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Traumatic Brain Injury Attorney In Phoenix, AZ
If you were injured with a traumatic brain injury due to someone’s negligence, you could receive compensation for the long-lasting effects it can have on your life. It’s best to consult a Phoenix traumatic brain injury attorney to help you with your legal process and attain the maximum compensation available for your claim. If you’ve been injured in Arizona, you have access to resources and answers that can help you find peace. At Klink Law, PLLC, we have years of experience and can represent you in pursuing the maximum compensation available. Contact us today for a free consultation and let us help you take one less thing off your mind.
Understanding Traumatic Brain Injuries
Car accidents often result in traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) that can range from mild to severe depending on the force and situation of the impact. Mild TBIs usually require a few weeks of recovery time and result in complete recuperation. For severe cases where the impact caused significant damage, however, patients may experience impairments that last a lifetime and greatly affect their way of life.
Did you know that around 1.5 million people experience brain injuries caused by trauma in the United States every year? That means someone suffers such an injury roughly every 21 seconds. These injuries can result in long-lasting effects and often require legal assistance to recover compensation. If you suspect that you have suffered a traumatic brain injury, it is imperative that you speak with an Arizona personal injury attorney who specializes in this type of injury as soon as possible.
Common Causes Of Traumatic Brain Injuries
Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) often occur when a person’s head is subjected to a strong external force, causing the brain to hit the front or back of the skull. This can result in damage to the brain’s electrical wiring and cause short or long-term cognitive impairment, including memory loss and disorientation. Although any accident can cause a TBI, the most common causes are related to external impacts.
- Slip and Falls
- Car accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Truck accidents
- Bicycle accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- Rear-End Accidents
- Boating accidents
- Drowning accidents
- Uber/Lyft accidents
- Violence or gunshot wounds
Traumatic Brain Injury Symptoms
In Arizona, traumatic brain injuries can have significant and long-lasting effects, especially in severe cases that can even result in wrongful death. Although most brain injuries are mild to moderate, they can still have serious consequences for the victim. While milder injuries often resolve themselves within a few days, injuries to the brain are not always deadly. If you or someone close to you has experienced a brain injury because of someone else’s negligence, it is essential to consult with an experienced Phoenix traumatic brain injury lawyer who specializes in traumatic brain injuries. Common symptoms of moderate or mild TBIs may include:
- Dizziness
- Amnesia
- Confusion
- Disorientation
- Lightheadedness
- Blurred vision
- Headaches
- Speech impairments
- Inability to focus or concentrate
- Seizures
- Slurred speech
- Problems with memory
- Inability to taste or smell
- Extreme mood swings and fits of temper
- Permanent confusion or disorientation
- Loss of consciousness
- Permanent coma or vegetative state
States Of Abnormal Consciousness Following A Traumatic Brain Injury
Although many people are aware of the severity of traumatic brain injuries, not everyone knows that there are varying levels of TBIs. Specifically, there are five altered states of consciousness that someone may go through after experiencing a serious brain injury.
1. Stupor
In some cases, an unresponsive person can still have a reaction to a more intense stimulus, such as experiencing pain. Stupor is the most common state associated with serious traumatic brain injuries resulting from car accidents.
2. Coma
A person is considered to be in a coma when they have been unconscious and unresponsive for more than 24 hours. They cannot be awoken by any external stimuli and do not experience normal sleep patterns.
3. Vegetative State
If someone is in a vegetative state, they are unconscious and do not respond to their surroundings, such as light or pain. Yet, they may still have sleep and reflex responses, like making sounds or opening their eyes.
4. Persistent Vegetative State
If a person stays in a vegetative state for over 30 days, it’s called a persistent vegetative state. Research shows that adults have about a 50% chance of recovering during the first six months, while children have a slightly better chance at 60%. But if they remain in this unresponsive state for longer, their chances of meaningful recovery decrease.
5. Locked-In Syndrome
Locked-in syndrome is a condition in which a person is mentally alert and conscious but cannot move because of paralysis in the lower part of their brain and brain stem. Typically, people with this condition use eye movements or blinking to communicate since their ability to move is significantly limited.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Common Are Traumatic Brain Injuries?
According to a recent study by BrainLine, every year 2.8 million people in the United States experience a traumatic brain injury. Among these individuals, 50,000 die due to the injury, and an additional 282,000 require hospital care. Shockingly, traumatic brain injuries account for one-third of all injury-related deaths in the US. Even though nearly 90% of these patients are treated and released from the emergency department, the societal cost of lost productivity due to these injuries comes to around $60 billion per year.
What Are The Symptoms Of A Traumatic Brain Injury?
If you have been in a severe accident, it is important to be aware of the general symptoms of a traumatic brain injury, which can vary depending on the severity of the injury. The Brain Injury Association of America classifies TBIs as mild, moderate, or major, and common symptoms can include:
- A headache that persists and will not go away
- Nausea and vomiting
- Confusion, slurred speech, inability to form sentences
- Eyes are unable to focus
- Lack of balance, difficulty walking
- Memory loss
- Mood swings and abrupt changes in personality
What Is The Pseudobulbar Affect?
The pseudobulbar affect is a neurological disorder that results in sudden bouts of laughing or crying in individuals who have experienced a traumatic brain injury. These outbursts can range from mild, causing embarrassment or irritation, to severe, causing symptoms similar to seizures. As crying is a common symptom, many individuals with this condition are mistaken to be experiencing depression.
Contact A Phoenix Traumatic Brain Injury Attorney Today
Injuries to the brain caused by trauma can have long-lasting effects that may not be noticeable right away. These symptoms can take several weeks or even months to appear after the initial accident, especially when the accident involves head-on collisions or other high-impact incidents. If you or someone close to you has suffered a similar injury, please do not hesitate to contact Klink Law, PLLC. We have a dedicated Phoenix traumatic brain injury attorney for these types of cases who will work tirelessly on your behalf during settlement negotiations and, if necessary, will fight fearlessly for you in court. We offer a free initial consultation to get to know each other and determine the best course of action for your case.
Questions? We Can Help
Based out of Glendale, AZ Klink Law, PLLC focuses on Personal Injury Litigation, Licensing Board Defense, and General Civil Litigation. David Klink takes pride in the opportunity to personally serve his clients and he will take the time to explain the legal process and answer your questions.