Are you or a loved one struggling after suffering a brain injury in West Palm Beach, FL? You may be entitled to compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. An experienced West Palm Beach brain injury lawyer at Hollander Law Firm Accident Injury Lawyers can help you fight to hold the responsible parties accountable.
Since 1996, we’ve been fighting to protect the legal rights of accident victims across South Florida. Our lawyers have recovered tens of millions of dollars in life-changing settlements and verdicts over the years.
We’re well-prepared to fight for your family. To learn more, call our law offices in West Palm Beach, Florida at (561) 556-7873 to schedule a free consultation today or contact us here.
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How Hollander Law Firm Accident Injury Lawyers Can Help With a Brain Injury Claim in West Palm Beach
Proving a brain injury case can be difficult. It can become even more challenging if the victim suffers from memory loss or cognitive impairment. Hiring an experienced lawyer gives you the best chance of recovering the maximum compensation you deserve.
At Hollander Law Firm Accident Injury Lawyers, our West Palm Beach personal injury lawyers have over 28 years of experience. Our founding attorney has been recognized as a Top 25 Medical Malpractice Lawyer by Medical Malpractice Trial Lawyers Association and as a Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum member.
Importantly, we also have a track record of winning complex injury cases like yours. Hiring us means you’ll have a lawyer to:
- Carefully investigate the circumstances surrounding your injury
- Work with leading experts to prove your case
- Calculate the fair value of your claim
- Stand up to the insurance companies if you’re being blamed for getting hurt
- Negotiate to recover the maximum compensation possible
We’d be proud to fight for your family. To learn more, call our experienced West Palm Beach personal injury attorneys today.
Overview of Brain Injuries
Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) happen because of some type of blow to the head. Brain injuries can be either closed or penetrating.
Closed head injuries happen when the brain is shaken within the skull. The contact between the brain and skull can result in bruising, tearing, and damage to the vessels. Open head injuries happen when the skull is penetrated.
The damage can be severe regardless of whether the skull is penetrated. That damage can be focal (combined to one part of the brain) or diffuse (impacting multiple regions).
Generally, the severity of a brain injury will depend on:
- The region of the brain that’s been impacted
- The type of injury
- The severity of the injury
Most doctors classify brain injuries as mild, moderate, or severe using the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS).
Types of Brain Injury
Aside from the injury’s initial classification, there are many different types of open or closed brain injury.
At Hollander Law Firm Accident Injury Lawyers, we handle all types of brain injury cases, including:
- Concussions
- Intracranial hematomas (blood clots in the brain)
- Cerebral contusions
- Coup-contrecoup injuries (two focal injuries)
- Diffuse axonal injury (DAI, which causes damage to the connective fibers in the brain
- Linear skull fractures
- Diastatic skull fractures
- Depressed skull fractures, where pieces of the penetrated skull damage the brain
- Basilar skull fractures, or a break in the base of the brain
Any type of brain damage can be life-threatening if left untreated. If you believe you’ve suffered a brain injury in an accident, seek medical attention quickly.
How Common Are Brain Injuries?
On average, the Center for Disease Control estimates that about 1.5 million Americans suffer a traumatic brain injury each year. Some of those brain injury victims recover quickly and go back to their normal lives.
On the other hand, about 230,000 TBI victims are hospitalized. About 50,000 die. Somewhere between 80,000 and 90,000 survive with a serious long-term disability.
What are the Signs and Symptoms of Brain Injuries?
A wide range of symptoms can indicate you’ve suffered a brain injury. Unfortunately, many of those symptoms don’t show up right away. It’s important to pay close attention to how you’re feeling in the hours, days, and even weeks after an accident.
Any of the following signs and symptoms can indicate that you’ve sustained brain damage:
- Loss of consciousness, even for a few moments
- Dizziness
- Nausea or vomiting
- Blurred vision
- Extreme fatigue
- Loss of balance
- Weakness in the arms and legs
- Trouble speaking or understanding
- Fluid draining from the nose or ears
- Persistent headaches
- Changes in behavior or mood swings
- Inability to concentrate
- Forgetfulness or short-term memory loss
- Loss of taste or smell
- Ringing in the ears
- Seizures
The brain is responsible for sending signals throughout the entire body. It controls our memories and personality. Because of that, the signs and symptoms of a brain injury can be extremely diverse.
If you or a loved one are showing any of these symptoms after an accident, speak with a doctor immediately. You could require medical treatment even if you’ve only suffered mild head trauma.
What are the Long-Term Consequences of Brain Injuries?
A brain injury can also have a wide range of long-term consequences. The region of the brain that was damaged will determine the types of long-term consequences you may experience.
Some brain injury victims suffer:
- Memory loss
- Loss of motor skills
- Personality changes
- Cognitive disabilities
- Loss of speech
- Vision loss
- Seizure disorders
- Pain
- Loss of inhibitions
- Coma
It’s possible to recover from a TBI without any serious long-term damage. However, some victims do suffer permanent injuries. Brain injuries also have the potential to be fatal. If you or a loved one have been injured, don’t hesitate to reach out to our West Palm Beach brain injury attorneys for a free case review today.
What Causes Most Brain Injuries?
According to CDC research, the most common causes of traumatic brain injuries in the U.S. include:
- Motor vehicle accidents, including motorcycle, car accidents, and truck accidents
- Slip and fall accidents
- Violence, including gunshot wounds and suicide
- Sports accidents
- Being struck by an object
Often, TBI occurs because of:
- Pedestrian accidents
- Bicycle accidents
- Boating accidents
- Cruise ship accidents
- Construction accidents
- Workplace accidents
- Defective products
- Medical malpractice
- Nursing home abuse and neglect
- Explosions
- Exposure to toxic chemicals
Most often, brain injuries happen because someone was negligent. The person whose careless or reckless acts caused your brain injury should be held accountable. To learn more about your legal rights and options, call our lawyers in West Palm Beach for a free case evaluation today.
What is My West Palm Beach Brain Injury Case Worth?
There are many factors that could influence the value of your personal injury claim. It can cost anywhere from around $85,000 to $3 million to treat a brain injury over the course of a lifetime. In fact, the average unemployment rate for a brain injury victim is 60% two years after the accident.
Before you accept any insurance settlement, it’s important to have an experienced lawyer review your case.
Some questions our West Palm Beach traumatic brain injury lawyers will ask when evaluating the value of your case include:
- How severe is your injury?
- Will you make a full recovery?
- Will you be able to earn the same amount as before the accident?
- How much will your medical treatment cost? Will you require ongoing care?
- Did you contribute to the accident?
- How much insurance coverage is available?
Brain damage can seriously impact your quality of life. It’s important to consider all of the ways your life might change because of the injury.
Of course, the insurance company will try to downplay the extent of your injuries. Your lawyer can fight to prevent that tactic from working. Our team at Hollander Law Firm Accident Injury Lawyers would be happy to sit down and discuss your case. Call anytime to learn more.
What Compensation Can I Recover for My Brain Injuries in West Palm Beach, Florida?
Brain injury victims are entitled to compensation for economic damages and non-economic damages.
Your economic damages will include:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Lost income
- Lost future earning capacity
- Rehabilitation
- Long-term care
- In-home modifications
Your non-economic damages include:
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Diminished quality of life
- Loss of your independence
- Loss of consortium
The impact of a brain injury can be far-reaching. It’s important to identify all of your anticipated future costs when negotiating a fair settlement. Our lawyers have handled complex cases like yours before. If you would like to learn more about the types of damages you can pursue, contact us today for a free initial consultation.
How Long Do I Have to File a Brain Injury Lawsuit in Florida?
Under Florida law, the statute of limitations in personal injury cases is two years. If you don’t file a personal injury lawsuit within the two-year timeframe, you forfeit your right to seek compensation.
Note that this statutory deadline used to give at least four years to file an injury claim based on negligence. However, Florida revised the law on March 24, 2023, so if your brain injury occurred after that date, you’ll need to take action within two years.
Contact a West Palm Beach Brain Injury Lawyer for a Free Consultation
At Hollander Law Firm Accident Injury Lawyers, we know how difficult a brain injury can be. You don’t have to go it alone. If you or a loved one were hurt, reach out to an experienced West Palm Beach brain injury lawyer for a free consultation today.
Our personal injury law firm in West Palm Beach, FL also provides:
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