Huntsville Brain Injury Lawyer
Brain Injury Attorneys In Huntsville, AL
You are wondering whether the brain injury will heal itself, how you will pay for the mountains of medical bills, and how to go about being made whole after this tragic accident.
If you or a loved one have been diagnosed with a concussion or closed head injury, but the symptoms are not improving then you probably have the same questions.
Every brain injury is different. Some severe traumatic brain injuries improve quickly to the point that the victim barely notices any neurological deficiencies. Some minor traumatic brain injuries deteriorate over time and never improve. A few of the most common symptoms are migraines, short-term memory loss, and difficulty finding words.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines concussion as a traumatic brain injury (TBI) caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head or by a hit to the body that causes the head and brain to move rapidly back and forth. This sudden movement can cause the brain to bounce around or twist in the skull, stretching and damaging brain cells and creating chemical changes in the brain.
Huntsville Accident Lawyers Who Answer Questions
Because we care, we have created informational guides to answer all your legal questions after an accident
Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Definition
A case of mild traumatic brain injury is an occurrence of injury to the head resulting from blunt trauma or acceleration or deceleration forces with one or more of the following conditions attributable to the head injury during the surveillance period:
- Any period of observed or self-reported transient confusion, disorientation, or impaired consciousness
- Any period of observed or self-reported dysfunction of memory (amnesia) around the time of injury
- Observed signs of other neurological or neuropsychological dysfunction
- Any period of observed or self-reported loss of consciousness lasting 30 minutes or less
A concussion is generally referred to as a mild traumatic brain injury or mTBI. There may be signs of injury to the head, such as bruising or cuts, or there may be no visible injury. A person does not necessarily pass out after a concussion.
Medical providers may describe a concussion as a “mild” traumatic brain injury because concussions are usually not life-threatening. Even so, all brain injuries – including concussions – should be taken seriously. Remember:
- A concussion/mTBI is an injury to the brain, not just “seeing stars”.
- After sustaining a concussion, it is very important to avoid any activity that places one at risk of sustaining another concussion.
The term mild refers to the severity of the trauma, not the consequences. It is not uncommon for MRI or CT scans to come back as “normal.” This does not mean there is no injury.
- Symptoms do not always present immediately following the injury. They can become apparent hours or even days a-er the injury.
- The recovery period for each person is different, and it is important to create the best possible environment to heal.
- Listen to your body; if symptoms start to get worse, it is time to stop what you are doing and take a break. Those who attempt to “tough it out” will only prolong their recovery times.
- The recovery process is uneven. You can have a day where you feel 100% better, then have a day where you feel as you did after the injury.
Choosing the right lawyer for your traumatic brain injury
Because every brain injury is so different, the only way to have all your questions answered is to talk to an experienced brain injury lawyer. The lawyers at Garnett Patterson have handled traumatic brain injury cases for clients as young as 4 years old and as old as 85 years old.
We have handled cases where clients had migraines for one or two months but improved quickly. We have handled cases where the client’s migraines did not start until weeks after the injury and worsened for months before the client sought treatment.
Brain injury cases are without a doubt the most difficult injuries to prove. Severe traumatic brain injuries usually, but not always, show up on diagnostic scans at the hospital. MRIs and CT scans can usually identify major brain bleeds and brain swelling. But emergency room scans rarely show moderate or minor traumatic brain injuries.
Most moderate or minor traumatic brain injuries are diagnosed during follow-up visits based on the patient’s complaints and history. If you sustained a concussion, it is unlikely that your injury will show up on any diagnostic scans.
Through our years of experience, our lawyers have gotten to know many of the best neurologists in Huntsville, throughout Alabama, and across the country. As you seek treatment for your brain injury, it helps to have a legal advocate on your side to choose the right doctors.
Schedule a no-risk, free consultation with our experienced accident lawyers. Our lawyers would like to meet you and answer any questions that you may have as you try to choose the right Brain Injury Lawyer for your case. We are here to help you make a full medical recovery and compensate you after an accident.