At Massey & Associates P.C., we specialize in brain injury cases, providing expert legal support to help you secure the compensation and care you need. Our dedicated attorneys thoroughly investigate your case and advocate fiercely for your rights, ensuring you receive the best possible outcome.
Suffered A Brain Injury?
A brain injury is one of the most serious and life-altering accident injuries a person can suffer and one of the most emotionally traumatic for a brain injury victim’s family. There are various types of brain injuries, often difficult to diagnose, and they can permanently alter a person’s physical and emotional functions. Due to the complexity of these injuries and the level of difficulty in filing these types of claims, those injured should seek the assistance of a Chattanooga brain injury lawyer as soon as possible. Through the assistance of an experienced accident lawyer, those injured can hold the negligent party responsible for their actions and ensure they know what to expect at each step of the way.
What Are the Elements of a Traumatic Brain Injury?
The term “brain injury” is generally considered synonymous with “traumatic brain injury” (TBI), though some brain injuries are classified as “acquired brain injuries” (ABI). According to the Brain Injury Association of America (BIAA), TBI “is an insult to the brain…caused by an external physical force that may produce a diminished or altered state of consciousness, which results in an impairment of cognitive abilities or physical functioning.” TBI does not include degenerative or congenital brain injuries and may also result in disturbance or impairment of emotional and behavioral functioning.
Acquired brain injury (ABI) is a broader term that refers to an injury that is not hereditary, degenerative, congenital, or caused by birth trauma but occurs after birth. ABI includes all traumatic brain injuries that a Chattanooga brain injury lawyer may be able to assist with, but also those caused by internal complications such as stroke or lack of oxygen to the brain.
Types of Traumatic Brain Injuries
TBI can range from mild to severe and includes both open head injuries, which involve a skull fracture or displacement, and closed head injuries, which do not involve a skull fracture or displacement but are still caused by an outside force. Common types of TBI that Chattanooga brain injury attorneys can help with include:
- Concussion (most common)
- Contusion
- Diffuse Axonal Injury
- Coup-Contrecoup Injury
- Second Impact Syndrome
- Locked-in Syndrome
- Penetrating Injury
- Shaken Baby Syndrome
The mental, physical, emotional, and behavioral impairments or disturbances resulting from a brain injury in Tennessee may be temporary in mild cases or may cause partial or complete loss of brain and bodily functions.
Common Causes of TBI
Traumatic brain injuries may be caused by a wide range of external events. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the five leading causes of TBI, in order of frequency, are:
- Falls
- Unknown causes
- Motor-vehicle accidents
- Being struck by or against an object
- Assault
Brain injuries also frequently occur in sporting events. Contact sports such as football or sports that do not provide head protection, such as soccer, increase the risk of concussions or contusions.
How Are Brain Injuries Treated?
Immediate emergency care is imperative to diagnosing and effectively treating traumatic brain injuries. In cases of less severe brain injuries, such as a mild concussion, the injured victim will usually be treated and released from an emergency facility. If the injury is more severe, however, the victim may require extensive and expensive medical treatments, extended hospitalization, and long-term rehabilitation. In extreme cases, a traumatic brain injury victim may fall into a coma, a minimally responsive state, a vegetative state, or even die.
Preparing a Case
Traumatic brain injury cases rely heavily on third-party professionals. Explaining how the brain works and how an injury affects the entire body is delicate and complex work that must be done in a specific, detailed way. A Chattanooga traumatic brain injury lawyer spends significant time understanding exactly what injuries the plaintiff has suffered and how these medical problems now affect their life.
It takes a great deal of time and effort for a lawyer to fully understand the case and then effectively communicate it. This involves reviewing medical records, medical tests, and professional opinions about the injury to help prove the case. It also requires researching the medical aspects of the plaintiff’s injury, the defendant’s background, and any law enforcement investigations involved. After understanding exactly what is involved, an experienced injury attorney will develop a strategy to present the case in the most beneficial way for the plaintiff.
Importance Of A Brain Injury Lawyer
The effects of a traumatic brain injury can be permanent. This can cause significant financial and emotional hardships for the victim and their family, especially when the injury was caused by the negligence or recklessness of another person, organization, or entity.
If you or a loved one has suffered a brain injury in Tennessee, you may be entitled to compensation for medical costs, rehabilitation costs, lost future wages, reduced quality of life, and other losses. Our compassionate Chattanooga brain injury lawyers at Massey & Associates, PC, can help you make the legal decisions that are best for you and your family. Please contact us today to learn more about how we can help you through this difficult time.
