Brain Injury Lawyer
Brain injuries can be painful, traumatic, and life-altering. When they’re the result of someone else’s reckless or careless behavior, they can be especially devastating. If you’ve suffered a brain injury due to someone else’s negligence, you deserve compensation from the responsible party. A Phoenix brain injury lawyer can help you fight for the justice you deserve.
At Silkman Law Firm Injury & Accident Lawyer, we are respected advocates for people who have been seriously injured in accidents that could have been prevented. We have earned a reputation for helping victims of brain injuries recover maximum compensation for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other losses. We provide compassionate service and personalized representation for each client we serve.
If you suffered a brain injury in an accident that was caused by someone else, reach out to our law firm today for a free initial consultation. An experienced Phoenix brain injury lawyer can review your case, answer your questions, and explain your options for recovering compensation.
When Can You File a Personal Injury Claim After a Traumatic Brain Injury?
You may be entitled to file a personal injury claim if you have suffered a traumatic brain injury that was caused by someone else. For example, you could file a claim if you were injured in a car accident that was caused when another motorist ran a red light, or if you slipped and fell on someone else’s property because they didn’t fix a broken floor.
If you have suffered a brain injury and believe someone else is to blame, an experienced personal injury attorney can determine whether you have a case. Contact Silkman Law Firm Injury & Accident Lawyer in Phoenix, AZ today for a free consultation.
Common Causes of Brain Injuries in Arizona
At Silkman Law Firm Injury & Accident Lawyer, we have successfully handled a wide range of brain injury cases.
Examples of accidents that can lead to a brain injury claim include:
- Car accidents
- Truck accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Bicycle accidents
- Bus accidents
- Boat accidents
- Premises liability accidents
- Slip and fall accidents
- Medical malpractice
Any accident that results in trauma to the head can result in a brain injury. If someone else was responsible for causing the accident, you could be entitled to compensation.
Demanding Full Compensation for a Traumatic Brain Injury
Compensation in a brain injury claim can cover a variety of expenses and losses, such as:
- Costs of medical treatment, including hospital visits, surgeries and other medical procedures, doctor’s appointments, physical and occupational therapy, and mental health therapy
- Costs of long-term care for permanent disabilities or chronic health conditions
- Lost wages or income caused by missing time from work
- Loss of earning capacity caused by permanent disabilities or health conditions that impact your ability to work
- Physical pain and emotional trauma
- Lost enjoyment or quality of life
Symptoms of a Traumatic Brain Injury
Traumatic brain injuries can result in a wide range of symptoms, depending on the severity of the particular injury. Symptoms can appear immediately following an injury, or they may take days, weeks, or even longer to manifest.
Examples of symptoms of a mild traumatic brain injury include:
- Loss of consciousness for a few seconds or up to a few minutes
- Headaches
- Nausea and/or vomiting
- Fatigue/drowsiness
- Speech issues
- Dizziness or loss of balance
- Blurred vision
- Ringing in the ears
- Bad taste in the mouth
- Sensitivity to light or sound
- Feeling dazed or confused
- Memory or concentration issues
- Mood changes/mood swings
- New feelings of depression or anxiety
- Sleep problems
Symptoms of a moderate to severe traumatic brain injury may include:
- Loss of consciousness for several minutes to several hours
- Coma
- Persistent or worsening headache
- Persistent nausea and vomiting
- Convulsions or seizures
- Draining of clear fluid from the nose or ears
- Dilated pupils
- Inability to be woken up from sleep
- Loss of coordination
- Weakness or numbness in fingers and toes
- Slurred speed
- Agitation or combativeness
Time Limit for Filing a Brain Injury Lawsuit in Arizona
The statute of limitations in Arizona typically gives you two years from the date of your injury to file a lawsuit against the liable party. If you wait too long to take action, the court can dismiss your case.
A lot of work and time goes into building a case for compensation after a brain injury. You should seek legal advice as soon as possible to ensure time does not run out on your claim.
Treatment for Traumatic Brain Injuries
Treatment for a traumatic brain injury varies based on the severity of the injury. Mild traumatic brain injuries, such as concussions, may require no treatment other than rest and time to allow the injury to heal on its own. People who suffer a mild TBI can also take over-the-counter pain relievers for headaches. However, anyone who has sustained a mild traumatic brain injury must be monitored in the days following the accident for any persistent or worsening symptoms that might signal a more serious injury.
Moderate to severe traumatic brain injuries require immediate medical attention. Emergency care following a traumatic brain injury is focused on ensuring adequate blood and oxygen flow to the brain and preventing further injury to the brain, head, and neck. Treatment options may include:
- Medications, including anti-seizure drugs, diuretics to reduce the amount of fluid in tissues and help with swelling, or coma-inducing drugs to reduce the brain’s need for oxygen as it heals
- Surgery, which may be performed to remove blood clots, stop bleeding, repair skull fractures, or open a window in the skull to relieve pressure on the brain
Once a traumatic brain injury has stabilized, treatment shifts to rehabilitation. Rehab can help the victim of a moderate or severe TBI regain the ability to perform the activities of daily life and live as independently as possible. Rehabilitation may include:
- Physical therapy to help with mobility, strength, and range of motion
- Occupational therapy to relearn or improve skills needed to perform daily activities and return to work
- Speech therapy
- Recreational therapy
- Behavioral and mental health therapy to cope with behavioral changes and to deal with related emotional trauma and distress
How a Brain Injury Can Forever Change a Person’s Life
A serious brain injury can have lasting effects on your life, including disabilities and chronic health problems. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the life expectancy of someone who has suffered and recovered from a moderate or severe brain injury is reduced by an average of nine years. Brain injuries can also increase the risk of:
- Fatal seizures (50 times more likely)
- Death from infections (nine times more likely)
- Fatal cases of pneumonia (six times more likely)
Moderate and severe brain injuries also cause chronic health conditions that negatively impact quality of life. The CDC found that, among people alive five years following a brain injury:
- 57 percent were deemed moderate to severely disabled
- 55 percent did not have a job (among those who were employed at the time of their injury)
- 50 percent had been hospitalized again at least once
- 33 percent required assistance with daily activities
- 29 percent abused drugs or alcohol
- 12 percent resided in nursing homes or long-term care facilities
Understanding Arizona Motorcycle Laws
In Arizona, motorcyclists and their passengers must follow certain laws that are intended to help keep them safe. These rules and regulations stipulate that:
- Any rider younger than 18 must wear a helmet while on a motorcycle. Riders must also wear safety glasses, goggles, or a face shield on a helmet.
- Motorcycles must be equipped with a headlamp, factory-installed seats and footrests for the operator and a passenger (if carrying one), and a rear-view mirror.
- All motorcycle operators are required to have a Class M endorsement on their driver’s license.
- A motorcycle is entitled to the full width of a lane, although two motorcycles may ride abreast in the same lane. This means that a vehicle passing a motorcycle must fully move over to the adjacent lane.
- As of Sept. 24, 2022 motorcyclists in Arizona traveling on congested highways are allowed to move between vehicles up to an intersection. However, all traffic must be at a complete stop and the motorcycle operator cannot travel faster than 15 mph.
Alex Silkman
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Alex Silkman is the founder and managing member of Silkman Law Firm Injury & Accident Lawyer. He focuses exclusively on personal injury and wrongful death cases, with the goal of getting truly just results for accident victims and their families...
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