When dealing with a traumatic brain injury (TBI), the word “mild” is something of a misnomer, as you may still experience serious symptoms over an extended period. Unfortunately, that word alone can cause problems when dealing with insurance companies or filing a lawsuit against an at-fault driver. Here’s what you need to know before taking your next legal steps.
Impact of Mild Traumatic Brain Injuries
Mild TBIs such as a concussion are easily missed the first time around, as they often don’t appear physically on a scan like bruising or a cerebral laceration. That makes a mild TBI case difficult to prove in court if you don’t have a CT or MRI scan clearly showing a physical injury. Insurance companies are also more likely to push back on covering costs associated with a mild TBI, and they may even try to avoid paying your claim outright.
Before providing a statement, you need an attorney’s help to handle communication with the insurance adjuster. An experienced TBI lawyer can utilize medical records, eyewitness accounts, and other evidence to prove your injury was caused by the accident and had a financial impact on your life. It’s critically important to have a brain injury lawyer perform an investigation and provide evidence if you need to take the negligent party to court.
Even mild brain injuries can have a big impact on your finances as you rack up expensive medical bills—especially if returning to work full time isn’t always possible. Symptoms after suffering a mild traumatic brain injury in an accident can include:
- Anxiety and depression
- Changes to thought processes, such as delays in thinking or difficulty comprehending concepts
- Difficulty concentrating
- Dizziness and nausea
- Emotional issues like irritability, mood swings, and sudden angry outbursts
- Fatigue and difficulty sleeping
- Headaches
- Memory loss
- PTSD
- Ringing in the ears
- Sensory issues like loss of smell or sensitivity to light and sound
- Vision problems
Even these supposedly “mild” symptoms may prevent you from completing your normal work duties, stop you from driving, or otherwise interfere with your daily routine and cause a financial loss. You have a legal right to recover damages for those losses if your injury was caused by negligence, whether in a car crash, slip and fall, or other incidents.
Are You Considering Legal Action After a Mild TBI?
If you are suffering symptoms after a mild TBI, you should discuss your case with a legal professional to weigh your options and help decide on the right path for moving forward. The Mottley Law Firm is here to help.
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