After Sustaining a Life-Altering Injury, You Need a Cook County Brain Injury Lawyer on Your Side
Brain injuries can cause mild to debilitating symptoms, depending upon the location and severity of the damage to the brain and can affect each person differently. The injuries are costly as well. Serious cases cause permanent impairment and can cost an estimated $15 million or more in lifetime expenses. Those whose loved ones have suffered a brain injury because of someone else’s negligent or reckless acts should consider speaking with a Cook County brain injury lawyer right away. Your loved one may be eligible for financial restitution that can help pay for much-needed therapy and on-going medical care.
Ways Brain Injuries Are Acquired
Some brain disorders or conditions are congenital or acquired as a result of disease, such as cancer. Many cases are acquired, though, in traumatic incidents. Our firm has handled numerous brain injury cases for clients over the past 30 years, stemming from various kinds of accidents. Below are some of the ways victims often sustain brain injuries.
- Car, truck and bus accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Boating and jet ski accidents
- Pedestrian and bicycle accidents
- Sporting incidents
- Birth injuries
- Falls from heights
- Daycare and school accidents
- Slip and fall accidents
- Work accidents
- Being struck by an object
- Elder abuse
- Assaults and shootings
How a TBI Can Affect a Person’s Life
Brain injuries can result in irreversible damage, and there is currently no cure. Treatment entails preventing complications and helping the individual learn new ways of dealing with the condition. A brain injury can affect every corner of a person’s life, including his or her physical condition, relationships, career, personality and entire future. Below are some of the ways a brain injury can affect a patient.
- Physical – Patients may experience headaches, sensory changes such as loss of smell, vision issues (double vision, loss of vision, blurred vision), reduced coordination and balance, weakness, and fatigue.
- Cognitive – Cognitive issues can include an inability to concentrate, memory loss, inability to learn new things, slowed thinking, speech problems, and becoming easily confused or agitated.
- Emotional – Brain injury patients often have a hard time dealing with their injury. Depression, aggression, mood swings, restlessness, lethargy, and acting inappropriately are not uncommon.
Given the potential symptoms and manifestations of a brain injury, patients’ entire lives can be flipped upside down. It’s difficult, if not impossible, to hold a job if your thinking is impaired or you cannot communicate properly. Personality changes, emotional issues, and the stress of the injury tend to weigh on patients’ personal and professional relationships, as well.
The Financial Impact of a Brain Injury
Brain injuries require various types of treatments and rehabilitation, usually for a long period – the cost of which can be simply staggering. The Brain Injury Association of America explains: “For some, brain injury is the start of a lifelong disease process. The injury requires access to a full continuum of medically necessary treatment and community-based supports furnished by interdisciplinary teams of qualified and specialized clinicians working in accredited programs and appropriate settings.”
The cost of treatment combined with the loss of income can devastate an individual or family financially. It’s important to look into all possible sources of funds to have access to quality care. If the injury arose out of an accident caused by another party’s negligence, you may be able to file a claim or lawsuit and recover your damages.
For example, if your loved one suffered a severe traumatic brain injury in an accident caused by a drunk driver, you likely would file a suit against the driver. Likewise, if your loved one was hurt when merchandise fell from a shelf and struck him or her, the store might be liable for damages.
You’ll want to discuss your case with a local injury attorney to determine if you qualify to file a claim or lawsuit to cover or offset your expenses. To speak to a Cook County brain injury lawyer, call Buttafuoco & Associates at 1-800-NOW-HURT for a free consultation.
