- Broken bones
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Muscular injuries
- Head injuries
- Hearing loss or damage
- Chemical exposures (resulting in cancer or mesothelioma)
- Electrocution injuries
1. Broken bones
Certain bone fractures are categorized as serious injuries. Daily accidents result in a range of bone fractures. While some may heal relatively quickly, others require extensive treatment. This could involve multiple surgeries, prolonged recovery periods with physical therapy and medication, severe pain, diminished limb functionality, or in severe cases, amputation. If you or a loved one experiences a significant injury involving a bone fracture, it’s crucial to seek guidance from a seasoned car accident attorney promptly to understand your legal options.
1.1. Understanding Bone Fractures: Who’s at Risk and What to Do Next
Fracturing an arm, ankle, or toe often feels like a childhood milestone, usually healing within months. Yet, fractures vary widely in severity and can impact your health significantly.
From minor breaks in car accidents to serious outcomes from falls, fractures can lead to long-term complications if not treated properly. Neglecting proper setting of a fracture may even result in severe infections like osteomyelitis, potentially requiring limb amputation.
Those involved in accidents are particularly vulnerable to various types of bone fractures. If you’ve experienced fractures due to another’s negligence, it’s crucial to assess all potential losses before reaching a settlement.
1.2. Different types of bone fractures
It results from various forces acting on the bones and their resilience. These fractures vary in severity and characteristics:
- Greenstick Fracture: Involves a slight break due to bending of the bone.
- Stable Fracture: Despite the break, the bone ends remain aligned.
- Open/Compound Fracture: Bone pierces through the skin during the injury.
- Transverse Fracture: Bone breaks horizontally.
- Buckle Fracture: Ends of the broken bone are driven into each other.
- Oblique Fracture: Bone breaks at an angle.
- Comminuted Fracture: Bone shatters into multiple pieces.
Among these, open fractures pose significant risks due to complete bone severance and skin penetration, heightening the chances of infection. These severe fractures commonly occur in high-impact incidents like car accidents.
1.3. Leg Bone Fracture Complications
A young girl sits uncomfortably on the sofa, her leg in a cast, highlighting the discomfort associated with leg fractures. According to the Mayo Clinic, healing leg fractures can pose significant challenges.
Complications from such fractures may include:
- Knee or ankle discomfort
- Incomplete healing due to disrupted blood flow to the limb
- Risk of infection
- Damage to nerves and blood vessels
- Compartment syndrome, characterized by pain, swelling, and muscle disability near the bone
- Arthritis
Inequality in leg length, potentially leading to back pain
Some of these complications can be severe, possibly resulting in limb dysfunction or even amputation. For instance, individuals suffering from compartment syndrome may opt for amputation to alleviate unbearable pain. Often, these issues arise later in the healing process, underscoring the importance of taking all bone fractures seriously.
For example, a child’s playground injury may not reveal complications like unequal leg length until they begin to grow, potentially causing lifelong spinal issues.
Additionally, fractures extending into joints or failing to heal correctly can trigger arthritis or osteoarthritis years later. When considering filing an insurance claim or lawsuit involving bone fractures, it’s crucial to account for all potential complications unique to your situation when assessing the value of your personal injury case.
1.4. Which On-the-Job Injuries Can Our Workers’ Compensation Law Firm Handle?
In Florida, certain injuries surpassing the no-fault standards allow individuals to pursue compensation beyond what their insurance covers. These include:
- Significant and permanent loss of a vital bodily function.
- Permanent injury with a reasonable medical certainty.
- Significant and permanent scarring or disfigurement.
- Death.
Bone fractures are typically considered serious injuries and often meet the threshold requirement for seeking compensation in personal injury cases. While car accidents specifically have personal injury thresholds, fractures can occur in various accidents like trips, falls, or crush injuries.
Seeking guidance from a seasoned personal injury attorney is crucial to understanding how these laws apply to your case. Reputable law firms usually offer free consultations to discuss your legal options.
Immediate medical attention is particularly vital for children or elderly individuals who suffer fractures. Improperly treated fractures in children can lead to long-term complications, while hip fractures in the elderly are notoriously difficult to heal and may have lasting consequences.
2. Traumatic brain injuries
Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) affect millions annually, as reported by the Brain Trauma Foundation. These injuries result from various causes, including blows, forceful impacts, or penetrating objects that disrupt normal brain function. TBIs often lead to severe consequences such as bruising, bleeding, and tissue damage, potentially causing long-term complications.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 2.5 million TBIs occur yearly, resulting in over 223,000 hospitalizations and 64,000 deaths. These statistics, however, may not encompass all cases treated in various medical settings or untreated instances.
2.1. Different types of traumatic brain injuries
Occurring in two ways:
Firstly, there’s the closed brain injury, where the brain sustains damage without the skull being penetrated. This usually happens due to sudden movement of the brain inside the skull, causing tearing and bruising of brain tissue and blood vessels. The severity of such injuries needs to be assessed by qualified medical professionals.
Secondly, there’s the penetrating brain injury, which occurs when an object breaks through the skull and directly injures the brain. These injuries, though rare, are severe and often necessitate long-term care for the victim. They are frequently the result of highly negligent actions.
2.2. Symptoms of Traumatic Brain Injury:
- Drowsiness
- Headache
- Confusion
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Fatigue or lethargy
- Alteration of sleep patterns
- Dizziness
- Speech Issues
- Blurred vision
- Ringing in the ears
- Sensitivity to light or sound
- Depression (including mood changes and differences in behavior)
- Loss of balance
In more severe cases, symptoms may also include:
- Loss of consciousness
- Sleeping problems
- Loss of coordination
- Disorientation
- Mood changes
- Memory issues
- Concentration problems
- Convulsions and seizures
- Slurred speech
- Coma
- Restlessness, agitation, or confusion
- Impairment of motor skills
What complicates these injuries further is their potential delayed onset. Symptoms may not immediately manifest after an accident or injury, sometimes taking days to weeks to appear. Even seemingly minor brain injuries can lead to lasting effects and long-term disability.
2.3. Accidents That Can Lead to a Traumatic Brain Injury
Various incidents can result in traumatic brain injuries, typically caused by blunt force to the head or body. These include:
- Motor vehicle accidents like car, motorcycle, or bicycle crashes
- Acts of violence such as assault, abuse, or domestic violence
- Explosions
- Participation in high-impact sports like boxing, football, or extreme sports
- Slip and fall accidents
- Falls from significant heights
- Oxygen deprivation to the brain
If you’ve suffered a traumatic brain injury due to someone else’s negligence in a situation not listed above, don’t hesitate to contact a seasoned brain injury attorney at Dolman Law Group. We offer free consultations and case reviews to assess your legal options, determine the viability of your claim, and advocate for the compensation and justice you deserve.
2.4. Why You Should Seek Assistance from a Brain Injury Lawyer for Legal Claims
Brain Injury Attorney
If you’ve sustained injuries following a personal injury incident, it’s crucial to understand that time is of the essence in pursuing legal action against the responsible party.
As per the statute of limitations, individuals involved in traumatic brain injury accidents typically have only a limited timeframe to initiate a lawsuit after the event. This timeframe varies depending on the nature of the claim and the state in which the incident occurred. Failure to file within this designated period can result in forfeiture of your right to seek compensation.
This underscores the importance of promptly engaging a knowledgeable brain injury attorney following such an accident. These legal experts can swiftly assess the timeline for filing your case and ensure all necessary documentation is prepared and submitted before the expiration of your legal window.”
2.5. Obtaining Compensation for a Traumatic Brain Injury Accident
If you’ve sustained a traumatic brain injury due to someone else’s negligence, recklessness, or deliberate actions, you may seek financial compensation for the hardships you’ve faced. This compensation typically falls into two categories:
Economic Damages:
These are quantifiable losses incurred as a result of the accident, including:
- Medical expenses like ambulance services, emergency medical treatment, doctor consultations, hospitalization, surgeries, prescribed medications, and necessary medical equipment.
- Loss of income, including current wages and future earning capacity.
- Property damage costs, such as repairs or replacements.
- Expenses related to custodial care and domestic services.
- Additional financial losses, especially if the injury results in permanent disabilities.
Non-Economic Damages:
These compensate for intangible losses that are more challenging to quantify, such as:
- Pain and suffering endured as a result of the injury.
- Physical impairment or disfigurement.
- Emotional distress or psychological suffering.
- Loss of enjoyment of life and diminished quality of life.
- Loss of companionship and consortium.
- Feelings of humiliation.
While these non-economic damages are crucial for addressing the emotional toll of the accident, assigning a precise monetary value to them is complex.
To understand which damages you can pursue, it’s crucial to consult with an experienced traumatic brain injury attorney promptly. At Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA, our attorneys can assess the extent of your injuries and advocate for the financial compensation you deserve. Contact us today to protect your rights and pursue the compensation you’re entitled to.
2.6. What to Do Immediately Following a Traumatic Brain Injury Accident
Immediately following a traumatic brain injury accident, your actions are crucial in safeguarding your well-being and legal rights. Despite limitations in collecting evidence or interacting with witnesses, there are steps you can take:
- Contact the Authorities: Notify emergency services promptly to document the incident and ensure you receive necessary medical attention. The police report generated can be valuable if legal action is pursued later.
- Seek Medical Treatment: Even if injuries seem minor, seek medical evaluation immediately. Traumatic brain injuries can have delayed symptoms, and a medical report can link your injury to the accident, aiding in legal proceedings.
- Consult with a Traumatic Brain Injury Lawyer: Engage a knowledgeable attorney to handle evidence gathering and case development on your behalf. They can secure vital information such as accident scene documentation, witness statements, and other pertinent details.
- Preserve Evidence of Losses: Maintain records of all accident-related expenses, including medical bills, lost income, and other relevant costs. These documents are essential in demonstrating the extent of your damages and securing fair compensation.
- Exercise Caution in Communication: Refrain from discussing the incident with others or making statements that could be misconstrued. Avoid engaging with insurance companies without legal representation to prevent potential exploitation of your words against your claim.
- Beware of Insurance Tactics: Recognize that insurance companies prioritize profit and may employ tactics to minimize compensation. Consult with a skilled attorney before engaging with insurers to protect your interests and prevent inadvertent harm to your case.
By following these guidelines and seeking assistance from experienced legal professionals, you can navigate the aftermath of a traumatic brain injury accident effectively and pursue the compensation you deserve.