If you are one of the two million people each year that has suffered a traumatic brain injury, then you, and your loved ones, have undoubtedly been profoundly affected by the trauma. Sadly, over 50,000 people die each year as a result of a traumatic brain injury. Another 300,000 suffer brain injuries that are serious enough to require hospitalization with one-third of those suffering lasting effects of the brain injury. The causes of traumatic brain injuries are numerous, ranging from work related injuries to assaults. Car accident injuries top the list by accounting for almost one-third of all traumatic brain injuries. Regardless of the cause, a traumatic brain injury can be financially devastating as well as emotionally exhausting for the victim and those caring for her. If you have been the victim of a traumatic brain injury, you should seek the advice and counsel of an experienced brain injury lawyer immediately. You should also understand what to expect from your brain injury lawyer once you have chosen one.
A brain injury lawyer is a skilled lawyer who has experience working with victims of brain injuries. Most brain injury cases fall under the purview of tort law. Tort law is the area of the law that deals with injuries caused by negligence. Your brain injury lawyer will evaluate your case at your first meeting to determine whether someone was negligent and whether that negligence was responsible for your injuries. In order to recover financial compensation for your injuries your brain injury lawyer must be able to prove that another party or entity was negligent, or at fault, in the accident that caused your injury.
Once your brain injury lawyer has made a preliminary determination that your injuries were caused by someone else’s negligence, then he will turn his attention to making sure you are receiving the medical attention and treatment you need. Brain injuries can frequently require months or years of medical care. In many cases, a brain injury victim will suffer the effects of a brain injury for the rest of his life and may require intermittent treatment for life. As a result, it is critical that the victim receive expert medical care to determine the extent of his injuries. Compensation for a brain injury should include compensation for treatment that is likely to be needed for the life of the victim – not just compensation for medical treatment to date. For this reason, your brain injury lawyer will work closely with your treating physicians to make sure you have a prognosis that includes future medical treatment if it will be needed.
Your brain injury lawyer will also work to determine the value of your non-economic injuries. These damages, in legal terms, are more difficult to quantify as they include such things as emotional distress, pain, suffering and humiliation. They are, however, compensable and can contribute significantly to the value of a brain injury case. If your brain injury is likely to require long-term medical care then it is also likely that the emotional injuries associated with the injury will be significant. An experienced brain injury lawyer knows how to properly evaluate and value non-economic damages.
If you have suffered a traumatic brain injury, seek the advice and counsel of an experienced brain injury lawyer as soon as possible to determine what legal options you may have. For a free and detailed evaluation with a brain injury lawyer at Ledger & Associates, please call 1-800-300-0001 or visit the firm’s website for more information at www.ledgerlaw.com.
