Victims of auto accidents often endure long recoveries from their injuries, slowly making progress back toward their everyday lives. However, those who have suffered a brain injury will have to do much more than heal—they may have to relearn basic information, struggle with personality changes, and teach their bodies how to walk and move again. Victims of traumatic brain injury may have permanent disabilities that affect their ability to provide for their families in the future, or they may never fully recover from the effects of their injury, placing families under significant financial pressure.
Florida Traumatic Brain Injury Victims May Be Severely Underpaid by Insurance Companies
Motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of traumatic brain injury (TBI) in the nation, and they are also the leading cause of death for persons under the age of 45. Unfortunately, auto insurance companies thrive on paying as little as possible on a claim, leaving victims on the hook for future medical costs of an accident. At Browning Law Firm, we do all that we can to maximize our clients’ recoveries, allowing brain injury victims and their families to focus on healing. Whether negotiating with insurance companies or arguing your case in court, attorney Coy H. Browning will fight to see that you receive just compensation for your injury. Call us today to find out how we can help.
Traffic accidents can cause a wide range of traumatic brain injuries, including:
- Concussion. The most common type of TBI is a concussion, which is caused by trauma or sudden impact to the brain. A person with a concussion may lose consciousness, or he may seem only dazed after the injury. Many concussions will heal on their own with time, but some victims can suffer permanent impairment.
- Contusion. A bruise on the brain itself is called a contusion, and is often caused by a direct blow to the head, such as when a driver’s skull strikes the dashboard or headrest. This can result in bleeding in the brain (hematoma), nerve damage, or other complications, and may require surgery.
- Coup-contrecoup. Rear-end accidents are a common cause of coup-contrecoup injuries, which occur when the brain strikes the inside of the skull upon impact, and strikes the opposite side of the skull as momentum reverses. This whiplash effect can double the effects of a head injury, as the victim may suffer multiple contusions or bleeds.
- Coma. High-impact car crashes can place a victim in a coma. Comas are the brain’s response to severe trauma, essentially allowing the brain to shut down all non-essential functions while it heals. As a person recovers, he or she may drift in and out of consciousness, making small improvements day by day. However, some victims may not regain consciousness at all, and will not respond even if their bodies are subjected to painful stimuli. It is difficult for doctors to predict when a person will come out of a coma, and the permanent effects of the trauma will not be known until the victim regains consciousness.
- Vegetative state. A vegetative state differs from the coma because the patient will respond to some stimuli, but the patient is unable to think consciously or communicate with others. A victim may make some eye movements or bodily reactions, but the response to stimuli is physical and does not involve a conscious state. A person may never recover from this state, placing his or her family with the burden of paying for lifelong medical care.
We Can Help You Get the Compensation You Need for Lifelong Medical Costs
When brain injury victims have permanent physical, cognitive, or behavioral impairments, their medical bills will commonly exceed the limits of their insurance coverage. In these cases, victims can seek additional compensation from an at-fault driver for medical bills and lost wages, as well as compensation for pain and suffering. If a victim is unable to sue on his or her own behalf, family members can pursue a case to recoup injury costs, as well as compensation for loss of consortium and companionship from the family member.
As a former Florida State Trooper, attorney Coy H. Browning has seen the damage high-impact car crashes can do to victims and their families. Not only has our firm reached multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements for accident victims throughout Florida, we do not charge any legal fees unless we are able to secure compensation for your suffering. If you or someone you love is a victim of a traumatic brain injury as a result of a motor vehicle accident, call us today to discuss your legal options.