If you or a loved one have sustained a traumatic brain injury, it is imperative to receive the best medical care. After making sure the victim’s condition is stable, it is a good idea to seek the advice of an Illinois brain injury lawyer. Victims of traumatic brain injury (TBI) often face tremendous challenges in recovery. Brain injury rehabilitation is expensive and can be a life-long process with no guarantee of ever being completely healed. A good attorney will be an advocate in this difficult time – defending the victim’s rights and ensuring that those who are responsible for the injury are held accountable.
Traumatic Brain Injury Statistics
According to the brain injury resource organization Brain Injury Association of America, someone receives a traumatic brain injury every 23 seconds in the United States. That’s 1.4 million people every year. Of those, 235,000 are hospitalized and 50,000 die. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that of people hospitalized for TBI, 37,000 are children from 0 to 14 years of age. And every year, 2685 children die from TBI. 3.17 million Americans currently need assistance with everyday activities because of traumatic brain injury.
The most common type of brain injury is a concussion, which means that during the traumatic event, the brain impacted with the hard bone of the skull. On television medical programs, a patient is often diagnosed with a “mild concussion.” Contrary to popular belief, concussion is a traumatic brain injury.
Another condition associated with head trauma is anoxic-hypoxic brain injury. A diagnosis of hypoxic brain injury means part of the brain receives reduced oxygen because of damaged blood vessels. Anoxic brain injury occurs when the damage is so severe that no oxygen reaches part of the brain, essentially killing brain tissue. Choking, drowning, and strangulation are possible causes of anoxic-hypoxic brain injury. However, physician error such as improper anesthetization and errors made during childbirth can also cause these types of injury. When brain injuries are a result of physician negligence, a medical malpractice case may be necessary.
Catastrophic injuries like TBI are most often caused by falls and car accidents. Bicycle riders and motorcycle enthusiasts who don’t wear helmets – or who inadvertently use a defective helmet — have a much greater risk of head trauma in a crash than car occupants.
Do I Have a Brain Injury Claim?
If you or your loved one’s brain injury is the result of someone else’s actions or negligence, you might have a claim. It is important to seek legal advice from an attorney with experience dealing with brain injury cases as soon as possible because there may be a legal limit on how long after an injury a claim can be made. Your brain injury lawyer should be able to guide you through the entire process step by step so you can focus on getting well, or helping your loved one to get well.
What Damages am I Entitled to?
Damages can vary a great deal based on the particulars of each case. Most cases are settled out of court. Only about 5% of personal injury cases go to trial. A competent attorney can help you figure out how much you are entitled to. In the end, if an agreement cannot be reached between the plaintiff and defendant, just compensation can be determined by a jury. The jury takes many elements of a case into consideration when deciding on the proper amount of damages.
This is why you need a lawyer with experience. An experienced attorney will be able to negotiate for a settlement, and if a trial is necessary, make sure the jury has all the relevant facts of the case. A good lawyer will make a strong argument for you getting what you’re entitled to no matter what.
A person suffering from brain injury may have to receive long-term care which can be very expensive. This is why getting the compensation you’re entitled to is so important. On top of that, brain injury can be dramatically life-changing. You or your loved one are entitled to compensation for not only medical expenses, but the loss of quality of life. You should have the best attorney at your side, fighting for you – one with the experience to ensure your rights are protected.
Contact the Chicago Brain Injury Attorneys at Dolan Law Offices
The personal injury attorneys at Dolan Law Offices represent victims of brain injury throughout Illinois and the greater Chicagoland area, including Addison, Arlington Heights, Aurora, Bartlett, Bellwood, Berwyn, Bolingbrook, Buffalo Grove, Burbank, Calumet City, Carol Stream, Chicago, Chicago Heights, Cicero, Crystal Lake, Des Plaines, Dolton, Downers Grove, Elk Grove Village, Elmhurst, Elmwood Park, Evanston, Glen Ellyn, Glendale Heights, Glenview, Gurnee, Hanover Park, Harvey, Hoffman Estates, Joliet, Kankakee, Lansing, Lombard, Mount Prospect, Northbrook, Oak Forest, Oak Lawn, Oak Park, Orland Park, Palatine, Park Ridge, Round Lake Beach, Schaumburg, Skokie, Streamwood, Tinley Park, Warrenville, Wheeling, Wheaton, Waukegan, Weaton, Wilmette, Woodridge, encompassing but not limited to the Cook, DuPage, Lake, McHenry, and Will Counties.
If you have been injured through the action or negligence of another person or company, contact Dolan Law Offices today at 312-676-7600 for a free consultation. No fee is collected unless you win a monetary verdict or settlement.
