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A brain injury is one of the most devastating types of injury you can experience. Tragically, brain injuries are a common outcome of many different accident types, from car accidents to workplace incidents. They’re also one of the costliest. When you or a loved one suffers a brain injury, a skilled brain injury attorney can help recover the compensation you need. 

Lawler Lawler Injury Law has advocated for injured clients in Southern Illinois for 30 years. Call our personal injury law firm today at (616) 889 4981 to speak with an experienced attorney for brain injury cases. 

What Is a Brain Injury? 

“Brain injury” is a general term. The brain can be injured in a variety of ways. Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are one of the most complicated types of injuries you can sustain. This is because the brain is such a complex organ. It’s hard to predict exactly how it will be affected by an injury. 

Brain injuries are broadly categorized into three types:

1. Mild
2. Moderate
3. Severe

How a brain injury is categorized depends on how long the injured person loses consciousness. 

The least serious type of brain injury is a mild brain injury, also known as a concussion. A mild brain injury involves no loss of consciousness. Concussions usually heal in a week or two, but they are still considered serious injuries. 

It’s important to follow medical advice carefully, and it’s not uncommon for a victim to deal with lingering concussion symptoms for weeks or months after the injury. 

Moderate and severe brain injuries are more serious, and both types involve a prolonged loss of consciousness. The long-term outcome of a moderate or mild brain injury can vary significantly by individual. Outcomes can range from a full recovery to permanent loss of consciousness. 

Signs of Brain Damage 

When a TBI is severe, there’s often no question of whether a loved one has suffered brain damage. If they regain consciousness, their ability to speak to, interact with, and even recognize loved ones is often severely impacted or lost entirely. 

When a TBI is only mild or moderate, it can be harder to notice the signs of brain damage. Signs to watch for include: 

• Memory loss
• Difficulty remembering directions or events
• Speech issues 
• Coordination issues
• Mood swings
• Emotional changes
• Behavioral changes
• Impaired sense of judgment

If you notice a loved one is showing signs like these after a brain injury, make sure to consult a doctor immediately. You should also seek medical care if you notice physical symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, headache, or dizziness. 

Types of Brain Damage 

Brain injuries can result in many different types of permanent brain damage. Some of the most common forms of brain damage associated with a TBI include:

• Loss of cognitive abilities
• Difficulties with logic, problem-solving, or judgment
• Emotional changes
• Loss of coordination/ability to move
• Aphasia, or difficulties with speaking
• Amnesia, or loss of memory
• Coma 

Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that after sustaining a TBI, 30% of patients experience worsening symptoms five years after the initial diagnosis. A brain injury can also lead to other health issues, including a reduced risk of seizures and infection.

Unfortunately, when a person sustains brain damage in an accident, they are usually expected to live with certain effects for years to come. This can have a significant impact on quality of life and earning ability, even in cases involving moderate brain damage. 

When the damage is severe, family members are often simultaneously robbed of a loved one’s familiar presence while also struggling to keep up with the extensive costs of care.

Who Is Liable if Someone Sustains a TBI?

Brain injuries happen in many different ways. Determining liability for a brain injury depends primarily on how the accident occurred. Some of the most common causes of brain injuries include: 

• Car accidents
• Truck accidents
• Motorcycle accidents
• Workplace accidents
• Construction accidents
• Slip-and-fall accidents
• Medical malpractice
• Defective products

Your TBI lawyer will look into the events surrounding the accident to determine how to go about establishing liability. 

For example, when a brain injury occurs due to a car accident, your lawyer can work to build a case against the other driver. They’ll consult police reports, traffic camera footage, and eyewitness accounts. They may need to take additional steps, such as hiring an accident reconstruction specialist or requesting that the other driver be tested for drugs or alcohol. 

Your lawyer can collect all the available evidence, build a case, and work to negotiate a settlement. Brain injury compensation is typically paid by the insurance company of the liable person or business. 

Why Choose Lawler Lawler Injury Law?

At Lawler Lawyer Injury Law, we understand that you don’t have time to waste after an injury. That’s why your initial call to us is answered by a brain injury lawyer. We understand that in the aftermath of an injury, you don’t want to spend a great deal of time finding out whether you have a case. 

Lawler Lawler Injury Law has been making a difference in the lives of our clients for over three decades. Our brain injury lawyers bring a combined 50 years of experience to your case. We’re also known as the first Southern Illinois personal injury firm to recover compensation exceeding $1,000,000, and we’re ready to put our experience to work for you.

Call a Seasoned Brain Injury Attorney Today

A sudden brain injury can alter your life in an instant, taking a heavy physical and emotional toll. Brain injury victims and their loved ones also quickly discover just how expensive it is to afford medical treatment and long-term care for a TBI victim. 

A TBI lawyer can’t restore your health and happiness, but we can fight to ensure you don’t struggle financially to afford the costs associated with a brain injury. Call Lawler Lawyer Injury Law today at (616) 889-4981 to learn how a seasoned brain injury attorney from our team can help.