Albuquerque Brain Injury Lawyer
Brain injuries can be devastating and life-changing events. The brain is the most complex organ in the body, and if any part of it becomes injured, it can impact motor function, loss of sensation, paralysis, and other cognitive damage. If someone else’s actions resulted in your brain injury, speak to an experienced Albuquerque brain injury lawyer for an assessment of your case and a chance to keep them accountable for their actions.
If you have sustained a terrible brain injury, you may be dealing with mounting medical bills and other financial hardships. The brain injury lawyers at Dominguez Law understand that the aftermath of a devastating injury can be challenging and take a substantial toll on your day-to-day life. We want to guide you through your legal options after a serious injury caused by someone else’s negligence. You may be able to recover essential compensation for damages including, past and future medical bills, lost wages, lost earning potential, pain and suffering, and others.
Frequent Symptoms of a Brain Injury
Brain injuries can range in severity and symptoms. Although mild TBIs, or concussions, can seem like a slight injury to the brain, they can have lingering symptoms that last and cause debilitating consequences. Concussions may impact memory, mood, visual impairments, and other symptoms that can impact your daily life and ability to work. Because brains are the control center of the body, brain injuries can affect several regions of the body, and symptoms can sometimes develop over time. Some of the symptoms include:
- Difficulty with communication and language
- Decreased cognitive function
- Hearing impairment
- Vision impairments
- Trouble sleeping
- Difficulty swallowing
- Changes in mood and behavior
- Development of mental health issues like depression
If you have experienced a brain injury and are suffering from any of these symptoms, it is essential to seek medical care promptly. Over 30% of those who sustain a TBI injury will require daily care assistance, even after rehabilitation. When speaking with an Albuquerque brain injury attorney, you may be able to develop a strong case in order to gain compensation regarding your future care needs.
Types of Brain Injuries
A traumatic brain injury is a term used to describe a multitude of damage done to the brain and the aftermath of that damage. They typically fall into two categories, closed head injuries, and open head injuries. When damage is sustained to a specific region of the brain, it may only affect that region but can also affect the entire brain. Some injuries may be difficult to diagnose because symptoms can affect the entire body.
Concussion
The most common type of brain injury is a concussion and is considered a mild brain injury. A concussion is caused by a blow to the head that causes the brain to jolt back and forth within the skull, disrupting normal brain function. It is categorized as a closed head injury. The symptoms of a concussion include:
- Confusion
- Headaches
- Vomiting
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Blurred vision
- Memory loss
- Tinnitus (ringing in your ears)
- Insomnia
- Difficulty with motor functions or impaired balance
- Mood swings
- Difficulty thinking and remembering new information
- Difficulty concentrating
The symptoms can be very serious and can continue for days or weeks after the injury. It is important to speak with a medical professional promptly if you suspect a concussion. After a concussion, victims can typically still have symptoms, such as headaches, memory problems, and difficulty thinking. Speak with a skilled Albuquerque brain injury lawyer for guidance surrounding your case.
Traumatic Brain Injury
A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is an instant impact injury that causes damage to the brain by suddenly bumping, jolting, or bouncing it against the skull. When an object pierces the skull, it is also classified as a TBI. Symptoms of a TBI can be mild, moderate, or severe. More serious TBI injuries cause physical and psychological symptoms, including:
- Loss of coordination
- Increased confusion, restlessness, or agitation
- A headache that gets worse or does not go away
- Not being able to wake up from sleep
- Larger than normal pupil (dark center) of one or both eyes. This is called dilation of the pupil.
- Slurred speech
- Repeated vomiting or nausea
- Convulsions or seizures
The most common causes of a TBI injury are sports, falls, and car accidents.
Acquired Cerebral Palsy
This condition is caused by injury to the brain and spinal cord. It can cause muscle weakness, muscle spasms, and problems with movement, coordination, and posture. Cerebral palsy is an extremely serious condition that requires medical treatment and intensive physical therapy.
What to Do After Sustaining a Brain Injury
After you have a brain injury, it is essential to get medical treatment as soon as possible. It is also important to understand the symptoms of your brain injury, as well as the effects that are long-term. You may have short-term memory problems or memory loss, confusion, dizziness, or headaches. It is also important to report any changes in behavior or personality, changes in taste or smell, slurred speech, frequent falls, and any other neurological issues you notice.
If you endured a brain injury from an accident caused by someone else’s negligence, it is essential to hire an experienced Albuquerque brain injury lawyer who will help you get the compensation you deserve. Brain injuries are often permanent, and they come with long-term challenges that may impact your life for the rest of your life. Your attorney will help you fight for the compensation and benefits that will support and care for you and your family.
Types of Compensation Available for a Brain Injury Claim in ALBUQUERQUE
TBIs are often severe, but even minor brain injuries can lead to problems such as difficulty maintaining balance, issues with concentration, and persistent headaches. Because brain injuries are likely to be complex and result in permanent complications, personal injury claim settlements that involve TBIs usually include multiple types of compensation.
Traumatic brain injury accidents often affect both victims and their family members. Attorney Paul M. Dominguez understands the challenges you may be facing after a brain injury accident, and he understands the importance of getting the compensation you and your loved ones need. In personal injury cases, there are two basic types of compensable damages. They are as follows:
Economic Damages
Economic damages are the easily quantifiable losses the brain injury victim or their family members have suffered. These damages usually have a fixed price tag and may include the following:
- Expenses for past, current, and future medical treatments
- Physical therapy and rehabilitation costs
- Lost wages if the victim cannot work
- Reduced earning capacity if the disability prevents future work
- General household out-of-pocket expenses
- Construction costs for home modifications to make mobility assistance changes
- Funeral expenses (in cases of wrongful death)
Depending on your brain injury and how it was caused, you may be eligible for some or all of these damages.
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages, on the other hand, are the losses that are more of a challenge to calculate because they do not come with a clear price tag. Any real but non-tangible damage that is suffered because of a brain injury accident is characterized as a non-economic loss.
Some of the most common types of non-economic losses brain injury victims and their families can receive compensation for include the following:
- Physical pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of consortium for a spouse
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Mental anguish
Working with a skilled lawyer can help you get the compensation you deserve for both economic and non-economic damages.
Recovering Compensation for a Brain Injury
Calculating compensation in the aftermath of a brain injury accident is challenging. TBIs can significantly impact an individual’s physical and cognitive abilities, playing a major role in the amount of medical care they will need in the future, as well as affecting their future earning capacity.
In other words, accurately calculating a brain injury case’s monetary value involves trying to predict the future. In these cases, it is necessary to enlist the help of trusted financial and economic experts who can help put an exact dollar amount to your economic and non-economic damages. Your personal injury lawyer will have access to the resources needed to precisely value your claim, make sure you get the medical attention you need and can arrange for specialists to testify on your behalf.
Contact Albuquerque Brain Injury Lawyers
Injuries to the brain can occur because of several different reasons, such as car accidents, a slip and fall, an assault, or a sports injury. It is important to know that traumatic brain injuries can lead to long-term complications that may include cognitive impairment and changes in personality. If you or a loved one has experienced a brain injury due to another party’s negligence, it is wise to contact an Albuquerque personal injury lawyer as soon as possible. We can help you recover compensation for the losses you have endured.
The Dominguez Law Firm will help gather evidence, set you up with an expert witness who can testify in your case, manage negotiations with the insurer, and represent your interests in court, if necessary. We exhaust all of our resources to help ensure that you get the compensation you deserve for your brain injury. Fill out our contact form or call (505) 317-9837 to set up a free, no-obligation consultation. Se Habla Español.