Martinez is spectacular and the abundance of preserved buildings and antique shops adds to its charm. Yet, despite this, tragic accidents can still occur. While any type of injury can result, few surpass a traumatic brain injury, frequently the result of a traffic accident. A TBI negatively impacts the injured person’s physical and mental health, which can lead to difficulties performing daily tasks or relying on cognitive abilities.

Having lost cognitive and physical skills affects a person’s ability to work, permanently or temporarily. In cases where another person or entity caused the accident, your Martinez brain injury attorney may be able to recover compensation for economic losses often associated with serious injuries to the head. Take a moment to learn about TBIs, their types, and how an attorney may assist.

The aftermath of an accident caused by negligence can be difficult, especially if you suffered an injury. An experienced attorney can formulate a robust case against the at-fault person or entity, negotiate a favorable settlement with the insurance company, investigate the accident and gather evidence. 

An accident causing a traumatic brain injury can cause considerable hardships and financial losses. Call (925) 428-5220 or (800) 404-5400 for free and friendly case advice. Our legal and investigative teams are available to help at AutoAccident.com. Reach out to our lawyers so they can answer any questions you have and explain your options going forward. We operate on a contingency fee basis, so you will not have to pay until we obtain a successful outcome on your case.

When someone suffers a head injury, the force of impact can penetrate the skull or cause a pooling of blood on or inside the brain. TBIs can damage brain cell communication in such a way that usual operations are disrupted. This can be a most frightening experience. 

Brain injury characteristics are determined by the extent and location of trauma. It may be mild, moderate or severe, depending on the amount and location of the damage. Even mild TBIs can cause severe difficulties and may negatively affect a person’s quality of life. If you have suffered a blow to the head due to a car accident or a slip and fall event, please seek medical treatment right away, even if you think the injury might be minor. 

A Martinez brain injury lawyer can help you obtain the compensation you deserve if you suffer a head injury in a car crash due to a negligent driver. Examples of how monetary recovery can be achieved include:

• Patients with a TBI may not be able to do the work they did in the past, live alone or take care of themselves. The loss this entails can be compensated. 
• A traumatic brain injury lawsuit covers lost wages from the time of the accident and in the future, as well as bonuses and perks associated with the job.
• When a third party is held responsible for a TBI, the astronomically high costs of long-term medical care will be covered.
• The family of the deceased can also file a wrongful death lawsuit if the injured person dies due to the TBI.
• It is possible for a spouse to file a lawsuit for the loss of affection they suffered. This is called a loss of consortium claim.

Individuals who suffer a brain injury due to negligence or intentional acts have the right to sue the at-fault party. Damages are typically high, ranging from $100,000 to several million dollars. It is due to the high cost of treating and monitoring a brain injury, as well as its disabling effect. In cases where the injured person was harmed in an assault or other criminal offense, the evidence can still be used in a civil lawsuit.

Please take a moment to watch the following video where attorney Ed Smith describes how to choose a personal injury lawyer:

The number of head injuries in the United States averages about three million per year. TBIs generally occur in adults, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 870,000 of which occur in children. An estimated 13 million people suffer from TBs-related disabilities. To learn more, read these TBI statistics:

• A head injury disables roughly 90,000 people every year.
• In the past decade, the number of traumatic brain injuries, related deaths and hospitalizations has increased by 53 percent.
• Injuries caused by TBI are most common in males (78 percent).
• The number of children who die from TBIs each year exceeds 2,500.
• People over the age of 65 are most likely to suffer brain injuries.
• The number of people hospitalized with brain injuries exceeds 288,000 annually.
• A TBI results in the death of thirty out of 100,000 individuals.

Here are some of the most common types of TBIs:

• Concussion: An injury caused by hitting the inner part of the skull can cause a concussion. With rest and analgesics, symptoms usually disappear after six months. However, people with a concussion can be symptomatic for one year or longer.
• Hematoma: A hematoma refers to a blood clot that forms on the surface of the brain. A subdural hematoma and an epidural hematoma are both types of this injury. Subdural hematomas occur between the dura mater and the subarachnoid membrane. In contrast, the epidural is a blood clot between the dura and the inside of the skull. It is often necessary to remove the blood clots surgically because they can cause pressure on the brain.
• Diffuse axonal injury: In this case, the brain injury interferes with the transmission of information between nerve cells. If the nerve cells cannot communicate with one another, they cannot send messages to different parts of the body. This can result in severe disability or death. 
• Intracerebral hemorrhage: ICHs vary in size and location and may be surgically removed, depending on their symptoms.

Brain injuries are often characterized by the following symptoms:

• Vomiting
• Headache 
• Confusion
• Loss of consciousness 
• Blurred and double vision
• Dizziness
• Paralysis
• Bloody discharge from the ears or nose
• Cognitive difficulties
• Coma
• Speech problems
• Problems breathing and swallowing
• Balance issues

Brain injuries are treated differently depending on their type, location and severity. Surgical intervention is critical to the recovery for such injuries, as the effects of the trauma will cause them to die without it. The patient who has suffered a brain injury may be transferred to the intensive care unit pending an assessment of hematoma size. If the clot continues to grow, it will require surgical removal.

Following surgery or other types of treatment, patients are constantly evaluated using the Glasgow Outcome Scale, which allows doctors to evaluate their progress. Patients with mild TBI usually experience gradual improvement. People with moderate TBI, however, tend to show a variable pattern of improvement.

In 60 percent of mild TBI patients, the condition improves with time. Nevertheless, approximately one-quarter of the patients who are moderately disabled recover, and an additional 10 percent remain disabled. Only 25% of people who suffer severe TBIs recover.

I’m Ed Smith, a Martinez brain injury lawyer. If you or someone you love suffered a traumatic brain injury due to a motor vehicle accident or slip and fall incident, reach out to me for free, friendly advice.  I can be reached at (925) 428-5220 or (800) 404-5400. Our injury lawyers can also be reached online. 

Memberships that I am proud to hold include:

• Million Dollar Advocates
• Top 1 Percent

Find out more about my practice by clicking on the links below:

• Avvo
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• Settlements and Verdicts
• Yelp

Photo attribution: by John Hain from Pixabay 

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