Did You Suffer a Traumatic Brain Injury? Talk to Us

The brain is so much of who and what we are. As a species and as unique individuals, they give us different abilities, talents, personalities, and intellects. So what happens if a part of the brain is damaged?

An American suffers a traumatic brain injury every 15 seconds, and about 5 million people in the United States are coping with life after an injury to the brain. They happen most commonly as a result of motor vehicle accidents, workplace accidents, sports, violent attacks, and falls. We’ve seen more than one happen on Route-287. In our experience, negligence on the part of an individual, company, or other entity is the true cause of many TBIs.

If your injury was caused by another’s wrongdoing, you have the right to pursue a claim to recover damages. You should not attempt to do this without being represented by a highly experienced injury lawyer in Fort Collins. The Tenge Law Firm, LLC, is thoroughly familiar with catastrophic injuries. We understand the long-term consequences of a TBI. Call (970) 212-4777 to make an appointment.

TOP CASE RESULTS

$1,025,000
Motorcycle Crash TBI Case

$950,000
Car Accident with TBI Case

Types of TBIs

Injuries to the brain often come in two stages. Primary brain damage occurs immediately, and secondary brain damage takes place over a period of minutes, hours, days, or more. Here are the common traumatic brain injuries:

  • Closed (internal) injuries: This trauma to the brain is internal, and often hard to spot. Most TBIs are closed head injuries.
  • Concussions: The most common TBI, concussions occur when your brain shakes in your skull. It may cause swelling, bleeding, or chemical changes. Repeated concussions, even over a long span of time, can lead to chronic traumatic encephalopathy – widespread brain damage.
  • Contusions: The equivalent of a “bruise” on the brain. Contusions may be mild, moderate, or severe, and large ones with swelling may require surgery to remove.
  • Hematomas: Pools of blood inside the brain or between the brain and the skull. May create a cerebral aneurysm and increase the risk of suffering a stroke.
  • Coup-contrecoups: The creation of two contusions, on opposite sides of the brain, usually from some violent force that snapped the head back and forth.
  • Lacerations: Any tears of the frontal lobe, temporal lobes, or blood vessels.
  • Diffuse axonal injuries: DAIs occur when a violent motion tears the internal structures of the brain. The torn nerves release chemicals and disrupt the brain’s normal functioning. Diffuse axonal injury is very serious, and often seen in shaken baby syndrome. It causes unconsciousness, coma, and very often, death.
  • Penetrating (open injuries): Any foreign object that breaches the skull and goes into the brain can create a penetrating injury. This may be a depressive skull fracture, a bullet wound, or any piece of a foreign object. Open brain injuries require immediate medical attention, and victims have an additional risk of infection and severe bleeding.

Secondary brain damage, which can develop as a complication of the original injury, includes:

  • Low blood pressure
  • Diminished blood flow, resulting in insufficient oxygen to the brain
  • Intracranial pressure, caused by edema (swelling)
  • Herniation of the brain, when tissue bulges out of place

Whatever type of brain injury you have suffered, if another individual or group caused you injury, then you may be eligible to file a claim for damages.

What Causes Brain Injuries?

Any strong blow to the head or penetrating wound to the skull can lead to serious brain damage, leaving victims with expensive medical bills and painful injuries. Often times these injuries are the result of an act of negligence, such as a DUI car accident or careless property owner. If your injury was caused because of someone else’s reckless behavior, you may be able to pursue a claim.

Instances where you can suffer a brain injury and, subsequently, file a claim, include:

The process for filing a claim will vary depending on each accident, but a key element to each case is proving liability and negligence. Liability means that someone is responsible for your injuries, either due to a specific action they took or inaction. Every driver on the road is liable for each other’s safety, and even property owners have a duty to look after their guests and tenants. When these individuals fail in that duty through an act of negligence, they can be found liable for any injuries another person suffers.

This is the same in cases where a victim suffered a TBI because of a reckless individual. Not only can you pursue compensation for your initial medical costs, but also for how your injury affects you throughout your life.

How a TBI Can Affect You

If you or someone close to you has survived a traumatic brain injury, you know it can be extremely disorienting. You are not yourself; things that were once easy for you now seem almost impossible; your memory fails you, your head aches, and your personality has changed. And these are only a few of the changes you might be feeling. It’s almost as if you are another person altogether. You may become depressed, anxious, always on edge. Food tastes different, vision is blurred, and you are oversensitive to every small sound.

Of course, you may not have all of these symptoms, or you may have an entirely different set of problems. The exact symptoms depend on the severity of the injury and the part of the brain affected. Brain injuries can potentially affect physical, cognitive, and psychological functioning, sometimes to the extent that the victim is never able to return to work or function independently. Not only that, even if you appear to have recovered, there is recent medical evidence showing that brain injuries draw on your cognitive reserves, which may predispose you to dementia later in life.

If you or someone you care for has suffered a serious injury at the hands of someone’s negligent actions, don’t hesitate to contact a Fort Collins brain injury lawyer.

Why File a Claim with an Attorney?

After you or a loved one has suffered a TBI, you may not want the added stress of dealing with insurance claims on top of getting medical care. You may already be feeling scared and anxious about the variety of medical appointments you now must attend, as well as the looming medical bills. Often times, accident victims are tempted to accept the first settlement offer available to them and worry about the long-term costs at a later date.

We are here to tell you that is a major mistake. Insurance companies rarely ever offer the maximum available compensation to victims who do not have legal counsel and are likely to low-ball you. They may discount the extent of your injuries, use your own words against you, and even outright reject your claim.

However, if you secure strong legal counsel with an experienced brain injury attorney, you will stand a better chance of receiving the money you need to move on from this painful memory. Your treatment will require extensive therapy and surgeries, which will both cost you a great deal and put you out of work for some time. This means lost wages and potentially even giving up on your career and dreams if your injuries are detrimental enough. With a strong claim for damages, you may not only be able to recover the financial costs of your injury, such as medical bills, lost wages, and therapy bills, but also the personal costs like pain and suffering and mental anguish.

If you or someone you care for has suffered a serious injury at the hands of someone’s negligent actions, don’t hesitate to contact a Fort Collins brain injury lawyer to begin a thorough review of your case.

Our Law Firm Provides Brain Injury Assistance

At the Tenge Law Firm, LLC, we are accustomed to helping clients with catastrophic, life-changing injuries seek compensation from at-fault parties. Because we limit our practice to personal injury law exclusively, we have developed a level of expertise and a long record of successful recoveries in high-value cases. Founding attorney Todd Tenge consistently receives the highest ratings from clients and peers and has an enviable record of obtaining excellent results for his clients, both in and out of court.

When you come in for your free consultation, we’ll dim the lights, talk softly, and be patient with you – we’re members of Brain Injury Alliance of Colorado and know how to accommodate.

For compassionate, personalized, and dedicated representation in the Ft. Collins area, contact us today. Legal deadlines apply, so don’t risk losing your right to monetary recovery. Call the Tenge Law Firm, LLC today at (970) 212-4777.