A traumatic brain injury (TBI) might be a mild concussion that heals in a couple of weeks or a life-changing event that leaves victims with continued issues for their entire life. The impact of a TBI not only hinges on its severity, but the fact that they might occur in any kind of situation: from slip and fall accidents to motorcycle or car accidents and more. South Carolina’s Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) estimates that 11,500 South Carolina residents visit emergency departments each year because of traumatic brain injuries; DHEC also estimates 2,800 hospitalizations and 1,117 fatalities from traumatic brain injuries each year. In South Carolina, unintentional falls cause the most TBI injuries while car accidents lead to the most TBI-related fatalities.
Those who sustain severe traumatic brain injuries face intense recovery and potential financial hardship from amassing medical bills. If you have suffered a TBI in Florence because another party was negligent or intended to harm you, South Carolina law permits you to seek damages in civil court. Contact the experienced legal team at Hughey Law Firm at (843) 881-8644 for a free case review.
Hughey Law Firm’s Results in TBI Cases
The personal injury attorneys at Hughey Law Firm have represented numerous traumatic brain injury victims resulting in the recovery of millions of dollars in damages. Recent cases include settlements between $200,000 and $300,000 for clients who fell in nursing homes and assisted living facilities and suffered brain injuries, as well as a client who received a $250,000 verdict after a TBI from falling on slippery stairs. Another recent case involved a client who received a $500,000 settlement after a defective product caused a traumatic brain injury. Keep in mind that it is impossible to guarantee results in any case, but the legal team at Hughey Law Firm will fight to obtain full and fair compensation for your traumatic brain injury.
Common Causes of Traumatic Brain Injuries
Many different types of situations might lead to a traumatic brain injury, and they vary greatly by age group. Here some of the most common causes of traumatic brain injuries:
- Birth injuries, sometimes a result of medical malpractice, might lead to a TBI in an infant;
- Playing sports, especially full-contact sports like football;
- Abusive caregivers who might hit or shake an infant or child;
- Defective products that cause explosions, accidents, and other head injuries;
- Motor vehicle accidents including motorcycle accidents;
- Bicycle and pedestrian accidents; and
- Slip and falls, especially in those under age 12 and over age 65.
Symptoms and Effects of a TBI
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines a traumatic brain injury as “a disruption in the normal function of the brain that can be caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head, or penetrating head injury.” This means that at TBI might occur when someone hits their head in a car accident or when they fall, but violent head trauma can occur without contact, especially in young children and infants. Examples include severe whiplash that jars someone’s brain or abuse like shaken baby syndrome.
Physical evidence of a TBI might not show up for days or weeks after an injury. Regardless of the cause of a TBI, symptoms and effects vary based on severity. Those with a concussion, the mildest form of a TBI, might experience any or all of the following symptoms:
- Headache;
- Neck pain;
- Nausea;
- Ringing in the ears;
- Dizziness; and
- Fatigue.
Victims who suffer from more severe TBIs, might display the following symptoms, which need immediate medical treatment:
- Persistent headaches that worsen or don’t go away;
- Continued vomiting;
- Seizures or convulsions;
- Cannot wake up from sleep;
- Slurring words when speaking;
- Loss of feeling or numbness in limbs; and
- Dilation of pupils.
When young children and babies suffer TBIs, it’s sometime difficult to see symptoms. Some adults don’t seek immediate medical treatment and wait for some of the initial symptoms to go away. Long-term effects and disabilities that might indicate a TBI in children and adults include:
- Struggles with thinking, memory, and reasoning;
- Struggles with vision, hearing, touch, taste, or smell;
- Struggles with speech;
- Has anxiety and depression;
- Displays changes in personality, especially increased aggressiveness; and
- Has remained in a coma or persistent vegetative state (PVS) since the accident.
Seeking Compensation After a Traumatic Brain Injury
When victims or their family members obtain the help of a qualified traumatic brain injury attorney, they might be able to recover losses related their injury. Under South Carolina law, victims might recover the following damages:
- Current and future medical costs including ambulance services, emergency room treatment, hospital stay, diagnostics, aftercare, surgery, radiology, medication, and more;
- Rehabilitative costs such as physical therapy, speech therapy, and any other service that helps a victim regain normal function;
- Current and future lost wages and benefits, referred to as lost earning capacity, for time missed from work and for when a severe TBI prevents a victim from returning to their job;
- Assistive devices such as canes, walkers, wheelchairs, etc.;
- Long-term healthcare when a TBI causes permanent disability, coma, or permanent vegetative state (PVS) without the possibility of recovery;
- Pain and suffering;
- Loss of consortium with spouse; and
- Other economic and non-economic damages that apply to your case.
Contact an Experienced Brain Injury Lawyer in Florence Today
If you, your spouse, or your child has suffered a traumatic brain injury because of another party’s negligence in Florence, you need to focus on recovery and rehabilitation while you let a skilled attorney handle the details of your case. Under South Carolina Law you must take legal action within three years after the injury. Your attorney will discuss potential exceptions to this law. We handle cases on a contingent fee basis, only collecting attorney fees after we secure a settlement or verdict in your favor. We also offer free consultations for you to share your story with one of our compassionate and knowledgeable attorneys so they can advise you on the best path for your situation. Contact the experienced traumatic brain injury attorneys at Hughey Law Firm at (843) 881-8644 to schedule a free consultation as soon as possible.