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A traumatic brain injury can devastate someone’s life. If another person’s negligence is to blame for your TBI, you have the right to seek compensation for damages in South Carolina. A Columbia brain injury lawyer at the Shealey Law Firm can advocate for you and may be able to reach a settlement on your behalf. Contact us to begin.
Common Traumatic Brain Injuries
There are several severe traumatic brain injuries that are relatively common:
- Contusion: Occurs when bruising on your brain combines with the blood coming from broken blood vessels and puts pressure on your brain
- Skull fracture: Occurs when your skull breaks apart and bone fragments lodge into parts of your brain
- Intracranial hematoma: Occurs when major blood vessels in your head bleed, causing blood to pool in parts of your head and putting pressure on your brain
Other less major types of brain injuries include strokes and infections.
Even if your head injury does not have life-threatening repercussions, it could continue to impact your life for years to come. A brain damage lawyer can help break down your injury into various types of damages to seek compensation for.
Causes of Brain Injuries
A head injury can happen as the result of something as simple as a blow to the head or as severe as an object penetrating the brain. Examples of situations that could cause a TBI include:
- Motor vehicle accidents
- Domestic violence
- Slips, trips and falls
- Recreational accidents
- Gunshot wounds
Short- and Long-Term Effects of a Brain Injury
TBIs are time-sensitive injuries that require immediate emergency medical aid. A delay or lapse in treatment could worsen the severity of your injury and prolong your recovery.
The symptoms and impacts of a brain injury can have both short-term and long-term effects that impact your quality of life, and your life expectancy. How long each of these symptoms lasts depends on several factors, including the type of injury you have, its severity, underlying health conditions and how quickly you are able to receive medical attention.
Identifying short-term effects
Immediately following your injury, you may notice increased sensitivity to light and noise. You may feel off-balance or experience vertigo. Persistent headaches or difficulty concentrating are other symptoms you could have, along with feeling confused or unable to focus.
Some of these effects can linger even after you have received treatment. If you experience any of these symptoms, you should seek medical assistance immediately.
Managing long-term effects
The long-term impact of a TBI can permanently disrupt your life and often require costly rehabilitation to mitigate your symptoms. A Columbia brain injury attorney will exhaust all avenues to try to get you adequate compensation to offset these costs.
Long-term effects include the following:
- Seizures
- Paralysis
- Memory loss
- Vision problems
- Balance problems
A combination of these symptoms could require considerable resources to manage. You may need regular rehabilitative therapy sessions to help you adjust. You might also require a full-time caregiver.
Calculating the Worth of a TBI Lawsuit
When someone else’s negligence causes a life-changing injury for you, it is fitting that you receive compensation to provide the ongoing support you need during recovery. Legally, proving fault and allotting responsibility takes time and requires experience. We can assist you with filing a lawsuit and categorizing the damages you face.
If you reach a settlement, the amount you receive will vary depending on the types of damages you sustained, both directly and indirectly. Possible damages include the following.
Pain and suffering
Pain and suffering look different for everyone, but you can seek compensation for the traumatic impact of your injury:
- Physical pain
- Emotional stress
- Loss of mobility
- Lower quality of life
- PTSD
Some of the pain and suffering you experience will directly correlate with your injury. Other problems might manifest as collateral damage from your injury. Pervasive thoughts, memories of the accident, depression about loss of independence and personality changes are examples of this.
Career loss
A serious TBI could prevent you from returning to your career. In addition to losing the critical skills you need for work, you may also face staggering costs associated with your ongoing medical needs.
Medical treatment costs
The initial treatment you require for a TBI is likely to cost a lot of money. Follow-up care could last months or even years. If you require long-term assistance, the exponential costs of treatment could overwhelm your finances.
A Columbia brain injury lawyer may be able to secure compensation for you to cover the costs of ongoing medical needs, including:
- Rehabilitation expenses
- Brain scans
- Medications
- Surgeries
- Transportation to medical appointments
Your ability to recover as completely as your injury will allow, as well as your overall quality of life, will often depend on the support of ongoing rehabilitation and treatment.
FAQs About Brain Injuries
How is brain injury severity determined?
Medical experts often cannot classify the severity of your injury until you complete emergency medical care and enter the recovery phase. Most TBIs fit into one of three classifications: mild, moderate or severe. Assessing severity requires a closer look at your receptiveness, consciousness and responsiveness.
How long do you have to file a brain injury lawsuit in South Carolina?
In South Carolina, you have three years from the time of your injury to file a lawsuit. A Columbia brain injury lawyer can help you make a claim.
How We Can Help
At Shealey Law Firm, we want to ease your uncertainty about the future. We will litigate on your behalf with unmatched dedication. The emotional distress and physical pain resulting from a TBI might feel unbearable at times, but you have the right to take legal action, and you can trust us to follow through. Contact us today by phone or complete the online form to schedule a free consultation.