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TBIs (traumatic brain injuries) are one of the most common types of personal injuries. Those who have suffered a brain injury may face symptoms and difficulties for the rest of their lives. Brain damage might make it difficult to work or participate in daily activities. They can even be lethal in some situations. On a daily basis, most people do not consider the risk of suffering from a traumatic brain injury. Many people on Long Island, however, suffer from this type of injury.
According to studies, about 400 TBI incidences occur daily in the state of New York. Unfortunately, brain injury victims frequently encounter memory, speech, and thinking problems.
A victim should not wait to seek medical attention if they have suffered a traumatic brain injury as a result of someone else's negligence. They may be eligible for financial compensation for the expenses incurred as a result of the injury. The Law Office of Carl Maltese can help anyone who has a Long Island brain injury case.
What Is a Traumatic Brain Injury?
Most people are unaware of TBI until they or someone they care about suffers from one. A quick blow to the head is usually the cause of traumatic brain injury. TBI, on the other hand, can be caused by a strong jolt to the victim's body. A brain injury can be caused by any sufficiently severe trauma or force. Many victims are unaware that they have experienced a TBI unless they have been hit in the head.
That's why most people must be aware of the most common signs and symptoms of this type of injury. If a victim is experiencing any of the usual signs of a brain injury, they should get medical help right away. Then, to pursue the compensation that is rightfully theirs, they should speak with qualified Long Island brain injury lawyers.
The victim's skull may be cracked or broken during the accident in some severe cases of TBI. These are called "penetrating" head injuries. A sharp item fracturing or penetrating through a protective bone around the victim's brain is a common cause of this sort of brain damage. Traumatic brain injuries can be classified into three categories. Below is an explanation:
Contusions
When the soft tissue of the brain is bruised, it is called a contusion. Contusions, like other bruises, are caused by ruptured blood vessels in the tissue. A contusion can occur as a result of any impact on the victim's head. The following are some examples of common accidents that can lead to this type of TBI:
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Motor vehicle accidents
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Accidents involving slipping and falling
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Mistakes at work
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Sports injuries and accidents
Contusions can cause a variety of symptoms. They could be slight or serious and life-threatening. In some situations, a contusion will develop on the victim's skull on the opposite side of the collision. As a result of the force, the brain may shift away from the source of impact. The brain collides with the opposite internal skull wall when this happens. Matera Law Office's Long Island brain injury lawyers understand how devastating a TBI can be and they understand the spectrum of problems that a brain injury can cause.
Concussions
A mild brain injury is another name for this form of TBI. Concussions are the mildest form of brain injury, but they are nonetheless extremely dangerous. These can occur in a wide variety of scenarios, including sports, slips and falls, and motor vehicle accidents. Whiplash is often to blame when a concussion occurs as a result of a car accident. It occurs with a big impact, causing the victim's vertebral column to move in a whipping manner.
The brain may bounce against the inside of the victim's skull as a result of this. If a victim feels like they have suffered a concussion, they should contact an attorney as soon as possible. Carl Maltese's Long Island brain injury lawyers have years of experience fighting for TBI clients.
Penetrating Brain Injury (PBI)
Penetrating TBI happens when anything pierces or cracks the skull wall around the brain, as mentioned before. Outside objects may come into contact with the brain's delicate tissue when this happens. This kind of TBI is extremely risky. Heavy bleeding from the head or ears, seizures, or breathing difficulties are just some of the dangerous symptoms that the victim may face.
Symptoms of Brain Injuries
One of the most challenging parts of brain injuries is that symptoms may not often appear straight away. Before a brain injury manifests itself, it may take several days or even weeks to show. A victim needs to keep an eye out for signs that could suggest a brain injury right after an accident. The following are some of the most common symptoms:
Coordination issues:
The brain influences a person's movement, balance, and performance. When the brain is harmed, a person may have problems synchronizing their movements and moving in the same way they used to.
Problems with memory and concentration:
The brain is also crucial for memory and concentration. When the brain is injured, it is generally more difficult for accident victims to recall what happened, and they may be unable to concentrate.
Behavioral changes:
Even a concussion, which is sometimes referred to as a minor brain injury, can cause a person's behavior to change. They may become introverted, grumpy, and uninterested in previously enjoyed activities.
Loss of consciousness:
Even if a victim is only unconscious for a few seconds, a loss of consciousness following an accident should always be taken seriously.
Seizures and convulsions:
It's believed that one out of every five people who suffer a brain injury will have a seizure or tremor. A person may have a seizure right after an injury, or they may not have one for months.
Headaches that persist:
Headaches are quite common following a brain injury. People sometimes ignore them as a result of the accident because they hit their head or were mildly injured, but they do not consult a doctor.
What Are Some Signs of a Brain Injury?
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is a type of brain injury that affects people on Long Island. The financial commitments that arise as a result of a traumatic brain injury can be overwhelming. This is especially true given the wide range of symptoms that TBI can induce.
Carl Maltese's experienced Long Island brain injury lawyers can help victims in obtaining their financial compensation. To regain as much of their normal brain function as possible, most TBI victims will require a variety of methods of treatment. Traumatic brain injuries cause a wide range of symptoms as discussed above.
Many victims suffer from long-term or permanent illnesses as a result of their brain damage. Aside from the physical and mental challenges that a person may face, the financial costs of treatment might be overwhelming. That is why a victim retaining the services of a Long Island brain injury lawyer is so important. Victims should contact the Law Office of Carl Maltese to speak with a member of its Long Island brain injury legal team.
What Can Cause Brain Damage, and How Can Negligence Cause It?
Other sorts of brain injuries, in addition to TBI, can be just as devastating. The following are some of the most common causes of alternate brain injuries:
Oxygen Deprivation from Defective Products
When oxygen isn't getting to the brain, severe brain damage can happen in minutes. Oxygen deprivation can be caused by respiratory failure, blood pressure reductions, or a lack of oxygen in the lungs.
Drowning, smoke inhalation, and a lack of adequate ventilation are all examples of situations in which the brain does not receive enough oxygen and suffers as a result. Individuals who survive such conditions may experience memory problems and a general loss of consciousness as a result of brain damage.
Due to a Misdiagnosis or Treatment, Heart Attacks and Strokes May Occur
People who have had heart attacks or strokes usually lose mobility in some or all areas of their bodies, making communication difficult for them. Because heart attacks and strokes deplete the brain of oxygen, this is the result.
Blood flow to the brain is blocked as a result of these events. Also, blood vessels in the brain can hemorrhage during a stroke, causing direct damage to the cells in that location.
Workers and Others May Be Exposed to Toxic Substances
Chemicals that destroy neurons and cause brain injury include carbon monoxide, gas, mercury, solvents, and pesticides. If a victim was exposed to dangerous substances at work, they could sue a liable third party, such as a manufacturer or contractor.
One could sue the property owner liable if they were exposed to it in their house or as a customer at a company (such as a hotel). It's also possible that the manufacturer or installer is to blame.
A Birth Injury Can Cause Traumatic Brain Injuries
Giving birth is a difficult task for any mother, and complications are common. There is a chance that the infant will suffer a brain injury during delivery if:
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The cords of the umbilical cord are twisted or squeezed
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Breech or sideways babies are born
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Babies are too big to pass through the birth canal effortlessly
This sort of birth injury can be caused by doctors who fail to detect the necessity for a c-section, resulting in brain damage or cerebral palsy for the kid being born. Misuse of instruments such as vacuum extractors or forceps can potentially result in brain injury.
Failed to Diagnose an Infection
Encephalitis is a serious inflammation of the brain caused by bacterial and viral diseases. Another infection caused by bacteria, viruses, tumors, other disorders, and some medicines is meningitis. This results in inflammation of the protective membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord.
Medical professionals must detect and treat illnesses correctly. This, however, does not always happen.
Open Head Injuries Can Result in Bodily Harm
Severe brain injury can also be caused by bullet wounds, objects that puncture the skull, or falls that shatter the skull. Many types of neglect can result in brain damage.
Doctor Missed Your Brain Tumor
Brain tumors place pressure on parts of the brain, harming the tissue and often creating serious long-term complications. A victim may be able to take legal action if their condition worsened as a result of the doctor's failure to isolate and treat their cancer.
If someone loses a loved one in this (or another) situation, they may be able to file a wrongful death lawsuit. Funeral fees, hospital expenditures for their loved ones, medical costs for the dead, and other expenses could all be covered by a claim.
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Am I At Risk for CTE?
Chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE, has received a lot of attention in recent years. Many may be worried that they are susceptible to this deadly disease. The good news is that the majority of people are not at risk of developing CTE.
Repetitive head trauma is the cause of CTE. Athletes like football players and boxers, as well as military veterans, are prone to such trauma. If an individual has had a few TBIs throughout their life, especially mild concussions, their chances of developing CTE are almost none. Every case of CTE that has been documented has resulted in hundreds or thousands of head injuries.
Tau protein clumping and developing in the brain causes brain cell loss, resulting in this disease. This buildup is also what causes dementia and Alzheimer's disease. Dementia and CTE share many of the same symptoms, most notably cognitive impairment.
Damages Available to Long Island Brain Injury Victims
Don't undervalue the financial implications of a traumatic brain injury. Throughout an individual's life, medical treatment alone can cost anywhere from $85,000 to $3 million. This does not account for lost wages or income if a victim is unable to work.
When someone else injures a person, they should be held liable for the resulting expenses. That's why the Long Island brain injury lawyers at The Law Office of Carl Maltese will aggressively collect monetary damages on a victim's behalf from negligent parties. A victim can request remuneration for the following:
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Medical bills
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Rehabilitation
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Nursing care
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Property damage
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Pain and suffering
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Emotional distress
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Loss of income and wages
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Temporary or permanent disability
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Loss of enjoyment of life
What Is the Time Limit for Filing a Claim?
A statute of limitations is the time limit in which a victim has to make a personal injury claim. If the victim brings their claim after the statute of limitations has passed, they will lose their right to sue for any damages. The statute of limitations for most brain damage lawsuits is three years from the date of the accident.
Additionally, a victim only has two years and six months to file a personal injury lawsuit if their brain injury was caused by medical negligence. Furthermore, a victim may have even less time if they are pursuing a claim against a government body. A victim's case facts and the statute of limitations can be discussed with an attorney.
Can I Get Compensation for My Traumatic Brain Injury?
Anyone who has been hurt as a result of someone else's acts or negligence is entitled to compensation under New York law. In some brain injury cases, such as car accidents, a victim must first exhaust their no-fault insurance policy's payout limit before suing for additional damages. However, their no-fault policy will run out in almost every kind of brain injury, including mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI).
Medical Documentation Might Help in Making a Compensation Claim
A doctor plays an important role in one's case when detecting and treating their brain injury. Their records can assist in calculating a victim's damages and establishing a relationship between the brain injury and another party's negligence. This protects a victim's right to seek fair compensation.
Also, a victim should ensure they follow through with any treatment plan their doctor and specialists recommend. A person's health, as well as their brain injury case, are on the line. If they don't, the responsible person may claim that the victim made their injuries worse. A person allowing insurers to pay them less than they deserve or outright denying a claim is a bad idea.
Attorneys Who Care for You
A brain injury, whether it's a concussion or a more serious injury, can impact a person's life forever. Therefore, a victim may be entitled to compensation if their brain injury was caused by a preventable accident on Long Island. Carl Maltese's Long Island brain injury lawyers can help victims fight for the compensation they deserve during this difficult time.
Therefore, a brain injury victim should not hesitate to contact the Law Office of Carl Maltese, and they should book a free consultation to discuss their situation immediately.