Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are serious injuries that can result in life-long consequences. Recovery can be overwhelming, not just physically and emotionally, but financially. Medical bills, lost wages, and ongoing care can create significant stress, and navigating insurance claims and legal matters on your own can make the situation even more challenging. An experienced traumatic brain injury lawyer can help lighten this burden by guiding you through the legal process and securing the compensation you need so you can focus on your health.
This guide offers an overview of traumatic brain injuries, their effects, and the ways an injury and accident attorney can support you during this difficult time.
What Is a Traumatic Brain Injury?
A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a serious injury to the brain caused by an external force, such as a strong blow to the head. The sudden impact can jolt the brain inside the skull or damage brain cells, leading to symptoms that affect thinking, learning, emotions, behavior, and sleep.
Traumatic brain injuries can range from mild concussions with temporary cognitive difficulties to severe injuries that result in permanent disability or even death. The severity of the injury depends on factors such as the force of the impact, the length of any loss of consciousness, and the specific area of the brain affected.
What Are the Causes and Symptoms of Traumatic Brain Injuries?
Traumatic brain injuries often occur due to incidents such as slip and fall accidents, car accidents, firearm-related incidents, sports injuries, and physical assaults. Some symptoms may appear right away, while others can take days, weeks, or even months to develop.
The effects and severity of traumatic brain injuries can vary significantly and are generally categorized as mild, moderate, or severe.
Mild TBIs
Also known as concussions, mild traumatic brain injuries are the most common type of brain injury. They occur when a sudden jolt or impact causes the brain to move rapidly back and forth within the skull. Symptoms of a mild traumatic brain injury can include:
- Anxiety
- Confusion
- Difficulty concentrating
- Grogginess
- Irritability
- Nervousness
- Short-term memory loss
Moderate and Severe TBIs
Symptoms of moderate and severe TBIs may change over time and may include:
- Anxiety
- Being more impulsive than normal
- Coma
- Confusion
- Depression
- Difficulty concentrating
- Difficulty managing behavior
- Grogginess
- Hearing or vision problems
- Irritability
- Issues with balance and coordination
- Losing consciousness
- Nervousness
- Sadness
- Short-term memory loss
- Trouble communicating
- Weakness in your limbs
Experienced personal injury lawyers can assess the specific details of your case and guide you through your legal options to help you secure the compensation you deserve.
Medical Diagnosis and Treatment of Traumatic Brain Injuries
Healthcare providers use neurological evaluations, blood tests, and imaging studies, such as CT scans and MRIs, to diagnose traumatic brain injuries and guide appropriate treatment. The severity of the injury determines the course of care. According to the Cleveland Clinic, mild traumatic brain injuries are often managed with rest and over-the-counter pain medications, while moderate to severe traumatic brain injuries may require surgery to relieve intracranial pressure, remove blood clots, or repair skull fractures.
Throughout the recovery process, personal injury attorneys play a vital role by managing insurance negotiations and ensuring traumatic brain injury victims receive the compensation necessary to cover medical expenses, lost wages, and long-term care needs.
The Legal Process: How Can a New York City Attorney Help With TBI Cases?
A New York traumatic brain injury lawyer can help you navigate the complexities of your claim and improve your chances of securing the compensation you deserve. Here are a few things to expect when an attorney handles your case:
- Investigate and gather evidence: Personal injury lawyers investigate accidents and gather key evidence, including medical records, photos, witness statements, and surveillance footage. They also secure hard-to-obtain proof, such as video or maintenance records controlled by the defendant, and prioritize early collection to prevent loss or tampering.
- Legal research and analysis: While some traumatic brain injury cases may be straightforward, others involve complex liability issues and disputes over evidence or legal interpretations. Personal injury attorneys analyze the law, review past rulings, and apply common law to protect your claim.
- File legal documents: Every state sets a deadline, called a statute of limitations, for filing a personal injury lawsuit. Missing it can cause your case to be dismissed, so it’s important to act quickly to gather evidence and talk to witnesses. Personal injury lawyers handle the paperwork and filings to make sure everything is submitted on time.
- Handle insurance negotiations: Insurance companies often downplay the severity of your injuries to reduce your compensation and limit further claims. Our experienced lawyers know how to counter these tactics.
- Calculate damages: Calculating your losses after an accident can be complex, and mistakes may impact your compensation. A skilled attorney can accurately assess your medical bills, lost wages, future care, pain and suffering, and other damages related to your accident.
- Litigation and trial representation: Most personal injury claims are settled out of court, but if negotiations fail, your lawyer can take the case to trial. This process involves preparing evidence, examining witnesses, and persuading a jury.
Chopra & Nocerino’s legal team has more than 20 years of combined experience in handling personal injury cases across New York. We are real New Yorkers who don’t back down and aren’t afraid to go all the way to court to get you the compensation you deserve.
How Chopra & Nocerino Can Help
Recovering from a traumatic brain injury can be overwhelming for families, especially when facing medical challenges, financial stress, and legal concerns. An experienced personal injury lawyer can help lighten that burden.
At Chopra & Nocerino, we will treat you like family and give your case the personalized attention it deserves every step of the way. Our traumatic brain injury attorneys are dedicated to advocating for you and securing the best possible outcome for your case. With hundreds of millions recovered in verdicts and settlements for our clients, we fight to ensure you receive full and fair compensation for your losses.
We work on a contingency basis, which means you pay no upfront fees. Our attorneys only get paid if we recover compensation for you. We also offer free consultations so you can understand your legal rights and options without financial pressure.
Contact us online or call (855) NYC-HURT today for a free consultation.
