Potential Types of Compensation:

 

Brain injury victims suffer different symptoms and effects depending on the area affected by the trauma and the extent of the injury itself. Brain injury victims may be able to be compensated for their medical expenses, their future medical expenses, any loss of income related to the event, the pain and suffering endured as a result of the injury, loss of companionship, and the cost of any necessary medical equipment. These costs are generally paid by the insurer of the party at fault for the injuries. As brain injuries can be caused in a variety of ways it generally will be paid by either a car insurance policy if the injury was sustained in a car crash, or a general liability policy if the injury is the result of a negligent act or unsafe condition occurring on the land of another. There are many potential issues with these cases, but one of the most difficult is finding enough insurance coverage to compensate a brain injury victim. Our firm is skilled at finding methods of applicable recovery and ensuring companies follow through on their legal duties to provide proper coverage to an injured party.

 

Proving a Brain Injury:

 

Brain injuries are some of the most severe injuries a person can suffer. It potentially affects every part of a person's life from their memory, their speech, and their vision, to their mood. Despite the profound impact these injuries can have they are difficult to show. A broken arm has an x-ray and a cast—something tangible that you can see and instantly diagnose. Brain injuries are often diagnosed with tests and trials. The injuries are not always apparent on a scan and, unlike a broken arm, the timeline for recovery varies wildly and, in certain cases, the brain may never fully heal. Proving severe injuries exist in the absence of traditional tangible evidence can be difficult so it is important everything is properly documented and the case properly guided and handled.

 

Statistics:

 

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) data provided by the Centers for Disease Control shows:

 

• TBIs contribute to approximately 30% of injury-related deaths.
• 153 people a day die from injuries that include a TBI.
• In 2013, a TBI was diagnosed in more than 282,000 hospitalizations and 2.5 million ED visits.
• In 2012, an estimated 329,290 children aged 19 or younger were treated in United States' emergency departments for sports and recreation-related injuries, including concussions or TBIs.
• Those of 75 years or more in age have the highest risk for suffering a TBI.

 

Brain injury data provided by the American Association of Neurological Surgeons shows:

 

• There are approximately 235,000 hospitalizations for TBIs every year—this is 20 times the number of hospitalizations for a spinal cord injury.
• Approximately 80-90,000 people experience the onset of long-term or lifelong disabilities associated with a TBI.
• Sports and recreational activities contribute to approximately 21% of TBI cases.
• Approximately 50-70% of TBIs are caused by car crashes.