Find a brain injury attorney

Unfortunately, daily across the country, people are injured in accidents that lead to brain injuries. A brain injury, also called traumatic brain injury (TBI), can have multiple symptoms such as pain, headaches, dizziness, impaired vision and more. However, if another person negligently caused the accident that injured you, you need to know how to find a brain injury attorney.

What is a Traumatic Brain Injury?

In simple terms, a TBI is an injury to the brain caused by vigorous shaking of the head, such as what happens to drivers/passengers when motor vehicles collide. In addition, a blow to the head, such as being struck by a falling object on a construction site, can cause a TBI. 

Sometimes, the symptoms of a TBI are mild and disappear after a few days or weeks. However, more severe TBIs can cause symptoms that last a lifetime. Indeed, symptoms such as headaches, neck pain and stiffness and dizziness can last for years. 

Since some symptoms are as apparent as a broken bone or a scar from a severe laceration, the insurance company lawyer will try to play down the severity of long-lasting, lingering problems that TBIs cause accident victims.  

Consequently, people who have a traumatic brain injury caused by another person’s negligent actions need to find an experienced traumatic brain injury attorney. 

What Types of Accidents Cause Traumatic Brain Injuries?

There are many types of accidents that can cause TBIs for injured victims:

Car, truck and motorcycle accidents

As described above, car accidents frequently mean that drivers and passengers, including those restrained by seatbelts, are violently shaken by a collision. 

Indeed, a fully-loaded 18-wheeler weighs up to 80,000 pounds. Collisions between cars and those big rigs rarely work out well for the people in the car. 

When motorcycles get in road accidents, the other vehicle can strike the rider’s head. Alternatively, they could be thrown to the ground. Their head can hit the pavement. 

Therefore, even wearing a helmet cannot fully protect a cyclist’s head from a violent impact. Medical malpractice

Medical malpractice happens when a doctor and/or hospital deviates from the standard of care expected in the medical community, resulting in injury to a patient.

Unfortunately, there are many instances in which a fetus’ condition is misdiagnosed, not treated and the child is born with a brain injury.

As another example, they could injure the baby while being delivered. 

In either instance, an experienced brain injury attorney can help the parents recover compensation, since that baby may require expensive care for the rest of his/her life. 

Slip and fall/unsafe premises

Icy sidewalks, wet floors, poorly constructed decks or stairwells–all those hazardous conditions can cause injuries to pedestrians, visitors, etc. Of course, people who fall under those circumstances may only suffer a bruised ego. However, depending on how you fall, a head injury can easily occur. Especially to the elderly. 

Construction site accidents

Construction sites are fertile locations for accidents. For instance, multiple contractors/sub-contractors are on the site, operating heavy machinery. Additionally, they’re working on high-rise buildings, framed out with no walls or ceilings. 

As a result, a brain injury accident is waiting to happen.

If an accident at a construction site caused a TBI, you may have a workers’ compensation claim against your employer. 

However, if the negligence of the general contractor, or that of another sub-contractor, caused your TBI, you may have a brain injury claim against that party. 

What is the Best Way to Hire a Brain Injury Attorney?

There are plenty of attorneys to pick from. However, to hire a personal injury attorney, you may have to do a little research.

Lawyer Referral

Perhaps the lawyer who represents your business or who did a will for you can refer you to a traumatic brain injury attorney.

Bar Associations 

Of course, state and local bar associations have lawyer referral services. Consequently, you can contact them for the name of local brain injury lawyers.

Google Search 

Searching on Google for a “brain injury attorney near me” will get you a list of personal injury lawyers in that field. 

Lawyer Directories 

Martindale Hubbell and Avvo are two of several online lawyer directories. Indeed, they help you find local lawyers based on their area of practice. Some directories offer client and peer reviews and ratings of the attorneys. 

Whatever source you use, don’t wait too long if you have suffered a brain injury. Statute of limitations are usually two to three years in most states. Your lawyer will have to investigate your case. Therefore, don’t wait too long to hire an attorney!

What Are Some Tips to Hire a Traumatic Brain Injury Attorney?

Of course, interview any traumatic brain injury attorney you are considering in his or her office. You should get a free consultation.

Is the office neat? Does the staff seem competent and professional? Are phones answered promptly? 

If the answer to these questions is “yes,” that’s a good sign.

If not….  

Additionally, there are several questions you should ask the attorney before you hire them. For instance, ask how long have they been an attorney. Also, you can ask how many traumatic brain injury cases they have handled.

Likewise, you will want to know if the brain injury lawyer you are interviewing is the attorney who will handle your personal injury claim. 

Last, before hiring a personal injury lawyer, ask the attorney if their law firm has dealt with the insurance company for the negligent person before. 

What Are the Damages You Can Claim in Brain Injury Lawsuits?

There are multiple damage claims you can make in a traumatic brain injury case:

Medical expenses

You may seek compensation to recover all your medical bills (even those for which insurance paid) paid for your medical care.

Lost wages 

As part of your brain injury claim, you may recover the wages you lost because you had to miss work because of the accident.

Pain and suffering

This type of damage is subjective. Nonetheless, it is widely recognized in personal injury law. As a result, you can tell the jury how often you have headaches and dizziness spells.

Disability

Furthermore, you can tell the jury about the lingering injuries you have and how they affect you. For instance, how your continued dizziness and blurred vision affect your everyday life. 

Future medical treatment

If you suffered a traumatic brain injury, you may need medical and physical therapy treatment for the foreseeable future. Consequently, you (and your doctor) can tell the jury about your expected future treatment.

Loss of Life’s Enjoyment

Depending on the type of injury, maybe you can’t jog or exercise like you used to. 

Or you can’t take long walks with your spouse. Maybe you can’t get on the ground and play with your kids (or grandkids). 

Certainly, you can make a claim for that.

Experienced and Knowledgeable Traumatic Brain Injury Attorneys

If you or a loved one suffered a brain injury because of another person’s negligence, you need experienced brain injury attorneys.

First, we will investigate the accident or conduct that led to your injury. Then we will fight to get you the compensation you deserve. Contact us at our Hammond office at (219) 200-2000 or online at alexmendozalaw.com for a free consultation.