New York Brain and Head Injury Attorney

Traumatic Brain Injury and Head Injury Attorney

New York Brain Injury Lawyer

A traumatic brain injury or serious head injury often leaves an individual with short-term and long-term medical needs. When another person’s carelessness or negligence caused the injury, you have the legal right to pursue compensation for damages. An experienced personal injury lawyer can protect your rights, guide you through the legal process and help you receive compensation. Compensation is often vital to help offset the expenses of medical costs, lost income, pain and suffering and other damages resulting from the injury.

What Is a Traumatic Brain Injury?

A traumatic brain injury (TBI) causes trauma to the brain. Common causes of TBI are a powerful blow or jolt to the head or body. An impact that doesn’t penetrate the skull is called a closed head injury, but it can still result in brain damage. However, sometimes objects penetrate the skull and damage brain tissue. This occurs when a shattered piece of skull, a bullet or some other object breaks through the skull. Depending on the severity of the impact, the brain damage might be temporary or permanent.

Different Types of Head Injury

Other types of serious head injuries include:

• Hematoma. Hematoma refers to blood that collects and clots outside of the blood vessels in the brain. The clotting can build up pressure and cause unconsciousness and permanent brain damage.
• Hemorrhage. A hemorrhage is uncontrolled bleeding in the space around the brain. It can lead to headaches and vomiting. The severity of the injury depends on the extent of the bleeding.
• Concussion. Concussion is brain damage that occurs when a jolt causes the brain to crush against the skull. Many people fully recover from concussions. Although, permanent brain damage can occur when an individual suffers from repeated concussions.
• Edema. When brain tissues swell, you have edema, which leads to pressure building up in the brain.

Head injuries are common in car accidents. Examples are when an individual’s head hits the steering wheel, windshield, dash or other part of the car. Flying objects can also strike or penetrate the skull and cause brain damage during a car crash.

Immediate Symptoms and Long-Term Disabilities

In terms of immediate symptoms, people often experience headaches, dizziness, memory problems, concentration difficulties, insomnia or even depression and anxiety.

Aside from temporary symptoms, with severe brain injuries, long-term disabilities can also arise. The most common are memory lapse or loss and cognitive difficulties with planning, problem solving, recognition and the ability to discern and make judgments.

A brain injury sometimes causes a long-term partial loss of hearing, touch or taste.

Permanent brain damage can also lead to trouble with language that makes speaking, reading, or writing difficult.

A Legal Perspective in Dealing with Brain Injuries and Head Injury Cases

A head injury attorney gathers information and develops legal strategies to accomplish two main objectives: to prove the defendant’s negligence caused the client’s injury and to establish the extent of damages. Once the lawyer establishes the extent of damages, then the amount of compensation for injury can be established.

In many cases, brain injury lawyers will wait until doctors evaluate that the patient has reached maximum medical improvement. Maximum medical improvement (MMI) means that doctors have exhausted all treatment options and no more significant improvement is expected. By waiting for an MMI evaluation, damage estimates can encompass the total cost of treatment and also the estimated cost of future care.

Get Legal Help with Your Case

If you or a loved one has suffered from a serious head injury or brain injury, arrange a free consultation and speak with a knowledgeable brain injury lawyer.

During the consultation, our attorneys at Sackstein Sackstein & Lee, LLP, will discuss your injury and explain the legal options that are available.

Call us toll free at 888.519.6400, or contact us in Garden City at 516.248.2234, or in Flushing-Queens, Brooklyn or the Bronx at 718.539.3100. You can also fill in our contact form, and we will get in touch with you.