A brain injury is one of, if not the worst, type of injury that an individual can suffer from during an accident. If you suffer a brain injury in an accident, you need a Miami brain injury lawyer to help you fight for justice and compensation.
Brain injuries are complex because they are intangible, and the injury itself is unseen. Sometimes brain injuries manifest in obvious ways, such as when a person experiences personality changes, lack of balance, depression, anxiety, diminishing intellectual capacity, etc. Some head injuries are subtler, or they appear gradually over time, which can be an upsetting ordeal for victims and their families.
Because of this, it is easy for brain injuries to get overlooked or minimized by insurance claims adjusters and even the courts. Because of this, you must retain an experienced Miami brain injury attorney if you sustained this type of trauma during an accident. These cases must be handled delicately but persistently so that your injuries are not overlooked or minimized.
If you suffered a brain injury due to the carelessness, recklessness, or negligence of another, call Prosper Shaked Accident Injury Attorneys PA today.
Why Choose Our Miami Brain Injury Lawyers
If you or a loved one has suffered a brain injury in Miami, it is essential to seek the help of an experienced brain injury lawyer to ensure that your rights are protected, and you receive the compensation you deserve. Prosper Shaked, an award-winning Miami personal injury attorney, is dedicated to maximizing the recovery of each and every client and has a proven track record of success in representing those who have been negatively affected by the negligence of others.
Mr. Shaked is passionate about bringing justice to his clients who have been wronged and has made it his life’s work to represent them with integrity, compassion, and a commitment to excellence.
As a Super Lawyers Rising Star, U.S. News Best Lawyers® Ones to Watch, and National Trial Lawyers – Top 40 Under 40, he has been recognized by his peers and legal organizations for his expertise and dedication to helping those in need. These distinctions are a testament to his reputation as a highly-skilled attorney committed to fighting for the rights of his clients.
If you or someone you love has suffered a brain injury in Miami, don’t wait to fight for justice. Contact Prosper Shaked today for a free consultation.
What is a Traumatic Brain Injury?
A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a type of injury that occurs when an external force causes damage to the brain. You can suffer a brain injury in many ways, including car accidents, slip and fall accidents, and sporting events.
The severity and long-term effects of a brain injury can vary depending on the force of the impact and the area of the brain affected. However, even minor TBIs have a significant impact on your life, as well as on your family and loved ones. You may require ongoing medical care, rehabilitation, and support to manage your injury and rebuild your life. In many cases, brain injury victims must deal with permanent and lifelong impairment and disability.
How Common Are Brain Injuries in Miami?
Traumatic brain injuries affect many individuals across the United States, and approximately 1.5 million people suffer from brain injuries every year. These injuries result in hospitalizations for approximately 230,000 individuals and 56,000 deaths. The risk of traumatic brain injuries is highest among children and older adults. Moreover, TBI is the primary cause of injury-related disabilities and fatalities in the country.
Concussions are a form of mild TBI, and according to a 2016 study, an estimated 1.1 to 1.9 million children suffer from them yearly due to falls, accidents, and sports games.
In a recent year, there were 19,851 TBI hospitalizations and 3,852 fatal TBIs in Florida. According to the Brain Injury Association of Florida, in 2017, Miami-Dade County had the highest number of hospitalizations due to TBI among all counties in Florida, with a total of 2,381 cases. Additionally, in the same year, Miami-Dade County reported 251 fatalities related to TBI.
Common Signs of a Brain Injury
Brain injuries can manifest themselves in several ways. Some victims experience symptoms immediately after an accident, and others do not feel the effects for a few days or even weeks and months. These types of head injuries range from mild to debilitating and severe.
If you notice any of these signs after an accident in Miami, it is essential to seek medical help immediately. Do not delay, and do not wait for these symptoms to worsen. Brain injuries can be life-threatening if not diagnosed and treated quickly.
- Headaches
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Dizziness
- Fatigue
- Loss of coordination
- Sensitivity to light
- Vision problems
- Speech problems
- Amnesia
- Concentration problems
- Bleeding in the head or brain
- Comas
- Changes in appetite
- Mood and personality changes
- Ringing in ears
- Confusion
- Changes in sleep patterns
- Depression
- Anxiety
Common Causes of Traumatic Brain Injuries
A common misconception is that a person must be physically struck in the head to experience a brain injury. On the contrary, there are many ways someone could suffer a brain injury in an accident, including through whiplash, which can cause hernias, axonal tears, and blood clots in the brain.
Some of the most common types of cases that involve brain injuries are:
- Car accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Construction injuries
- Truck accidents
- Medical malpractice
- Nursing home falls
- Hospital falls
Violence is a major cause of fatal traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), accounting for 12% of all such cases. This type of violence can include self-inflicted gunshots, homicides, and aggravated assaults.
Slips, trips, and falls are another leading cause of brain injury, accounting for about half of all ER visits. Among seniors, falls are responsible for a staggering 81% of TBIs, while in children, they account for about half of all TBIs.
Car accidents are the third leading cause of TBIs, responsible for many ER visits, hospitalizations, and brain injury deaths for people aged 15 to 34. These accidents can cause several types of brain injuries, such as concussions, contusions, and open head injuries.
Sports-related brain injuries are also on the rise, with most TBIs caused by falls and being kicked during football. Between 2010 and 2016, there were 283,000 ER visits for recreation- and sports-related brain injuries in children, with about 45% of these happening during contact sports such as football, soccer, wrestling, and hockey.
What is My Brain Injury Case Worth?
If you or a loved one has suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI), you may wonder what your case is worth. The value of a brain injury case can range from several thousand to several million dollars, depending on various factors.
- Insurance Coverage. If the person or party responsible for the injury has a high level of insurance coverage, this may increase the value of your case. Additionally, the circumstances of the accident can impact the value, such as if a negligent driver or a defective product caused it.
- Injury Severity. Brain injuries can range from mild concussions to severe, life-altering traumatic brain injuries. The more severe the injury, the higher the potential value of your case.
- Length of Recovery Time. If you require extensive medical treatment, rehabilitation, and time off work, this will increase the value of your case. Additionally, if you cannot return to your job or any employment, this can significantly impact the value of your case.
- Permanent Disability and Impairment. Ongoing medical care and rehabilitation needs, or being unable to return to work, will significantly affect the value of your case.
To evaluate the potential value of your brain injury case, it’s best to consult with an experienced attorney at Prosper Shaked Accident Injury Attorneys, PA. Our Miami brain injury attorneys offer free consultations to help you explore these factors and more. We can provide you with the guidance and representation you need to secure the compensation you deserve.
4 Myths About Traumatic Brain Injuries
There are several myths surrounding traumatic brain injuries that many people believe to be true. Even with the rapid progression of modern medicine and science, the brain and its functions remain somewhat of a mystery. How long recovery takes and to what extent an individual can recover from a traumatic brain injury is hard to predict and must be assessed on a case-by-case basis.
Below is a list of the most common brain injury myths:
- You can’t suffer from a brain injury if you don’t lose consciousness – This idea is false. Not all brain injuries involve someone being knocked out or struck in the head, as previously discussed. Medical testing is the best indicator of whether a brain injury has occurred.
- If a person seems fine, they are fine – Not true. The tangible effects of a brain injury, i.e., physical trauma to the brain itself, are unseen because the brain resides inside the human head. An individual may look “fine” on the outside but still suffer from intellectual, emotional, social, and/or physical issues.
- If a CT scan does not show a brain injury, then there is no brain injury – Also false. CT scans and MRIs show the brain’s structure and can often detect the presence of brain bleeds. A test can appear “normal” while a person has, in fact, sustained cognitive injuries.
- It is impossible to recover from a brain injury – Incorrect. Some brain injuries do cause permanent damage. However, there are many cases in which individuals recover and go on to live happy and healthy lives.
Miami Brain Injury Attorney Offering Free Consultations
It is important to remember that no two brain injuries are the same. The force of impact and location are major factors in predicting the longevity of brain injury aftereffects. When someone has suffered a brain injury due to the carelessness or negligence of another, expensive medical bills often pile up faster than usual. Treating a brain injury usually involves seeing specialists, counselors, and sometimes occupational therapists.
If you or a loved one have suffered a traumatic brain injury, it is imperative that you consult with an attorney to see what your options are for compensation going forward. Suffering from the symptoms of a traumatic brain injury on top of trying to organize your finances and paperwork is more than most people can bear. Let Prosper Shaked take some of this stress off your plate and fight to get you the compensation you deserve. Call our office at (305) 694-2676 today for a free and confidential consultation.