Traumatic Brain Injuries Attorney in Vero Beach, Florida
Successful Legal Guidance for Traumatic Brain Injuries Victims in Vero Beach, FL
At the Law Offices of Keith Bregoff, our experienced traumatic brain injury attorney in Vero Beach, FL has represented countless personal injury victims and their families with tremendous success over the past 25 years.
We understand that traumatic brain injuries are unique to the person who is suffering from the accident that caused their complications. It is our goal to help each client our Vero Beach brain injury attorney represent with precision and detail to deliver a successful outcome, as it relates to their personal case. We can help you, too.
Traumatic Brain Injuries Explained
Traumatic Brain Injuries, or TBI, are caused by a jolt, blow, or bump to the head that disrupts the normal function of the brain.
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, traumatic brain injuries are a chief cause of disability and death in the United States, contributing to over 30% of all injury fatalities.
In-depth statistics provided by the CDC include:
- 153 people in the US die each day from harm that includes traumatic brain injuries
- Approximately 2.8 million TBI related injuries and deaths occur in the United States each year
- An estimated 329,290 children (under the age of 19) were treated in U.S. emergency departments for sports and recreation-related injuries that included a diagnosis of concussion or TBI
What Are the Leading Causes of TBI?
Traumatic brain injuries can be caused by many events, including:
- Falls: 47%
- Motor vehicle accidents: 19%
- Being struck by or against an object: 14%
- Other: 20%
- Violence
- Explosions
- Combat
- Sports injuries
What Are the Complications Associated with Traumatic Brain Injuries?
The Mayo Clinic states that traumatic brain injuries can cause temporary dysfunction in the brain, with more serious cases causing bleeding, bruising, torn tissue, and other physical damage that cause long term complications, or even death.
The states of TBI can include:
- Minimally conscious state
- Coma
- Vegetative state
- Locked-in syndrome
- Brain death
Traumatic brain injuries can lead to complications that cross each segment of a person’s capacities, including:
- Behavioral
- Cognitive
- Communication
- Emotional
- Physical
Behavioral complications can include:
- Difficulty in social situations
- Difficulty with self-control
- Inaccurate self-image
- Lack of awareness of abilities
- Risky behavior
- Verbal or physical outbursts
Cognitive complications from traumatic brain injuries can include trouble with:
- Attention or concentration
- Beginning or completing tasks
- Decision-making
- Judgment
- Learning
- Memory
- Multitasking
- Organization
- Problem-solving
- Reasoning
- Speed of mental processing
Communication complications can include:
- Difficulty speaking or writing
- Difficulty understanding speech or writing
- Inability to organize thoughts and ideas
- Trouble following conversations
Emotional complications can include:
- Anger
- Anxiety
- Changes in self-esteem
- Depression
- Insomnia
- Irritability
- Lack of empathy for others
- Mood swings
Physical complications can include:
- Blood vessel damage
- Fluid buildup
- Infections
- Lack of sense of smell
- Loss of facial sensation
- Nerve damage
- Paralysis of facial muscles
- Seizures
- Trouble swallowing
- Vision impairment or loss
Recognizing the Signs of Traumatic Brain Injuries
If you or a loved one was injured in an accident, and believe you may have taken a hit or blow to the head, the U.S. National Library of Medicine provides a list of symptoms to look for in traumatic brain injuries and warns that some symptoms may take days or weeks to appear.
Some signs of traumatic brain injuries can include:
- Convulsions
- Dilated eye pupils
- Dizziness
- Headache
- Inability to awaken from sleep
- Nausea
- Neck pain
- Ringing in the ears
- Seizures
- Slurred speech
- Tiredness
- Weakness or numbness in the arms and legs
It is important to seek medical care for a head injury immediately after it occurs, or as soon as symptoms appear.
How Can the Law Office of Keith Bregoff Help Traumatic Brain Injury Victims?
Our accomplished Vero Beach traumatic brain injury attorney has helped countless Florida victims and their families overcome the hardships of debilitating personal injuries, including TBI. Our exacting approach to understanding your overall medical needs – now, long-term, and life-long – allows our solution-focused legal methods to deliver results. When we pursue the party who caused your TBI, we will do so with precision and gusto, seeking the best financial recovery available for your case.
Experienced Injury Lawyer Helping Victims of Traumatic Brain Injuries in Vero Beach
The health of the brain is central to who we are and how we move. When brain health is threatened or brain function is permanently altered, brain injury victims’ lives may never be the same. Not only can these injuries require costly care and rehabilitation; they can alter every aspect of how we perceive and interact with the outside world.
Florida victims of traumatic brain injuries from accidents caused by another person’s negligence deserve financial support for the costs of their injuries, compensation for their pain and suffering, and, in some cases, punitive damages to punish the willful behavior of the at-fault party. If you or a loved one has suffered a traumatic brain injury in a Florida accident, find out if you have a right to money damages through a personal injury lawsuit by contacting the seasoned and trial-ready Vero Beach personal injury lawyers at the Law Offices of Keith Bregoff for a free consultation.
Types of traumatic brain injury
Different forms of traumatic brain injury (also known as TBI) can cause injuries with varying levels of severity:
- Concussions are the most common, and the mildest, form of TBI. Concussions are often caused by a sudden impact, such as in a serious motor vehicle accident, or by a blow suffered by a fall or sports injury. Victims need medical treatment for concussion injuries, but tend to make a full recovery.
- Contusions occur when the victim suffers an internal bleed on the brain as the result of a violent blow. These injuries can cause serious brain damage, depending on the location of the bleed.
- Penetration injuries result from an object, such as a piece of metal or bullet, entering the skull and piercing the brain. These injuries can disable large sections of the brain, impairing a victim’s memory or their ability to speak, move, or engage in higher-level thinking.
Providing care after a traumatic brain injury
Brain injury victims often need prolonged, costly care as they recover from their injuries. This care may include:
- In-home care
- Rehabilitation
- Physical therapy
- Numerous surgical procedures
In addition to covering the costs of treatment, families of TBI victims must also cover the costs of the lost wages of the injury victim, who may never be able to return to the work they did prior to their injury. Traumatic brain injury victims in Florida need the help of a dedicated and determined personal injury lawyer to get the money damages they need and deserve after an accident. The Vero Beach and Stuart brain injury lawyers at the Law Offices of Keith Bregoff have been providing legal assistance to brain injury victims and their families for years, helping them get the money they’re entitled to receive after an accident. Let us assist you in filing a claim for damages after an accident, so you can focus on recovery.
Contact Our Experienced Traumatic Brain Injury Attorney in Vero Beach, FL Today
If you or a loved one is struggling with a traumatic brain injury, and the costs associated with its care, contact our accomplished brain injury attorney in Vero Beach, FL today at 772-492-8967. With a single call, we will schedule a free consultation where we will record the details of your case, and outline solutions to ease your financial struggle so you can focus on getting the care you need. Call us now and we will begin reviewing your case, and its next steps right away.
At The Law Offices of Keith Bregoff, our Vero Beach, Florida law firm focuses on the following practice areas:
- Auto Accident
- Dog Bite
- Motorcycle Accident
- Pedestrian Accident
- Serious Injury Law
- Spinal Cord Injuries
- Truck Accident
- Wrongful Death
Frequently Asked Questions of Traumatic Brain Injury Lawyers in Vero Beach, FL
Should I pursue a TBI claim for my injuries?
If you or a loved one suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI) due to an accident or action caused by someone else’s negligence, you should consult with an experienced personal injury attorney to determine if a lawsuit is appropriate in your case. Brain injuries can have a serious and permanent impact on your life, your personal functionality, and your relationships, and if someone else caused that injury, they owe you compensation for the damage they have done.
I got into an accident a few years ago. Can I still sue?
It is always best to retain a personal injury attorney and begin the process of a personal injury lawsuit as soon as possible after an accident. However, even if it has been several years since your accident, you may still be able to bring a claim. The typical statute of limitations for personal injury cases in Florida is four years from the underlying accident or incident. However, you may be able to “toll” the statute of limitations and thus bring a claim later on if you can prove that you did not know, and did not have reason to know until later, that you actually suffered a brain injury. A knowledgeable personal injury lawyer can help you assess whether you are still able to bring a claim years after an accident.
What types of experts are necessary in TBI lawsuits?
TBI lawsuits can be some of the most difficult to prove, as the true damages may be future and speculative. A good TBI lawyer will bring in life care planners, doctors such as neurologists and neuropsychologists, industry experts in your field of work, and economists to help prove both the extent of your injuries and the real cost to your life the injuries will cause.
Is a concussion serious enough to sue over?
Concussions are the most common and least severe form of TBI. Clients often wonder if a “mere” concussion is worth suing over. The short answer is: Absolutely. First of all, a concussion can signal that you have actually suffered a more serious brain injury. And, even if you “only” have a concussion, concussions come with a host of short-term and potential long-term repercussions. Nausea, headaches, ringing in the ears, irritability, depression or other mood swings; all of these can occur immediately after suffering a concussion, but many have the potential to last for months following a TBI. If you have suffered multiple concussions, more severe functional limitations can come about, such as Second Impact Syndrome. If someone else’s negligence caused you to suffer a concussion, you deserve compensation.
How much can I recover in a lawsuit for traumatic brain injury?
Brain trauma can lead to some of the most severe injuries and complications. The law is meant to compensate you for those damages. It is impossible to give an average for a “typical” brain injury case as they vary widely; your damages will depend on the circumstances of your accident and the severity of your injury. Florida law allows you to recover for both economic and noneconomic damages. Economic damages include medical expenses, lost wages, and loss of future earning capacity, while noneconomic damages include things like pain and suffering, physical or mental impairment, emotional distress, and loss of companionship. A knowledgeable brain injury attorney can help you assess what damages are available and appropriate in your case.
If I had a previous brain injury, and this accident made it worse, can I still recover?
Brain injuries can compound into significantly worse conditions when they occur repeatedly. Multiple concussions, for example, if suffered in a short period of time, can lead to more severe complications. Florida personal injury law follows what is known as the “eggshell plaintiff” doctrine. This means that an at-fault defendant takes the plaintiff as the plaintiff is, even if the plaintiff is more susceptible to injury than the average person. The application of this doctrine in a particular case will vary, but a skillful personal injury attorney will ensure that the person who caused your injury is held responsible for all of the additional damage that they cause to your brain, regardless of whether you were already susceptible to more serious complications from brain injuries. The defendant was still at fault for your injury, and you still deserve compensation.
What are treatments for brain injuries?
The treatment for brain injuries depends on the severity and type of injury. Mild brain injuries may only require rest and monitoring, while more severe injuries may require surgery, medication, rehabilitation, and therapy. Treatment options can include medications to reduce swelling or prevent seizures, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, and cognitive therapy.
Do brain injury symptoms come on right after an accident?
Brain injury symptoms may come on immediately after an accident, or they may take days or even weeks to develop. Common symptoms of brain injuries can include headaches, dizziness, confusion, memory loss, mood changes, and changes in vision or hearing. If you suspect you or someone you know may have a brain injury, it’s important to seek medical attention right away.
What should I do if I suspect my loved one has a brain injury?
If you suspect your loved one has a brain injury in Florida, the first step is to seek medical attention right away. You should also contact an experienced brain injury lawyer who can help you navigate the legal process and ensure your loved one receives the proper care and compensation they need.
How does a brain injury lawyer help you?
A Florida brain injury lawyer can help you in many ways, including:
- Investigating the accident and gathering evidence to support your claim.
- Consulting with medical experts to understand the extent of your injuries and the long-term consequences.
- Negotiating with insurance companies and other parties involved to secure a fair settlement.
- Representing you in court if a lawsuit is necessary.
A brain injury lawyer can help you recover compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages related to your injury
How long do you have to file a brain injury claim after an accident?
In Florida, the statute of limitations for filing a brain injury claim after an accident is typically four years from the date of the accident. However, there may be exceptions depending on the circumstances of your case. It’s important to consult with a brain injury lawyer as soon as possible to understand your legal rights and options.
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