According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 1.4 million people suffer a traumatic brain injury (also known as a TBI) each year. Of that total, approximately 70,000 victims do not survive due to the severity of the injury. TBIs have differing levels of severity (ranging from mild to severe), but even so-called mild brain injuries can have permanent, life-altering effects on the victim.
If you have been diagnosed with a brain injury caused by another party’s negligence, we are here to help. At Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp, we represent traumatic brain injury victims on a contingency-fee basis, meaning you won’t pay any legal fees unless we win your case. Contact our office for a free case evaluation with one of our dedicated Virginia Beach brain injury lawyers.
What Are the Most Common Causes of Brain Injuries
One of the leading causes of brain injuries is motor vehicle accidents. Collisions involving cars, trucks, motorcycles, and pedestrians often result in a violent jolt or blow to the head. Even with safety features like airbags and seat belts, the brain can move inside the skull during a crash, leading to contusions, hemorrhages, or diffuse axonal injuries. Motorcycle riders and bicyclists face particularly high risks if they do not wear helmets.
Falls are another major cause, especially among the elderly and very young. A slip and fall on wet floors, uneven sidewalks, or icy stairs can lead to a sudden impact to the head. In nursing homes and assisted living facilities, falls are a leading cause of hospitalizations due to head trauma. In workplaces, especially construction or industrial environments, falls from ladders, scaffolding, or roofs can result in catastrophic brain injuries.
Sports-related injuries also account for a significant number of brain trauma cases. Contact sports such as football, soccer, boxing, and hockey pose a risk for repeated concussions or more severe TBIs. While protective gear helps, it cannot fully prevent the brain from colliding with the inside of the skull during high-impact activities.
Assaults and acts of violence, including domestic abuse, gunshot wounds, and shaken baby syndrome, can also result in severe brain injury. In these cases, the force is often intentional and leads to both physical and psychological trauma.
Lastly, medical conditions such as strokes, aneurysms, or infections like meningitis can also cause acquired brain injuries, though these are non-traumatic. Whether from accidents or health conditions, brain injuries require immediate medical evaluation and, in many cases, long-term rehabilitation.
What Are the Life-Altering Effects of a Brain Injury
A brain injury can have profound, life-altering effects that impact nearly every aspect of a person’s physical, emotional, and cognitive well-being. These injuries range from mild concussions to severe traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), and the consequences can persist for months, years, or even a lifetime. The extent of the impact often depends on the severity and location of the injury, but even so-called “mild” injuries can result in lasting challenges.
One of the most significant effects of a brain injury is cognitive impairment. Victims may experience problems with memory, concentration, attention span, and decision-making. Simple tasks like managing a calendar or following directions can become overwhelming. In more severe cases, individuals may struggle with language skills, problem-solving, or the ability to process information at a normal speed.
Physical limitations are also common after a brain injury. These may include headaches, dizziness, fatigue, motor coordination issues, and in some cases, paralysis or loss of mobility. Vision and hearing can also be affected. Some individuals require assistance with basic activities like eating, walking, or bathing, significantly impacting their independence.
Emotionally, brain injury survivors often experience mood swings, depression, anxiety, irritability, or personality changes. A person who was once outgoing and calm may become withdrawn or volatile. These emotional shifts can be distressing for both the injured individual and their loved ones, leading to strained relationships and social isolation.
The long-term consequences may also extend to employment and financial stability. Many brain injury survivors are unable to return to their previous jobs or work at all. This can result in lost income, reduced quality of life, and increased dependence on family or caregivers. The cost of ongoing medical treatment, rehabilitation, and therapy only adds to the burden.
What Are the Costs of TBI Treatments?
Treating, rehabilitating, and caring for people struggling with TBIs costs the United States roughly $30 billion each year. In fact, the lifetime costs, on average, for an individual with a TBI are between $85,000 and $3 million, and possibly more. The one-year cost of treating a mild TBI can range from $27,260 to $32,760 or more per case.
For moderate to severe TBI, costs per case can escalate to between $268,900 and $408,520 or higher. The Journal of Trauma Injury, Infection, and Critical Care estimated that the direct medical cost for a severe TBI is $85,600, with a hospitalization cost of $5,650 per day.
You may be thinking, “That is a lot of money, but I have health insurance.” Well, even people with health insurance will likely encounter a massive set of medical bills. For example, a case study revealed that the direct costs to a TBI per patient for treatment were between $98,745 and $167,098. And these are just the medical costs. This does not even factor in the lost income that could have been generated by the TBI victim, their pain and suffering, mental anguish, loss of enjoyment of life, and so forth.
What Are the Benefits of Hiring a Brain Injury Lawyer?
Hiring a brain injury lawyer can make a critical difference in the outcome of a personal injury claim. Brain injuries are complex, often involving long-term medical care, lost income, and a diminished quality of life. A skilled attorney with experience in brain injury cases understands both the legal and medical intricacies and can advocate for the full compensation the victim needs to move forward.
One key benefit of hiring a brain injury lawyer is access to expert resources. An experienced attorney will work with medical professionals, neurologists, and life-care planners who can document the extent of the injury and the future costs associated with treatment, therapy, and care. This expert testimony is essential when proving the severity of the injury in court or during settlement negotiations.
A lawyer also handles all communication with insurance companies. Insurers often try to minimize payouts or shift blame onto the injured party. A brain injury lawyer knows how to counter these tactics and will fight to ensure the victim is not pressured into accepting an unfair settlement.
Another benefit is the thorough investigation and evidence gathering that a lawyer can conduct. This includes securing accident reports, witness statements, surveillance footage, and employment records. The attorney will build a compelling case to prove liability and damages.
Finally, a brain injury lawyer offers peace of mind. Navigating a legal claim while coping with the effects of a traumatic injury can be overwhelming. A dedicated attorney will manage deadlines, filings, and negotiations so the injured person and their family can focus on recovery.
Let Our Personal Injury Law Firm Help
A brain injury is often a long-term or permanent injury requiring rehabilitative care. The financial costs of caring for a brain injury victim throughout their life can be overwhelming and carry heavy financial burdens. A Virginia brain injury attorney can pursue financial damages against the at-fault party that will assist your family in providing the care your loved one needs, including future medical care, loss of income, pain, mental anguish, and permanent disability.
Contact the legal team at Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp today to schedule a free and confidential case evaluation and learn how we can help you get the compensation you deserve, like the $600,000 settlement we obtained for one client who suffered a brain injury in a felony hit-and-run crash.
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For over twenty years, Mr. Sharp's law practice has focused on serious personal injury claims, including traumatic brain injury and spinal cord injury claims. He also handles nursing home neglect cases and medical malpractice claims. Mr. Sharp has counseled numerous clients about the complexities concerning litigation of both pediatric and adult brain injury. Mr. Sharp has been awarded the AV Preeminent ranking by Martindale, the highly respected and widely utilized directory of lawyers throughout the world. AV Preeminent status is awarded only to those lawyers who achieve the highest level of success within the legal field and is a testament to the fact that a lawyer's peers and Judges rank him at the highest level of professional excellence. He has also been recognized as a "Best Lawyer" by U.S. News for personal injury, an accolade awarded to only a small fraction of lawyers. Mr. Sharp has also been recognized by Super Lawyers as one of the top personal injury lawyers in Virginia. This recognition is awarded only to those lawyers who have achieved the highest level of success and have been recognized by their peers as demonstrating the highest level of professional excellence.
