A traumatic brain injury can be among the most severe injuries you can suffer in Georgia, as it affects every aspect of your life. Severe head trauma can cause memory problems, personality changes, impaired movement, and more, leading to high medical bills and a sharp drop in your quality of life. Without legal help for a brain injury case, you might not recover the money you need to take care of yourself and pay your bills.
The Albany, GA, brain injury lawyers at Parker Trial Law understand the serious consequences of brain damage and can provide the aggressive legal representation you need to recover fair compensation. Unlike many Albany, GA, brain injury attorneys, we focus on taking cases to trial to hold whoever caused your head injury liable.
Our brain injury law firm has extensive experience with high-stakes cases in both state and federal courts. You can trust us to protect your rights to the full extent of the law. Call Parker Trial Law today or complete our contact form for a free, no-obligation consultation.
What a Traumatic Brain Injury Attorney in Albany, GA, Can Do
You have enough to worry about after sustaining a traumatic brain injury in Albany without the stress and hassle of a brain injury claim. One major benefit of hiring a brain injury lawyer in Albany, GA, is that they can handle all the legal work in your case as you focus on healing.
Your brain injury lawyer can investigate the incident to identify who’s liable for your injuries, use your medical records and other evidence to document your losses, and negotiate with the insurance companies on your behalf. A Georgia brain injury attorney can also prepare your claim for trial in case the liable parties won’t agree to a fair settlement.
Another critical benefit of hiring an Albany, GA, brain injury attorney is that they can help make sure your compensation covers all your losses. While it’s always important to consider your future needs in a personal injury case, it’s particularly crucial in a brain injury lawsuit because of the permanent effects many brain injuries cause. A lawyer can review any offers you receive to determine whether your brain injury compensation is full and fair.
What Compensation Can I Pursue for a Traumatic Brain Injury?
One essential reason to hire a lawyer after sustaining a traumatic brain injury is to maximize your potential compensation. Your attorney can help you pursue money for the long-term and short-term impacts of a brain injury. You could be entitled to compensation for:
- Your current medical expenses
- The cost of future treatments and rehabilitation you might need
- The cost of long-term home health care
- Renovations to your home or vehicle to accommodate your disability
- Lost income
- Reduced future earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- The cost to repair or replace any of your personal property that was damaged in the accident
How Long Do I Have to File a Traumatic Brain Injury Lawsuit in Georgia?
Georgia law gives you two years from the date you sustained a traumatic brain injury to file a lawsuit. If you miss this deadline, you lose your right to compensation, so make sure you talk to an attorney immediately. They can take steps on your behalf to preserve your legal rights.
What Are the Types of Traumatic Brain Injuries?
Brain injuries come in many forms, and some common types of brain injuries in Albany include:
- Concussion – While a concussion is a comparatively mild brain injury, it can still cause significant health problems. Concussions are usually the result of a hard jolt or blow to the head, and common symptoms include a temporary loss of consciousness, memory problems, and confusion.
- Contusions – Contusions are bruises that form on brain tissue when the brain hits the skull after a hard blow or sudden change in momentum. Short-term symptoms of contusions include swelling and bleeding, and long-term brain damage can occur without rapid medical treatments.
- Penetration Injuries – When a bullet or other object breaks through the skull, it can penetrate brain tissue and cause severe damage. Additional harm can occur due to skull fragments cutting through brain tissue. Penetration injuries are often fatal without immediate medical treatment.
- Diffuse Axonal Injuries – If the brain moves rapidly from side to side within the skull, nerve fibers within the brain can stretch and tear. Diffuse axonal injuries often lead to long-term injuries for victims.
- Coup-Contrecoup Injuries – When a hard blow causes the brain to strike one side of the skull, it can bounce back and sustain another blow when it hits the opposite side. These coup-contrecoup injuries are particularly dangerous because victims may sustain severe brain damage at both spots where the brain hits the skull.
What Are Common Causes of Brain Injuries in Georgia?
Any accident can lead to a brain injury, but some common causes of brain injuries in Albany, GA, include:
- Motor Vehicle Accidents – A car or truck accident can easily cause a traumatic brain injury if a driver or passenger hits their head on a window, the dashboard, the steering wheel, or any other part of the car’s interior. Similarly, motorcycle riders, cyclists, and pedestrians can sustain severe head injuries in a crash because they have less protection than people in enclosed vehicles. These vulnerable road users may sustain a head injury from hitting their head on the ground or another object during or after a collision.
- Slip-and-Fall/Trip-and-Fall Accidents – A sudden slip or trip can easily cause a brain injury if someone hits their head hard on the ground or something nearby while falling. Georgia law requires property owners to fix hazards or warn visitors that they exist. Failure to do so can make them liable when accidents occur on their premises.
- Workplace Accidents – Georgia workers who get hit by falling objects or who fall and hit their heads can sustain traumatic brain injuries.
- Sports Accidents – People who play contact sports like football, hockey, and soccer may suffer a traumatic brain after a hard blow to the head. Whether the player hits their head on the ground or another player’s body, brain damage can result.
- Violence – Physical assaults and gunshot wounds can cause severe or even fatal brain injuries. Those who commit acts of violence may be liable in civil court in addition to facing criminal charges for their actions.
What Are Symptoms of a Traumatic Brain Injury?
Recognizing the symptoms of a traumatic brain injury is crucial, as early medical intervention is crucial to minimizing the long-term effects of these injuries. Common signs and symptoms of traumatic brain injuries include:
- Persistent headaches
- Unexplained drowsiness or fatigue
- Persistent vomiting or nausea
- Dizziness/loss of balance
- Difficulty falling asleep or sleeping more than usual
- Difficulty speaking
- Sensory problems (ringing in the ears, blurred vision, changes in your ability to smell, bad taste in the mouth, etc.)
- Sensitivity to sound or light
- Difficult concentrating or remembering things
- Unexplained mood changes
- Anxiety and depression
- Being confused, dazed, or disoriented after a blow to the head
- Losing consciousness for a few seconds to a few minutes
- Seizures or compulsions
- Dilated pupils (one or both eyes)
- Loss of coordination
- Weakness or numbness in the fingers or toes
- Clear fluid draining from the ears or nose
What Are the Long-Term Impacts of a Brain Injury?
The long-term effects of a traumatic brain injury are often substantial and may include:
Permanent Cognitive Changes
It is often difficult or impossible to treat the mental changes that come with a traumatic brain injury. These changes can include memory problems, changes in personality, mood swings, difficulty concentrating, and issues with movement or coordination.
Long-Term Medical and Rehabilitation Expenses
It can take years to heal from a traumatic brain injury, and many people with these injuries never fully recover. Between the cost of hospital stays, prescription drugs, a large care team, and the cost of in-home help, people with brain injuries may incur thousands of dollars in medical bills every year for the rest of their lives.
Inability to Work
The effects of a traumatic brain injury can keep patients from working, sometimes for the rest of their lives. Without the income from a job, it’s challenging for people with brain injuries to pay their medical bills and meet their daily needs.
Social Isolation
The mental and physical effects of a traumatic brain injury can leave people unable to leave their homes, preventing them from spending time with friends and family. This isolation can lead to a sharp drop in people’s quality of life.
What Treatment Is There for a Traumatic Brain Injury?
Immediate treatment for a traumatic brain injury often focuses on relieving potentially life-threatening issues like unsafe pressure on the brain. Once the patient is stable, treatment often focuses on helping them adjust to the limitations that come with a traumatic brain injury. While some people regain full brain function after a concussion or other mild brain injury, more severe injuries could have permanent side effects. Physical therapy, counseling, medication, and other treatments can help people with brain injuries cope with their new limitations, though they often need in-home help with daily tasks.
