Alabama Brain Injury Attorneys

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports that as many as 5.3 million people in the United States are currently living with a traumatic brain injury (TBI). Approximately 2.5 million people suffer from a brain injury each year, which could lead to lasting disability or even death.

If you believe that you’ve suffered from a traumatic brain injury or have lost a loved one to a brain injury in an accident, our experience with these types of injuries can help you collect the compensation that you deserve. The Alabama brain injury attorneys at McPhillips, Shinbaum, LLP have extensive experience representing clients in these serious cases.

What is a Traumatic Brain Injury?

A traumatic brain injury is often also referred to as a “head trauma,” “head injury,” or “brain injury.” This occurs when there is a blow, penetration, shake, or bump to the head that creates a disruption in the brain’s normal functioning. The most common causes of traumatic brain injury include:

• Concussion – A concussion is the most common type of TBI. This is caused by a violent shaking of the brain when there is a blow to the head. Repeated concussions (such as the kind sustained in sports) can lead to permanent brain damage.
• Closed head injury – A concussion is a closed head injury, but other closed-head injuries can lead to a For example, whiplash can cause a closed head injury. Other accidents could result in closed head skull fractures, pressure, or bleeding in the brain.
• Acquired brain injury – An acquired brain injury isn’t the result of trauma but rather the deprivation of oxygen to the brain. This can happen with medication overdoses, exposure to toxic chemicals, and near-drowning incidents.

Common Causes of Traumatic Brain Injury

The human body is resilient, but our heads were only meant to take so much before they suffer injury. Some of the most common causes of traumatic brain injury are:

• Falls – Falls account for 40% of the TBI’s in the United States.
• Struck by an object ­– Whether it is a work-related injury or a sports injury, being struck in the head by an object is the second most common way that people suffer brain injuries.
• Motor vehicle accidents – Just 14% of all TBIs come from motor vehicle accidents, but MVAs are the cause of the most (26%) TBI-related deaths.
• Assaults ­- Assaults account for one in ten of all TBIs in the U.S., some a result of domestic or child abuse cases.

Groups at Risk for Brain Injuries

Certain groups have a higher risk of suffering from a TBI than others. In the U.S., males, young children, and older adults have the highest risk for a traumatic brain injury. Emergency department visits are highest for children aged 0-4. Teens and young adults have the highest rates of vehicle accident-related TBIs. The highest rates of TBI-related hospitalizations and death are among adults aged 75 and up.

Traumatic Brain Injury Signs and Symptoms

Traumatic brain injury symptoms could appear suddenly or could appear slowly over time. Symptoms vary by case and could depend on the person’s overall health. Common symptoms of a brain injury include:

• Headaches
• Loss of concentration
• Memory loss
• Dizziness
• Fatigue
• Irritability or mood changes
• Loss of cognition
• Blurred vision
• Nausea

Some TBI victims lose consciousness when they are struck on the head, but this doesn’t happen in every case. In fact, you can have a very severe traumatic brain injury without losing consciousness. Other victims can suffer a minor blow to the head and either wind up in an irreversible coma or die.

What to Do If You Suspect a Brain Injury

If you suspect that you or a loved one has sustained a traumatic brain injury from an accident, the first thing you should do is seek proper medical care. Even if you believe that the accident was minor and you don’t observe any injury to the head, something of this nature can be incredibly serious. In some cases, the symptoms of a brain injury will take time to appear, so not feeling pain or discomfort directly after an accident doesn’t mean that you haven’t suffered from an injury.

Treatment and Care for Traumatic Brain Injuries

Brain injuries are sometimes complicated to diagnose, so a physician might use several different tests to determine whether or not a TBI has occurred. Among those are:

• Imaging tests – such as CT and MRI scans which can show obvious injury to the brain
• Glasgow Coma Scale Test – can measure a patient’s ability to follow simple directions to determine injury severity
• Interviews with patient and loved ones – interviews about symptoms and the nature of the accident can help determine the type and severity of the injury.

In some cases, a brain injury will heal in a short time with rest and medication. Brain injuries are often longer-lasting, however, and some have permanent effects. Patients with serious brain injuries may need inpatient care, surgery, and rehabilitation programs to regain speech and other pre-injury functions.

Damages in a Traumatic Brain Injury Case

The cost of medical care alone for a traumatic brain injury can run into the hundreds of thousands and sometimes millions of dollars for lifetime care. A severe injury like traumatic brain injuries probably won’t allow you to return to your former occupation, so you may suffer from a lifetime of lost wages.

If you were injured in an accident that was caused by someone else, you are entitled to collect for the costs you incur and other damages. We understand that these cases affect not only the injured victim but families and loved ones as well. When you seek recovery from the wrongful deeds of another party, you are also entitled to ask for pain & suffering and other damages for emotional harm caused. The brain injury attorneys at McPhillips, Shinbaum, LLP can provide the guidance you need.

Our Alabama Brain Injury Attorneys Can Help

The brain injury attorneys at McPhillips, Shinbaum, LLP have earned the respect of insurance companies and defense lawyers for their expertise in traumatic brain injury cases. Our Alabama brain injury attorneys will help you get the best care possible as we work to obtain a meaningful award for the injuries you have suffered. Call us today at 334-262-1911 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation.