There were almost 224,000 hospitalizations related to traumatic brain injuries in 2017, according to the CDC’s 2016-2017 TBI Surveillance Report. A traumatic brain injury (TBI) can result in serious, lifelong consequences for the victim, from persistent headaches to a degenerative brain disease.
Treatment for traumatic brain injuries is usually expensive, and medical bills quickly add up. Our team at Marker & Crannell Attorneys at Law can help you seek financial compensation for the costs associated with a traumatic brain injury suffered by you or a loved one. We serve individuals in Naperville, Illinois, and the surrounding areas in personal injury matters. For over 35 years, we’ve been proud to provide legal guidance to our clients and help them pursue fair compensation.
Common Brain Injuries
A traumatic brain injury occurs when the brain suffers bruising, tearing, twisting, or bleeding as the result of an external force, and the injury results in problems for brain functioning.
Many traumatic brain injuries are caused by something hitting the head – but not all. A concussion or whiplash can lead to a traumatic brain injury. For example, when a car that’s moving fast suddenly stops, whiplash can cause the brain to squish into the side of the skull, which can cause bleeding.
After a brain injury, some people experience seizures, infections, blood vessel damage, headaches, and other complications. TBIs can cause problems with behavior, memory, the senses, and other important areas of life.
Some serious and common brain injuries include:
- Subdural or epidural hematoma (a blood clot)
- Anoxic brain injury (lack of oxygen)
- Intracerebral hemorrhage (blood clot in the middle of the brain)
The Importance of Medical Care
If you or a loved one has suffered a traumatic brain injury, it is extremely important to seek medical care. First, you must do everything you can to be certain that your brain, one of the most important organs in your body, is as healthy as possible by consulting with a doctor. If your brain is injured, you must receive treatment as soon as possible.
Second, it’s important to seek medical care if you choose to pursue financial compensation in court against the party that was responsible for the injury. You must have medical records from professionals, such as a neurologist or a cognitive rehabilitation expert, to illustrate the extent of the TBI that you suffered.
Finally, you should pursue ongoing treatment for your symptoms. If you experience headaches or confusion, or you are now unable to perform tasks that you could easily do before the injury, then you need to receive medical care for these issues. The effects of a TBI can last for years.
Legal Challenges of Claiming Compensation for A TBI
As explained above, brain injuries can cause serious health problems. Those problems are not as easy to see as broken bones or other common injuries. A TBI is more difficult to prove to an insurance company than other injuries, such as common spine injuries, which can be seen on an MRI.
Because brain injury cases are so complex and can be difficult to prove, it’s important that you have a team of experts on your side as early as possible after the injury happens. Early medical attention should help in both your recovery from an injury and your legal case.
Filing a Claim when A Loved One Is Incapacitated
Sometimes a brain injury changes a loved one’s life forever. They may now have persistent headaches that prevent them from doing their job. Or, in very serious cases, they may suffer ongoing incapacitation. They may no longer be able to perform fundamental tasks such as brushing their teeth.
A TBI can cause problems with memory, communication, behavior, emotions, and senses. It may even result in a degenerative brain disease. If your loved one suffered a TBI and can no longer advocate for himself or herself in this situation, you can file a claim on their behalf.
Possible Compensation
The person, organization, or business that caused a traumatic brain injury can be held responsible for their actions. Through a personal injury lawsuit, you can file a claim and seek compensation for medical bills, physical therapy, pain and suffering, and other costs.
How Legal Counsel Can Help
A traumatic brain injury, whether it was caused by whiplash, an object hitting the head, or another accident, will forever change the life of the victim. If you or a loved one suffered a traumatic brain injury, an experienced personal injury attorney can provide legal guidance to help you seek financial compensation for your medical bills as well as pain and suffering.
Our team at Marker & Crannell has worked on a variety of serious personal injury cases for our clients. We are proud to work both efficiently and with empathy to serve individuals in Naperville, Bolingbrook, Aurora, Romeoville, Joliet, Plainfield, Lisle, Wheaton, and Woodridge, Illinois. Contact us today to schedule your free consultation, and we will evaluate your case.