If you or a loved one has suffered a brain injury, you need a brain injury lawyer in Parrish, FL. Brain injuries are one of the most severe, life-changing injuries a person can suffer. Although the most severe brain injuries are often the result of a catastrophic accident, many are not. What may seem like a bump on the head can actually be a significant injury with long-lasting consequences.
What Is a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)?
A traumatic brain injury (TBI) affects how the brain works. TBIs typically result from a significant jolt or violent blow to the head or body or from an object piercing the skull and brain. Some traumatic brain injuries have short-term effects causing only temporary negative impacts on the brain before returning to normal brain function. However, severe TBIs can cause permanent severe brain damage leading to disability and even death. TBIs commonly affect how a person thinks, comprehends, understands, moves, and communicates.
Type of TBI
The type and severity of brain injury vary widely. Often TBI injuries are immediately apparent, while other times, they manifest gradually over time.
These types of injuries are generally classified into penetrating and non-penetrating TBI.
- Penetrating TBI: A penetrating TBI is precisely what it sounds like and occurs when an object pierces the skull and penetrates the brain (e.g., a knife, bullet, or shrapnel).
- Non-penetrating TBI: A non-penetrating TBI does not pierce the skull or even the skin. It is caused by a solid external force that moves the brain within the skull (e.g., motor vehicle accident, blast injury, or fall). In the worst case scenarios, it is possible to experience both a penetrating and non-penetrating TBI simultaneously, often the results of a significant car accident.
To learn more about TBI’s different types and causes, contact a brain injury attorney in Parrish, FL.
Symptoms of a TBI
It is common for TBIs to be symptomless and therefore go unnoticed, undiagnosed, and untreated. These injuries do not always appear immediately but appear hours or days later.
Sometimes individuals experiencing symptoms maka the error of attributing them to something else and do not initially realize they suffer from a TBI. Symptoms to watch out for include:
- A persistent headache,
- Nausea and vomiting,
- Trouble sleeping or sleeping too much,
- Confusion,
- Slurred speech and inability to form a sentence,
- Trouble focusing,
- Memory loss,
- Loss of balance,
- Difficulty walking or being active,
- Mood swings, and
- Abrupt personality changes.
It is common to experience just one or several of these symptoms.
Common Causes of Traumatic Brain Injuries
Brain injuries have many causes, from the most horrific accidents to simple mishaps. Examples of common causes of TBIs include the following:
- Slip and falls,
- Motor vehicle accidents,
- Motorcycle accidents,
- Pedestrian and bicycle accidents,
- Construction site accidents,
- Sports injuries,
- Physical violence, and
- Explosions.
The cause of a TBI can be as simple as tripping and bumping your head or as severe as a major car wreck. The above list is not exhaustive, and many more causes for traumatic brain injuries can exist. If you suffered a TBI but didn’t see the reason on this list, don’t worry. A Parrish brain injury attorney can help you assess your case.
Types of Brain Injuries
There are several different types of traumatic brain injuries. It is common to suffer from more than one, especially if you were involved in a major car accident or violent altercation.
Concussions
A concussion is one of the most common types of brain injuries, mainly because so many different things can cause a concussion. For instance, a person can suffer a concussion from severe trauma from a car wreck, sports injury, or tumble down the stairs. Concussions can be minor in nature or highly intense. Concussion victims typically exhibit symptoms including headache, brain fog, dizziness, nausea, and vomiting. Notably, not all concussions result in the loss of consciousness.
Hematomas
A hematoma is a fancy word for a pool or collection of blood. Hematomas can happen in almost any part of the body, but when they result from a brain injury, the blood collects within the skull, often caused by a burst blood vessel in the brain.
Skull Fracture
A skull fracture is any break or fracture within the skull that can range from minor to severe. Skull fractures can harm your brain in several ways, including fractured pieces penetrating the brain.
Any traumatic brain injury (TBI) can cause long-lasting consequences and leave you with a loss of brain function and other disabilities. If you suffer any blow to the head, it is crucial to seek medical attention immediately.
Traumatic Brain Injury Lawsuit
Many traumatic brain injuries are the result of someone’s negligence. You could hold them liable if another person’s actions caused your injury.
To prove negligence, you generally must prove the traditional four negligence prongs: duty, breach, causation, and damages. If a plaintiff can successfully prove negligence, they may be able to recover damages from the liable party.
There are generally three types of damages available to a Florida plaintiff.
Economic Damages
Economic damages or actual damages represent the plaintiff’s losses. These include:
- Medical costs (e.g., hospital, surgical, pharmaceutical, rehabilitation);
- Lost wages and future earning capacity; and
- Property damage (e.g., totaled car).
Economic damages are typically easy to quantify based on receipts, pay stubs, etc.
Noneconomic Damages
Noneconomic damages are subjective and, therefore, more challenging to quantify. These damages can include:
- Pain and suffering,
- Loss of enjoyment of life,
- Mental anguish, and
- Loss of consortium.
Noneconomic damages resulting from a TBI are personal to each plaintiff.
Punitive Damages
In rare circumstances, punitive damages are generally only awarded by a jury or court. Punitive damages punish a grossly negligent defendant for their reprehensible behavior.
Contact a Traumatic Brain Injury Lawyer at James Horne Law PA
Contact a Parrish brain injury lawyer today. At James Horne Law PA, we have provided top-notch representation to traumatic brain injury victims for a decade. We have recovered over $30,000,000 for clients throughout the state. We have the experience, knowledge, and resources necessary to see your case through to success. If you or a loved one has suffered a TBI, you should focus on recovering and returning to your life. Let us handle the rest. Remember, we do not get paid unless you do. Contact us to schedule a consultation today.