Brain injuries are unlike any other type of serious personal injury and can range from minor injuries to serious traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). Traumatic brain injuries can lead to a range of both short-and long-term problems.
If you or a loved one has a traumatic brain injury (TBI) in Smyrna, GA, you should contact our experienced Smyrna traumatic brain injury lawyers today. Don’t delay since TBIs are one of the most serious types of personal injuries that our lawyers see and they deserve prompt, professional legal attention right from the start.
Call our Smyrna personal injury lawyers today at 678-503-2780 to schedule your free, no-obligation consultation.
How Do I Know I Have a Brain Injury?
You can tell that you have a brain injury if any of the symptoms below appear suddenly or become worse over time, especially within the initial 24-hour-period after the injury, you need to see a medical professional on an emergency basis:
- Loss or change in consciousness anywhere from a couple of seconds to a couple of hours
- Seizures or convulsions
- Nausea and vomiting
- Clear fluids draining from the ears or nose
- Unequal dilation in the pupils of the eyes or double vision
- Decreased level of consciousness
- New neurological deficit, i.e. weakness of legs, arms, or face; slurred speech, loss of balance.
What Are Some of the Leading Causes of Traumatic Brain Injury?
Traumatic brain injuries are some of the hardest conditions to overcome. They occur when a head or neck injury impacts the brain. A TBI can be as simple as a concussion or as serious as a fatal head injury. Here are the leading causes of TBI:
- Traffic Accidents: Leading cause of TBI in young adults
- Falls: Leading cause of TBI in adults age 65 or older
- Child Abuse: Leading cause of TBI in children below age 4
- Sports Injuries: Especially high-contact sports such as mixed martial arts, boxing, football
- Slip and Fall Accident: Especially where the victim strikes their head on the ground
- Blast Injuries: caused by explosions
- Falling objects: Being struck by an object
- Violence: Violent acts.
What Are the Types of Brain Injuries?
Brain injuries are of the following types:
- Open Injury: It is where something such as a bullet or other instrument has penetrated the brain.
- Closed Injury: it is where the brain has been injured, but the skull isn’t penetrated, usually seen in car accidents and falls.
- Deceleration Injury: It is where the brain is slammed against the skull.
- Hypoxia: It is essentially a lack of oxygen, usually from a stroke or heart attack, but it can also take place during a water accident.
- Chemical/Toxic: It is where a harmful chemical, such as carbon monoxide, lead, or a pesticide, penetrates the brain.
What Are the Symptoms of a Traumatic Brain Injury?
The symptoms of a traumatic brain injury can be mild, moderate, or severe. One mild type of TBI is a concussion. While the effects of concussions are serious sometimes, the vast majority of people recover completely in time. Severe traumatic brain injuries can lead to serious physical and psychological symptoms, and sometimes even death.
Here are some of the most common symptoms of a traumatic brain injury:
- Seizures
- Depression
- Memory Loss
- Recurring Headaches
- Trouble Concentrating
- Fatigue
- Balance Problems
- Inability to Perform Everyday Tasks
- Emotional Outbursts
- Dizziness
- Sensitivity to Light or Noise
Why is it Important to See a Doctor After a Head Injury?
The full extent of the problem may not be completely clear immediately after the head injury just by looking, but may be revealed with a comprehensive medical evaluation and diagnostic testing. That’s why it is important for all head injuries to be treated seriously and have them assessed immediately by a doctor.
The diagnosis of a head injury requires both a physical examination and diagnostic tests. During the examination, the doctor obtains the patient’s complete medical history and asks how the injury occurred. Trauma to the head can lead to neurological problems that may require further medical attention.
Why Should I Hire a Traumatic Brain Injury Lawyer?
If you or a loved one suffered a traumatic brain injury in Smyrna, GA due to another person’s negligence, it is important that you seek medical attention without delay. You should then get in touch with the experienced Smyrna traumatic brain injury lawyers at Diaz & Gaeta who will do the following:
- Conduct a comprehensive review of your brain injury case
- Answer any questions you might have and outline the options available to you
- Thoroughly investigate your brain injury case
- Work directly with doctors and other medical professionals
- Negotiate with insurance companies
- Prepare and take your case to trial if settlement negotiations fail.
Our lawyers will take the worry and stress of taking legal action off your shoulders by handling the entire case from start to finish on your behalf. Call us today at 678-503-2780 to schedule your free, no-obligation consultation with our Smyrna traumatic brain injury lawyers.
Can Insurance Companies Obtain My Past Medical Records?
Insurance companies must first request you to sign a waiver to gain access to your past medical records. They cannot just look up the information without your permission. You should only sign the waiver for the release of your past medical records after consulting with a trusted Smyrna traumatic brain injury lawyer.
What Happens if the Insurance Company Refuses to Pay My Medical Bills?
If the insurance company refuses to pay for medical bills related to a TBI that you have suffered and may be continuing to suffer, then you can sue them for unpaid, overdue medical bills, medical mileage, attendant care, lost wages, and replacement services because your injuries have prevented you from returning to work.
What Compensation Can I Receive for a Brain Injury?
Brain injuries are incredibly expensive to treat. If you or a loved one suffered a brain injury due to another person’s reckless behavior or negligence, you have the legal right to seek financial compensation. The compensation can’t undo the injury or bring back the life you previously had, but it can cover your financial losses.
Financial compensation for a brain injury claim may include:
- Loss of the ability to work and earn a living
- Cost of specialized treatment
- Lifelong living assistance
- Lifelong mental suffering and anxiety
- Physical pain and suffering
- Burial costs in cases of wrongful death
- Medical bills (past and future)
At Diaz & Gaeta we can review the details of your TBI case and build a strong legal strategy to protect your rights and interests. Let us put our skills and resources to work for you to obtain the best results possible.
Are There Time Limits for Filing a TBI Claim in Georgia?
Yes. Like other personal injury claims, TBI claims in Georgia must be filed within a certain period of time after the injury occurs. For most injuries, this time period is 2 years. Brain injuries caused by medical malpractice or resulting in death may have different time limits. Still, the state of Georgia maintains a 2-year statute of limitations on all personal injury cases.
Let Our Smyrna Traumatic Brain Injury Lawyers Fight for You!
A traumatic brain injury can quickly turn your life upside down. Such injuries often lead to long-term problems that may plague an individual and his/her family for a lifetime, requiring costly therapy and care. Many people that have suffered a TBI are often unsure of what to do.
If you or a loved one has suffered a brain or head injury in Smyrna, GA, you need to get the appropriate legal guidance quickly. Call us today at Diaz & Gaeta at 678-503-2780 to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation and case evaluation with our experienced Smyrna traumatic brain injury lawyers.
