Denver Traumatic Brain Injury Attorney
A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is any injury that causes damage to the head and brain. These injuries are very common in car accidents, contact sports, combat, and dangerous workplaces. Depending on the severity of a TBI, a victim stands to suffer long-term complications like paralysis, neurological disorders, loss of function, speech complications, and many other possible medical conditions.
At Bryan & Terrill Law, our team of Denver personal injury lawyers are committed to maximizing our clients’ recovery in personal injury claims. A TBI is likely to entail significant medical expenses, ongoing treatments, lost income, and lost quality of life. TBI victims and their families should know how to approach a personal injury lawsuit for a TBI.
Types of TBIs and Their Effects
Some of the most common TBIs include:
- Penetrating wounds, when a foreign object penetrates the head and/or brain. This can happen in a car accident or as a result of interpersonal violence involving gunshots or stabbing weapons.
- Diffuse axonal wounds, or injuries caused by violent twisting of the head.
- Oxygen deprivation. Cutting off blood and oxygen flow to the brain can cause brain damage very quickly.
- Concussions. These are very common head injuries in contact sports like ice hockey and football, and often lead to neurological complications and an increased susceptibility to future concussions.
Any of these injuries can cause devastating effects, including permanent loss of motor function, impaired speech and language capabilities, personality changes, mood disorders, susceptibility to headaches and migraines, and sensory problems. Most people who suffer TBIs require extensive recovery and ongoing medical treatment.
Suing for a TBI in Denver, CO
If another person or party causes a TBI, the injured party can secure compensation for his or her losses through a personal injury claim. Success in the claim will hinge on the plaintiff’s ability to prove the defendant was negligent, and his or her negligence directly caused the plaintiff’s TBI. If a TBI prevents a victim from representing his or her own interests in court (for example, a TBI that leads to a comatose or vegetative state), a close relative such as a spouse, parent, or adult child may need to file a personal injury claim on behalf of the victim.
Victims of TBIs can secure several types of compensation, depending on how the injury occurred. Compensation in most personal injury claims for TBIs includes:
- Medical expenses. Most TBIs require immediate medical care and ongoing care. Plaintiffs can sue for the cost of ambulance or air lift transportation, emergency room fees, hospital bills, prescription medication costs, and any other costs for necessary ongoing treatment.
- Pain and suffering. A judge will hear expert witness testimony and consider the extent of a plaintiff’s injuries when awarding pain and suffering damages. These damages compensate victims for their physical pain, mental anguish, and emotional suffering after an injury. For TBI victims, this could include lost ability to enjoy life, the psychological stress of enduring permanent disability, and the physical pain caused by the injuries.
- Lost income. A TBI may prevent a victim from working for a long time, or may prohibit the victim from ever working again. The victim can sue for the wages lost while away from work or the wages he or she would have reasonably expected to earn in the future.
- Property damage. If the incident that caused the victim’s TBI also led to damage of the victim’s property, the victim can sue for the costs of repairing or replacing that property.
TBI cases are often complex and can involve several defendants. Injured TBI victims need reliable, competent legal representation to handle their claims. If you need legal assistance for a TBI-related issue in the Denver area, reach out to the team at Bryan & Terrill to schedule a consultation. We’ll review the details of your case and let you know what kind of compensation you could expect from a lawsuit.