Experienced Wichita Falls Brain Injury Lawyer
If you or a loved one has suffered from a traumatic brain injury (TBI) due to someone else’s negligence, our Wichita Falls traumatic brain injury law firm is here to help. Our personal injury lawyer has a proven track record of successfully handling traumatic brain injury cases throughout Texas and Oklahoma.
Our experienced legal team can answer your questions about TBIs and guide you through the complex and confusing legal issues that arise in these types of cases. Our law firm has helped countless traumatic brain injury victims and their families not only maximize the compensation they receive, but also maximize every aspect of treatment and recovery, so these head and brain injury victims can get back to “normal” and live the life they deserve. If you have suffered from brain injuries, you can get a free, confidential, no-obligation consultation by calling our office at 940-569-4000 or filling out our contact form.
Head and Brain Injuries by the Numbers
The enormous and devastating impact traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) have on society is most effectively displayed through statistics. According to the Perelman School of Medicine, every year in the Unites States of America, approximately 2 million Americans suffer from TBIs. What’s more astounding is that traumatic brain injuries are the leading cause of death and disability among those under 45 beating out several other serious conditions including AIDS, breast cancer, multiple sclerosis, and spinal cord injuries combined. Equally alarming statistics include the fact that a brain injury occurs every 15 seconds in America and the cost of caring for these injuries costs the U.S. approximately $30 billion every year.
Head and brain injuries are extremely serious injuries that require the utmost care and treatment. These injuries are often referred to as part of the “silent epidemic” among experts for several reasons.
First and foremost, the numbers are substantial as you have seen with the above statistics and as is continuously outlined below. It is estimated by the CDC’s National Center for Injury Prevention and Control that 5.3 million Americans are disabled as a result of a traumatic brain injury, and the CDC states that even this staggering number could be underestimated due to the fact that many head injuries go undiagnosed. Of the millions of Americans who get traumatic brain injuries every year, approximately 50,000 dies, over 200,000 are hospitalized and survive, and around 90,000 experience long-term or life-long disability.
Even the supposed “mild” brain injuries can have serious, long-lasting effects. As Dr. Lifshitz expresses in a Brain and Life article by Dr. Robin L. Brey, M.D., “There is nothing mild about any TBI.” On top of this, head and brain injuries are considered part of the silent epidemic because of its lack of public awareness and high-profile spokespersons.
Do I Need a Brain Injury Attorney for My Wichita Falls Accident?
Head and brain injuries often don’t get the attention they deserve. And unfortunately, many times they go undiagnosed. The symptoms of these injuries are not always immediately obvious, and this results in a lapse of treatment from the time of the accident until you are officially diagnosed. Many times, it isn’t until your family or friends notice a change in you and suspect that something isn’t right. But the insurance companies will use this lapse in treatment as an excuse to either deny or minimize your claim, and it can be hard to prove to insurance companies and their adjusters that you suffered a traumatic brain injury due to your accident.
Insurance companies could refuse coverage for a number of different reasons, including:
- The brain injury not being diagnosed immediately after the incident. Although insurance adjusters know that sometimes brain injuries go undiagnosed for a period of time, they will try to use this to their advantage. It is known that it can sometimes take multiple appointments to properly detect and diagnose brain injuries.
- The brain injury being categorized a concussive and being diagnosed as mild. Medical definitions can sometimes be misleading, and this is certainly one of those instances. Concussions are still brain injuries, and any brain injury is a serious matter no matter how “mild”. This can be another reason insurance companies will deny compensating you for your injuries or denying payment for your treatment.
- The brain injury not being caused by direct impact to the head and/or skull. Despite the adjuster’s opinion, brain injuries can happen without direct impact to the head and/or skull and can occur in instances where whiplash or a sudden and high velocity change of direction were prevalent. Adjusters often question the validity of brain injuries in these types of instances.
Because brain injury claims give rise to these types of challenges, often brain injury victims benefit from consulting with an experienced brain injury lawyer. Our Wichita Falls brain injury attorney can help in a multitude of ways, but it is important to get started ASAP.
Call our Wichita Falls brain injury lawyer today at 940-569-4000 for a free, confidential, no-obligation consultation or simply fill out the contact form below. We want to hear about your story, and we are ready to offer you the guidance and support you need.
Different Types of Brain Injuries
As we discussed earlier, all brain injuries are serious injuries. But each brain injury is unique. A small impact may give one-person minor headaches for a short amount of time, but the same impact could cause life-altering damages to another resulting in a whole lifetime of difficulties. This is exactly why it is so important to seek medical attention immediately for all head-related injuries. The quicker you can determine the extent of the injuries, the quicker it can be treated properly.
There are many types of brain injuries, including the following:
- Concussions
- Contusions
- Intracranial hematomas
- Skull fractures
- Diffuse axonal injuries
Whenever there is a crack or break in the actual skull itself, the injury is categorized as a penetrating head injury. On the other hand, when the skull is not damaged, but there is still damage to the brain, it is categorized as a closed head injury. As you can imagine, closed head injuries can be harder to diagnose. It is also important to point out that you do not have to have lost consciousness to have sustained a brain injury.
Closed head injuries can result from:
- Direct impact
- Whiplash
- Sudden and abrupt change in speed or direction
Brain Injury Symptoms
Although the science of the brain is still relatively unknown and neuroscientists do not fully understand all of its complexities and functionalities, it is well understood that the brain is a delicate organ that can be injured easily and that damage to the brain can be permanent. Because of this, it is extremely important to diagnose and treat brain injuries with urgent and comprehensive care.
A traumatic brain injury can cause any of the following symptoms:
- Short-term memory loss
- Long-term memory loss
- Coordination problems
- Motor skill problems
- Loss of bodily functions
- Headaches
- Trouble sleeping
- Concentration issues
- Confusion
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Anger issues
- Suicidal thoughts
- Changes to temperament
- Changes to personality
If someone has suffered from a traumatic brain injury, it could take years of treatment for them to recover. In more serious cases, full recovery might not be possible, and they may need life-long care and/or assistance. Because of this, it is crucial that anyone who has suffered from a traumatic brain injury caused by the negligence of someone else seeks the advice and counsel of an experienced traumatic brain injury lawyer, who can ensure you get the treatment you need and who can maximize your compensation to its fullest extent.
Diagnosing and Treating Brain Injuries
Anyone who has been in an accident involving any type of impact or whiplash to the head should go in to be evaluated by a medical professional to determine if they have a head injury and if so, to what extent. Some brain injury symptoms do not appear right away or may be very slight, so it is critical to monitor yourself for a few weeks after your accident and if you start to feel any symptoms at all, seek medical attention immediately even if you were not initially diagnosed with a brain injury. If you fail to treat brain injuries, it can lead to serious complications, life-altering injuries, and can sometimes even be fatal.
Every brain injury is unique, and the symptoms of each brain injury can be complex and difficult to diagnose and treat. As a result of this difficulty, many brain injury victims find it beneficial to receive professional and expert care from a comprehensive medical team with many specialty members including neurologist, neuropsychologist, psychiatrist, psychologist, physical therapist, speech therapist, occupational therapist, and rehabilitation and behavioral therapist.
Our Wichita Falls law firm can help traumatic brain injury victims find the best medical team for their circumstances. Getting the proper medical treatment early is critical for your health and recovery. It is also very important for documenting and proving your legal case in order for you to pursue financial compensation.
Compensation for Brain Injuries in Texas and Oklahoma
If you or a loved one has suffered a brain injury due to someone else’s negligence or misconduct, the injured individual has a right to seek compensation for their injuries. A brain injury is serious and can seriously affect one’s life in a dramatic, negative, and sometimes permanent way. The injured person will need specialized medical care and a treatment plan created specifically for them and their unique circumstances. The law calls for the party who was responsible for the accident to cover the medical expenses, lost wages, and other damages that the injured person has suffered from.
In order to protect your legal rights and maximize your recovery, you need to consult with an experience brain injury lawyer who understands the complexities of traumatic brain injury cases.
Depending on the circumstances surrounding your case, there may be other types of damages to recover such as punitive damages. An experienced personal injury lawyer can assist you in determining the potential value of your brain injury case.
The sooner you seek qualified legal advice, the better your rights will be protected and the better chance you have at maximizing your brain injury claim.
Contact Our Wichita Falls Brain Injury Law Firm
If you or someone you know has suffered from a brain injury, you need to seek the advice of a personal injury attorney who understands and has worked traumatic brain injury cases. Please contact our Wichita Falls personal injury law firm by calling us at 940-569-4000 or filling out the contact form to set up a free, confidential, no-obligation consultation. We will answer all your questions and provide guidance and assistance on how to proceed to maximize your injury claim and recovery.