A traumatic brain injury (TBI) may occur because of a transmission of force to the body or head, leading to neuropathologic dysfunction and damage. This type of injury is often complicated by changes in behavior and mood. These are common, may occur soon after the traumatic brain injury, and are subject to change with time. The types of changes in mood and behavior for patients presenting with a TBI will depend on the location of the injury, the severity of the trauma, and other factors. A wide array of treatments may assist in the recovery of a patient presenting with a TBI and may reduce or eliminate specific cognitive, emotional, and physical issues related to this type of injury.

If you suffered a traumatic brain injury in an accident in California and have suffered extensive losses as a result, you may be entitled to financial compensation. Learn more by calling one of our personal injury lawyers today for free, friendly case advice at (916) 921-6400 or (800) 404-5400.

Without a doubt, a traumatic brain injury may have devastating effects that may have considerable impacts on all aspects of a patient’s life and that of their loved ones. When you have suffered such an injury in an accident caused by someone else’s negligence, choosing the best TBI attorney to represent you may make all the difference in the outcome of your civil case. At our law firm, we have over three decades of experience handling a wide array of personal injury claims arising from different types of accidents, and we can help you with your case too. Contact our legal team to arrange a free consultation with one of our experienced lawyers to discuss your case today.

A good place to start when experiencing symptoms such as changes in personality following a traumatic brain injury is to consult a behavioral therapist or a neuropsychologist. Such medical professionals may assist with strategies such as redirecting negative actions or thoughts to more positive ones and deep breathing exercises to cope with intolerance or anger. With the right support and approach, TBI patients may find ways of regaining their sense of control over their behaviors and moods. This may include getting regular exercise, practicing meditations, avoiding situations that may trigger inappropriate reactions, and confiding in family members or friends.

A traumatic brain injury has the potential to result in changes in personality. While behavioral changes are generally observed in cases involving severe TBI, the manifestation of such symptoms will depend on which areas of the brain have sustained trauma. Past case studies have suggested that a lesion of the frontal lobes, specifically the superior frontal gyrus of the dorsal prefrontal cortex, was associated with a change in personality when there were other lesions present. Personality changes from a TBI may be described as irritability, impulsivity, emotional lability, apathy, and aggression. One of the most commonly reported sequelae of TBI with regard to the behavioral aspect is depression.

With this information in mind, the effects of a TBI may be lasting and life-changing. Those who have suffered a head injury in an accident must know how to manage their symptoms effectively and know what to expect from their condition moving forward. When bringing a personal injury claim, it is essential to identify the prognosis that is related to the head trauma. If symptoms from the condition are likely to impose impacts on the injured party’s life into the future, the amount of compensation sought should reflect that in addition to other compensatory damages. The process of obtaining financial recovery from a personal injury case for a TBI may prove challenging when dealing with insurance companies looking to protect their bottom lines. Unlike the insurer, a TBI patient and their family can depend on an experienced traumatic brain injury lawyer to help them address the financial and medical needs associated with their health condition, such as changes in personality.

To recover economic and non-economic damages in a personal injury case for a TBI, the burden falls on the plaintiff and legal counsel to demonstrate that the trauma was the direct result of the other side’s negligence. This may be through the form of evidence such as traffic incident reports, video surveillance footage of the auto accident, photographs of the scene where the incident occurred, and eyewitnesses. Since a traumatic brain injury is not always obvious in some cases and TBI symptoms may take some time to manifest, it is essential for an injured party to seek medical treatment immediately following blunt force trauma to the head. The reason is that medical documentation may be essential in proving that the injury resulted from the crash and not another cause. This may include imaging like a computed tomography (CT) scan or an MRI, a diagnosis from a neurologist or a physician in the emergency room, and an evaluation by a neuropsychologist.

Accident reconstruction is the process that involves an investigation, analysis, and list of conclusions drawn from the sequence of events leading up to a motor vehicle crash. A lawyer may work with an accident reconstruction expert in an injury case to conduct an independent investigation of the incident to identify the contributing factors to the traffic collision. This may include the roles of the drivers, vehicles, environment, lighting, traffic, and road. Once the evidence has been gathered and preserved, the experts may produce an in-depth analysis of the crash through the use of software simulations and 3D models. Through the use of these tools, an experienced traumatic brain injury attorney may be able to present a case clearly and effectively in insurance negotiations and in civil court, if necessary.

When an individual has been injured in an accident that has worsened a pre-existing condition, they may be able to claim financial recovery for the aggravation of that condition. However, recovering compensation under these circumstances is not always straightforward as the insurance company representing the at-fault party may attempt to reduce the value of a personal injury claim or outright deny it by claiming that the injuries were not the result of the incident in question.

Medical records from before and after the accident may help establish how the health condition was worsened because of the crash. Testimony from an expert witness such as a medical provider may be invaluable in such cases by combatting the insurer’s attempts to devalue or deny a bodily injury claim. Since personal injury cases involving pre-existing conditions may be difficult and you may face many challenges in recovering compensation for resulting damages, it is essential to contact an attorney with years of experience handling traumatic brain injury cases like yours.

A lawyer will not only provide an injured party with a better chance at recovering full and fair compensation for their TBI, but they will also help the plaintiff understand the challenges that may arise in a civil case because of a pre-existing medical condition, such as chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) or repetitive head injury syndrome. Such health conditions may have considerable impacts and result in symptoms such as changes in personality and memory loss. For information on how to find the best brain injury lawyer to handle your civil case, watch the following video.

Simply submitting a personal injury claim or filing a lawsuit in civil court is not always enough to ensure that a TBI patient receives the financial compensation they need and deserve. The insurance company representing the other party may not always be willing to make things right for the injured party as their primary concerns deal with protecting their profit margins. It is essential to retain legal counsel that has the resources to work with expert witnesses that may provide testimony on the life-long effects of a TBI, determine how these changes have impacted the plaintiff’s life, and what compensation is due for such injuries and associated losses. There may also be limitations in liability coverage carried by the at-fault party, and having the right attorney to investigate all potentially negligent parties and insurance coverages are key to a successful resolution.

Not every accident attorney can handle a personal injury case involving a TBI as they require a high level of understanding and expertise on which types of physicians and experts are needed to evaluate the case and the types of economic and non-economic damages that may occur as a result. It is the job of an experienced traumatic brain injury lawyer to prove and present the civil case to an insurance company, defense counsel, or in the courtroom to seek full and fair compensation on behalf of the injured party. Hiring a skilled injury lawyer immediately after an accident is essential to providing the much-needed time the attorney needs to devise effective strategies and build the strongest case possible on behalf of the plaintiff.

Keep in mind that a two-year statute of limitations generally applies to personal injury cases as outlined in the California Code of Civil Procedure Section 335.1. The filing deadline may be shortened to as little as six months in cases involving public agencies. This is by the California Government Code Section 911.2. Therefore, it is essential to retain legal counsel immediately following an accident resulting in a traumatic injury such as head trauma. A skilled attorney will get to work quickly and ensure that all filing deadlines and criteria have been met in the case on behalf of the plaintiff.

Expenses for a TBI do not stop at the emergency room as such injuries may require lifelong medical treatment. Whether you or a family member are experiencing emotional, financial, and physical hardship after an accident resulting in head trauma, give our legal team a call today to receive free, friendly advice. The experienced accident attorneys at our law firm are committed to obtaining the justice and fair compensation you deserve in your personal injury case.

Since 1982, we have helped many injured parties and their families by working hard to get the best possible outcomes in their cases. Our verdicts and settlements are a reflection of our dedication to our clients and their cases by providing an unparalleled level of support and personalized attention.

The best part about working with us at AutoAccident.com is that we handle cases on a contingency fee basis meaning there are no upfront fees. Costs of legal representation will only be due if we obtain a successful resolution on your behalf. Contact us today at (916) 921-6400 or (800) 404-5400 to learn more about how we can help you and your family move forward in your situation.

Editor’s Note: This page has been updated for accuracy and relevancy [cha 7.14.22]

Photo Source: By “Anna Shvets” via Pexels

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