A traumatic brain injury (TBI) can have lasting physical and emotional effects. While some traumatic brain injuries occur as the result of a freak accident, these injuries sometimes are due to someone else’s failure to uphold a duty of care.
A New Haven traumatic brain injury lawyer can assess your potential claim for damages and work quickly to preserve all available evidence for your case. The dedicated catastrophic injury attorneys at Berkowitz Hanna will conduct a thorough investigation into liability for your traumatic brain injury while protecting your best interests at every step.
Any trauma to the brain can result in life-changing outcomes that affect a person’s physical, psychological, and emotional well-being forever. Some brain injuries are “penetrating,” which means that some type of object cracks the skull and enters the brain matter. “Non-penetrating” injuries do not shatter the skull but can still have equally grave outcomes for patients.
TBIs may be mild or severe but can easily progress in severity if left untreated. A concussion is one of the most common types of brain injuries that can occur when the head sustains a kind of blunt force trauma. Swelling or bleeding on the brain can lead to traumatic brain injuries like subdural hematomas or hemorrhages. One of the most serious forms of traumatic brain injury is a contrecoup, which occurs when the impact to the skull causes the brain to slide from one side to the other.
Early symptoms of a mild traumatic brain injury can include dizziness, confusion, memory loss, ringing in the ears, and trouble concentrating. Signs that a brain injury is worsening or in the moderate to severe category can include slurred speech, seizures, loss of control over bodily movements or function, and loss of consciousness.
Anyone who suffers these or other symptoms after sustaining a head trauma should seek swift medical attention. TBIs can ensue after a serious car accident, slip or trip and fall, or sports accident. In some cases, acts of criminality like assault may lead to this type of serious injury.
A New Haven attorney can help a traumatic brain injury victim pursue a legal claim against the party or parties responsible. An attorney can fight for maximum compensation while managing all key phases of the case on the victim’s behalf.
One or multiple parties can be liable for a TBI. These liable parties could range from a negligent physician to a reckless driver to a product manufacturer. A New Haven attorney can work to establish all elements of a negligence claim, which is required to successfully recover compensation for a traumatic brain injury.
A negligence claim revolves around four factors: a duty, a breach of duty, causation, and damages. If the at-fault party owed the victim a legal duty of care, violated that duty, and subsequently caused the incident that resulted in the traumatic brain injury, they would be liable for the victim’s damages.
For example, a driver needs to use reasonable care when behind the wheel to avoid causing an accident. If a driver breaks traffic laws or otherwise operates their vehicle in a careless manner and causes an accident that leaves a victim suffering from brain injuries, that driver may be on the legal hook for compensation.
Financial recovery for TBI victims can include past and future losses from the accident. These forms of compensation can include pain and suffering, medical bills, lost wages, and more.
Traumatic brain injury claims can involve complex litigation and other confusing legal processes, which is why it is paramount that you have an experienced attorney handling your case from its earliest stages. An attorney can speak with medical experts and other professionals who can prove instrumental in building a case for compensation that reflects the true value of your injuries.
A New Haven traumatic brain injury lawyer can safeguard your rights both in and out of the courtroom while protecting you from the tactics insurance companies often use to try to devalue or deny claims. If you have questions about starting a TBI claim, call Berkowitz Hanna today and set up your free consultation.
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