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Understanding Compensation Claims For Traumatic Brain Injuries

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) can have a profound effect on a victim’s life, leading to long-term cognitive, physical, emotional, and behavioural changes. However, brain injury claims can be complex as they involve compensating for both the initial pain and suffering caused by the injury and any future requirements the claimant may have.

In most cases, Brain injury compensation claims can result in large compensation awards due to the severity of the injury. As such, the amount of compensation awarded for TBI from car accidents can range from $100,000 to over $1 million, depending on the extent of the injury and its effects on the victim’s life, including medical bills, lost income, and more.

However, in order to get the right amount in compensation, you first need to understand how TBI is established and how the compensation claims work. We put together a few tips to help you shed some light on this unfortunate and difficult situation.

What is TBI?

In a nutshell, a TBI occurs when a sudden impact damages the brain. The most common causes of such injuries are car accidents, assaults, slip-and-falls, and events that involve firearms.

TBIs can range flrom mild concussions to fatal injuries, and depending on whether the cranium gets fractured, the injury can be classified as closed or penetrating.

How Much Compensation Can You Get for a TBI?

If you’ve suffered a TBI due to someone else’s negligence or intention, you have the right to be compensated for the trauma you are being forced to endure. However, the value of the compensation varies depending on a series of factors.

Such factors include medical bills and related expenses, loss of earning capacity, compensation for life care, pain and suffering, and punitive damages. For injury-related expenses and loss of earning capacity, you can bring forth solid evidence to support your case.

However, the severity of the TBI effects in the long term (which may include ongoing physical therapy, assistance with daily activities, and medication) and the physiological and psychological impact of such an injury can be more difficult to prove.

This is why it’s important to hire legal help for traumatic brain injury victims. An experienced personal injury lawyer specialised in dealing with TBI cases will be able to help you in gathering evidence and making sure you get the right amount in compensation.

Plus, they will handle all communications with the other party and the court, which is a load off your shoulders, especially in a case like this.

Keep in mind that a well-trained lawyer can help you get a million-dollar settlement. This is why it’s important to know when it’s good to accept the first offer from an insurance company and when you should hold your ground and ask for more.

Be Aware of the Time Limit

Personal injury claims have a 3-year time limit, starting with the date of the accident or the date of diagnosis. During this time interval, the victim can take legal action.

Children are a special case, as the time limit does not apply until they turn 18 years old. Therefore, a parent or legal guardian can claim at any point before the child’s 18th birthday.

Another special case is when the victim lacks mental capacity. In this case, the time limit does not apply, and they can have a close person acting on their behalf. In this case, once the amount is decided and approved by the court, the sum will be placed into a trust fund.

Wrap Up

TBIs are a messy situation because no amount of money can erase the suffering and loss the victims have to experience. However, this doesn’t mean victims don’t need proper compensation that will cover everything from medical bills to psychological trauma.

Top Tips on Finding the Right Lawyer to Help Your Compensation Claim

It would help to choose the right lawyer to represent you when making a compensation claim. The lawyer you choose can make a big difference in the outcome of your case, so it is important to take the time to find someone who is experienced and knowledgeable in this area of law. Here are some tips on finding the right lawyer to help with your compensation claim:

1. Find a Lawyer Who Specialises in Compensation Claims

When choosing a lawyer, finding one who specialises in compensation claims is crucial. There are many types of personal injury cases, so you want to ensure that the lawyer you choose is familiar with the kind of claim you are making.

For example, if you have been injured in a car accident, you will want to find a lawyer specialising in car accident claims. If your claim is for construction injuries, the Foyle Legal team has the experience you need on your side. Always check to make sure the lawyer you are considering is familiar with the type of claim you are making.

2. Seek an Experienced Lawyer

When making a compensation claim, seeking legal representation from an experienced lawyer is vital. An experienced lawyer will have the knowledge and expertise needed to handle your case and will be able to get you the best possible outcome.

Many lawyers practice personal injury law, so knowing which one to choose can be challenging. It is vital to research and find someone with a lot of experience handling compensation claims similar to yours. Ask for recommendations or read online reviews to find a lawyer with a good reputation.

3. Ask About Their Success Rate

When looking for a lawyer to help with your compensation claim, it’s essential to ask about their success rate. This will give you an idea of how often they have been able to help clients win their cases. You don’t want to go with a low success rate lawyer, as they may not be very good at what they do. Instead, look for a lawyer who has a high success rate so you can be more confident that they will be able to help you get the compensation you deserve.

Also, ask about the specific area of law under which your case falls. Even if a lawyer has a high success rate, that doesn’t mean they’re the right lawyer for you. Every case is different, so it’s essential to find a lawyer with experience with similar cases.

4. Work on Contingency

Working on contingency is one of the best ways to ensure you have the best chance of winning your case. When you work on contingency, you essentially say you will only get paid if you win the case. This can be a bit of a risk for some people, but it also means that the lawyer will do everything in their power to ensure you win.

Working on contingency can be a great way to get the most out of your case and increase your chances of winning. Make sure you find the right lawyer and understand their work before making any decisions.

5. Choose Someone You Can Get Along With

It’s important to choose a lawyer that you feel comfortable with. After all, this is someone who you will be working closely with throughout the entire process. You want to make sure that you find someone you can trust and feel comfortable talking to about your case.

Make sure that they are easy to communicate with and understand what you’re saying. They should be patient and willing to answer any questions that you have. And finally, they should make you feel confident in their ability to help you win your case.

6. Look for Someone with a Professional Office

When looking for a lawyer, finding someone with a professional office is crucial. This will give you an idea of how they conduct their business and treat their clients. You want to make sure that the lawyer you choose is someone who is organised and who takes their work seriously.

The office should be clean and well-kept. The staff should be friendly and helpful. And the lawyers themselves should be professional and knowledgeable. If you can find a lawyer who meets all of these criteria, you can be sure that you’re in good hands.

When looking for a lawyer to help with your compensation claim, it’s important to do your research. Make sure that you find a lawyer with experience with cases like yours and a high success rate. You should also make sure that you feel comfortable with the lawyer and that they have a professional office. By following these tips, you can be sure that you’re choosing the right lawyer to help you with your case.

How Should You React If You Get Hurt At Work

Getting hurt always sucks. Getting hurt at work? That poses a few extra problems in addition to an injury. There are people and reputations involved as well as potential legal proceedings or insurance processes. The following will explore a few things you should do if you’ve been hurt at your place of employment. It’s important to note that if you work from home, but were hurt in the midst of work that you’re required to do for your paycheck, then this counts as being hurt at work.

Seek Appropriate Medical Attention

Before anything else is handled, your injuries need to be addressed. It’s important to note that conditions like shock can allow you to have a less than an accurate sense of how serious your injuries are. While first aid on site is vital, it’s a good idea to seek out a trusted healthcare provider as soon as you can to help ensure that your injuries aren’t left to worsen or that the healing process isn’t slowed by inaction.

If you are uncomfortable with the diagnosis and treatment plan you’re given because it doesn’t align with your experience or because the side effects of many medications are difficult to bear, seek out a second opinion. It can seem like you’re being disrespectful when you decide to speak to another medical professional, but what you’re actually doing is advocating for yourself. Studies have shown that as many as 88% of people who seek a second opinion will come away from their second appointment with a refined or new diagnosis. 21% will have a distinctly different diagnosis.

Likewise, if you find you’ve been disrespected or your experiences brushed off or ignored, seek a second opinion. Optimal treatment and healing happen in a place where you feel you can be honest about your symptoms and needs.

Stay Off Social Media

While it can be tempting to express your emotions via social media, this isn’t recommended. Insurance providers, colleagues, bosses, lawyers, and law enforcement can all access social media and use this information against you in a legal proceeding. Even if you’re simply posting about your nephew’s hockey game, your actions might be interpreted as you not being as injured as you claim to be. Completely avoid social media activities until the injury situation is fully taken care of unless specifically told to do otherwise by a lawyer.

Listen To An Attorney

When it comes to workplace injuries, it’s easy to assume that things will get better quickly and you’ll be back in your old life soon. This isn’t always the case. An experienced lawyer who has dealt with the type of injury you experienced might be able to give you a more accurate image of future costs and needs. One work injury lawyer in Houston, for instance, emphasises that some common construction accidents can result in life-altering outcomes. There are likely expenses and changes that you haven’t anticipated.

It’s always best that you speak to an attorney before you speak with insurance companies. Insurance companies are good at paying out the lowest possible amount to help protect their bottom line. Often, insurance companies accomplish this by encouraging you to take one course of action, knowing full well that taking action in this way legally prevents you from pursuing another course of compensation. An attorney will be able to present you with all your options, so you don’t have to worry about pursuing a course of action that is not in your best interest.

Don’t Forget Mental Health

Surprise injuries, particularly ones that alter the course of your day or life, are extreme experiences. Extreme moments of emotion can often have psychological effects. Pay close attention to your thoughts and emotions, particularly the ones that feel outside of your character. It’s important to note that all of your emotional and mental responses are completely appropriate—your brain is trying to make sense of the incident and prevent you from experiencing something similar in the future. It’s okay to feel what you feel, even if you think you’re not supposed to feel that way. This being said, if your mental state is inhibiting you from a life of quality, you might want to seek out support. This support can come in the form of a trusted friend to whom you can speak the truth or a professional.

The above information should help you deal with workplace injuries effectively. Of course, every injury is different, as is every industry. Take the advice of your lawyer seriously, as he or she will have a better sense of the specifics of your case.