- Traumatic Brain Injuries: An Overview
- TBIs Caused by Motorcycle Accidents
- Frequently Asked Questions About Brain Injury Accident Lawsuits
- Get Help From a Manhattan Beach Motorcycle Injury Attorney
Did you know March is Brain Injury Awareness Month? It’s a time to focus attention on brain injuries — how they occur, how they can be prevented, and the challenges persons suffering from a brain injury face. This year’s theme is “My Brain Injury Journey.” The goal of this theme is to encourages brain injury survivors and the people who love or care for them to share their unique experiences.
Traumatic Brain Injuries: An Overview
One of the most severe types of brain injuries are traumatic brain injuries, or TBIs. A traumatic brain injury is a head injury that impairs the normal function of the brain. TBIs can result from a skull fracture, collision with an external force leading to a closed head injury, or penetration by an object that enters the skull, making contact with brain tissue.
Symptoms of a TBI can include:
- Confusion, difficulties with concentrating
- Headaches that get more severe or won’t go away
- Dizziness
- Unconsciousness
- Nausea, vomiting
- Convulsions or seizures
- Enlargement of the pupil (dark center) of one or both eyes
- Difficulty speaking or slurred speech
- Amnesia
- Coma
According to data from the Centers for Disease Control, there are more than 214,000 hospitalizations, and more than 69,000 deaths resulting from TBIs each year in the U.S.
The effects of a TBI vary greatly, depending on the severity of the injury. In less severe cases, an individual may fully recover from their TBI in only a few weeks. However, victims of more severe TBIs may have to deal with the effects of their injuries for the rest of their lives. And sometimes TBIs seem to be bad, but then get better. Or just the opposite — everything seems to be okay, and then the condition takes a turn for the worse.
TBIs Caused by Motorcycle Accidents
Because of a motorcycle’s lack of enclosure and restraints, motorcycle riders face a greater risk of TBIs than drivers of cars and trucks.
The best way to prevent getting a TBI during a motorcycle accident is to always wear a protective helmet. In California, everyone over the age of 17 is required by law to wear a helmet. In addition to wearing a helmet and other protective clothing, other ways motorcycle riders can avoid potentially fatal TBIs include obeying all the traffic laws — especially the speed limits, avoiding riding in bad weather and never, ever riding while impaired because of alcohol or drugs.
A motorcycle accident-related TBI can change a rider’s life forever. Victims can be left with permanent mental and physical impairments. They may be unable to have a normal life ever again. A TBI could even leave the victim in a coma or vegetative state, requiring 24/7 medical care. In worst cases, a TBI can prove fatal.
Frequently Asked Questions About Brain Injury Accident Lawsuits
How long do I have to file a personal injury claim after a brain injury?
The time frame to file a personal injury claim after sustaining a brain injury, known as the “statute of limitations,” varies by state. Generally, the statute of limitations for personal injury claims in California is typically two years from the date of the injury. It’s crucial to consult with a personal injury attorney as soon as possible to ensure your claim is filed within the appropriate time frame and to preserve your right to compensation.
If my brain injury was caused by negligence, how much compensation can I recover?
The amount of compensation you can recover for a brain injury caused by negligence depends on various factors, including the severity of your injury, the impact on your quality of life, lost wages, medical expenses, and future care needs.
Compensation can cover both economic damages (such as medical bills and lost earnings) and non-economic damages (such as pain and suffering and emotional distress). Each case is unique, so it’s important to work with an experienced attorney who can evaluate your specific circumstances and help maximize your compensation.
Should I accept a settlement in a brain injury lawsuit?
Deciding whether to accept a settlement offer in a brain injury lawsuit is a significant decision that should be made with careful consideration of several factors:
– The extent of your current and future medical expenses.
– The impact of the injury on your ability to work and earn an income.
– The emotional and psychological effects of your injury.
– The strength of your case and the evidence supporting it.
Consulting with a personal injury attorney who is experienced in brain injury cases is essential. Your attorney can provide a thorough assessment of your case, negotiate with insurance companies on your behalf, and advise you on whether a settlement offer fairly compensates you for your injuries and losses. If an offer is insufficient, your attorney can guide you through the process of taking your case to trial to seek a better outcome.
Manhattan Beach Motorcycle Injury Attorneys Help Accident Victims
If you or a loved one have sustained a TBI or other serious injury resulting from a motorcycle accident caused by someone else’s negligence, you have a right to seek compensation for the damages resulting from your accident. The Manhattan Beach personal injury law firm of the Law Offices of Scott Dinsmore, APC has been protecting the rights of persons injured in motorcycle and other vehicular accidents in Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach, Hawthorne, Gardena, El Segundo, Torrance, Redondo Beach and other South Bay California communities for more than 30 years. We urge you to contact our offices without delay to speak with a highly experienced Manhattan Beach motorcycle accident lawyer about your case.
The Law Offices of Scott Dinsmore, APC handles all motorcycle accidents and other personal injury cases on a contingency basis, which means there are no upfront fees for our legal representation and we only collect our fee after we’ve won your case.
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