Traumatic Brain Injury And Your Rights
Brian O Sutter
Brain Injury
Few injuries are as serious or potentially life-altering as a traumatic brain injury. Sometimes called TBI for short or just 'brain injury', a traumatic brain injury is just what it sounds like - damage done to the brain that was caused by the outright trauma of any kind. These types of injuries can lead to numerous issues physical, mental, and financial. Just some of the repercussions of TBI include:
- Long recovery times
- Physical and mental therapy
- Disability that can be permanent
- Death
- Paralysis
- Loss of mental function or bodily functions
- And more
And these are just the physical factors. When you consider the financial costs that can come with them - medical bills, lost wages, and more - it becomes clear that getting help following an accident that causes a traumatic brain injury is important for anyone.
Knowing Your Rights
Traumatic brain injury personal injury cases are similar in some respects to other types of personal injury law, only much more serious due to the more serious nature of the injuries themselves.
In short, under Florida law, you can seek financial compensation for your injuries if you can show that the other party was acting in a negligent or reckless manner and that those reckless or negligent actions led to the injuries. This can include a number of different things depending on the type of accident and the situation. Some examples of reckless or negligent behavior include:
- Driving while intoxicated
- Failure to yield at intersections
- Speeding
- Texting while driving
- Failure to maintain adequate safe working areas
- Failure to repair safety risks around property
- And more
In short, any action that creates a needless risk that in turn leads to a traumatic brain injury could be grounds for seeking financial compensation. However, it's important to get help, and having a good personal injury lawyer on your side will be instrumental.
The Issue With Settlements
One thing that is important to understand with TBI is that settlement offers can be offered at any point by the insurance company. The key is to remember that often, these settlement offers are far less than fair and need to be carefully considered before being accepted. Consider some of the things that can impact your finances following a TBI:
- Medical costs
- Future medical costs
- Lost wages
- Future lost wages
- The impact on a family's overall stability when a member is injured
- In-home health services
- And more
Simply put, there's more to getting a fair settlement than some might realize. Those that are offered a settlement need to consider it carefully before accepting it - or, even better, let their attorney review it.
Why An Attorney Matters
Having an attorney on your side is one of the single most important steps for getting the compensation that you or your family is owed after you or a loved one suffers a traumatic brain injury. There are numerous reasons for this, including:
- Faster resolution to a case
- Less stress on you and your family as a physical recovery is worked towards
- Better potential outcome in terms of settlement amounts
- Peace of mind knowing that your best interests are being represented
The bottom line is that when you're injured in any kind of accident and suffer a TBI, having the right professional on your side is important. A good personal injury lawyer will be instrumental in getting you the compensation that you are owed. Contact our team today to get your consultation and learn more about your rights.