Traumatic Brain Injury Attorney

Helping Our Tampa Clients Get the Compensation and Support They Need

Unlike a broken bone set in a cast or a bandage over a wound, traumatic brain injury does not always come with an external mark. Someone may seem whole at first glance, but the injury to their brain may change the rest of their lives. Memory issues, seizures, and severe headaches are only some of the symptoms that can turn their lives upside down.

Perhaps even more devastating is when the TBI could have been prevented. When the injury is caused by someone else’s neglect or carelessness, you may have a personal injury case.

At Four Rivers Law Firm, we can fight for the compensation you deserve and for the treatment to help you manage your symptoms. Contact us today by calling (813) 331-5056.

What Is Traumatic Brain Injury?

Florida law defines traumatic brain injury (TBI) as an insult to the skull, brain, or its covering that results from external trauma and that produces an altered state of consciousness or anatomic, motor, sensory, cognitive, or behavioral deficit. The term does not include brain dysfunction caused by congenital or degenerative disorders or birth trauma.

According to a TBI assessment by the WellFlorida Council, about 2% of Floridians are living with long-term results of TBI. In 2014, TBIs were a factor in 3,852 deaths and almost 20,000 hospitalizations.

Three Severity Levels of TBI

Traumatic brain injury is often caused by falls, cars accidents, sports injuries, and blows to the head. Penetrating injuries, like a gunshot, can also cause TBI.

TBI’s immediate aftermath and ongoing complications are driven by the severity of the injury. There are three classes in which TBI are categorized:

• Mild TBI/Concussion. The term “mild” does not mean these injuries aren’t serious. When the brain bounces inside the skull, the result can cause chemical changes in the brain and damage brain cells. CT scans do not always show the extent of the damage, but symptoms will illuminate the harm. Anyone who suffers repeated mild concussions can experience ongoing problems such as headaches, vertigo, and memory issues.
• Moderate TBI. “Moderate” is a category that can still have disastrous repercussions. There can be skull fractures, loss of consciousness, and brain bleeding. Most moderate cases require attentive monitoring but not surgery.
• Severe TBI. These violent brain injuries cause an extended loss of consciousness and even coma. Surgery is often required. Bleeding in the brain can be life-threatening. Part of the skull may need to be removed to relieve pressure on the brain.

No matter how the injury is categorized, a traumatic brain injury can impact your ability to work and take care of yourself. Every aspect of your life, and those you love, can be affected.

TBI Symptoms

Mild TBI sufferers experience such symptoms as confusion, headache, neck pain, and sensitivity to light and sound. In moderate and severe cases, the injury can also cause seizures, vomiting, dilated pupils, and unresponsiveness. Severe TBI patients often have amnesia about the injury and what happened.

In mild cases, the symptoms often (but not always) subside within a few weeks. Those with moderate and severe TBI may experience a lifetime of physical, mental, and emotional challenges.

Ongoing symptoms of traumatic brain injury can include:

• Anxiety & Depression
• Difficulty Concentrating
• Impaired Vision, Taste, or Smell
• Insomnia
• Memory Loss
• Paralysis
• Personality Changes
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
• Problems Walking and Talking

Focus on TBI Recovery for Our Tampa Clients

Fighting to compensate you for the injury is important, but only one aspect of how we support our clients at Four Rivers Law Firm. As mentioned earlier, even so-called mild cases might alter your ability to work and take care of yourself. TBI symptoms are diverse and require an array of specialists to help you recover and manage ongoing complaints.

We proudly separate ourselves from other attorneys by knowing finances are only half the battle. You also want to recover as much of your old self as possible. At Four Rivers Law Firm, we connect our clients with specialists and therapists that can help them achieve some physical and emotional peace of mind.

Treatment options include alternative therapies such as platelet-rich plasma therapy (using your own blood) and stem cell therapy (often referred to as regenerative therapy). Depending on your symptoms, you may need speech therapy, mental health counseling, physical therapy, and vocational counseling.

Compensation to Help You Handle TBI’s Aftermath

You may be eligible for compensation if you suffered the TBI at the fault of someone else. If you fall at a business because they didn’t properly maintain their grounds, if you were blindsided by a drunk driver, if you were crossing the street and hit by a distracted driver, and many other scenarios may be the grounds of a personal injury lawsuit.

The statute of limitations for personal injury cases is four years in Florida. That’s how long you have after an accident to take legal action. TBI symptoms sometimes manifest over time. In certain cases, the four-year window can be extended. Nevertheless, waiting to file a lawsuit only hurts your ability to pay for needed treatment as well as everyday living expenses.

For a free consultation to discuss your potential case, contact us today at (813) 331-5056. Read what our past clients have to say about us!