Traumatic Brain and Head Injury Lawyer in North Carolina: What You Need to Know and How We Can Help You

A head injury can be debilitating and life-altering. If you, or a loved one, have suffered a traumatic brain injury due to another person’s carelessness, you may have many questions about what comes next, including how you and your family can seek justice and compensation from the person that harmed you (or their insurance company).

For the answers to some common questions on catastrophic injuries to the head in North Carolina, keep on reading. Please know that you don’t have to face this alone. Our traumatic brain injury lawyers are here to give you answers, guide you, advise you, and support you every step of the way.

To speak to an experienced member of our team right now about what happened to you or a loved one, call 1-866-900-7078. Get clarity on your case with no obligation.

Types of Head Injuries

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), nearly 208,000 North Carolinians, or 2% of the state’s population, suffer a traumatic brain injury every year.

Head injuries are divided into three primary classifications: traumatic brain injuries, open head injuries, and closed head injuries (see full definitions below).

Note: You can have a traumatic brain injury and open or closed head injury at the same time.

What Is a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)?

The CDC defines a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) as “a disruption in the normal function of the brain that can be caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head, or penetrating head injury.” This kind of injury can severely degrade your quality of life.

Symptoms or results of a TBI can include:

• Coma
• Persistent pain
• Inability to think clearly or properly
• Memory loss (amnesia)
• Loss of vision
• Sensitivity to light
• Sensitivity to sound
• Tinnitus or ringing in the ears
• Limited functions of one or more extremities
• Abnormal or limited speech
• Emotional conditions

According to the CDC, these are the most common causes of Traumatic Brain Injuries:

• Falls
• Motor vehicle crashes
• Being hit by or colliding with an object
• Assaults

Tip: If you were injured while working, you may have a workers’ compensation claim. Report your injury to your employer in writing as soon as possible and consult with an experienced North Carolina workers’ compensation lawyer before you agree to anything.

What Is an Open Head Injury vs. a Closed Head Injury?

An open head injury means you were hit with an object that broke the skull and entered the brain. These injuries usually result in prolonged hospitalization and can require extensive rehabilitation.

Open head injuries can cause chronic headaches and pain, can shorten your lifespan, and can result in the tragic death of a loved one. If another person’s negligence killed your loved one, you may choose to purse a wrongful death lawsuit.

Closed head injuries are typically not as severe as open head injuries, but are often difficult to diagnose. There are not always outward signs of an injury. People may not even be aware they’ve suffered an injury even as they experience its side effects.

Some serious conditions caused by a closed head injury may include:

• Subdural Hematoma– a collection of blood between the brain’s covering (dura) and its surface
• Epidural Hematoma– a collection of blood between the skull and the brain’s covering
• Intracerebral Hemorrhage– bleeding within the brain itself
• Increased Intracranial Pressure– dangerous pressure on the brain from fluid or swelling in the skull

Are you wondering what you, or a loved one, may be owed from the at-fault person for the harms and losses you may have suffered? Get clarity on your case at no cost or obligation. Call 1-866-900-7078 today for a free case evaluation.

Are Concussions Non-Traumatic Brain Injuries?

No. Concussions are traumatic brain injuries which may become worse over time. It’s also possible that a Traumatic Brain Injury might be misdiagnosed as “just” a concussion when it is in fact more serious, so consult a traumatic brain injury lawyer even if you merely suspect that you might have a TBI.

Concussions vary in severity, and research is finding that their effects are cumulative. People who suffer multiple concussions – even minor ones – are more likely to develop Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE), a form of dementia.

It may take a few days for concussion symptoms to appear, including:

• Losing consciousness (blacking out)
• Losing memory (amnesia, forgetting instructions, not being able to account for time)
• Delayed cognition (having trouble answering questions)
• Confusion (not knowing where you are, what you were doing, and so on)
• Trouble maintaining balance (staggering, coordination issues)
• Emotional inconsistency (inappropriate laughter or crying, mood swings)
• Sensitivity to light and sound
• Nausea (feeling sick, vomiting)
• Appearing vacant (a dazed look in the eyes, inability to pay attention)

The causes of concussions are numerous – anything from a car accident to bumping your head on a cabinet. They’re relatively common in contact sports as well. Whatever the case, seek treatment immediately.

What Compensation Am I Owed for a Traumatic Brain Injury?

If you suffer a traumatic brain injury due to another’s negligence, you may be owed significant compensation for:

• Medical expenses including past, current, and future costs related to treatment of your TBI and any permanent injuries
• Pain and suffering including physical discomfort and emotional trauma
• Lost wages for time missed from work, losing your job, or any permanent disability preventing you from being able to work
• Wrongful death damages in cases where a TBI results in the tragic and untimely passing of a loved one

How Do You Prove a Brain Injury Occurred?

Building a case for full compensation after a traumatic brain injury (TBI) can be difficult. Remember that the insurance company is protecting their own interests, not yours, no matter how helpful they seem. To prove your brain injury, your head injury lawyer may need some or all of this evidence:

• Medical diagnosis from a qualified healthcare professional, typically including CT scans and MRI scans which can identify structural problems in the brain that indicate a TBI
• Medical records including the results of any neuroimaging studies as well as your diagnosis and treatment plan
• Eyewitness testimony from anyone who might have observed the incident in which you received a TBI
• Police reports if the police were called for the incident that led to your TBI

An experienced traumatic brain injury lawyer can significantly increase your chances of a favorable outcome for your case. For a free professional opinion on your situation, call 1-866-900-7078 today.

An attorney can help you by:

• Fighting for the full compensation you may deserve based on their knowledge and experience with traumatic brain injury cases
• Dealing with the insurance company on your behalf and countering any tactics they may use to try to lower your compensation
• Gathering and preserving evidence to build your case
• Advising you, answering your questions, and guiding you every step of the way
• Completing complicated paperwork for you within strict deadlines
• Calculating the cost of your medical treatment, care, or assistance for as long as you may need it as well as all the other damages you may be entitled to
• Taking your case to trial if needed

Our Traumatic Brain Injury Lawyers Can Give You Clarity on Your Case

We are passionate about helping people with head injuries seek justice. Our attorneys are experienced in handling head injury cases and our results include recovering more than $1.8 billion total for over 65,000 people since 1997.¹ Our You-First Policy means we put you first in every decision we make, including advancing all costs of fighting your case. You pay nothing upfront, nothing by the hour, and no attorney’s fee at all if we don’t recover compensation for you. Guaranteed.²

If someone else’s negligent act caused you, or a loved one, a head injury, let us put our experience dealing with head injury cases and our resources and knowledge to work, fighting for the full compensation you may deserve. Contact us online or call 1-866-900-7078 right away for a free case evaluation.