Tempe Brain Injury Lawyers
Strong representation when negligence causes a life-altering traumatic brain injury
A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a forceful injury that affects the brain’s normal functions. In some cases, the symptoms appear immediately. In many case, it can take hours or even days before it’s clear someone has suffered a TBI. Any accident in which an object strikes the head, the person falls, or the victim strikes another object such as a dashboard can cause a TBI. Most victims need immediate short-term care. Many victims require a lifetime of medical treatment.
At Plattner Verderame, P.C., our caring Tempe traumatic brain injuries have been helping accident victims get justice since 1981. We work with neurosurgeons, neurologists, physical therapists, and many other healthcare providers to fully asses your condition and your medical needs. We work with families who often need to serve as care-givers for TBI victims. We also have the experience and resources to determine what caused the TBI and who’s responsible. Our lawyers have a strong track record of significant personal injury settlements and verdicts.
How common are traumatic brain injuries?
According the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in 2014 (the most recent year available):
- About 2.87 million people visited hospital emergency departments in the US due a TBI, were hospitalized due to a TBI or died due to a TBI
- About 56,800 people died, in part, due to a TBI
- More than 800,000 children (up to the age of 17) were treated in the US for a concussion or a TBI
Leading causes of a traumatic brain injury
Our Tempe TBI lawyers understand when TBIs are due to an accident and how to prove that the accident caused a brain injury. Some of common ways a traumatic brain injury happens are:
- Slips and falls. Anyone who slips and falls while on the premises/property of another can suffer a TBI if they lose their balance. According to the CDC, falls account for nearly half of ell emergency room visits. TBIs due to falls are especially high for children and older adults. When falls happen due to the failure of a property owner to keep their floors in good repair or to warn customers of dangers, we file premises liability claims. When nursing homes fail to ensure the safety of residents who have known mobility problem, our Tempe TBI lawyers file claims for nursing home neglect.
- Vehicle accidents. Drivers and passengers may suffer a TBI as they are thrown about a car or truck after an accident. Motorcycle riders who fall to the street or highway when the motorcycle crashes often fall head-first onto the ground. Motor vehicle accidents were the leading cause of TBIs for people between 15 and 35 and people 75 and older.
- Construction site accidents. Construction site owners have a duty to ensure that proper precautions are taken for all workers. Independent contracts who are hurt on the job have a right to file a personal injury action if the site supervisors’ or owners’ negligence caused a TBI.
- Birth injuries. Some birth injuries such as an improper use of forceps can also cause a traumatic brain injury. Many TBI-related birth injuries require long-term care.
- Defective products. A defective car or truck part can cause a motor vehicle accident which can then cause a TBI. Defective products may also cause explosions or shocks or events that cause a person to fall and suffer a TBI. When a defective product causes a TBI; the manufacturers, distributors, and resellers of the product may be strictly liable for the TBI and any other injuries.
Any type of intentional harm can also cause a TBI. Victims can then file a civil action which includes a claim for punitive damages. The assailant may also be charged criminally.
What are the signs and symptoms of a TBI?
Generally, a mild TBI is classified as a concussion. Most people, in time, recover from a mild TBI. Non-mild TBIs are classified as “severe.”
Neurologists and ER physicians generally examine, according to the CDC, the following four factors in determining the mildness or severity of a traumatic brain injury.
- Physical symptoms. These include headaches, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, blurred vision, sensitivity to light and noise, fatigue, and balance problems.
- Emotional symptoms. Signs include sadness, irritability, anxiety, and nervousness
- Cognitive symptoms. Doctors examine if the patient/victim can think clearly, has difficulty concentrating, has memory issues, and reacts slowly.
- Sleep disorders. Signs of a TBI include sleeping more than usual or less than usual, and difficulty falling asleep.
A major initial concern is whether the victim has lost any consciousness. Some victims suffer multiple concussions and post-concussive syndrome.
What long-term care is required?
Patients with a TBI may need to treat with:
- Neurologists and neurosurgeons
- Their family physician
- Psychologists and psychiatrists
- Physical therapists
- Vocational therapists
- Speech therapists
Why should I hire a Tempe TBI lawyer to represent me?
Accident victims who suffer a TBI have the right to seek compensation for all their past and future medical bills related to the TBI, their lost income, compensation for their disability, pain and suffering, and other damages such as disfigurement. These can be complicated cases, and working with a personal injury lawyer with experience trying TBI claims is a smart move. We know how to accurately assess what a lifetime of care may cost, and are often able to secure higher settlement amounts from the start, for clients who wish to avoid going to trial. This can give us a better starting point, too, when a trial is necessary for you to obtain justice.
Some of those settlements and verdicts in brain injury cases including:
- $25 million award for an auto accident involving a catastrophic brain injury to a small child
- $7 million judgment for a client who sustained a brain injury from a workplace fall
- $2.75 million settlement for a client who sustained a TBI because of a defective product
Talk to an experienced Tempe traumatic brain injury lawyer today
The Tempe TBI lawyers at Plattner Verderame, P.C., understand how devastating a brain injury is. Any damage to the brain can affect a victim’s quality of life and ability to work. A severe TBI often requires treatment with many different types of health provers. Our firm has the experience and resources to hold property owners, drivers, and anyone else who caused a TBI responsible for the physical harm, emotional changes, and financial damage they cause. To speak with a compassionate strong attorney, call us at 602.266.2002 or fill out our contact form today to schedule a free appointment. We represent clients on a contingency fee basis.