traumatic brain injury

Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are among the most severe injuries a person can sustain in a Huntsville, Alabama, accident. TBIs can leave victims with lasting brain damage, causing physical and cognitive impairment for life. For that reason, it is crucial to work with a skilled brain injury lawyer who can help you seek the maximum compensation you need for your losses, including past and future medical treatment and care.

If you suffered a blow to the head causing a traumatic brain injury in an accident that was someone else’s fault, contact Morris, King & Hodge, P.C., for a free consultation with one of our knowledgeable and compassionate personal injury lawyers. We want to help you seek the treatment needed for your injury, explain your options for pursuing compensation, and walk you through the legal process so you know what to expect.

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Top Reasons to Work with Our Huntsville TBI Attorneys

Morris, King & Hodge, P.C., has represented injured people throughout North Alabama since 1966. Over the years, our personal injury attorneys have secured millions for clients through negotiated settlements and trial verdicts, including multiple settlements exceeding $1 million.

Whether your brain injury was caused by a motor vehicle accident, a slip-and-fall, a workplace accident, or some other cause, our lawyers are committed to helping you seek the compensation you need. To learn more about what it is like to let our team handle your case, we encourage you to check out our client reviews and testimonials. For example, one of our past clients wrote:

“Mr. Joe King represented my wife and me in an automobile accident claim. From our first meeting, he exhibited legal knowledge, dedication, and professionalism with regard to our case. He made every effort to explain the litigation process and our options along the way. In general, a very caring and competent legal team.” – G.W.

What Is a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)?

A traumatic brain injury occurs when the brain strikes the inside of the skull, often due to a blow to the head or violent shaking. These injuries can result in brain bleeding and swelling, leading to a wide variety of symptoms and potential long-term or permanent effects.

Any time you suffer a blow to the head, it is important to get checked by medical professionals so they can determine if you have sustained a brain injury. The earlier you begin treatment for a brain injury, the less likely it is that you will experience lasting damage. However, the type and severity of the brain injury also play a crucial role in determining this.

A traumatic brain injury causes a temporary or permanent disruption of brain function. It is a broad term that encompasses various types of injuries that occur to the brain. A TBI may affect one area of the brain, or it may extend throughout the brain. An individual with a TBI may have an open head injury, in which the skull is pierced or shattered, or a closed head injury, in which the injury is internal. Severe brain injuries result in an extended loss of consciousness or coma for days, weeks, or longer.

Concussion

A mild traumatic brain injury is known as a concussion. It is the most common form of brain injury, accounting for about 75 percent, according to the Alabama Department of Rehabilitation. A person who receives any hard knock to the head or strikes his or her head against a hard surface may sustain a concussion. The individual may remain conscious or lose consciousness briefly. A person with a concussion may have symptoms such as confusion, slurred speech, blurry vision, loss of balance, vomiting, and loss of consciousness. A patient’s specific symptoms dictate whether the doctor diagnoses the concussion as mild, moderate, or severe.

Contusion

Any hard knock to the head or violent shaking of the head may cause the brain to bang against the inside of the skull and be bruised. Bruises to brain tissue are a type of brain injury known as a cerebral contusion. Contusions involve bleeding in the area of the brain that received the impact. A contusion may expand in the days after the initial injury and cause pressure on the brain, affecting brain function. Larger contusions may require surgery.

Diffuse Axonal Injury

Diffuse axonal injury is a widespread injury to nerve fibers throughout the brain. Rapid acceleration and deceleration of the head may cause widespread shearing or tearing of the nerve fibers known as axons that relay nerve signals. A diffuse axonal injury disrupts the brain’s communications network. Car crashes, falls, and shaken baby syndrome are common causes of diffuse axonal injuries. A brain injury victim who sustains a diffuse axonal injury typically loses consciousness for six hours or longer and may suffer brain damage. Brain swelling may increase pressure inside the skull, reducing the blood supply to the brain and increasing the injury.

Coup-Contrecoup Injury

In some accidents involving higher velocity or blunt force, the force of the impact may cause the brain to strike the inside of the skull, then strike the opposite side of the skull. An individual may sustain bruises on opposite sides of the brain. This type of brain injury is referred to as coup-contrecoup injury.

Penetrating Head Trauma

Penetrating head injuries occur when an object, such as a bullet, a knife, a screwdriver, a nail, or any other object, pierces the skull. Gunshot wounds are a leading cause of penetrating head injuries.

Compensation Available in Huntsville Brain Injury Cases

The compensation for brain injuries that victims can seek includes money to offset their economic and non-economic losses. It is crucial to work with an experienced lawyer who can help you seek fair compensation through a TBI accident lawsuit, not only for your past expenses, but also for the future impact your injury will have on your life.

Compensation for Economic Losses

Economic losses are losses with a tangible financial value. Examples of economic losses include past and future medical expenses, lost wages, reduced future earning capacity, and the cost of long-term care.

Compensation for Non-Economic Losses

Non-economic losses are those without a clear-cut financial value, including the physical pain and emotional suffering you experience, the impact your injury has on your daily life, and the extent of your permanent disability. Such losses are every bit as real and as compensable as economic losses, but they are more difficult to calculate and prove. It is vital that you work with an attorney who can empathize with you and help you seek fair compensation for the suffering you experienced.

Additionally, punitive damages may be available in exceptional cases where the wrongdoer acted with malice in causing your brain injury.

Proving Liability in a TBI Lawsuit

Proving liability in a TBI lawsuit can be challenging, as you will need to prove not only that you suffered a TBI, but also that someone else’s negligence caused it. Your medical records will be instrumental in proving the existence, extent, and severity of your brain injury. Meanwhile, evidence such as accident scene photos, security or traffic camera videos, eyewitness statements, and expert testimony can help connect the at-fault party’s actions to your injury.

Our experienced Huntsville brain injury lawyers are ready to work to gather the necessary evidence to build a strong claim while you focus on your recovery.

Common Causes of TBIs in Huntsville

Various types of accidents can result in TBIs. Any time you suffer an impact to the head or your head violently shakes, you could end up with a mild, moderate, or severe brain injury. Some examples of the most common causes of TBIs in Huntsville include:

Signs and Symptoms of a Traumatic Brain Injury

If you experienced head trauma in Huntsville, it is essential to be aware of the signs and symptoms of traumatic brain injuries so you can seek immediate medical attention if you notice them. According to the Mayo Clinic, a mild TBI, such as a concussion, may include symptoms such as:

  • Headaches
  • Dizziness
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Sensitivity to light or sound
  • Memory problems

More severe brain injuries can leave victims with long-term or permanent physical and cognitive disabilities. The sooner you receive medical attention, the stronger your likelihood of making a full recovery or minimizing the severity of lasting effects. Symptoms of more severe brain injuries include:

  • Loss of consciousness
  • Persistent headaches
  • Seizures
  • Weakness or numbness in the extremities
  • Loss of coordination
  • Slurred speech
  • Changes in mood

Deadlines for Filing a Brain Injury Claim in Alabama

Victims of traumatic brain injuries in Alabama have two years to file lawsuits against the parties responsible for their injuries. You must file your lawsuit within this period or risk the courts barring you from seeking the compensation you need. While two years may seem like plenty of time, it is vital to begin working with our Huntsville personal injury attorneys on your traumatic brain injury claim as soon as possible so we have time to gather the necessary evidence and build a strong case.

Contact Our Huntsville Traumatic Brain Injury Lawyers Today

If you sustained a traumatic brain injury in Huntsville, Alabama, contact the law firm of Morris, King & Hodge, P.C., for a free consultation with an experienced brain injury attorney. During your initial consultation, we will analyze your situation, explain your options for seeking financial recovery, and answer any questions you have about the legal process.