Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Lawyer in Harrisonburg VA
A traumatic brain injury can have life-altering consequences for victims and those they love. A brain injury can lead to difficulty maintaining employment, performing daily tasks, or living independently.
If you or someone you love has suffered a traumatic brain injury due to someone else’s negligent actions in Harrisonburg, you may be facing significant medical costs. You may have a right to seek compensation by filing a personal injury claim if someone else caused the injury. No amount of money can reverse the effects of severe head trauma. But an insurance settlement or court award can help you maintain financial stability and relieve the burden of medical debt you face as a brain injury survivor.
To learn more, contact a Harrisonburg brain injury lawyer at Kendall Law Firm today. We are ready to review your situation and help you understand your legal options. Call us at (866) 590-9773 or fill out our online contact form for a free initial consultation.
What Is a Traumatic Brain Injury?
A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is any injury that causes damage to the brain. Many brain injuries result from violent blows, bumps, or jolts to the head as a result of motor vehicle crashes or falls.
Types of Traumatic Brain Injuries
The Harrisonburg attorneys at Kendall Law Firm handle personal injury cases involving many types of traumatic brain injuries:
- Concussions – A concussion is a mild brain injury. It is the most common type of brain injury. A concussion can result from blunt force trauma to the head or violent shaking of the head. A concussion may result in a brief loss of consciousness.
- Cerebral edema – A cerebral edema occurs when excess fluid becomes trapped in the brain and causes swelling. This swelling can result in intracranial pressure (ICP), which may damage brain cells and be life-threatening if left untreated.
- Cerebral hemorrhage – Cerebral hemorrhaging occurs when a ruptured artery releases blood directly into the brain’s soft tissue. A cerebral hemorrhage is a type of stroke characterized by an interruption in the brain’s oxygen supply.
- Coup-contrecoup injuries – A coup-contrecoup injury occurs when a violent blow to one side of the head causes the brain to bounce off the opposite inner wall of the skull, resulting in matching injuries on both sides of the brain.
- Diffuse axonal injuries – A diffuse axonal injury (DAI) occurs when a violent impact causes the brain to rotate rapidly within the skull, resulting in a shearing effect that damages nerve fibers called axons. The damage can disrupt the transmission of nerve signals. Diffuse axonal injuries frequently result in loss of consciousness.
- Penetrating injuries – A penetrating TBI occurs when the skull is fractured or penetrated. A gunshot wound is an example of a penetrating head injury. Penetrating TBIs are among the most devastating brain injuries and are likely to result in permanent brain damage.
- Hypoxic-anoxic brain injuries – A hypoxic injury occurs when the brain does not receive an adequate supply of oxygen. An anoxic injury occurs when the brain receives no oxygen. Long-term oxygen deprivation can rapidly result in permanent brain damage.
- Infections and toxic exposure – Cerebral infections are especially common when open or penetrating injuries allow bacteria to enter the brain.
Common Types of Brain Injury Cases
People of any age may sustain a traumatic brain injury. Some common causes of brain injury cases in Harrisonburg include:
- Car accidents
- Truck accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Bicycle accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- Workplace accidents
- Dog bites and animal attacks
- Unsafe premises accidents
- Slip and fall accidents
- Unsafe product accidents
- Dangerous drugs
- Medical malpractice
- Nursing home abuse
How Do You Prove You Have a TBI?
A person who sustains a moderate or severe brain injury may require lifelong medical care. As a result, TBI claims tend to be costly claims. An insurance company may dispute liability or attempt to minimize the payment of a brain injury claim.
A knowledgeable Harrisonburg brain injury lawyer at Kendall Law Firm can stand up for your rights and submit evidence to support your claim such as:
- Diagnostic records from emergency room doctors or neurologists
- Images of the injury from MRI tests or CT scans
- Cognitive evaluation records from neuropsychologists or speech pathologists
Determining Whether Negligence Led to a Traumatic Brain Injury
Not every brain injury occurs as a result of negligence. However, if someone else’s reckless or careless behavior contributed to the incident that led to your injury, an experienced Harrisonburg personal injury attorney can help you hold those at fault financially responsible.
Common types of negligence and misconduct that can lead to a traumatic brain injury include:
- Driving unsafely or recklessly
- Drunk driving
- Improperly supervising children near pools
- Assaulting an individual using a blunt-force object
- Failing to clean up spills or address safety hazards in a retail store in a timely fashion
Whether you were injured in a motor vehicle collision or an accidental slip and fall, you can use the following types of evidence to demonstrate the other party’s negligence:
- Statements from eyewitnesses who saw the incident occur
- Photographs of the injury or the scene where the incident happened
- Video footage of the incident, if a camera recorded it
- Police crash reports, work injury reports, or other documentation of the incident
- Maintenance records from a business or apartment complex
How Much Compensation Can You Get for a Traumatic Brain Injury?
Depending on the circumstances, you may be entitled to claim compensation for the following types of losses in a traumatic brain injury claim:
- Past and future medical bills
- Lost wages from missed time at work
- Projected losses in future earning potential
- Pain, suffering, and lost quality of life
Why Talk to a Harrisonburg Brain Injury Attorney?
If you or someone close to you has suffered a brain injury in Harrisonburg, VA, an injury lawyer at Kendall Law Firm can help you by:
- Discussing your legal options during the initial consultation
- Conducting an independent investigation into the cause of the injury
- Gathering evidence to support your claim
- Determining who should be held financially liable for your losses
- Managing important filing deadlines on your behalf
- Communicating with insurance companies and other parties on your behalf
- Negotiating aggressively to maximize your compensation
- Representing you in court, if litigation is necessary
Contact Kendall Law Firm Today
If you or a loved one has suffered a significant head injury and you believe someone else was at fault, you need trusted legal guidance. An experienced Harrisonburg brain injury lawyer at Kendall Law Firm can help you understand the appropriate steps to take. We focus on helping injured people who have been harmed by others’ negligence. Call us at (866) 590-9773 or contact us online to get started with your free initial case review.