Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are frequently devastating injuries, often altering the trajectory of your entire life. These injuries occur when an external force damages the brain, leading to impairments that can affect cognitive function, physical abilities, emotional regulation, and personality. The consequences of a TBI can persist for years or even a lifetime, requiring ongoing medical care and support.
When someone else’s negligence causes a traumatic brain injury, victims deserve compensation for their losses and access to the resources they need for recovery. An experienced attorney can help TBI victims pursue justice and secure the financial support necessary for long-term care.
Contact Mezrano Alabama Injury and Car Accident Lawyers to schedule a free case evaluation with an experienced Florence personal injury attorney who understands the profound impact TBIs have on victims and their families.
What Is a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)?
A traumatic brain injury occurs when a sudden trauma causes damage to the brain, disrupting normal brain function. TBIs range from mild concussions that may resolve within weeks to severe injuries that result in permanent disability or death. The brain can suffer damage from a direct blow to the head, a penetrating injury, or rapid acceleration and deceleration forces that cause the brain to move violently within the skull.
Leading Causes of Traumatic Brain Injuries
Many traumatic brain injuries result from accidents caused by another party’s negligence or reckless behavior. Leading causes include the following:
- Car accidents
- Commercial truck collisions
- Motorcycle crashes
- Pedestrian accidents
- Slip and fall accidents
- Workplace accidents
- Defective products
- Medical malpractice
Understanding how an injury occurred helps determine liability and identify all potentially responsible parties who should be held accountable for their actions. Your lawyer will thoroughly investigate all potential defendants to maximize your recovery.
Long Term Effects of a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
The long-term effects of traumatic brain injury can manifest across multiple domains of functioning, significantly diminishing quality of life for survivors. TBI long-term effects include:
- Cognitive issues affecting memory, focus, and processing speed
- Physical problems like chronic headaches, seizures, or post-traumatic epilepsy
- Emotional changes, including anxiety, depression, and irritability
- Communication difficulties with speech or understanding language
- Sleep problems such as insomnia or excessive fatigue
- Sensory changes, including vision loss, hearing problems, or tinnitus
- Impaired executive function affecting work, finances, and independence
The long-term effects of traumatic brain injury in adults often worsen over time rather than improve, making early intervention and comprehensive treatment plans critical for maximizing recovery potential. At Mezrano Alabama Injury and Car Accident Lawyers, we work with experts to ensure comprehensive compensation.
Legal Options for TBI Victims in Alabama
Alabama law provides multiple avenues for TBI victims to seek compensation and support when their injuries result from another party’s wrongful conduct. A Florence personal injury lawyer can evaluate the circumstances of your case and guide you to the best path forward for securing a settlement.
Personal Injury Claim
Filing a personal injury lawsuit allows TBI victims to pursue damages from the individuals or entities responsible for their injuries. Available damages include:
- Economic Damages: These compensate for quantifiable financial losses such as medical expenses, rehabilitation costs, lost wages, diminished earning capacity, and necessary modifications to homes or vehicles. TBI victims often require lifelong care that costs millions of dollars over their lifetime.
- Non-Economic Damages: Compensation for pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and loss of consortium addresses the intangible but profound ways TBI affects victims and their families. These damages recognize that the injury’s impact extends far beyond medical bills.
- Statute of Limitations: Under Alabama Code § 6-2-38, injury victims generally have two years from the date of injury to file a personal injury lawsuit. Missing this deadline typically results in losing the right to pursue compensation in court, making prompt legal action essential.
Alabama Code § 6-5-410 also allows TBI victims to seek punitive damages when the defendant’s conduct was wanton, reckless, or malicious. Punitive damages provide additional accountability for particularly egregious behavior.
Workers’ Compensation Claim
Workers who sustain traumatic brain injuries on the job may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits regardless of fault. These benefits cover medical treatment, a portion of lost wages, and vocational rehabilitation services. However, workers’ compensation typically does not cover pain and suffering, and the system limits the amount of wage replacement available.
Social Security Disability Application
TBI victims who can no longer work due to their injuries may qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI). The Social Security Administration (SSA) recognizes that severe TBI can prevent individuals from engaging in substantial gainful activity. Applicants must provide extensive medical documentation demonstrating the severity and duration of their impairments.
Why Hiring a Traumatic Brain Injury Lawyer is Vital
The complexity of TBI cases, such as valuing the long-term effects of traumatic brain injury, and the high stakes involved, make legal representation essential for protecting victims’ rights and interests. An experienced attorney provides:
- Thorough Investigation: The Florence personal injury attorneys at Mezrano Alabama Injury and Car Accident Lawyers gather evidence, interview witnesses, consult with medical professionals, and work with accident reconstruction experts to build compelling cases. We identify all liable parties and insurance policies that may provide coverage.
- Accurate Valuation: Calculating the full value of a TBI claim requires understanding current and future medical needs, lost lifetime earning capacity, and the profound impact on quality of life. Attorneys work with life care planners and economists to ensure no damages are overlooked.
- Skilled Negotiation: Insurance companies routinely undervalue TBI claims or deny them entirely. Our experienced lawyers negotiate aggressively to secure fair settlements that reflect the true cost of these catastrophic injuries.
- Trial Readiness: When settlement negotiations fail, attorneys prepared to take cases to trial often achieve better outcomes. Insurance companies settle more favorably when they know the victim’s lawyer has the resources and skill to win before a jury.
The long-term effects of traumatic brain injury demand comprehensive legal strategies that account for decades of medical care, lost opportunities, and diminished quality of life. Don’t wait to speak with a qualified TBI lawyer who can assess your claim and determine a strategy for obtaining maximum recovery.
Consult an Experienced Alabama Traumatic Brain Injury Lawyer Now
Traumatic brain injuries change lives forever, creating needs that extend far into the future and expenses that accumulate over decades. Call Mezrano Alabama Injury and Car Accident Lawyers or reach out online to schedule a free case evaluation with a reputable TBI attorney in Alabama today. The legal team will review the circumstances of the injury, explain available options, and fight to secure the resources needed for the best possible recovery and quality of life moving forward.
