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What To Look For In A Car Accident Attorney Following A Brain Injury

| Feb 5, 2017 | Brain Injuries, Library

Brain injuries come in several degrees of seriousness. For instance, not all brain injuries impact someone for life. Some minor brain injuries might heal on their own and not affect a person for more than a few weeks; however, other brain injuries are more serious in nature and can cause permanent brain damage and life-long changes. No matter what, anyone who has suffered trauma to the head should treat it seriously and seek immediate medical care.

Levels of Brain Injury

There are a variety of issues and impairments that can occur based on the level of the brain injury a person suffers. For example:

  • A mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) can include a brief loss of consciousness and a change in mental status.
  • A moderate TBI is usually identified when a person suffers a loss of consciousness for over a few minutes to a few hours. People with moderate TBIs often suffer from confusion that lasts from a few days to a few weeks, and they experience behavioral, cognitive and/or physical impairments that could last for several months or the rest of their lives.
  • A severe TBI can be trauma to the head that results from an open head injury or a closed head injury. People who suffer severe TBIs will often have their language, thinking, emotions, and senses affected for life and will be unable to return to their pre-injury abilities.

When someone suffers a traumatic brain injury, it can be devastating. The prognosis for the victim will depend on the area of the brain that was damaged. Some brain injury survivors aren’t able to communicate and others are left with physical limitations, both of which can cause a person the inability to work and the need to rely on others for help.

When a Brain Injury Survivor Should Hire an Attorney

Anytime someone is left needing to depend on others for help or when a brain injury causes speech issues, personality changes, behavioral issues, or physical impairments and deformities, it is wise to get an attorney involved in representing the brain injury survivor. Typically, those people who suffer moderate and severe brain injuries should definitely hire a law firm to help them with a financial recovery.

If a head injury is diagnosed as a mild TBI and it doesn’t result in any apparent adverse effects, the brain injury survivor may not need to hire an attorney. However, if there was any change in mental status or any indication that the brain was altered, it is a good idea to contact a lawyer to discuss a possible legal claim.

What to Look for in a Lawyer

Brain injury claims aren’t the same as a typical personal injury claim. Even if a person suffered a brain injury in a car crash, it is best to get an injury lawyer involved who handles brain injury cases and not one who only deals with car accident claims. Not all personal injury lawyers have experience representing brain injury victims and their families. For this reason it is important to ask questions before hiring a lawyer and to look for the following:

  • A past history of handling brain injury lawsuits and representing survivors and their families
  • A successful settlement history or positive jury verdicts in similar cases
  • A profound knowledge of brain injuries, the effects of brain injuries, and how they impact survivors and their loved ones
  • A free consultation to answer questions and help people decide if they need a lawyer
  • Testimonials from past clients

It is no secret that seasoned lawyers can help brain injury victims and their families through the legal process. This is why it is important that you speak with a lawyer experienced in handling brain injury lawsuits if you or a loved one suffered head trauma. For a complimentary consultation with a knowledgeable brain injury lawyer, please fill out our short contact us form online or call us at 703-721-4233

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