Traumatic Brain Injury Attorney

A men with doctor having a head problem

Traumatic Brain Injury Attorneys

In 2010, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention revealed 2.5 million people experienced some type of traumatic brain injury (TBI) in the United States.

Even mild traumatic brain injuries can lead to serious medical bills, and severe TBIs can result in permanent disability or even death. While some TBIs are the result of unfortunate accidents, others are the result of another’s negligence or even malice. In these cases, it’s imperative to contact a traumatic brain injury attorney as soon as possible.

Retain Traumatic Brain Injury Lawyer

A traumatic brain injury can have lifelong effects, even with intensive treatments. If you’ve recently sustained a brain injury, speak to an experienced lawyer immediately. The costs associated with TBIs are tremendous and can put you and your family into massive debt.

Call Susan E. Loggans & Associates to get a dedicated and skilled personal injury attorney on your case. Our lawyers understand that juggling legal issues while recovering is overwhelming. We want to help you get the compensation you deserve through quality legal service. Contact us at (312) 588-9773 to set up a free case review today.

Our firm operates on a contingency-fee basis, meaning that you don’t pay us a cent unless you receive a monetary award in your case.

Overview of Chicago Traumatic Brain Injury Lawyer

Recognizing a Traumatic Brain Injury
Filing Traumatic Brain Injury Cases
What to Do After Experiencing Brain Trauma
Find the Right Traumatic Brain Injury Attorney

Recognizing a Traumatic Brain Injury

Common Causes of Brain Injuries

Brain injuries normally occur because of external head trauma, such as a blow to the head (non-penetrating TBI/closed head injury) or an object piercing the skull (penetrating TBI).

According to the CDC, common causes of brain injuries include:

  • Assault
  • Falls
  • Sports accidents
  • Motor vehicle accidents, including motorcycle accidents

Types of Brain Injuries

Besides closed head injuries and penetrating head injuries, TBIs can further be divided into the following categories:

  • Primary TBIs, which occur right as the head is injured, and
  • Secondary TBIs, which evolve after the initial injury, resulting in further damage to brain tissue.

Brain injuries can range from mild to severe. Concussions are mild TBIs, while severe TBIs can include significant memory loss, permanent brain damage, and loss of consciousness for more than 24 hours.

Even if an injury looks and feels mild, it’s still important to seek medical attention after any accident involving the head. Medical professionals can monitor the situation to ensure there is no hidden or worsening damage.

Common Signs of Head Injuries

Never gamble with your health after a head injury. The following brain injury symptoms warrant immediate medical attention:

  • Vomiting
  • Lethargy
  • Loss of consciousness
  • Dilated pupils
  • Headaches
  • Coma
  • Paralysis
  • Confusion
  • Body tingling or numbness
  • Changes in vision
  • Speech issues
  • Difficulty swallowing
  • Slow pulse (bradycardia)
  • Droopy eyelids or facial features
  • Dizziness and balance issues
  • Inappropriate emotional responses
  • Mood swings or personality changes
  • Ringing in the ears (tinnitus) or changes in hearing
  • Incontinence
  • Slow breathing rate (bradypnea) or other breathing issues
  • Cognitive impairment
  • Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) coming through the nose (CSF rhinorrhea)
  • Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) coming through the ears (CSF otorrhea)

Filing Traumatic Brain Injury Cases

The State of Illinois bases personal injury cases on the grounds of negligence. “Negligence” means someone acting carelessly, recklessly, or failing to act at all in a serious situation. People who fail to act in a reasonable and prudent manner are liable for any damages caused by their failure of care.

What counts as negligent? Understanding justifiable and substantial risk and taking actions to avoid it makes a person reasonable. Being grossly unaware or acting recklessly despite the risk would make a person negligent.

For example, if you sustained a traumatic brain injury because a speeding car hit you at a cross walk, then the driver of the car would be considered negligent. He or she should have been aware of the cross walk and the possibility of someone crossing it, yet chose to speed anyway.

What does this mean for your TBI case? If your brain injury was a result of someone’s carelessness, then you’re entitled to file a claim for damages. As the plaintiff, you must file the claim and notify the person who injured you, the defendant.

Burden of Evidence

If your brain injury claim is contested, you move on with the legal process. You must collect evidence surrounding your injury and prove to the court that:

  • The defendant was required to uphold a duty of care;
  • They knowingly or intentionally breached this duty;
  • You were injured because of their actions; and
  • You suffered as a result of the injury.

If you sway the court, then you will be granted a monetary award. The award will cover damages related to your TBI. Damages refer to any losses you’ve sustained because of the injury, including emotional ones like pain and suffering.

Head Injury Damages

The following are some of the damages that your settlement may cover:

  • Medical expenses
  • Vehicular repairs
  • Lost wages
  • Loss of future earnings
  • Rehabilitation costs
  • Counseling
  • Loss of consortium
  • Pain and suffering
  • Loss of quality of life

What to Do After Experiencing Brain Trauma

Brain injury victims who believe that their serious injury is the result of someone else’s negligence or malice is advised to:

  • Collect video or photo evidence of the accident or of the injury itself, if possible.
  • Document all medical expenses and other financial burdens related to the injury.
  • Keep non-financial records of medical treatment.
  • Not talk to insurance companies until you retain a lawyer.
  • Seek the help of an experienced law firm who can help you secure a winning verdict.
  • Not delay in contacting an attorney to avoid statute of limitations issues.

Find the Right Traumatic Brain Injury Attorney with Susan E. Loggans & Associates

Have you or a loved one sustained a head injury? You may be entitled to compensation. Learn more now by contacting the experienced traumatic brain injury attorneys at Susan E. Loggans & Associates. We can help you recover by holding the negligent party accountable.

Call us now at (312) 588-9773 or fill out our online contact form below to set up a free case evaluation.