Should I talk to a lawyer if I suffer an open head injury in an accident?

Dangers of Open Head Injuries

This type of catastrophic head injury often takes place in high-speed vehicle collisions, but open head wounds can also occur in a slip and fall as well as other accident types. No matter what the victim hits, their scalp may become depressed towards the brain due to the force of the impact, or the skull may actually shatter.

Although any damage to brain tissue is extremely concerning, it isn’t just the brain itself that’s susceptible to harm in an open head injury. Fractures at the base of the skull closer to the neck may cause extreme damage to nerves and blood vessels. Leaking spinal flood, injury to olfactory glands involving the sense of smell, and damage to the eyes are all possible. There is also a serious risk of infection if the scalp is cut in the accident.

Due to the adrenaline released in the accident, some victims don’t realize how badly they are hurt at the scene, however. Getting a full medical checkup is crucial following any blow to the head, whether you tripped and fell down the stairs, were struck by something in a workplace injury, or were hurt in a car or truck collision.

Symptoms of an open head injury and additional complications from the wound can potentially include:

Anxiety or depression

Black or blue discoloration around ears, jaw, or neck

Blurred vision

Chronic headaches

Cognitive difficulties

Dilated pupils

Dizziness, lightheadedness, and vertigo

Fatigue

Fluid leaking from ears or nose

Frequent nausea

Light and sound sensitivity

Mood swings, often to unexpected degrees that aren’t appropriate for the situation

Raccoon eyes (black and blue bruising around eyes indicating potential sinus or nerve damage)

Problems interpreting language and using formerly-familiar words

Seizures

Sensory problems, such as changes to (or total loss of) smell or taste

Tinnitus (ringing in the ear)

Why You Need to Speak With a TBI Attorney After an Open Head Injury

Simply attending doctor appointments and trying to return to work is often more than an open head wound victim can handle. You will likely require help developing a support system from friends and loved ones to acclimate to a new normal after an open head injury.

Unfortunately, those aren’t the only difficulties you can expect after the accident. Victims often aren’t prepared for the devastating cost of medical bills when dealing with any kind of skull fracture or traumatic brain injury. Multiple surgeries over an extended period of time are a strong possibility, as well as the need for long-term therapy to deal with the physical, behavioral, and cognitive changes that can result from an open head injury.

Your number one concern should be your physical and emotional health, which is why you should allow an attorney to handle the financial side of your recovery. A lawyer helps by protecting your legal rights and investigating the accident to find out if your injury was caused by negligence.

After the negligent party is identified, an attorney assists in getting you back on your feet by negotiating with the insurance company and potentially filing a lawsuit against the at-fault driver, negligent property owner, store manager, etc. With an attorney’s help, you can seek compensation covering:

Bills for the extensive medical care needed after an open head injury
Future costs if you require additional therapies or surgeries down the line
Funeral expenses if a loved one died because of the accident
Non-economic damages covering the pain, suffering, and reduced quality of life caused by an open head injury
Wages for the time you can’t work, as well as lost earning potential in the future

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A Unique Focus On Traumatic Brain Injuries

My focus on representing TBI survivors is also unique. Most personal injury lawyers cast a very large net. They pursue, and will gladly accept, any case (large or small) that falls under the general “personal injury” heading. You can spot these practices by looking at their websites and clicking on the “practice areas” drop-down list. What you will see are many practice areas, only one of which will be “traumatic brain injury.” Think of these firms as the Wal-Mart Supercenters of the personal injury lawyer world. Wal-Mart has at least one of everything. The same can be said of most personal injury firms. They handle everything.

Nothing is wrong with such retail personal injury practices. My point is not to criticize that “generalist” approach to personal injury law. My point is simply to illustrate that my practice is different, just like a small nursery selling 20 different types of specialty garden hoses is different than a Wal-Mart selling one type of garden hose. Just like the nursery, I focus on one type of personal injury case – the traumatic brain injury case – and one type of client – the traumatic brain injury survivor.

Should I talk to a lawyer if I suffer an open head injury in an accident?

Dangers of Open Head Injuries

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Why You Need to Speak With a TBI Attorney After an Open Head Injury

Have You Or A Loved One Suffered A Traumatic Brain Injury In Virginia?

A Unique Focus On Traumatic Brain Injuries

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Brain Case: The Big 5 Questions To Answer Before FIling Your Brain Injury Case