Brain injuries can have permanent repercussions. Some people may recover entirely from brain injuries, while others will never fully return to how they thought, moved, talked, or acted before the accident. At Riddle & Brantley, we understand how severe brain injuries are. We also know how the laws work in North Carolina when pursuing damages for an accident that causes brain injuries. Talk to our Raleigh injury lawyers for serious brain injury claims.
Facts About Brain Injuries
Brain injuries can be traumatic or acquired. Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) happen when an external force impacts the brain, such as an object striking the skull and rattling the brain around. Acquired brain injuries (ABIs) stem from internal issues, such as lack of oxygen to the brain. Both types of brain injuries can have severe consequences on the individual. Get the facts on brain injuries:
- Traumatic brain injuries are responsible for about 30% of all injury-related deaths in the U.S. every year.
- In a single year, TBIs resulted in more than 2.5 million emergency room visits, 282,000 hospitalizations, and 50,000 deaths.
- Falls cause the majority of traumatic brain injuries across all age groups. However, children and the elderly are most at risk of fall-related TBIs.
- The second and third-leading causes of traumatic brain injuries are struck-by object and motor vehicle accidents, respectively.
- Brain injuries can temporarily or permanently disrupt normal motor skills, mental status, consciousness, and cognitive abilities.
The type and severity of the injury as well as the individual will all change the symptoms the patient will experience from a brain injury. A few of the most common symptoms of an injury to the brain include loss of consciousness, memory loss, confusion, dizziness, nausea, and vomiting. If you experience any strange symptoms after an accident involving a bump to your head, go to the hospital right away.
What to Do as a Brain Injury Victim
Immediate medical care is critical when dealing with injuries to the brain. The sooner doctors can relieve the pressure from swelling or stop bleeding in the brain, the better the odds of non-permanent brain damage. Some head injuries, such as concussions, can have delayed symptoms. Someone might suffer a concussion in an auto accident, for example, but not realize they have the injury until days later.
Always go to the hospital for a checkup after any accident involving your head, neck, or spinal cord. Once you receive medical care, focus on your case. Common incidents that cause brain injuries are car accidents, sports impacts, falls, and acts of violence. Many brain injuries are the result of someone else’s negligence or recklessness.
If this is the case, you have the right to file a claim against the at-fault party in pursuit of damage recovery. You could be eligible to recover the costs of your hospital bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more. Do your part to strengthen your case by gathering as much information about your accident as you can.
Call the at-fault party’s insurance company to file your claim. Do not admit fault or agree to the first settlement offer. Instead, stick to the facts and decline to record a statement until after you’ve spoken to an attorney. Then, contact Riddle & Brantley. Our lawyers will listen to what happened and let you know if we think you have a case.
Need Legal Help? Call Our Raleigh Brain Injury Lawyers
If we offer and you accept our legal services, we can take over communications with insurance companies on your behalf. We’ll do everything we can to negotiate the best possible settlement offer for your brain injury. We can also take your case to court if necessary. It all starts with a free consultation with one of our Raleigh personal injury lawyers.