A brain injury could affect every aspect of a person’s life, including their motor skills, memory, and mental state. Tragically, the damage resulting from head trauma is permanent in many cases. Traumatic brain injuries are cumulative in their impact, and a person’s functioning is likely to deteriorate over time.
Nothing can replace what a traumatic brain injury takes away. However, if an injury results from an accident caused by another party’s negligence, an injured person could sue for damages. A successful lawsuit could provide compensation for an injured person’s medical expenses, reduced income, and pain and suffering.
If you sustained severe head trauma due to someone else’s negligence, a skilled catastrophic injury lawyer could help you hold the responsible party accountable for their reckless actions. Call a Watertown traumatic brain injury lawyer to assess your legal options.
What is a Traumatic Brain Injury?
A traumatic brain injury (TBI) results from damage to the brain. The violent contact could be from a penetrating object like a knife or a sharp item from an explosion or car accident. Often, violent contact happens when an external force hits a person’s head and causes their brain to slam against their skull.
The impact to the brain often causes it to swell, which could impede blood flow and damage brain cells in the affected areas. If enough cells are damaged, the function that part of the brain controls will be affected. A mild concussion is a TBI, but so few brain cells die that most people recover quickly. However, several mild concussions could lead to permanent damage. Whether it is mild, moderate or severe, a traumatic brain injury can cause life-altering impacts.
According to the federal Centers for Disease Control (CDC), someone with TBI might suffer from seizures, cognitive decline, excruciating headaches, personality disorders, vision problems, motor control issues, and other conditions that leave them disabled. Sadly, life expectancy for someone who suffers from a TBI is nine years lower than the general population.
Common Causes of Traumatic Brain Injuries
The CDC reports that motor vehicle accidents and falls are two of the most common ways people sustain brain injuries. Sports and recreational activities are also everyday events that lead to TBIs, especially among young people. Quite commonly, whiplash and rapid acceleration/deceleration events can cause car accident victims to suffer permanent effects of mild or moderate traumatic brain injury.
Most of these accidents result from someone’s carelessness. According to the law, negligence is a failure to use the same degree of caution that a reasonably careful person would have used under similar circumstances. A reckless person is legally responsible for injuries they caused and must pay damages to cover an injured individual’s losses.
In some cases, an injured person’s conduct might contribute to an accident. However, if they are not primarily responsible for their injuries, the law allows them to seek partial damages from other negligent parties.
A seasoned attorney could review the circumstances of a TBI and determine whose negligence caused the injury. Most importantly, a seasoned TBI lawyer will know the right experts to retain and consult, including neurologists, neuro-radiologists, DTI experts, life-care planners, neuropsychologists, and economists.
Deadlines for Filing a Traumatic Brain Injury Lawsuit
Connecticut General Statutes §52-584 requires that injured parties file a lawsuit within two years of the event that caused the injury. In some circumstances involving minors or when a responsible party leaves a jurisdiction, the law allows an injured party more time to sue.
Despite the two-year statute of limitations for injury claims, a TBI victim might have less time to act. For example, if a person received a head injury in a fall on a sidewalk, they have only 90 days to notify the municipality of their claim. Similarly, if a person sustained brain damage after being struck by a state employee driving while on duty, they may have a year to notify the Claims Commissioner of their claim.
A knowledgeable attorney in Watertown could identify all potentially liable parties and take the necessary steps to ensure that deadlines are met within the appropriate time frame.
Pursue Your TBI Claim with a Watertown Attorney
If you or a family member suffered a TBI, you could seek compensation from the parties whose negligence caused the accident. Damages could cover medical expenses, lost income, and pain and suffering.
Talk to a Watertown traumatic brain injury lawyer about the options available to you. Reach out today to schedule a case review.
Call us at (203) 680-8080, email, or via our online Free Case Evaluation Form to set up your free consultation today.
The customer service was phenomenal and was able to answer all my questions and concerns!
Etemi Law has professional experience and serious work ethic I would highly recommend in selecting a lawyer.
Communication, always answering phone calls, always there for any questions no matter what, Etemi Law exceeded my expectations!!
Ron and Lou are terrific attorneys and care a great deal about their clients. I strongly recommend them for car accidents and other personal injury matters.
Hiring Attorney Etemi was life changing. He put my best interests at the forefront, working tirelessly to ensure that I was treated fairly and always informed. Ron was everything you want an attorney to be, and nothing that you don’t. He was thorough, insightful, methodical, informed, collaborative, and deeply passionate about my case. I do — and have — recommend(ed) Ron Etemi and Etemi Law without reservation.
Etemi Law is exceptional. Attorney Ron and Lou Etemi represented me in a very difficult accident case. We won! Etemi Law delivered.
I strongly recommend Etemi Law. Ron and Lou are the best in Connecticut. Thank you, Ron and Lou, for everything that you did for my case.
Ron handled my personal injury case from beginning to conclusion. From my personal experience, Ron is by far one of the best injury lawyers in Connecticut.
I highly recommend Etemi Law! They know the law inside and out and won’t just settle until their clients are provided with what they deserve.
Thank you to Lou and his team for all their help in a time of need. I highly recommend his services.
Ron and Lou’s negotiation and litigation skills are unmatched, and they are highly respected amongst their peers and the community at large.
Etemi Law was phenomenal since the first day we called them for help and delivered great results.
Ron and Lou are absolutely amazing at what they do.
Best in the business. They treat you like family and get results!
Two of the most aggressive attorneys I have ever met.
I highly recommend Etemi Law!
They communicated with me through the entire process . . . They are amazing at what they do!
A law firm that will give you results and treat you like family.
The Etemi brothers are the real deal.
You will not find representation better than Ron and Lou.
There is no law firm better then Etemi Law.
A fantastic duo.
Ron is the best.
Lou is simply the best!
Great attorneys, down to earth.
These guys are the best in CT.
Ron Etemi is a guiding light for our family.
The communication was beyond excellent.
Attorney Lou Etemi is a fighter! He fights for everything his clients deserve.