Few injuries are as life-altering as traumatic brain injuries. Depending on the severity of your injuries, your life could be permanently affected by your injuries. If someone else is to blame, they should be ordered to compensate you for your suffering.
With help from a compassionate Greenville personal injury lawyer at Shelly Leeke Law Firm, we have 10+ years of trial experience you can rely on to hold the liable party accountable. Learn more about how the claims process works, what your traumatic brain injury claim is valued at, and the steps you can take to demand justice.
Contact a respected Greenville traumatic brain injury lawyer at our firm for a free consultation.
Signs Your Brain Injury is Traumatic
Many victims of traumatic brain injuries want reassurance that they have the right to pursue legal action for their injuries. Your traumatic brain injury attorney in Greenville will be here to review the severity of your injuries and your prognosis to determine what legal options are best suited for your case.
Every person’s brain injury affects their life differently. For instance, someone who suffered a stroke may suffer in certain ways while someone dealing with a penetrating brain injury may endure in others. However, traumatic brain injuries have one thing in common – they have a significant and impactful effect on the victims’ lives.
If you find yourself struggling to cope emotionally, dealing with severe physical implications associated with your injuries, or finding it difficult to handle the extreme financial burdens associated with the accident or your brain injuries, you may have grounds for a traumatic brain injury claim.
Our legal team will review the circumstances of your case to ensure you have met the grounds necessary to pursue your insurance and civil claims. If so, we will be willing to work with you on a contingency to get the most out of your claim.
Common Complications and Long-Term Effects of Traumatic Brain Injuries
A traumatic brain injury (TBI) can change every aspect of your life. The physical pain, cognitive impairments, and emotional challenges that follow can make daily tasks feel impossible. Beyond the immediate effects, a TBI can lead to long-term financial struggles, especially if you are unable to work or require ongoing medical care.
Physical and Cognitive Challenges After a Brain Injury
A brain injury can leave you struggling with chronic pain, seizures, and loss of motor skills. In severe cases, TBIs can lead to partial or complete paralysis, affecting mobility and independence. Even with treatment, many victims experience long-term neurological complications that impact daily life.
Cognitive impairments are another common challenge for TBI victims. Memory loss, difficulty concentrating, and trouble processing information can interfere with work and personal relationships. Some individuals experience speech difficulties, making communication frustrating and exhausting.
Emotional and Psychological Trauma Linked to Brain Injuries
A brain injury does not just affect your body. It also impacts your emotions and mental health. Many TBI victims suffer from depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). These conditions can make it difficult to return to daily life, especially if the injury causes permanent changes.
Mood swings and personality changes are also common. You may experience sudden irritability, difficulty controlling emotions, or even a complete shift in personality. These changes can strain personal relationships, making it hard to connect with family and friends.
Accidents that Cause Traumatic Brain Injuries
Under the worst conditions, traumatic brain injuries can happen in virtually any type of accident or event. Sadly, traumatic brain damage can occur in the most unsuspecting circumstances. Examples of accidents we see in many Greenville traumatic brain injury cases include:
- Construction accidents
- Factory accidents
- Maritime accidents
- Railroad accidents
- Car accidents
- Commercial truck accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- Bicycle accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Bus accidents
- Taxi accidents
- Slip and fall accidents
- Trampoline accidents
- Product malfunctions
- Other premises liabilities
Construction Accidents
If you suffered a brain injury on a construction site, you are not alone. Falling objects, scaffolding collapses, and heavy machinery accidents put workers at risk every day. If your employer or a third party failed to follow safety regulations, you may have a claim for compensation.
Factory Accidents
Factory jobs expose workers to dangerous machinery, high noise levels, and toxic chemicals. If a machine malfunctioned or you slipped on an unsafe surface, your head injury could have been prevented. Employers must maintain safe conditions, and if they failed to do so, they may be responsible for your medical expenses and lost wages.
Maritime Accidents
Working on or near the water increases your risk of serious injuries. If you hit your head on a slippery deck, were injured by shifting cargo, or suffered oxygen deprivation from a near-drowning, your injuries could be severe. Employers and vessel owners are responsible for keeping worksites and vessels safe, and if they fail to do so, they may owe you compensation.
Railroad Accidents
Railroad workers and passengers can suffer traumatic brain injuries from falls, collisions, or being struck by moving equipment. If you were hurt because of unsafe working conditions or a train derailment, your injuries may have been preventable. Under the Federal Employers’ Liability Act (FELA), you may be entitled to compensation.
Car Accidents
If you were in a car crash, your head likely took the brunt of the impact. Hitting your head on the steering wheel, dashboard, or window can cause brain damage, even if you were wearing a seatbelt.
If a reckless driver caused your accident, your Greenville traumatic brain injury attorney with Shelly Leeke Law Firm may be able to hold them responsible for your medical bills, reduced earning capacity, and future care costs.
Commercial Truck Accidents
Truck accidents are especially dangerous because of the force of impact. If a truck driver was speeding, distracted, or failed to brake in time, the crash could leave you with life-altering brain injuries. You may be able to hold both the driver and the trucking company accountable for your injuries.
Pedestrian Accidents
If you were hit by a car while walking, you had no protection from the force of the impact. Brain injuries from pedestrian accidents can cause memory loss, cognitive difficulties, and long-term disability. If a driver was distracted, speeding, or failed to yield, you may be entitled to compensation.
Bicycle Accidents
Even with a helmet, a bicycle accident can result in severe head trauma. If a driver failed to check their blind spots or ran a red light, you could be left with a concussion or permanent brain damage. If a negligent driver caused your injuries, you have the right to pursue a claim.
Motorcycle Accidents
Motorcyclists face extreme risks when careless drivers fail to see them. A high-impact crash can cause skull fractures, concussions, or lasting brain damage. If a driver cut you off, merged into your lane, or hit you at an intersection, you may be able to seek financial recovery for your injuries.
Bus Accidents
Bus passengers have little protection in a crash. If you were thrown from your seat, hit by falling objects, or struck by a bus while walking, you could be facing serious brain injuries. Bus companies and drivers must follow strict safety regulations, and if they fail, they may be liable for your damages.
Taxi Accidents
Riding in a taxi does not guarantee safety. If your driver was speeding, failed to brake in time, or collided with another vehicle, you could be dealing with long-term head trauma. Taxi companies and their drivers may be responsible for covering your medical expenses and lost wages.
Slip and Fall Accidents
If you slipped on a wet floor, tripped on uneven pavement, or fell down poorly maintained stairs, you may have suffered a traumatic brain injury. A hard fall can cause lasting cognitive and physical damage. If a property owner failed to keep their premises safe, you may have a claim.
Trampoline Accidents
Trampoline parks and backyard trampolines can be dangerous, especially if they are not properly maintained. If you landed on your head, collided with another jumper, or fell off due to a faulty net, your injuries could be severe. If a property owner or business failed to enforce safety rules, they may be responsible.
Product Malfunctions
If a helmet, airbag, or safety device failed when you needed it most, you could suffer a traumatic brain injury. Defective products put consumers at risk, especially when manufacturers cut corners. If a faulty product caused your injury, the manufacturer or distributor may be held accountable.
Other Premises Liabilities
If you suffered a head injury because of unsafe conditions on someone else’s property, the owner may be responsible. Poorly maintained staircases, falling objects, or inadequate security can lead to devastating accidents. If a property owner’s negligence caused your injuries, you may be able to recover compensation.
How to Recover Your Damages in Full
Your opportunities for financial recovery may not be limited by an insurance claim alone. Although the thought of going to court may not be ideal, it may be the best way to ensure you are able to recover every loss you have suffered as a result of another party’s negligence. Insurance claims often limit the amount of compensation that certain types and amounts of coverage can award you.
If the defendant does not have enough insurance coverage to meet your needs, or the insurance company is not obligated to cover every loss, going to court may be in your best interest. Our legal team is here to scrutinize your damages in detail to account for every loss. You have the right to be repaid for both financial and non-financial losses.
Economic Damages (Special Damages)
Financial losses are commonly referred to as economic damages or special damages. Examples include:
- Costs of replacing damaged personal property.
- Costs of vehicle repairs or replacement fees.
- The financial impact of damage to your credit report or score.
- Costs of increases in your health, life, or auto insurance premiums.
- Costs of household upkeep and childcare.
- Loss of income, including employee benefits, such as paid time off or vacation pay.
- Loss of potential future earnings, including retirement savings contributions by your employer.
- Medical expenses, including surgical intervention, prescriptions, co-pays, ongoing medical care, medical equipment, and future medical costs.
Non-Economic Damages (General Damages)
There are many ways your life may have been affected by your traumatic brain injuries that have nothing to do with money. These types of losses will impact you emotionally, physically, psychologically, and everything in between. Commonly known as non-economic damages or general damages, examples include:
- Your inability to maintain relationships with family and friends.
- Loss of an intimate relationship with your partner.
- Loss of advice, society, protection, counsel, and support.
- Loss of love and companionship.
- The embarrassment caused by disfiguring skin scarring.
- Feelings of shame, indignity, apprehension, fear, anticipation, and shock.
- Diminished quality of life.
- Chronic physical pain and suffering.
- Emotional distress and mental anguish.
These are just a few examples of damages that may be recovered following a TBI. If you are interested in recovering maximum compensation for your losses, be sure to discuss your damages in detail with your legal representative.
Statute of Limitations for Personal Injury Lawsuits
Make sure your traumatic brain injury lawsuit is filed in the civil court system before the statute of limitations expires. This sets the maximum amount of time you have to file your claim. If your claim is not filed before this deadline, the court system will not agree to hear your case.
Fortunately, South Carolina has a three-year statute of limitations in place for traumatic brain injury and personal injury claims per South Carolina Code § 15-3-530. However, that does not mean you should wait to get started on your case.
The sooner you reach out, the sooner your traumatic brain injury attorney in Greenville can begin gathering the supporting evidence we need to win.
Get Help from a Traumatic Brain Injury Lawyer in Greenville Today
The process of recovering compensation after a traumatic brain injury can seem like too much to handle. When you are ready to demand the liable party pay, but your injuries have taken over your life, do not hesitate to contact a reputable Greenville traumatic brain injury attorney at Shelly Leeke Law Firm for a free consultation.
You can schedule yours as soon as today when you fill out our convenient contact form or call our office.
