body. Less severe brain traumas, on the other hand, manifest through change in behavioral and attitudinal patterns, personality shifts, memory loss, and bouts of depression or unexplained attacks of anxiety, including loss of vision, touch or smell. Speech may also be altered. As the seat of the nervous system, injury caused on the brain often has life-threatening or life-altering effects.

As medical attention should be given promptly to the person injured on the head or spinal cord to avoid irreversible damage, gathering of evidence and information to support claims for damages is also time-bound. Filing of claims in court for cases involving head and spinal cord injury should be within a specified time limit, as defined in the "Statute of Limitations". It is therefore necessary that the family of the person injured should seek a lawyer's assistance as soon as the incident occurs. It is most logical that for the case to have a fighting chance before the courts, only the Florida accident lawyer who has a proven track record and competence in handling traumatic brain injury claims should be consulted.

Can you afford the services of an expert?

This is the foremost challenge on the mind of the family of the person injured. Filing an action in court entails expense, and with a family member in a precarious situation in the hospital, the odds can seem too high. The good news is, most lawyers handling traumatic brain injury cases take them on contingency-basis, which means they do not collect unless the cases they represent win - either a settlement or a full recovery, as provided for by law.

Who answers for the damages?

When a person meets an accident while in the performance of his duties as an employee, the Workmen's Insurance Program of his company shall answer for his medical needs, and other incidental expenses. Workmen's Insurance guarantees that in the event of any contingencies like loss of life or disability due to accident, employees will receive monetary benefits.

When the injury is a direct result of a defective product, the person injured, through his product liability attorney may seek full and just compensation from the product manufacturer.

And while in the event of his medical care or hospitalization, his medical condition deteriorates due to improper treatment or care, the person injured or his family may seek compensation from the erring hospital, and from his attending physician.

The person suffering from traumatic brain injury is entitled by law to all damages for all types of loss, such as compensation for medical expenses that may include rehabilitation and therapy, loss of his capacity to earn a living; non-economic compensation for pain, disfigurement, and "loss of consortium" with a spouse, including future medical needs.

Full compensation of the victim or his immediate family of damages, as provided for by law, can be made possible through the efforts of a competent lawyer. It is therefore crucial that in traumatic brain injury cases, immediate assistance of a lawyer should be made available at once.