Brain injuries can be devastating on a victim’s day-to-day life, affecting areas like cognition, memory, mood, and motor function. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 1.5 million Americans endure a traumatic brain injury every year. Brain injuries are caused by falls, violence, and motor vehicle accidents. If you have sustained a brain injury due to someone else’s negligence, speak with a Washington traumatic brain injury attorney for an assessment of your case.
Brain injuries can be difficult to detect because symptoms can be dormant for a long period of time before they begin to affect your daily life. Especially when left untreated, brain injuries can have major repercussions on your health and wellbeing. At Premier Law Group, our Washington traumatic brain injury lawyers have extensive knowledge in handling serious injury cases. We understand that brain injuries can impact your ability to work and put further pressure on paying for medical bills and other expenses long-term. We are passionate about helping you obtain the compensation you deserve and the justice you are owed.
Understanding Traumatic Brain Injuries
Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) are caused by a direct blow, bump, or jolt to the head, or a penetrating injury. Car accidents cause the majority of traumatic brain injuries, but anything that produces a hard knock to the head, such as sports, slipping and falling, or a work accident, can result in a TBI as well. Even mild TBIs can have lasting symptoms.
Not all brain injuries are the same, though. They vary in severity, from affecting one region of the brain to affecting multiple or all regions of the brain. Proper treatment may allow for recovery, but that is not always the case. It is crucial that victims seek immediate medical attention to increase their chances of recovery following a traumatic brain injury accident.
These injuries are very serious and may require long-term assisted care. If you have endured a brain injury, speak with an experienced Washington traumatic brain injury lawyer for an assessment of your case.
Funding Recovery: Who’s Responsible in Washington?
A traumatic brain injury can be life-altering, and the costs associated with having a TBI can be immeasurable. These costs may include:
- Hospital bills
- Property damage
- Ongoing care
- Travel expenses to visit facilities that specialize in traumatic brain injuries
Typically, the person who caused the accident to occur has to pay through their insurance policy. However, they will often want to settle your claim quickly, and you will not get the money you deserve or even what you need.
A lump sum upfront may seem like it will be enough, but the ongoing care you or your family member will need is usually not determined so soon after the accident. It is crucial that you speak with one of our experienced Washington traumatic brain injury attorneys to determine the maximum compensation you are owed for your damages.
It is very important that you do not settle right away with the insurance company if you have any reason to believe that you may have suffered a brain injury. Sometimes the injury can result even without the head striking anything. In severe whiplash cases, the brain may strike the interior of the skull, causing serious injury as a result. If the accident was caused by someone else, the traumatic brain injury lawyers at Premier Law Group are here to help you recover the money you need.
Compensation Types for Traumatic Brain Injury Victims
Due to the complexities of traumatic brain injuries, there are many layers of expenses that can be included in compensation. Some of the damages you may be eligible to collect include:
Addressing Medical Costs After a Brain Injury
This is the most obvious and likely the largest expense because treating a brain injury typically results in long hospital stays, intensive care, and sometimes life support.
Additional Expenses: Beyond Medical Bills
These include things that your medical insurance may not cover as well as travel expenses and many other expenses incurred related to the injury.
Quantifying Emotional Distress & Pain
This can include anything from actual pain and suffering to loss of enjoyment and quality of life. This includes physical, mental, and emotional pain and suffering.
Recouping Lost Wages After a Brain Injury
Because of hospital stays, doctor’s appointments, and even short or long-term disability, you are likely to lose income from your brain injury. Loss of income results from missing work or being unable to perform your normal work duties.
Understanding Compensation for Relationship Strain
Losing relationships that were important to you or your loved one is often a side effect of traumatic brain injuries. The long-term effects of a TBI can be devastating, especially for family and friends.
For a free legal consultation with a traumatic brain injury lawyer serving Seattle, call (206) 285-1743
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Why Engage a Washington Brain Injury Lawyer?
Premier Law Group provides complimentary consultations to review your TBI case. We also have a Zero Fee Guarantee, which means you pay nothing unless we win your case. The first step we take is helping you decide whether you even need a lawyer—if you can settle your case on your own, our free consultation can help provide the legal guidance you need to do just that.
For more complex cases, you may require an attorney to get the best settlement possible. The trauma you experience post-accident can be the tip of the iceberg. Permanent damage and lasting consequences of the accident may not be discovered for years down the line. Insurance companies will pressure you to settle before you know the full extent of the impact of an accident. When you work with one of our skilled attorneys, you work with an experienced TBI attorney who will:
- Listen carefully to your needs, questions, and concerns about the traumatic brain injury lawsuit process
- Handle all the legal issues so you can focus on healing
- Deal with the insurance companies—sometimes multiple insurance companies will be involved
- Order all medical records and bills related to your injuries
- Walk you through the litigation process, so you fully understand what is happening
- Communicate with you regularly, so you know how your case is progressing
We are proud to provide clients with personalized, compassionate legal service. We assertively fight for your rights and help ensure you get the justice you deserve from your losses. We have an extensive proven history of success in serious injury cases and are determined to obtain the most favorable outcome you need for your recovery.
The Wide-reaching Effects of Traumatic Brain Injuries
As well as injuries to the spinal cord, there are other frequent injuries stemming from TBIs. Accidents resulting in a traumatic brain injury can also result in paralysis, spinal cord injuries, neck, and other back injuries, speech, hearing, vision, and other sensory losses.
Connecting Brain Injuries with Spinal Cord Issues
Spinal cord damage can impact different regions of the body and can range from mild to severe depending on the scope of the damage. Commonly, nerve damage in the spinal column results in symptoms such as loss of sensation and paralysis. To identify where the spinal cord is damaged, medical professionals describe the location by letter and number correlated with the affected vertebrae. The following are identifying spinal cord injuries associated with paralysis and other symptoms:
Cervical Spine Injuries: Delving into C1-C8
Damage to the cervical spine, affecting vertebrae C1-C8, protects the upper portion of the spinal cord. When these vertebrae sustain an injury, victims can experience symptoms such as extreme weakness or paralysis in the limbs. Damage to this region of the spine is generally more catastrophic due to the proximity to the brainstem. Symptoms may include:
- Inability to breathe without equipment
- Loss of sensation
- Lack of bowel or bladder control
- Requiring a brace or permanent stabilization
The more superior the injury is on the spinal cord, the more critical the paralysis can be. If the damage is in your neck, it may cause quadriplegia, paralysis of all four extremities, and often requires the use of a ventilator. Catastrophic injuries may take a toll on victims and affect their emotional and financial well-being. Speak to an experienced paralysis injury lawyer for an assessment of your case. We work to fiercely negotiate on your behalf in order to recover the losses you’ve experienced.
Understanding Thoracic Spine Injuries: T1-T12
Damage to the middle spine, or thoracic spine, may result in partial or total paralysis of the lower extremities. Victims affected by a catastrophic injury to the lower spine often experience the following symptoms:
- Loss of sensation
- Lack of bowel or bladder control
- Tingling in the limbs
Victims who experience damage to their T1-T12 vertebrae may be able to retain use of their arms but will often be restricted to a wheelchair.
Lumbar Spine Impact: Exploring L1-L5
Damage to the lumbar spine, located in the lower back, can cause loss of motor function in the lower extremities. These types of injuries typically do not affect the use of your arms. L1-L5 injuries range in severity depending on the location and impact of the blow. Symptoms may include:
- Lack of control in the glutes, genital organs, and abdomen
- May require surgery
If you have been injured in the lumbar spine due to negligence, speak to an experienced Washington paralysis injury lawyer for an assessment of your case. A knowledgeable paralysis attorney can assist you in building a comprehensive case in order to pursue the compensation you deserve.
Assessing the Consequences of Sacral Spine Injuries: S1-S5
Sacral spine injuries, located in the upper gluteal region, can impair the following bodily functions:
- Lack of bowel and bladder control
- Movement of the hips and legs
- Control and strength of the thighs
- Sensation and movement in the calves, feet, and genital organs
Even though this is low in the spine, injuries to the S1-S5 can still be life-altering for the victim.
Top Reasons Behind Brain Injuries in Washington
We often see many causes of brain injuries stem from motor vehicle accidents but there can be other frequent causes of brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and paralysis such as:
- Traumatic Brain injuries
- Car accidents
- Strokes
- Nerve injuries
- Cerebral palsy
- Multiple sclerosis
- Slips and falls
- Diving accidents
- Sports accidents
- Violent crimes
Reach Out to Washington’s Leading Brain Injury Specialists
Suffering from a traumatic brain injury can have life-altering effects on a person. It can impact your ability to work, to enjoy your hobbies, and can even change aspects of your personality. We understand how much you have lost as a result of someone else’s negligence. Premier Law Group is dedicated to obtaining the financial compensation you deserve for your losses. To get help with your traumatic brain injury claim, speak with a skilled Washington brain injury lawyer for an assessment of your case and legal guidance regarding the best way to proceed.
Premier Law Group is a team of experienced, compassionate traumatic brain injury lawyers helping clients in Washington seek the justice they are owed. We are proud to provide clients with the dedicated, highly skilled, and trusted representation they deserve. To schedule a free case evaluation, fill out our contact form or call (206) 880-7518.
Jason at premier law group is truly an outstanding individual. Our particular case was not something that their firm usually sees but they were more than willing to help us and give us all of the information they had available. I can't recommend them enough.