Thousands of people are affected by traumatic brain injuries, also referred to as TBIs, in Fort Lauderdale and its surrounding areas. These are some of the most serious injuries a person could sustain in an accident, and they result in physical, social, emotional, and financial constraints. Sadly, TBIs not only affect the accident victim. The mental health, relationships, and household budgets of family members are also strained when someone they love suffers such a serious injury.
If you or a loved one has been in an accident, you can file a claim to recover compensation for your losses. This compensation is often necessary for victims to recover from their injury and move forward in their lives. TBI cases are inherently complex, though. Always speak to a Fort Lauderdale traumatic brain injury lawyer before filing a claim.
Why Choose Rosen Injury Law for a Fort Lauderdale Brain Injury Claim?
- Our attorneys have a proven record of recovering maximum compensation in catastrophic injury cases.
- We are dedicated to helping brain injury victims and helping them move forward with their lives after a catastrophic accident.
- We pay all costs of pursuing your brain injury claim and you pay nothing until we recover your compensation.
- We won’t take your case unless we believe it has merit and that we can help you recover the compensation you are entitled to.
- We have recovered numerous multi-million dollar awards and settlements for our injury clients.
- We have the experience, skills, and resources to identify all causes and contributing factors of your brain injury and to hold those responsible for your injuries accountable for paying your damages.
Our Fort Lauderdale Traumatic Brain Injury Lawyer Explains TBIs
A traumatic brain injury is usually caused by a traumatic blow or jolt to a person’s head. Sometimes, an object penetrates the skull and then the brain and results in a TBI. The initial impact can cause serious damage to tissue in the brain, as well as from the subsequent swelling, bleeding, and pressure inside the skull. The most common causes of TBIs are as follows:
- Motor vehicle accidents
- Slip and fall accidents
- Violent attacks
- Sports injuries
- Explosions and other concussive blasts that place soldiers and firefighters at increased risk
If your injury was caused by a motor vehicle accident, don’t hesitate to reach out to a car accident attorney in Fort Lauderdale to discuss your case.
Types of Traumatic Brain Injuries
- Concussions. Any impact or jolt to the head can cause a concussion and lead to long-term consequences.
- Diffuse Axonal Injuries are caused by rapid head movements that tear the brain’s internal structures, impacting the brain’s ability to function correctly.
- Hypoxic and Anoxic brain injuries occur when the brain’s oxygen supply is reduced or stopped. These injuries can cause severe brain damage.
- Open brain injuries are those in which the skull is penetrated and can be quickly fatal.
- Hematomas can happen when blood pools around the brain and can cause severe damage, depending on the amount of blood and the location.
- Coup-contrecoup injuries occur when the brain rebounds off the skull after a strong impact, causing damage to both sides of the brain.
- Contusions are bruises on the brain and may require surgery to relieve pressure.
- Subarachnoid hemorrhages occur when torn arteries release blood into areas of the brain that should be filled with cerebrospinal fluid.
Symptoms of a Brain Injury
If you have been in an accident that included a blow to your head or a sudden back-and-forth movement of your head, you should be medically evaluated right away, even if you don’t think your injuries are severe. Symptoms of a brain injury may not be immediately apparent and can appear even days after the accident.
Some common symptoms of brain injury include:
- A persistent headache.
- Confusion, slurred speech.
- Difficulty expressing thoughts and forming sentences.
- Nausea and vomiting.
- Lack of coordination and balance.
- Loss of memory.
- Difficulty concentrating on what others are saying.
- Severe mood swings or personality changes.
- Fatigue or drowsiness.
- Blurred vision.
- Ringing in the ears.
- Inability to smell.
- Strange taste in your mouth.
- Difficulty sleeping or sleeping more than usual.
- Feeling anxious or depressed.
- Loss of consciousness.
- Seizures or convulsions.
- One or both pupils dilated.
- Drainage from your ears or nose.
- Weakness or numbness in the extremities.
- Coma.
Children may have different brain injury symptoms. Some common symptoms in children include:
- Crying more than is usual and an inability to be consoled.
- Changes in eating or nursing habits.
- Drowsiness.
- Loss of interest in toys and playing.
- Persistent irritability.
- Seizures.
- Sadness.
If you or a loved one experiences any of these symptoms after a head injury, seek emergency medical attention.
Brain injuries can also have long-term effects. Some long-term risks of traumatic brain injuries include personality changes, memory loss, cognitive impairments, seizures, emotional and behavioral changes, and early onset of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
Proving Your Fort Lauderdale Brain Injury Claim
The proof needed to be successful in a Fort Lauderdale brain injury claim depends on the cause of your injuries. In most cases, brain injuries are caused by negligence. To prove negligence, you must establish the existence of these four elements:
- The defendant owed you a duty. This simply means that the defendant had a legal obligation to act reasonably to avoid harming others. The specific duty owed depends on the facts of your case.
- The defendant breached their duty by their negligent action or inaction. This means the defendant failed to act as a reasonable person would have.
- The defendant’s breach of duty or inaction was the cause of your injury. We must show that your brain injury would not have happened if the defendant had not breached their duty.
- You suffered actual damages due to the defendant’s breach of duty. Damages may be medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other losses and costs.
These elements can be challenging to prove. However, Rosen Injury Law has the experience, skills, and resources to address each element of your claim.
Evidence Used to Prove a Fort Lauderdale Brain Injury Claim
Every brain injury is unique, and proving your claim will depend on the unique facts of your case. Some evidence we may use includes medical reports, testimony from your treating physician, and testimony from medical experts, family members, co-workers, and others.
We often consult medical and economic experts to establish your current and future damages and their value, so we know what a fair settlement of your case is.
Statute of Limitations in Fort Lauderdale Brain Injury Claims
A statute of limitations is the law that sets a deadline for filing a civil claim to recover compensation in personal injury cases. Missing your deadline means you cannot recover damages.
In Florida, the statute of limitations for personal injury claims is two years from the accident. So, you must file your brain injury claim within two years of the accident or incident that caused your injuries. However, there are rare exceptions to the two-year deadline. You must consult an experienced Fort Lauderdale brain injury lawyer to determine your filing deadline. You should act fast so you don’t miss your deadline.
Acting quickly also helps to identify and collect essential evidence to support your claim. Evidence can be lost, destroyed, or diminished over time. At Rosen Injury Law, we work quickly to help preserve that evidence before it is too late.
How a Fort Lauderdale Brain Injury Lawyer Can Help You
Your chances of recovering maximum compensation are much higher when an experienced brain injury lawyer represents you.
They can investigate your accident to determine its causes and liable parties. They will work to discover and collect evidence to support your claim and build your strongest case.
Your attorney can help ensure all current and future damages are included and accurately valued so you know what your claim is worth. They can help negotiate a fair settlement of your claim as quickly as possible, and can take your case to trial and demand full payment of your damages.
Our Fort Lauderdale Traumatic Brain Injury Lawyer Can Help You Claim Full Compensation
Any time a person suffers a TBI in Fort Lauderdale due to the negligent actions or inactions of another person, Florida law gives them the right to claim compensation for their injuries. No two TBI cases are identical, and there is no way to determine the full value of your claim without an attorney first reviewing the facts of your case. However, there are certain types of compensation that are very common in these cases, and they are as follows:
- Past, present, and future medical expenses for the TBI and any associated complications or health conditions
- Any out-of-pocket expenses incurred due to the TBI, such as the costs of transportation to and from doctors’ appointments
- Lost income you did not earn immediately after the accident, as well as any lost income for any future wages you will lose
- Pain and suffering that results in a reduced quality of life
In some cases, punitive damages are also available, but these cases are extremely rare. A lawyer can determine if the defendant acted with gross negligence, which could make you eligible for punitive damages.
Contact Our Traumatic Brain Injury Lawyer in Fort Lauderdale for a Free Case Review
At a time when you are dealing with such a serious injury, you should not have to worry about the complexities of a personal injury claim. Our Fort Lauderdale traumatic brain injury lawyer at Rosen Injury Law, P.A. knows this and so, will handle every detail of your claim to ensure you receive the fair compensation you and your family deserve. Call us today at 954-787-1500 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation so we can review your case.