Traumatic brain injuries run from mild to severe. Some individuals deal with the effects for just a few months, while others actually lose their lives because of TBI. Perhaps you’ve recently been diagnosed with a TBI, but the doctor doesn’t know the full extent of the injury quite yet. Should you contact an attorney now, or should you wait until the final diagnosis reveals as much as possible about the injury?
Why Wait?
There’s really no reason to wait to contact a brain injury lawyer, like a brain injury lawyer in Orlando, FL. There are things you can do today to help your situation, and these cases often takes months or years to finalize. Contacting an attorney today ensures your case is started sooner so it can end sooner.
Also keep in mind there could be issues that develop over the course of the time you are being treated for TBI. Your lawyer can collect evidence and medical statements along the way to ensure nothing is missed. If there are psychological evaluations that need to be made, those can be done periodically. If there are physical medical evaluations, those can be done along the way as well. Your lawyer would then have evidence to show the progression of the injury.
What Damages Can Be Sought?
There are multiple damages that could be sought in a brain injury case, and your lawyer can get working on proof right away. Some general damages include pain and suffering, loss of reputation, loss of companionship, emotional distress, humiliation, embarrassment, shock, and mental anguish.
Special damages include property damage, medical expenses, lost wages, loss of earning capacity, and funeral and burial expenses if the individual dies as a result of TBI. Damages such as lost earning capacity may not be revealed until a later time, so you’d want your lawyer on the case to ensure it is
caught and included in the damages you seek.
What Type of Investigations Will Be Done?
There are some investigations that will probably be conducted during the course of your treatment. While you are at the doctor’s office or seeing a therapist to cope with your TBI, your lawyer can be out collecting surveillance videos that show your accident. He or she can gather photographic evidence, witness statements, and police reports. The integrity of the insurance company might need to be looked into, as could the honor of the responsible party.
Getting Started with a Lawyer
If you or a loved one has TBI, it’s important you get started with a brain injury lawyer. Your lawyer will do a lot for you, even if the extent of the injury is unknown at this point. Contact a lawyer today to get started.
Thanks to Needle & Ellenberg, P.A. for their insight into what needs to be done when someone is injured with a traumatic brain injury.