Motor Vehicle Accidents the Main Cause of Traumatic Brain Injuries

There are some alarming statistics in the U.S. in relation to brain injuries. Every 12 seconds someone somewhere in the country has been unfortunate enough to suffer a brain injury. Minor brain injuries could result from a blow to the head and may not necessarily be permanent, while traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are far more serious and debilitating. Fifty percent of these injuries occur as a result of motor vehicle accidents. Of those that are hospitalized, at least half have been involved in a car accident. The other causes are from actions that have taken place while playing contact sports like football or baseball and in unexpected slips and falls when a victim hits his or head on a hard object.

If you are suffering from TBI you are most likely facing high medical bills and your condition will probably not allow you to return to work until you have fully recovered. Even after a long period of rest you may still be affected by TBI as the damage done affects moods, cognitive ability, motor skills and behavior. You may not be able to concentrate sufficiently to drive your car or ever return to work because you need round the clock care, even to perform the simplest of tasks.

Rehabilitation for a TBI

The sort of treatment given for a TBI will depend on its severity but it normally takes place in a hospital in its outpatient department, or at a specialized rehabilitation that treats TBI victims. The sorts of therapies include:

• Speech and language therapy when a victim has damaged the part in the brain responsible for speech and language and needs help restoring their ability to write and speak properly again.
• Cognitive therapy is used to improve the brain’s functioning and independence after a TBI.
• Vocational and occupational therapy offer assistance so that TBI victims can relearn their occupations enabling them to return to work.

You May be Entitled to File a Personal Injury Claim

Rehabilitation is one method used to help victims of TBI but all this costs money. If you are a victim of a car accident and the accident was not your fault and you have suffered a TBI you will have already been presented with medical bills and will have been unable to return to work as a result of your injury. You may even have been depending on family to care for you.

If you are able to prove that the car accident was not your fault, you may be entitled to file a personal injury compensation claim to recover damages for the financial hardship you have suffered. In most states you are legally entitled to file such a claim as long as you can prove that you had no part to play in the accident and the TBI you have received.

Process for Filing a Personal Injury Claim for TBI

You will need to gather any evidence such as eye witness reports and police reports of the car accident. You will also need to provide a medical report which covers the amount of treatment you have received and how long you will need to be treated. The next step is to find a personal injury attorney to file the claim on your behalf. An experienced attorney will be able to confirm your eligibility to file a claim and will not take up your case if there is no chance of you receiving a settlement.

One of the most difficult parts of filing a personal injury claim is the attitude of the insurer of the person found to be responsible for your injuries. Insurers never want to hand over money, even if you are entitled to it. It needs a persistent personal injury attorney to undertake negotiations so that you get the right amount to cover your financial hardship now and if necessary into the future until full recovery has been completed.

The Way a Personal Injury attorney Works

Most attorneys work on a contingency fee basis and offer free consultations. If this is the case, you don’t pay anything until you have received your payment. This means all accident victims have the chance to file a claim. Each will include money to cover all medical expenses and loss of income as well as an amount for pain and suffering.  In cases where the defendant has been reckless or negligent, punitive damages can also be included in the claim.