Manchester Traumatic Brain Injury Lawyers
Compassionate representation for brain injury victims in Connecticut
Head injuries are common and can be devastating. Each year, there are an estimated 2.5 million people in the United States who experience a traumatic brain injury (TBI). Approximately 57,000 of these cases involving men, women, and children end in the death. Those who are fortunate enough to survive may experience complications that have long-term or permanent effects on their physical and mental health, relationships, and finances.
If you or your loved one is facing an uphill battle with a traumatic brain injury caused by someone else’s negligent or reckless actions, consult with the caring Manchester injury attorneys at Barry, Taylor & Levesque, LLC to discuss the best options for holding the wrongdoer responsible.
Causes and symptoms of brain injuries
Traumatic brain injuries occur when your head is struck by an external force resulting in internal swelling, tearing, bleeding or bruising to your brain. Athletes participating in contact sports, car accidents, falling and striking your head on a hard surface all can be root causes of TBI.
Brain injuries can be open, where a skull fracture has occurred, or closed, where the trauma is contained within an intact skull adding more danger as the brain swells with nowhere to go.
Concussions can cause severe brain injuries due to the force of your head being snapped back and forth from an impact during a sports activity, a car accident, or a fall.
Another cause of TBI is the tearing of brain tissue after a violent car accident or other hard hit to the skull, leading to nerve damage that hinders the brain signals necessary for certain bodily functions to occur.
Symptoms of traumatic brain injury
If you have been engaged in activities or sustained injuries that are likely to cause a TBI, watch for these signs and symptoms that you might be experiencing and seek medical attention immediately:
Physical
- Loss of consciousness for a few seconds to a few minutes
- No loss of consciousness, but a state of being dazed, confused or disoriented
- Headache
- Nausea/vomiting
- Fatigue/drowsiness
- Problems with speech
- Difficulty sleeping
- Sleeping more than usual
- Dizziness/loss of balance
- Unequal pupil size
- Nystagmus
Sensory
- Blurred vision
- Ringing in the ears
- A bad taste in your mouth
- Changes in your ability to smell
- Sensitivity to light or sound
Cognitive/Mental
- Memory or concentration problems
- Mood changes/mood swings
- Feeling depressed or anxious
- Automatism
- Combativeness
- Atypical behavior
Don’t become a statistic
Traumatic brain injuries affect the lives of many people in the United States every day. With so many causes being attributed to them, it is likely that few people won’t be touched by someone affected by a brain injury at some point in his or her life. According to caregiver.org:
- 5.3 million Americans – approximately 2% of the population – live with disabilities related to brain injury
- Men are twice as likely as women to experience a TBI
- TBI is most common among those in the 15–24 year old age group and 75 and older age group
- TBI is a contributing factor to one-third of all injury-related deaths in the United States
TBI is most caused by:
- Falls (40.5%)
- Unintentional blunt trauma (15.5%)
- Motor vehicle accidents (14.3%)
- Violence (10%)
Manchester TBI attorneys helping caregivers and families
When you or your loved one endures a TBI, drastic life changes are to be expected depending upon the severity of the injury. You can’t anticipate what lies ahead but being prepared can help relieve some of the stress you and your family constantly experience.
Just some of the conditions your loved one may need assistance managing include hearing loss, loss of motor skills, verbal skills, and memory that may never be fully recovered - all of which may be signs of epilepsy, Alzheimer’s disease, and Parkinson’s disease that can occur from a TBI.
As a family member, if you have become a caregiver, you may experience burnout. Having a respite plan in place is a must to avoid your own physical and mental health problems that can be brought on by the stress and exhaustion.
Challenges you could face with a traumatic brain injury
- Chemical dependency. Brain injuries can lead to the use of alcohol and drugs as a method of self-medication when dealing with depression and other mental health issues.
- Mental health issues. Brain injuries have the ability to leave you with depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and other cognitive and emotional disorders.
- Physical therapy. Because brain injuries have the capability to affect such a wide array of life-functions, you may need assistance with regaining fine motor skills, eating, walking, talking, reasoning, and other basics of life that people without brain injuries take for granted every day.
- Hearing loss. Traumatic brain injuries can leave a victim with hearing loss ranging from minor to severe enough to require hearing aids just for normal everyday functioning in life.
- Financial hardship. Individuals who suffer from brain injuries very well may experience financial strain after paying for medical bills, therapy equipment, and psychological counseling. Suffering the loss of a job due to inability to perform the same duties can pose difficulties with maintaining your mortgage or rent, and even buying groceries. It is likely that after recovering to the extent possible that a brain injury victim may need to undergo occupational therapy and training for a new career suited to his or her limitations.
How much is my brain injury claim worth?
When you have experienced a TBI, our attorneys realize you have not only lost part of your life, but your financial security has been damaged. Without knowing the exact circumstances of your claim, we cannot know what your claim is worth, but we know what types of damages you could be entitled to for your injuries. We will help you recover by working to secure compensation for:
- Current and future medical expenses
- Current and future loss of income
- Loss of employment benefits
- Noneconomic damages
- Punitive damages
Resources in Manchester for brain injury clients
Regardless of how an individual has sustained a brain injury, he or she may require an extended leave of absence from work to recuperate after receiving initial medical care, followed by therapy. Because some people have such severe injuries that they won’t be able to fully recover, they will need significant compensation to help them live their lives as fully as possible with their particular limitations. Residents of Manchester who have experienced a traumatic brain injury may be in need of resources to help them get through their difficult time:
Mental health services
| Connecticut Valley Hospital Addiction Services Division
Mental Health Crisis/Community Health Resources Suicide Hotline/Veterans Crisis Line TBI Support Group - Manchester Memorial Hospital Family Support |
1-860-418-7000
1-877-884-3571 1-800-784-2433 1-860-742-1647 1-860-913-7840 |
Therapy
Victims of severe TBI may need an extended stay at a rehabilitation center or will require long-term home physical therapy to gain more independence. The expense can be limiting without sufficient financial resources. You need skilled attorneys who can seek the compensation that will allow you to get the care that you need for as long as you need it.
Relentless representation for our Manchester & Hartford clients
If you have suffered a traumatic brain injury, you need the Manchester TBI attorneys of Barry, Taylor & Levesque, LLC on your side fighting for your rights. Our team will help you pursue the right claim by determining the cause of your TBI, whether it is a negligent person or a company responsible for a product liability injury. Speak with one of our personal injury attorneys at Barry, Taylor & Levesque, LLC. To schedule a free consultation, call 860-649-4400 or complete our contact form. We’re located right off I-84 or I-384 in Manchester.