Injuries happen in many ways. Any injury you suffer should make you pause to ensure that your body is healthy and well. Sometimes, your injuries may prove so severe that you need medical attention. Concussions are one such type of injury.
A concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury, or TBI. People hear about concussions frequently, but many individuals do not realize the severity of a concussion. Another misconception is that you have to suffer a blow to the head to suffer a concussion. That is not the case, and this means that many people may not even realize that they have suffered a concussion because their injury did not involve any contact with their head.
Many people suffer unnecessarily because of an accident that caused a concussion. Whether you were in a car accident, pedestrian accident, sporting accident, slip and fall, or any other type of accident that could have caused a bump, blow, or jolt to your head, seek medical attention.
After you see a doctor, speak with an experienced brain injury lawyer who can help you collect damages to pay for the treatment of your injuries. If you did not cause your concussion, you should not have to pay for the associated medical expenses. The at-fault party should bear the burden of paying those. The best way to accomplish this goal is by working with a trusted traumatic brain injury attorney.
Concussion Complications
People suffer concussions when a hard object strikes their heads or when their bodies contort in such a way that causes the head to jolt with such force that the brain moves around and hits the skull. This is most often caused in car accidents where a victim’s head will hit the dash or steering wheel, but it may also occur in car accidents where the victim’s head does not hit anything, as is the case with whiplash. While there are steps you can take to help reduce the likelihood of a concussion, concussions often coincide with other injuries, making it likely that the accident was out of your control.
When you suffer injuries in any type of accident, all you care about is getting back to your regular life. Even though you cannot see your concussion injury, it may prove serious and cause lifelong complications.
Post-Traumatic Headaches
Some concussion victims experience extreme headaches after initially suffering a concussion. These headaches can last for several weeks. They may decrease in their intensity over time, but they can also linger.
Post-Traumatic Vertigo
A feeling of dizziness can set in almost immediately after suffering a concussion. That feeling may stay for days, weeks, or even months, making it very difficult for a concussion victim to return to his or her regular life.
Post-Concussion Syndrome
Some unfortunate concussion victims suffer the headaches and vertigo for extended periods of time. Suffering those symptoms longer than three months results in post-concussion syndrome, which may prove permanent.
Second Impact Syndrome
Second Impact Syndrome occurs when a concussion victim is still in the process of recovering from a concussion, and he or she suffers another concussion. This can have fatal consequences. Second impact syndrome is the reason you hear of professional athletes not being allowed to return to play until all of the signs and symptoms of their concussion have gone away.
Concussion Treatments and Expenses
Just like no two people are exactly alike, no two brain injuries are the same. Some concussion victims suffer a lifetime of pain, extreme discomfort, and an altered state of life. Others recover quickly. There is truly no way to tell which category you might fall into. The best thing you can do is follow your doctor’s orders and make sure you take care of yourself.
Taking care of yourself includes your financial well being. It is estimated that the lifetime cost of concussion medical treatments can range between $85,000 and $3 million. This is a wide range because concussions can vary greatly in the severity of symptoms and outcomes.
While the costs to treat your concussion may seem astronomical, you should not have to worry about how those tragically high bills get paid. The next best thing you can do for your health is to work with a knowledgeable traumatic brain injury attorney who can help you recover the compensation you need, so you do not have to pay out of pocket for these expenses.
Damages You May Recover
The most frequent question that concussion victims ask us is how much their cases are worth. Just like each concussion injury is different, so too is every traumatic brain injury claim.
Your ability to recover compensation for your concussion varies and depends on:
- Amount of time you spend in the hospital
- Medical procedures
- Rehabilitation
- Prescription medication
All of these play a factor in the value of your claim. Another major factor that can determine your ability to recover damages is the attorney you choose to represent you. Not all lawyers are created equal, and not every lawyer can provide you the legal representation you deserve. You need a lawyer who can investigate your accident, review medical and police records, speak with witnesses, and negotiate with insurance companies, all to make sure you avoid financial hardship.
Your lawyer may try to help you get compensated for the following:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Lost wages
- Loss of companionship
- Loss of life enjoyment
- Present and future medical bills
- Rehabilitation costs
Many concussion injury victims do not account for all of their financial needs. Some victims simply see the medical bills piling up on the kitchen table, but forget to account for all of the future doctor visits and prescription drug costs. Beyond that, they may not calculate their lost income.
As a concussion victim, you may be out of work for several months, and you might never return to your job in the same capacity. This can greatly reduce the amount of income you receive and the potential you have to make throughout your life. The responsible party should compensate you for that difference.
This enormous impact is why you need to work with a traumatic brain injury attorney you trust. You need to make sure you collect compensation, so you do not have to end up in financial hardship. You did not cause the accident where you suffered a concussion, so you should not bear the burden of paying your medical bills, and your family should not bear the burden of taking on extra work to cover the financial losses of you being out of work. It’s not fair to them, and it’s not fair to you.
Working with a skilled traumatic brain injury attorney can help you collect every dollar you deserve, so you do not have to pay these outrageous medical bills. Your life and your loved ones are counting on you to choose a lawyer who can help you all through this challenging time.
Know Your Advocate
No matter what type of accident caused your concussion, when someone else is to blame for your injuries and your suffering, they should be held accountable. What’s important to remember is that your lawyer is the only one looking out for your best interests.
Soon after you suffer a concussion, the insurance company for the at-fault party may call you to offer you a quick settlement. The insurance company’s goal is to make you go away for as little money as possible; the insurance company does not care about your medical bills or your recovery. Its primary goal is maximizing its revenue and profits.
Your lawyer has the same goals you do. We want to help you by negotiating with the insurance company on your behalf. We want to help you maximize your settlement. Many traumatic brain injury victims think they can get more money by settling without a lawyer because they do not have to pay a lawyer to help them. In reality, settlements reached with the help of a lawyer are generally higher than without. Traumatic brain injury attorneys understand your suffering but also understand how insurance companies work. You want someone who is not afraid to stand up against big insurance companies to help you maximize your compensation.
If you take the initial offer from the insurance company, you may not receive enough settlement funds to cover all of your medical needs. That means it might be too late for you to get full compensation because, when you sign the offer, you waive your right to bring any future claims. This is unfair to you and to your family, who may be faced with an extra financial burden following your accident.
To avoid this scenario, you can choose to work with a traumatic brain injury attorney with experience taking on the big insurance companies and looking out for your best interests. When you suffer a concussion, you should focus all of your effort and energy on your physical recovery and your well-being. By working with a concussion lawyer, you can let go of the legal stress and worry. Having legal representation can take the burden off your shoulders and give you the peace of mind you need.
Do not confuse the insurance company with your real advocate: your attorney. Choosing the right legal representation can make a difference in your ability to recover a fair amount of damages.
Don’t Miss Your Chance
In California,you only have two years from the date of your injury to file a traumatic brain injury claim against the at-fault party. Two years might seem like a long time, but it will quickly pass by when you realize that you’ll spend a good portion of that time dealing with your injuries.
Filing a traumatic brain injury claim is not a quick process, either. Your lawyer needs time to properly investigate the circumstances surrounding your accident to make sure the relevant parties are held accountable. While we understand you want to put this terrible experience behind you as quickly as possible, we also do not want to rush this and risk missing any steps.
That’s why you need to reach out to a trusted traumatic brain injury lawyer as soon as possible after your injury. While you focus on your physical recovery, your lawyer can begin the traumatic brain injury claims process ensuring that no time goes wasted.
Speak With a Traumatic Brain Injury Lawyer Today
Hiring a lawyer for any legal matter is important, especially a complex legal matter like a concussion traumatic brain injury claim. Because concussions require expert witnesses to describe your injuries, your lawyer should have experience dealing with concussion injuries. We may need to use expert witnesses, like doctors and surgeons, in our settlement negotiations to show how much you have suffered and how much you may continue to suffer.
Because it is hard to predict how severely a concussion will affect any person, the use of expert witnesses can help to make your case that you have an invisible injury, which was caused by another person, and it is that person who should bear the burden of your medical expenses and your lost wages.
You also want a lawyer experienced with taking traumatic brain injury claims to trial. While it is true that most traumatic brain injury claims settle out of court, you do not want to settle for less than what you need to get better. Your traumatic brain injury lawyer should endeavor to settle your claim for a fair amount, but prepare for an insurance company that refuses to negotiate with reason and get ready to take your case to trial to maximize your compensation.
If you or a loved one has suffered a concussion as a result of someone else’s negligence, you need to speak with a lawyer today to understand your legal rights and your path to recovery. Reach out today to determine your eligibility to seek compensation for your injuries.
Gomez Trial Attorneys
655 West Broadway, Suite 1700
San Diego, CA 92101
Phone: (619)-237-3490
