How to Seek Compensation after a Traumatic Brain Injury
Traumatic brain injures are one of the most severe and common injuries sustained after serious car accidents. According to the American Speech Language Hearing Association, there are two main types of traumatic brain injury (TBI): closed and open. An open TBI would be something such as a gunshot wound that literally opens the flesh. A closed TBI would be something such as a serious blow sustained when, for example, a person’s head hits the dashboard in a severe accident.
Subsequent damage can either be experienced primarily, or much later. Blood clots are an example of a primary injury resulting from TBI; secondary brain damage is considered brain swelling or increased pressure in the skull that can occur much later after the accident occurs.
To prove you have been the victim of TBI, the most important thing to do is to immediately seek medical attention and be sure to keep it all very well documented. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a large percentage of TBIs in the United States are the result of car accidents. Of the approximately 2 million TBIs experienced in the U.S. every year, roughly 286,000 are caused by car crashes. The trick is that after a car accident, secondary injuries are very common; this means that sometimes not all TBIs resulting from car accidents are reported as such.
According to the Trial Diplomacy Journal, a TBI trial is different from other personal injury lawsuits because a person is expected to not only prove damages, but the injury itself. A person can be entitled to compensation for pain and suffering; disability and impairment; the loss of enjoyment of life; and also to recover economic losses. A person must have well documented evidence not only of medical records, but also evidence to prove how his or her quality of life has declined. This could include specific examples of activities he or she can no longer participant in, or, for example, the approval of a disability claim if the person is no longer able to work.
If you or someone you know has been the victim of a traumatic brain injury, the most important step is to seek legal counsel. Do not go through it alone. Contact an experienced Lake County accident attorney today.
Contact a Lake County Vehicle Accident Attorney Who is Ready to Help You
If you or a member of your family has been injured in a motor vehicle accident, contact our office. Call 847-662-3303 to set up a free initial consultation at one of our four convenient locations. There is no risk because we only collect fees if you collect compensation. With offices in Libertyville, Waukegan, Richmond, and Chicago, we represent clients in Lake County, Cook County, DuPage County, and McHenry County.