Traumatic Brain Injury Attorneys in Auburn, Alabama

Although they might not be immediately apparent, traumatic brain injuries can be some of the most life-changing and severe injuries that accident victims suffer. As the control center for the body, the brain is responsible for everything your body is capable of doing. Damage to specific parts of the brain can leave you unable to verbalize, walk, control your emotions, eat unassisted, or otherwise perform daily activities.

When someone else’s negligence leaves you with a traumatic brain injury, it can be especially difficult to cope with. Our team can help you fight for the compensation you deserve. Call Haygood, Cleveland, Pierce, Thompson & Short at 334-821-3892 to set up a consultation.

Types of Traumatic Brain Injuries

Traumatic brain injuries can occur at the time of impact (primary) or later on as a result of the impact (secondary). For example, if you get hit by a car and hit your head on the pavement, the immediate changes to your brain caused by the impact are caused by a primary TBI. If you suffer further loss of brain tissue days or weeks later because of the injury, that is considered a secondary injury.

These injuries are typically categorized as closed or penetrating. Closed injuries can be more difficult to detect, since the outside of the head may appear healthy. Closed traumatic brain injuries can occur because of car accidents or falls. Shaken baby syndrome is another type of closed injury.

Penetrating brain injuries are those that break through the skull and cause direct exposure of the brain. These can be particularly dangerous because the brain is at serious risk of infection when it is exposed. Penetrating injuries often occur because of gun shots, stabbings, and animal attacks.

TBI Symptoms

One of the difficulties in identifying a traumatic brain injury is that so many symptoms can be explained away. For example, few people are going to think that a mild headache is a sign of a TBI—but it can be. That’s why it is crucial to seek medical attention immediately after a fall or accident. They can look for signs of traumatic brain injuries and help you get the care you need.

Some common TBI symptoms include:

• Disorientation and confusion
• Nausea and vomiting
• Difficulty forming new memories or recalling information
• Headaches
• Dizziness or fainting spells
• Difficulty speaking
• Poor vision
• Ringing sound in the ears
• Difficulty sleeping or sleeping too much
• Sudden changes in mood, behavior, or speech patterns
• Lashing out at people unexpectedly

Proving Liability and Damages in an Auburn TBI Case

If you do suffer a traumatic brain injury, you will need to work with a personal injury attorney to determine liability and prove who caused your injuries. This involves:

• Showing that the other party had a duty of care—for example, a driver on the road automatically has a duty of care to everyone else on the road, so they are expected to drive safely and avoid hurting others.
• Demonstrating that the other party violated that duty.
• Linking that negligence to the accident.
• Tying the accident to your injuries.

Evidence is essential. Whether you sustained your injury through a fall, car collision, or other type of accident, gather all the evidence you can. This might include contact information for witnesses, pictures of the scene, pictures of your injuries, an accident report form, a police report, and medical reports.

You’ll also find that evidence is important when it comes to proving damages. To recover compensation for an injury, you have to prove your losses. This might mean documenting days you spend away from work, keeping track of tasks you are unable to complete at home, keeping copies of medical bills, and otherwise documenting how your injuries have affected your life.

The Importance of Medical Care

Regardless of the type of TBI you have or how it occurred, prompt medical care is essential. Not only is it crucial for your health and wellbeing, it is important for your personal injury case. The longer you wait to seek medical attention after an accident, the easier it is for the other party to claim that your injuries could have happened between the accident and your checkup.

Furthermore, the prognosis for a traumatic brain injury often depends heavily on how quickly you get care. The brain often responds well to changes and adapts quickly, but only in the proper conditions. By going to a doctor right away after an accident, you give yourself the best chance of a full recovery.

Why You Need an Attorney for a Traumatic Brain Injury Case in Auburn, AL

Accident victims sometimes wonder if they truly need an attorney, especially if the other party’s insurance company is beating down their door less than a day after the accident. People often take this to mean that they have the upper hand in negotiations and that they don’t need an attorney’s assistance.

Unfortunately, it is very difficult to outmaneuver an insurance company. It can be good news if they reach out to you promptly after an accident. It shows that they know that their client is at fault, and they want to get you to sign a liability waiver as fast as possible—definitely before you realize the full extent of your injuries. This doesn’t mean, however, that you’ll be able to talk them into a full and fair settlement.

Insurance companies are out to make a profit, so no matter how nice your adjuster seems to be, your wellbeing is not their top concern. They know exactly what it takes to get an individual to buckle, take a low settlement, and sign a liability waiver. Without an attorney, you have little chance of escaping this pressure.

Hiring an attorney gives you a lot more choices. They can properly assess your claim and its financial value, take over negotiations with the insurance company, and give you more time to recuperate. Until you’ve fully assessed your injuries and accident, it’s difficult to know how much money truly represents a fair settlement. You deserve an attorney whose only goal is to get you what you deserve.

Contact Haygood, Cleveland, Pierce, Thompson & Short to Get Started

If you have sustained a traumatic brain injury because of someone else’s negligence, we can help you fight for the compensation you’re owed. Take the first step now by calling Haygood, Cleveland, Pierce, Thompson & Short at 334-821-3892 or getting in touch with our team online.