In Warren, Michigan, brain injuries result from various incidents, including car accidents, falls, and criminal assaults. Regardless of the cause, the impact of a brain injury on a person’s life can be devastating, affecting not only the one who suffered the injury but also their family and loved ones.
If you suffered a brain injury in Macomb County, contact the injury lawyers of Atnip & Associates, PLLC, at (248) 599-1607 for a free consultation about your case. We’ll walk you through the legal process and explain your options.
What Are Traumatic Brain Injuries?
Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) can be catastrophic. These injuries can disrupt the brain’s normal function, leading to a wide variety of debilitating symptoms, from constant headaches to severe cognitive impairment.
TBIs fall into different categories based on the extent of the harm and the affected area of the brain. Mild TBIs, like concussions, may involve temporary symptoms, while more severe TBIs can lead to permanent loss of motor skills and other significant symptoms.
Common Causes of Traumatic Brain Injuries
Many incidents can lead to traumatic brain injuries. Some of the most common causes include:
- Motor Vehicle Accidents – Car, truck, and motorcycle accidents often involve significant force that can cause the brain to hit the inside of the skull, resulting in a traumatic brain injury. Car and truck occupants may strike their heads on the vehicle’s dashboard, steering wheel, or windows, while motorcycle riders may strike their heads on pavement or parts of other vehicles.
- Fall Accidents – Slips, trips, and falls are a significant cause of brain injuries, particularly among older adults and those working on construction sites.
- Sports Injuries – Concussions and other traumatic brain injuries are common among those who play contact sports like football and hockey.
- Violent Assaults – Physical assaults, including blows and gunshot wounds to the head, can result in traumatic brain injuries. Domestic violence victims, in particular, are at risk of brain injuries from assault.
Traumatic Brain Injury Symptoms
The symptoms of a traumatic brain injury can vary significantly depending on the severity of the injury and the part of the brain affected. Some of the most common brain injury symptoms include:
- Physical Symptoms – Headaches, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, blurred vision, sensitivity to light or sound, and loss of consciousness are all typical symptoms of brain injuries.
- Cognitive Symptoms – Confusion, memory loss, difficulty concentrating, and problem-solving issues can result from brain injuries.
- Behavioral Symptoms – In some cases, brain injury victims may experience mood swings, irritability, depression, anxiety, and even changes in personality.
It’s essential to seek treatment after any head injury so medical professionals can check you for signs of brain injury. These symptoms don’t always appear right away, and delaying treatment can cause complications down the line.
How Delayed Onset Symptoms Can Impact Your Claim
One of the potential challenges with traumatic brain injury claims is that some symptoms don’t appear until days or even weeks after the initial injury. This delayed onset can complicate your diagnosis, treatment, and legal claim in the following ways:
- Proving the Injury – If your symptoms appear later, it may be more difficult to link your injury to the incident that caused it. The insurance company may attempt to argue you had a pre-existing injury or that something else caused it.
- Medical Documentation – Delayed symptoms can result in gaps in your medical record, weakening your case. For this reason, ongoing medical treatment, not only immediate treatment after a head injury, is crucial.
- Settlement Offers – Insurance companies often attempt to justify unsatisfactory settlement offers by bringing up your delayed symptoms, arguing they point to your injury not being as serious as you claim.
To protect your right to compensation, working closely with an experienced personal injury attorney who understands the complexities of brain injury cases is essential.
Brain Injury Compensation in Michigan
In Michigan, victims of traumatic brain injuries can seek compensation for harm they suffered from the accident. Some of the most common compensation sought after a brain injury includes money for:
- Medical Expenses – This includes all current and future medical bills related to your injury, including hospital stays, surgeries, rehabilitation, and medication.
- Lost Wages – If your brain injury causes you to miss work, reduces your ability to work, or prevents you from working entirely, you may be able to seek compensation for lost wages and loss of earning capacity.
- Pain and Suffering – You can seek compensation for the physical pain and emotional distress caused by your injury.
- Loss of Enjoyment of Life – If your brain injury impacts your ability to participate in activities you once enjoyed, you can seek compensation for your loss of enjoyment of life.
- Property Modifications – In cases of severe brain injury, you may need to modify your home or vehicle to accommodate your injury, such as by installing ramps or lifts.
The Role of a Personal Injury Lawyer
Trying to handle a traumatic brain injury claim can be overwhelming, especially when simultaneously dealing with the physical and emotional impact of the injury. A personal injury lawyer can assist you in seeking the compensation you need and deserve in the following ways:
- Incident Investigation – Your attorney will thoroughly investigate the incident that caused your injury by gathering evidence and identifying liable parties.
- Claim Filing – Your attorney will file your claim within Michigan’s three-yearstatutory period for filing a personal lawsuit.
- Settlement Negotiation – Insurance companies are in the business of minimizing payouts. Your attorney will use their experience and the evidence they gathered to negotiate a fair settlement to cover your losses.
- Trial Litigation – If the insurance company refuses to agree to a fair settlement, your attorney will present your case in court and seek maximum compensation.
Brain Injury Attorney Serving Warren, Michigan
If you suffered a traumatic brain injury in Warren, Michigan, it’s essential that you speak with a personal injury attorney as soon as possible. Brain injury claims can be complex, and the earlier you seek legal counsel, the earlier your attorney can begin gathering evidence and building your case.
Contact Atnip & Associates, PLLC, for a free consultation about your case and to learn more about your legal rights as a brain injury victim. Our firm has extensive experience handling traumatic brain injury cases and understands the challenges you and your family are facing.
Directions to Our Law Office
Use the following driving directions to reach our law office from anywhere in the State of Michigan.
Use the following driving directions to reach our law office from anywhere in the State of Michigan.
Directions to Our Rochester Office
Use the following directions to reach our Rochester, Michigan office from anywhere in the state:
- Take I-75 S toward Rochester
- Take exit 81 for University Dr
- Turn left on N Squirrel Rd
- Turn right onto Walton Blvd
- Turn right on Water St.
- The destination will be on the left
- Take I-75 N toward Rochester
- Take exit 79 for University Dr
- Turn left on N Squirrel Rd
- Turn right onto Walton Blvd
- Turn right on Water St
- The destination will be on the left
- Take M-59 W toward Rochester
- Take exit 46 to Rochester Rd
- Turn right on S. Rochester Rd
- Turn right on 4th St
- Turn right on Water St
- The destination will be on the left
- Take M-59 E toward Rochester
- Take exit 46 to Rochester Rd
- Turn left on S. Rochester Rd
- Turn right on 4th St
- Turn right on Water St
- The destination will be on the left
