3 Important First Steps
Have you or a loved one recently been diagnosed with serious traumatic brain injury (TBI)? If so, you are not alone. Each year, nearly 3 million people are diagnosed with a TBI, with most (90%) being treated and released from the emergency department without further treatment. Of these, many are left with some degree of neurological impairment – and approximately 50,000 die. Although the vast majority of fatal catastrophic brain injuries (~70%) result from automobile accidents, serious traumatic brain injuries resulting in disability and death can also occur as a result of falls, motor vehicle accidents, explosions, birth injuries, workplace injuries, and assaults.
Traumatic brain injuries can leave individuals with serious disabilities that can cause a lifetime of suffering – and the full extent of the damage can take a long time to appear. If you or a family member have been diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury, it is important to take the right steps to safeguard your future. Contact the catastrophic injury legal team at Angotti & Straface Attorneys at Law.
Step 1: Learn As Much As Possible About Traumatic Brain Injury
Learn As Much As You Can About TBI – Traumatic brain injuries do not just affect the injured person. Family members, friends, and coworkers are often left confused and with many questions after a TBI impacts someone they care about. Whether in a coma, persistent vegetative state, minimally conscious state, or conscious, it can be extremely difficult or impossible for the affected individual to communicate basic needs and access proper care. Amnesia, confusion, emotional outbursts, excessive sleepiness, and the inability to concentrate and perform simple tasks can be common for some time even after consciousness is fully regained. By understanding what to expect, you can learn how to best help yourself or your loved one in his recovery.
To learn more, visit the Brain Injury Association of America.
Step 2: Access Appropriate Medical Care for Traumatic Brain Injury
Get Involved: Follow Up with All Medical Treatments – Each case of TBI is unique and involves varying degrees of medical care; however, most individuals in recovery from a serious brain injury will require a team approach that may include a neurologist, rehabilitation therapist, surgeon, pulmonologist, psychiatrist, and case manager, as well as other medical specialists. Although it may seem overwhelming, it is important to follow up with all tests, procedures, and medical treatments to achieve the best possible recovery. Be sure to ask and get answers to your TBI-related questions from those who know your personal situation best – your medical team.
Step 3: Safeguard Your Legal Right to Financial Compensation for TBI
Retain Legal Representation – If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with a severe traumatic brain injury as a result of someone else’s negligence, reckless behavior, or a malicious act, contact Angotti & Straface Attorneys at Law in Morgantown right away. An impact to any area of the brain can result in damage throughout the entire brain – and the true extent of this damage can take a significant period of time to appear. Seizures, bleeding within the brain, language impairment, memory loss, mood swings and emotional difficulties, loss of social skills, hearing and vision impairment, headaches, fluctuations in consciousness, and other serious effects of the brain injury can cause permanent, progressive disability and complications that can result in death. Additionally, survivors of serious traumatic brain may require repeated surgical interventions, medications, and intensive medical treatment for the rest of their lives. Unfortunately, some affected by significant TBI will eventually become unable to independently care for themselves and may require 24/7 personal care and nursing services. The cost of a lifetime of medical interventions for survivors of moderate traumatic brain injuries can easily exceed $3,000,000.00.
Maximum Financial Compensation for Serious Brain Injuries
Most families simply cannot afford to pay for the extreme medical expenses involved with properly caring for a loved one who has suffered a serious traumatic brain injury. Even if you have excellent insurance or adequate personal assets to cover these significant medical expenses, you have a right to pursue compensation for all serious personal injuries caused by the reckless or negligent actions of an at-fault party.
If you have been diagnosed with a serious traumatic brain injury through no fault of your own, or are caring for a loved one with a TBI, contact Angotti & Straface Attorneys at Law in Morgantown right away to find out if you are eligible to pursue compensation for your losses. Since 1952, our legal team has pursued the maximum financial compensation allowed by law for our injured clients throughout West Virginia. If you are unable to come to our office in Morgantown, we will come to your home or hospital bed to provide a free, confidential consultation. Call the experienced attorneys at Angotti & Straface and let us know what happened: (304) 292-4381.