Car accidents can be brutal, with some resulting in traumatic brain injury. This type of injury can result in emotional, financial and cognitive difficulties. When you are fighting for your life, you have little time to deal with the various aspects of a claim. That is where the attorneys at the Roeser Law Firm can help.
Compensation for a Traumatic Brain Injury
A traumatic brain injury can result in high bills and, due to the inability to work, lost wages. This combination can make it financially impossible for the injured party and their family to cope. To allay this problem, the following compensations are common:
- Medical expenses: Hospital care costs are astronomical when a TBI occurs. This includes emergency room costs, physician fees, nursing care in and out of the hospital and rehabilitative services. In many cases, at-home nursing care is needed, as are assistive devices such as wheelchairs and home modifications like ramps and bathroom accommodations. Your personal injury lawyer can include such expenses in the lawsuit.
- Wage loss: Since traumatic brain injury takes a toll on cognitive and physical abilities, many victims are unable to work. This disability can be transient or permanent. If temporary, the lawsuit will seek to match your wages, bonuses and commissions you would have received had the accident not happened. If it is permanent, the lost wages could reflect the income you would have received until retirement.
- Pain and suffering: Chronic pain and emotional and psychological turmoil persist in many cases. This includes anxiety, insomnia, fear and PTSD. To cover these costs, pain and suffering is added to the claim.
- Punitive damages: This type of damage is used to punish the negligent party who caused the accident. They are usually applied to egregious cases and the amount awarded can be high.
Types of Traumatic Brain Injury
Different TBIs range in terms of their severity and overall damages. The most frequent are:
- Concussions: This type of brain injury can range from mild with headaches, memory loss and confusion that lasts about six months. Therapy involved OTC painkillers and rest. However, the symptoms are so severe that the person cannot work for an extended period.
- Subdural hematoma: This occurs when a collection of blood appears below one of the protective membranous layers of the brain. The blood puts pressure on the brain resulting in limiting physical symptoms. Unless the hematoma is quite small, the pressure is relieved surgically draining the blood.
- Coup-contrecoup: This injury to the brain happens when the crash impact causes the brain to hit both sides of the skull with significant force.
- Diffuse axonal injury: The most severe of all TBIs, diffuse axonal injury results in torn brain tissue such as neurons.
- Brain penetration: This differs from other brain injuries in that an object of some sort, such as a bullet or a rod, penetrates the brain. Tissue can be damaged and recovery is slow in many cases.
Symptoms You Might Experience With a TBI
The following symptoms are common:
- Loss of consciousness (from a few seconds to several hours)
- Nausea or vomiting
- Headache
- Mood changes
- Dizziness or loss of balance
- Memory problems
- Blurred vision
- Sensitivity to light or noise
- Difficulty with concentration or attention
- Fatigue or sleep problems
The Roeser Law Firm
The Roeser Law Firm has helped numerous clients recover damages after a motorcycle accident. Call us at (202) 660-4070 or online to schedule a free case review. You and your family can ask questions, get answers, and explore your options going forward. Our legal team will fight for your rights and work hard to obtain the compensation you deserve.
