March is in full swing, and that means we observe Brain Injury Awareness Month, a time to shed light on the seriousness of traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). Whether you’ve experienced a concussion or a severe brain injury in an accident, the effects can be life-altering. You may be facing overwhelming medical bills, lost wages, and the emotional toll of a long recovery.
If someone else caused your accident, you deserve fair compensation for the impact it has on your life. An experienced brain injury lawyer can protect your rights and fight for the maximum compensation you deserve.
What is a traumatic brain injury (TBI)?
A traumatic brain injury occurs when a sudden impact, jolt, or penetration of the skull damages the brain. TBIs can range from mild concussions, which cause temporary symptoms, to severe injuries that result in permanent disabilities.
What are the most common TBIs?
The most common types of TBIs include:
- Concussions: Often considered mild, concussions cause temporary confusion, dizziness, memory issues, and headaches. Even mild concussions can have lasting effects if untreated.
- Contusions (brain bruises): A direct impact to the head can bruise brain tissue, resulting in swelling, bleeding, or long-term cognitive difficulties.
- Diffuse axonal injuries (DAI): These injuries involve widespread damage to nerve fibers in the brain, typically caused by strong rotational forces in accidents. DAIs can lead to prolonged unconsciousness or permanent disability.
- Skull fractures: A broken skull may directly injure the brain tissue beneath, potentially causing severe neurological damage or increasing the risk of infection and further complications.
- Intracranial hematomas (bleeding): Bleeding within the brain (intracerebral hematoma) or around it (subdural or epidural hematomas) can cause life-threatening pressure that requires immediate surgical intervention.
What causes TBIs?
Common causes of TBIs include:
Car accidents: Even minor collisions can cause the brain to strike the inside of the skull, resulting in significant trauma.
Truck accidents: The force involved in truck collisions often leads to severe head injuries, causing lasting brain damage.
Pedestrian and bicycle accidents: Being struck by a vehicle can cause direct head impact or violent shaking of the brain, leading to traumatic injury.
Motorcycle accidents: Even while wearing a helmet, riders often suffer serious brain injuries, especially if thrown from their bikes onto the pavement or other objects.
How brain injury severity affects settlement amounts
The severity of your brain injury is one of the biggest factors in determining the amount of compensation you receive. A mild concussion may require only a few doctor visits and short-term treatment. At the same time, a severe TBI can lead to long-term disabilities that affect your ability to work, live independently, or maintain relationships.
Here’s how injury severity impacts your settlement:
Medical costs
The cost of medical care for a TBI can be staggering. If you require long-term care, such as in-home assistance or specialized treatment, these expenses should also be factored into your settlement. Your settlement should cover both current and future medical expenses, including:
- Emergency room visits
- Surgeries and hospital stays
- Prescription medications
- Physical therapy and rehabilitation
- Psychological counseling and cognitive therapy
Lost wages and reduced earning potential
Many severe TBI survivors can’t return to their previous line of work or must take a lower-paying job due to cognitive impairments. In these cases, settlements tend to be significantly higher. If you’re unable to work, your settlement should account for:
- Immediate lost wages during recovery
- Long-term disability benefits if you can no longer work
- Future lost income if your career opportunities are permanently affected
Pain and suffering
The emotional and psychological toll of a brain injury can be just as devastating as the physical damage. Many TBI survivors experience:
- Chronic pain and debilitating headaches
- Depression, anxiety, or mood swings
- Difficulty maintaining personal relationships
- Loss of enjoyment of life
Should I accept an insurance settlement offer?
Insurance companies often make quick settlement offers in TBI cases, but these initial offers usually undervalue the claim. Before accepting any settlement, carefully evaluate your long-term needs, including future medical treatments, rehabilitation costs, lost wages, and the ongoing impact on your quality of life.
An experienced Indiana brain injury lawyer can help determine if the offer truly reflects your injury's full costs and consequences.
How an attorney can help after a traumatic brain injury
If you or a loved one suffered a TBI after a car, truck, motorcycle, bicycle, or pedestrian accident in Indiana, get help from an experienced brain injury attorney as soon as possible. At Glaser & Ebbs, our lawyers know how complicated TBI cases can be and will fight aggressively to get the full compensation you deserve.
Our legal team has more than 100 years of combined experience successfully handling injury claims across Indiana, and we know how to build strong cases, negotiate with insurance companies, and pursue every dollar you’re entitled to under Indiana law.
We deal directly with insurance companies on your behalf so you can focus on your recovery. Contact us today for a free consultation, and let our Indiana brain injury lawyers fight for you.
“In my opinion, by far the best personal injury law firm in the area. Highly competent, aggressive, and gets things done. I highly recommend this firm to anyone who needs top-flight attorneys. They definitely care about their clients!” - M.P., ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐