They’re often invisible, but brain injuries can be devastating for victims. Many people face lifelong challenges after suffering traumatic brain injuries in accidents that could have been prevented. If you sustained a brain injury in an accident that was caused by someone else, you have the right to seek financial compensation for your medical treatment, lost income, pain and suffering, and other losses. An experienced Albany brain injury lawyer can help you demand the compensation and justice you deserve.
Contact the Law Offices of William F. Underwood, III, P.C., today for a free initial consultation about your legal options. Let our experienced attorneys guide you through the process of seeking the compensation you need to move forward with your life after a catastrophic brain injury.
Common Causes of Brain Injuries
Some of the common types of brain injury cases we handle involve:
Compensation for a Traumatic Brain Injury
If you suffered a traumatic brain injury caused by someone else’s negligence or recklessness, you might be entitled to financial compensation for past and ongoing expenses related to your injury. The specific types of compensation you can receive for a traumatic brain injury depend on what kind of legal claim you have.
If you suffered a traumatic brain injury in a workplace accident, you could file a workers’ compensation claim. But if a third party committed an act of negligence or recklessness or caused your injury on purpose, you might be entitled to compensation through a personal injury claim.
Filing a Personal Injury Claim
Compensation in a personal injury claim may include:
- Costs of medical treatment and rehabilitation
- Costs of long-term care, such as home health services
- Lost income from work missed while recovering from a brain injury
- Lost earning ability due to related long-term or permanent disabilities
- Physical pain and emotional distress
- Lost quality of life
Filing a Workers’ Compensation Claim
Benefits available through the workers’ compensation system may include:
- Payment of all reasonable and necessary medical expenses
- Partial wage replacement after missing sufficient time from work
- Disability benefits if a brain injury caused permanent partial or total disability
- Vocational rehabilitation, which can provide training for work that a brain injury victim can perform within limitations
Common Types of Brain Injuries
Some of the most common types of brain injuries include:
- Concussion, the common term for a mild brain injury
- Traumatic brain injury, caused by a violent blow to the head or by something penetrating the skull (such as a piece of metal in a car accident)
- Brain aneurysm, involving a swelling or blistering of blood vessels in the brain
- Brain hemorrhage, also called a “brain bleed”
- Encephalitis, an inflammation of brain tissue often caused by infection
- Hydrocephalus, a build-up of fluid inside the skull that puts pressure on the brain
- Hypoxic/anoxic brain injury, damage caused by the disruption of oxygen flow to the brain
Symptoms of a Traumatic Brain Injury
Symptoms of traumatic brain injuries vary depending on the severity of the injury. Signs of a mild injury can include:
- Loss of consciousness for several seconds to several minutes
- Headache
- Nausea and vomiting
- Dizziness or feeling dazed, disoriented, or confused
- Fatigue
- Speech issues
- Blurred vision, ringing in the ears, or an unpleasant taste in the mouth
- Sensitivity to light and/or sound
- Concentration or memory problems
- Depression or anxiety
- Mood changes or swings
- Sleeping problems, such as trouble falling asleep or sleeping more than usual
Symptoms of moderate to severe traumatic brain injuries can include:
- Loss of consciousness for up to several hours
- Coma
- Persistent headaches
- Persistent vomiting and nausea
- Seizures
- Dilation of the pupils
- Draining of clear fluids from the ears or nose
- Numbness or weakness in hands and feet
- Agitation or other unusual behavior
- Slurred speech
- Loss of coordination
- Confusion
Treatment for Traumatic Brain Injury
Treatment for traumatic brain injuries depends on the severity of the injury. A mild traumatic brain injury, such as a concussion, may initially require rest and medication for headaches or other pains. However, even those who suffer a mild brain injury should be monitored for persistent or worsening symptoms. Late-onset symptoms can indicate a more serious injury.
A moderate to severe brain injury requires prompt emergency care. Initial treatment focuses on ensuring that the brain has adequate blood and oxygen flow, as well as preventing further injury. Early treatments can include:
- Medications, such as anti-seizure drugs, diuretics to help reduce fluids in the tissues and relieve pressure on the brain, and drugs to induce a coma and reduce the brain’s oxygen requirements while the injury heals
- Surgery, which can repair bleeding, remove blood clots, repair skull fractures or other foreign objects inside the skull, and even open a window in the skull to reduce pressure on the brain
After a brain injury victim’s condition stabilizes, treatment shifts to rehabilitation. This can help victims relearn basic skills such as walking, speech, and fine motor control. Rehabilitation can improve their ability to perform daily activities, including learning adaptive techniques to accommodate permanent disabilities.
Time Limit for Filing a Brain Injury Claim in Georgia
Under Georgia’s statute of limitations for personal injury cases, you have two years from the date of your injury to file a lawsuit for compensation from the at-fault parties.
If you suffered a work-related brain injury, Georgia’s workers’ compensation law requires you to notify your employer of your injury as soon as possible, no later than 30 days after the brain injury occurred or it was discovered. If your employer denies you workers’ compensation benefits, you have one year from the date of the brain injury to file a formal claim with the State Board of Workers’ Compensation.
If you don’t file your claim in time, you could lose your legal right to compensation from the responsible parties. So it is crucial to speak with a seasoned Albany brain injury lawyer as soon as possible about your legal rights.
How a Brain Injury Attorney in Albany Can Help
Brain injury victims and their families are often under extreme pressure in the days and weeks after an accident. It’s understandable that a legal claim may not be the first thing on your mind. However, there are a lot of ways an attorney can help take the pressure off you during this difficult time.
A brain injury attorney could help by:
- Investigating the accident that caused your brain injury to identify the party or parties at fault
- Calculating the full extent of your past, ongoing, and future losses, including consulting with your medical providers to determine what care you might need in the future
- Identifying all possible sources of compensation in your case, so you can seek the full support you need to recover
- Managing all paperwork and filing your claims for compensation with the liable parties and their insurance companies
- Vigorously pursuing a settlement that provides you with the maximum compensation possible
- Taking your case to trial if necessary to fight for the justice you deserve
Do not wait to get the legal advice you need after a life-altering accident. Contact an Albany brain injury attorney from the Law Offices of William F. Underwood, III, P.C., today for a free, no-obligation case evaluation. We’re here to help you get through this overwhelming ordeal.
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