Head Injuries

Finding Financial Recovery After Brain and Head Injuries

Salt Lake City Personal Injury Attorney

Following an accident, one question that people are often asked by emergency medical providers is whether or not they lost consciousness. The provider is concerned about whether you may have suffered a concussion and possible brain injury. However, the accident victim is often dazed and is not in a good position to answer.

At the law office of Rasmussen & Miner in Salt Lake City, we offer a free initial consultation to answer your questions about brain injury or any other issue related to your accident. Often times, our lawyers are the ones who send our clients to get medical treatment because the first responder missed the injury.

Even a minor concussion can have catastrophic consequences for a person’s life. Conversely, a major concussion may have no effect at all. What’s most important for anyone after an accident is to seek treatment and make sure you are all right.

Common Scenarios Leading to Traumatic Brain Injury

There are seemingly countless ways to get hurt, but we are focused on those which are predictable and preventable. If you or a loved one suffered a traumatic brain injury due to the negligence or intentional actions of another person or organization, you have the right to seek compensation for your medical bills and other losses. The experienced Utah head injury attorney team at Rasmussen & Miner can help. 

Here are the some of the most common brain injury scenarios caused by the negligence or intentional actions of others:

Motor vehicle accidents: Including car, truck, motorcycle, pedestrian and bicyclist accidents. If you were struck by a negligent driver and suffered a traumatic brain injury as a result, you likely have an actionable legal claim.

Falls on someone else’s property: Brain injuries are often the result of slip-and-falls, trip-and-falls and falling from moderate heights. Whether you slipped on spilled liquids at the grocery store or tripped over objects left in your path at a private residence, you may have grounds for a premises liability lawsuit that includes damages for TBI.

Head trauma while playing sports: If your child plays youth sports, you likely understand the risks associated with these team activities. But schools and youth leagues need to take reasonable steps to limit contact and prevent concussions among players. If your child suffered a brain injury because school/league officials were negligent, you may be able to hold the at-fault parties liable in court.

Dangerous consumer products: Anything that is potentially combustible can explode and cause a traumatic brain injury (in addition to many other types of injuries). In recent years, there have been numerous reported cases of e-cigarettes and vape pens suddenly exploding while being used. The victims suffered concussions and severe facial/dental damage. This is just one example of many products that can cause brain injuries if they are designed poorly or malfunction during use.

Workplace injuries: It is sadly common for individuals in certain professions to suffer traumatic brain injuries after being struck by a falling object, struck by a swinging object, falling from height or slipping/tripping. In most cases, the only available remedy is through a workers’ compensation claim. However, if you suffered a TBI at work and a negligent third party (other than your employer) may have been at fault, we can help you pursue a third-party liability lawsuit.

Seeking Financial Damages after a Brain Injury

Depending on your symptoms and the prognosis of your brain injury, you may be able to work with a Utah head injury attorney to seek compensation for many losses, including:

•         Medical bills (past, present and estimated future
•         Physical rehabilitation
•         Lost wages (from time spent away from work while recovering)
•         Reduced earning capacity (if you can no longer do the type of work you once did)
•         Pain and suffering
•         Loss of enjoyment of life (if your TBI results in long-term depression or other mental health issues)

If a brain injury is anything more than a mild concussion, the expenses associated with it can be staggering. This is one of the reasons why it is important to seek full and fair compensation with the help of an experienced Utah head injury attorney.

Symptoms of Brain Injury Following an Accident

A physical trauma to the head that causes brain injury can result in retrograde amnesia. The person who suffers the injury loses a snippet of time, even though they may be unaware that they lost consciousness.

The sudden acceleration-deceleration of a car accident can result in the brain being shaken within the skull. The interior of the skull contains boney protuberances, which can cause permanent damage to the brain. The person who suffers the injury may not even be aware that an injury has occurred. Family members are usually the first to notice symptom such as:

• Personality changes
• Irritability
• Doing things that are out of character
• Problems with short-term memory
• Loss of certain functions such as inhibition control

Brain injury can be difficult to detect using a MRI or even a CT scan. There are people with normal MRIs who are in comas. Our lawyers often recommend that accident victims see a neuropsychologist, who can assess brain function.

Free Consultation with an Experienced TBI Attorney

Come in with questions, leave with confidence that your personal injury case will be handled properly. Call (801) 363-8500 or fill out the contact form on this Web site to schedule a free initial consultation with a lawyer at our Salt Lake City office.