Durham Traumatic Brain Injury Attorneys

Even the most vigilant people can find themselves involved in unexpected accidents, whether enjoying activities in their backyard, navigating through a crowded public parking lot, or browsing through items in their preferred shopping center.

Every excursion introduces a variety of potential hazards, from the basic risks present in any environment to the dynamic challenges posed by large gatherings of people and the ongoing upkeep of public and private spaces.

These factors collectively heighten the likelihood of sustaining a traumatic brain injury (TBI), a serious consequence that can alter lives in an instant.

Should you or someone close to you suffer a TBI as a result of another’s carelessness, the seasoned team of Durham TBI attorneys at Riddle & Brantley is here to offer support.

Our legal professionals are not only well-versed in the complexities of TBI claims but are also deeply committed to helping you navigate the aftermath of such a life-changing event.

With our skills, talents, and experience, we help you reclaim your life’s direction and secure the compensation and justice you rightfully deserve, ensuring a focus on recovery and rehabilitation in this challenging time.

Why Choose Our Durham, NC, TBI Lawyers?

At Riddle & Brantley, we view our role beyond that of a typical personal injury law firm in North Carolina; we consider ourselves a team of compassionate advocates committed to supporting individuals impacted by accidents or mourning a profound loss caused by negligence.

Above all, our core mission is to provide empathetic legal representation, offering warmth and steadfast support, ensuring that each client feels respected and comprehensively supported throughout their legal journey.

• Our Mission and Values: Featuring decades of collective legal experience, our attorneys bring a genuine commitment to justice and improving the lives of our clients.

We are devoted to getting favorable outcomes for your case and building our relationship on trust, empathy, and respect. (See disclaimer below.)

Our devotion is the foundation of our practice, allowing us to make meaningful, lasting connections with those we serve.

• Our Approach: We believe in the American justice system’s ability to offer fair and equitable access to all. As licensed North Carolina personal injury lawyers, we advocate fiercely for your rights, ensuring your voice is heard in the quest for justice, especially in the face of challenges like severe injuries or the loss of a family member.

We stand as your voice against the power of mighty insurance firms.

• Our Presence: Our firm is proud of its North Carolina customs. With offices in Raleigh, Goldsboro, Jacksonville, and Kinston, we reflect the dedication of our founder, Gene Riddle, and his North Carolinian heritage.
• Our Team: Our team comprises 11 attorneys, including Board Certified Workers’ Compensation specialists and members of esteemed legal forums, all supported by skilled paralegals, case managers, and investigators. With many of our staff being bilingual, we ensure that language is never a barrier to justice.

Available around the clock, we are always on standby to offer our assistance whenever you require it.

Our dedication extends far beyond the confines of the courtroom. We are deeply invested in bettering our communities and championing safety, as evidenced by our Safety Counts video initiatives.

Our active participation in local fundraisers and events underscores our commitment to the safety of the people in North Carolina.

At Riddle & Brantley, you’ll discover lawyers, empathetic advocates, a supportive community, and allies in your quest for justice.

What Is a Traumatic Brain Injury Under North Carolina Law?

Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) can occur due to various incidents, including falls, vehicle collisions, sports-related injuries, and assaults. The impact of a TBI varies widely, influenced by the specific brain area involved and the injury’s severity.

Symptoms can range from physical manifestations like headaches, dizziness, and fatigue to cognitive challenges such as impaired attention, memory, and executive functions.

Emotional and behavioral changes, including mood swings, depression, and anxiety, as well as sensory issues affecting vision, hearing, or touch, may also occur.

The treatment approach for TBI is tailored to the injury’s severity, with more severe cases requiring hospitalization, rehabilitation, and comprehensive long-term management plans to address the diverse physical, cognitive, and emotional challenges.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s TBI data reports that traumatic brain injuries hospitalize roughly 223,135 each year and cause 64,362 fatalities.

These figures do not involve every traumatic brain injury case treated in emergency rooms, primary care settings, urgent care facilities, or those that go untreated.

What Are the Most Common Causes of TBI in Durham County?

A brain injury can occur in various situations, such as slipping in a home, experiencing a sports injury, or being involved in a motorcycle crash. The causes of such injuries are numerous and diverse.

The most common causes of traumatic brain injury include:

1. Motor Vehicle-Related Collisions: TBIs often result from accidents involving cars, motorcycles, bicycles, and pedestrians, with injuries ranging from mild concussions to severe brain damage.
2. Falls: The most common cause of TBIs, particularly among older adults and young children, includes slipping, tripping, or falling from heights.
3. Violence: Significant sources of TBI include gunshot wounds, domestic violence, assaults, and child abuse. Shaken baby syndrome, resulting from violently shaking an infant, is a particular form of TBI leading to brain damage.
4. Sports Injuries: Adolescents and young adults frequently sustain TBIs from contact sports and high-impact or extreme sports.
5. Explosive Blasts and Combat Injuries: Explosive devices and combat injuries in war zones put military personnel at a high risk for TBIs.
6. Struck By/Against Events: Injuries can occur when an individual’s head comes into contact with or is hit by an object, for example, walking into a door frame, being struck by falling objects, or colliding with stationary items.

The distribution of these causes can vary based on factors like age, activity at the time of injury, and socioeconomic status.

Exploring the Intricacies of Traumatic Brain Injuries

Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) represent a complex medical challenge, significantly impacting both the affected individuals and their families in numerous ways.

These injuries manifest in various forms, including:

• Concealed Brain Trauma (CBT): This type of injury, often invisible to casual observation, occurs without any external damage to the skull. It is particularly daunting because it involves the brain moving rapidly or with force inside the skull, leading to internal injuries such as tearing, bruising, and bleeding.

The complexity of CBT lies in its silent nature, necessitating the expertise of medical professionals for detection and evaluation. Timely and accurate diagnosis is crucial for devising an effective treatment strategy for the patient’s recovery and rehabilitation.

• Invasive Brain Trauma (IBT): Injuries under this category involve penetration of the skull, such as those inflicted by gunshot wounds. These injuries are extremely severe, often the result of highly traumatic incidents, and require immediate, intensive medical intervention. The recovery journey for individuals suffering from IBT is typically prolonged and demanding, involving a multidisciplinary team of specialists like neurosurgeons, trauma experts, and rehabilitation therapists to aid the patient through the rehabilitation process.

Understanding the differences between these types of brain injuries is critical for the provision of proper medical care and grasping the potential legal consequences stemming from such injuries.

The recovery path is deeply personal and filled with challenges, highlighting the importance of recognizing the specificities of these injuries. This knowledge is fundamental in offering the necessary support and empathy to help navigate the complex recovery process.

Understanding and Managing Traumatic Brain Injury Symptoms

Traumatic brain injuries present a complex and deeply personal set of challenges, with symptoms that vary widely among individuals.

The severity of the injury, the areas of the brain affected, and each person’s unique response to the trauma all contribute to this variability.

Individuals experiencing a TBI or concussion may encounter a range of symptoms, such as:

• Persistent or severe headaches
• Confusion or disorientation
• Difficulty with memory and concentration
• Dizziness and balance issues
• Nausea or vomiting
• Sensitivity to light and sound
• Extreme fatigue
• Mood swings and irritability
• Tinnitus (ringing in the ears)
• Changes in sleep patterns, including insomnia or excessive sleeping
• Blurred vision
• Alterations in taste or smell
• Brief to extended loss of consciousness
• Worsening or persistent intense headaches
• Convulsions or seizures
• Speech difficulties
• Profound confusion
• Limb weakness or numbness
• Continuous nausea or vomiting
• Clear fluid leaking from the nose or ears
• Pupillary differences or non-reactivity to light
• Behavioral changes, such as increased agitation
• In severe cases, coma

Should you or someone you know experience these more critical symptoms, seeking medical assistance immediately is imperative. These signs could indicate a significant brain injury necessitating urgent and meticulous care.

Remember, you are not navigating this path alone. A supportive community is available to assist you through the complexities of a TBI, providing empathy, expert medical treatment, and rehabilitation support to aid in your recovery and progression.

How Our Skilled TBI Attorneys Can Assist You

A skilled TBI attorney brings invaluable assistance to overwhelmed individuals and their families, offering experience and support in several key areas:

• Experience in TBI Litigation: Attorneys experienced in TBI cases possess a deep understanding of the medical, legal, and personal challenges associated with traumatic brain injuries. They leverage their experience collaborating with medical experts and their comprehensive knowledge of TBIs to advocate effectively for their clients, understanding the profound impact these injuries can have on an individual’s life.
• Maximizing Compensation: A critical function of a TBI attorney is to secure maximum compensation for the injured individual. This covers medical bills (present and future), lost income, diminished earning potential, pain and suffering, and other relevant damages. Experienced attorneys skillfully evaluate these losses and strive for the highest possible compensation.
• Insurance Claim Navigation: Managing insurance claims can be daunting, especially during recovery from a TBI. TBI attorneys handle all interactions with insurance companies, ensuring claims are properly filed and pursued, and advocate for your entitlement to full benefits and compensation.
• Litigation and Trial Readiness: A TBI attorney will take your case to trial if negotiations do not yield a fair settlement. With robust litigation experience, they can represent your interests vigorously, presenting a compelling case on the profound effects of the TBI.
• Access to a Professional Network: Experienced TBI lawyers have access to a wide range of specialists, including medical experts and accident reconstructionists, who can bolster your case. These professionals can testify to the injury’s severity, impact, and the ongoing needs of the injured party.
• Comprehensive Advocacy and Support: Beyond legal representation, TBI attorneys provide emotional and psychological support. They navigate the legal process with empathy and understanding, ensuring clients feel supported and validated.
• Protection of Your Rights: Throughout the legal journey, a TBI attorney safeguards your rights, ensuring fair treatment by all parties and that any settlement or judgment accurately reflects the full scope of your injuries and losses.

Engaging with a seasoned TBI attorney allows you and your family to concentrate on recovery and rehabilitation, confident that your legal and financial interests are in capable hands.

In Durham, the laws concerning traumatic brain injury protect folks like you, making sure you get a fair shake when it comes to compensation. Bringing a seasoned Durham traumatic brain injury lawyer like the folks at Riddle & Brantley onto your team can really up your chances of landing the compensation you legally deserve.

Remember, you don’t have to face a traumatic brain injury and its consequences alone. Let us handle the legal aspects of your case while you focus on your healing and recovery. Call our Experienced Personal injury lawyer in Durham today at (919) 728-1770 for your free consultation and take the first step toward obtaining the justice and compensation you deserve.

Riddle & Brantley Accident Injury Lawyers

100 E. Parrish St.
Suite 200
Durham, NC 27701
Phone: (919) 728-1770

By Appointment Only.

Click here for directions.

Hours of Operation*

Monday – 7:00 AM – 11:00 PM
Tuesday – 7:00 AM – 11:00 PM
Wednesday – 7:00 AM – 11:00 PM
Thursday – 7:00 AM – 11:00 PM
Friday – 7:00 AM – 11:00 PM
Saturday – 8:00 AM – 11:00 PM
Sunday – 8:00 AM – 11:00 PM