Life after a traumatic brain injury (TBI) may never be the same. Brain injuries can leave survivors with complications affecting memory, mobility, communication, personality, and other critical functions. Even worse, there’s often no guarantee of a full recovery. If you or a loved one suffered a TBI in Georgia and someone else is to blame, Butler Kahn can help.
While each brain injury is different, all are expensive to treat. One study estimates the lifetime cost for TBI treatment ranges from $85,000 to $3 million. The costs are even higher when accounting for the other financial consequences of a TBI, such as the victim’s lost wages or loss of earning potential. A successful personal injury claim could provide vital compensation to offset these expenses if you’re struggling.
The attorneys at Butler Kahn have decades of combined experience helping TBI victims recover top-dollar compensation for their injuries. Let us help you seek the money you need and hold the responsible parties accountable for their negligence. Contact us today for a free consultation.
What is a Traumatic Brain Injury?
According to the Shepherd Center in Atlanta, around 1.7 people sustain traumatic brain injuries every year. TBIs have two primary causes. The first is a hard blow or jolt to the head, often resulting from a car crash, fall, or sports accident. The second occurs when an external object penetrates the skull, damaging brain tissue, and blood vessels. Penetrating TBIs are often the result of gunshots or physical assault.
According to the Mayo Clinic, some of the signs and symptoms of a mild traumatic brain injury include:
- Headaches
- Nausea or vomiting
- Fatigue or drowsiness
- Speech problems
- Dizziness
- Balance problems
- Sensitivity to light or sound
- Ringing in the ears
- Blurred vision
- Loss of or changes to taste and smell
- Loss of consciousness for a few seconds or minutes
- Concentration problems
- Depression or anxiety
Many symptoms of a severe TBI may be similar to a mild one but have greater intensity. Additional symptoms include:
- Persistent headaches, or a headache that steadily worsens
- Persistent nausea or vomiting
- Seizures
- Dilated pupils in one or both eyes
- Clear drainage from the nose or ears
- Weakness or numbness in the fingers or toes
- Deep confusion
- Loss of coordination
- Slurred speech
- Feeling restless, agitated, or aggressive for no reason
- Coma
- Inability to be woken from sleep
Are There Different Types of Traumatic Brain Injuries?
There are several different kinds of traumatic brain injuries. The type of injury will determine the medical treatment and therapeutic options. Some common types of TBIs include:
- Concussion – A concussion is a bruise that forms on the brain after colliding with the inside of the skull. A concussion may follow a sudden and intense change in momentum.
- Hematoma and hemorrhage – Hemorrhages and hematomas are both types of injuries caused by internal bleeding within the brain. Blood may seep into brain tissue or collect in the empty spaces of the brain. Hemorrhages can result from a hard blow to the head, while hematomas generally result from a clot that leads to a burst blood vessel.
- Diffuse-axonal injury – Sometimes called a shear injury, a diffuse-axonal injury occurs when the brain experiences a sharp, severe rotation or is shaken. Car accidents are a common cause of these types of brain injuries.
- Coup-contrecoup – A coup-contrecoup injury happens when the brain experiences several concussions in rapid succession. A hard blow to the skull can cause the brain to rattle from side to side, with each impact further damaging brain tissue and blood vessels on both sides.
- Penetration injury – Penetration injuries occur when an object pierces the skull and lodges into the brain tissue. Without rapid medical intervention, a penetration injury could be fatal or lead to severe complications.
Getting prompt treatment for a traumatic brain injury is essential. As the brain swells, it puts pressure against the skull. The higher the intracranial pressure, the more brain damage occurs.
What Causes a Traumatic Brain Injury?
Any hard blow to the head, even from a seemingly minor fall, can lead to a traumatic brain injury. Some of the most common causes of TBIs include:
- Motor vehicle accidents
- Slip-and-fall accidents
- Physical assaults
- Recreational accidents
- Sports injuries
- Construction site accidents
- Workplace accidents
- Birth injuries
Is Compensation Available for a Traumatic Brain Injury?
If you or a loved one suffered a traumatic brain injury, compensation may be possible to cover the resulting expenses and losses. With help from an experienced Roswell brain injury lawyer, you can seek compensation for:
- Medical expenses, including hospitalization, doctor’s visits, surgery, prescription drugs, and imaging tests
- Rehabilitation, such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy
- Incidental expenses like transportation to and from medical appointments
- Lost wages
- Reduced future earnings
- Costs for in-home nursing care, assistive equipment, and home renovations
- Pain and suffering
- Lost quality of life
Is There a Time Limit on a Brain Injury Lawsuit?
Georgia sets a time limit for victims to file personal injury lawsuits. You have two years from the date of the injury to file a TBI claim. If you file suit after the clock runs out, you will lose your right to demand compensation through the civil court system.
Contact a Roswell, GA, Traumatic Brain Injury Lawyer Today
You shouldn’t be forced to pay for the costs of a traumatic brain injury if someone else caused it. At Butler Kahn, we will demand maximum compensation and justice for you.
Our firm doesn’t take a lot of cases. We keep our caseload small to give each client the customized services and attention they deserve. Our personal injury attorneys have recovered multi-million-dollar verdicts and settlements for our clients and will develop a strategic plan for you. Call or contact us today for a free consultation with a proven TBI attorney.
