Brain injuries are always unexpected and scary. If you’ve had an accident in Gary, Indiana that caused you to suffer a traumatic brain injury (TBI), you may experience mounting medical costs and a long road to recovery. If your TBI proves severe, it can adversely impact your quality of life — temporarily or even permanently.
A traumatic brain injury lawyer in Gary understands the scope of what you have experienced. The right attorney can help guide you through the legal process in Indiana to receive just compensation.
Getting compensation for a traumatic brain injury
It may take months for the full impact of your TBI to present itself. If another party is responsible for your brain injury, feelings of frustration and a desire for justice can become overwhelming. You might long to focus solely on your recovery and wonder how you can pursue a compensation claim.
Although an insurance company may pay for your immediate medical bills, you could find large insurance companies reluctant to pay you for the pain and suffering you’ve endured. You should focus on your journey to healing, and allow a lawyer to fight for your settlement.
How can a traumatic brain injury lawyer help?
After you’ve been diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury, you may find your life significantly altered. You’ve experienced emotional, financial, mental, and physical hardship as a result of your accident. Regardless of the severity of your TBI, you need peace in the knowledge you’ll receive the compensation you’re owed.
If the insurance company refuses to pay for your injury and denies or offers a low settlement for your claim, it may be time to consult a lawyer.
A traumatic brain injury lawyer in Indiana can handle your legal paperwork and offer you consultation on the merits of your case. When you retain empathetic, expert counsel, we can do the following for you:
- Explore the merits of your case
- File all pertinent paperwork with the court
- Gather forensic evidence and documentation of your injury
- Record testimony from experts and eyewitnesses
- Mediate all meetings and negotiations with the insurance company
- Represent you in court should you fail to reach a settlement
You need a lawyer in Gary who has a proven track record and who is passionate about fighting for their clients.
What are the common causes of traumatic brain injuries?
When someone else is at fault for your traumatic brain injury, you may find that the accident occurs before you can protect yourself. Depending on the severity of your injury, you may not experience symptoms right away. Unfortunately, TBIs can lead to months, years, or even a lifetime of significant symptoms.
TBIs can occur as the result of a variety of situations. According to the CDC, TBIs lead to an average of 176 U.S. deaths per day. Accidental falls — including falls at work or in privately-owned stores or restaurants — account for almost half of all TBI hospitalizations. Motor vehicle crashes account for a large percentage of TBIs as well.
Symptoms of traumatic brain injuries
After you’ve suffered a traumatic brain injury, you may not know until you’ve been examined and diagnosed by a medical professional. No two TBIs are identical. It’s vital to know what to look for before you file an insurance claim or contact a traumatic brain injury lawyer in Gary, Indiana.
Mild versus severe traumatic brain injuries
The compensation you’re owed for your TBI depends on the severity of your injury, the medical treatment you require, and your injury’s impact on your life. Before you consult a lawyer, it may help to know if your TBI is considered mild or severe.
Mild TBIs are typically classified as concussions and often can heal after medical treatment. They can include the following symptoms:
- Dizziness
- Headaches
- Light and/or noise sensitivity
- Ringing in the ears
- Difficulty with speech
- Temporary loss of balance or coordination
- Blurred vision
Moderate to severe TBIs often require hospitalization. In severe TBIs, brain tissue may have been penetrated or torn and can cause dangerous brain bleeds.
Common symptoms of a moderate to severe TBI include:
- Comatose stage
- Constant headaches that increase in severity
- Loss of consciousness
- Convulsions
- Drainage of clear fluid from your ears, eyes, or nose
- Eye pupil dilation
- Inability to focus
- Short to long-term memory loss
- Sudden, extreme fatigue or inability to wake after sleep
- Uncontrollable vomiting
Regardless of the symptoms you’re experiencing, if you feel you may have a TBI, it’s important that you seek immediate medical attention. Don’t attempt to self-diagnose. Gather your medical documentation to file an insurance claim, and if you hire a Gary traumatic brain injury attorney, ensure they have access to any bills, diagnosis, hospital stays, and treatments related to your TBI.
What does insurance cover?
If you file a traumatic brain injury claim with an insurance company, you may find they’re hesitant to settle for more than the bare minimum. An insurer may pay for your initial medical costs. However, receiving compensation for ongoing medical care, pain and suffering, and further economic or non-economic damages may require a lawyer to negotiate for you.
How to file a traumatic brain injury claim in Gary, IN
Most insurance companies have a time window for you to file your initial claim. This time limit is often 30 days from the date of your original injury. It’s important to have a medical diagnosis and documentation of potential future treatment before you file your claim. Remember, once you’ve accepted a settlement, you cannot refile an insurance claim.
If you choose to file a legal claim or lawsuit against the party responsible for your injury, it may be a good idea to consult a Gary traumatic brain injury lawyer. Although you can legally file a lawsuit on your own, an expert attorney can help you receive the compensation you deserve.
It’s vital to file your claim before the Indiana statute of limitations elapses. Indiana state law IC § 34-11-2-4 mandates that you file your claim within two years of the date of your injury’s onset. However, the law allows for some exceptions to the statute of limitations. For example, if your medical condition as a result of your TBI prevents you from filing a claim in the allotted time, you may still be able to file at a later date.
Yosha Law can fight for you
A traumatic brain injury can lead to catastrophic, life-altering consequences. As emotional, financial, mental, and physical stress mounts, it may feel impossible to focus solely on your recovery. However, if you’ve suffered a TBI, you don’t have to walk the journey to healing alone.
After your traumatic brain injury, the lawyers at Yosha Law can help you in your pursuit of justice. We consider each client a part of our family, and our empathetic lawyers are passionate about helping those who are hurting. We can help you navigate the legal system and fight for your just compensation.
We also offer an initial free case evaluation where we can help you explore the merits of your case. In the aftermath of your TBI, we want to stand in your corner and allow you to concentrate on healing.
