Edmond Brain Injury Lawyer
Did you recently suffer a brain injury because of an accident in Edmond, OK? Regardless of whether that injury is mild, moderate, or severe, you could be entitled to a substantial monetary award.
However, in order to get the money you deserve, you’ll have to be aggressive and put up a fight. McGuire Law Firm is ready to stand by your side and do whatever it takes to help you win.
Our Edmond personal injury lawyers know just how catastrophic a brain injury can be. It can fundamentally change the course of your life forever. While money will not guarantee a full recovery, we do know that it can make a massive difference for years to come. So, give our Edmond law office a call at (405) 513-5658 to find out how we can help you fight for every last dollar you deserve.
Your initial case evaluation is 100 percent free, so please do not hesitate to reach out to us for assistance today.
What is a Brain Injury?
A brain injury is, simply put, any trauma that disrupts normal brain activity or cognition. There are two mechanisms that can cause a brain injury - closed and open head trauma.
Closed Head Injury
The brain is kept safe by your skull. There’s a layer of thick fluid that helps to cushion the soft organ inside of the hard helmet-like structure. When your body is subjected to unexpected force or trauma, the skull and fluid help to prevent brain injuries.
However, there are times when the force of trauma is so great that the brain moves around rapidly and violently inside of the skull. The liquid cushion is displaced, and the brain tissue is able to make contact with the interior of the skull. When this happens, the brain can become damaged or destroyed. This is called a closed head injury.
Note that closed head injuries can also occur when you are exposed to toxic chemicals or poisons. Anytime the brain is injured while the skull remains intact, it’s a closed head injury.
Open Head Injury
The skull is strong, but not impenetrable. When the skull is compromised or broken, the brain becomes susceptible to injury. Those injuries are classified as open head injuries. Examples of open head injuries, which are sometimes referred to as penetrating head injuries, include blunt force trauma, gunshot wounds, stabbings, and impalement.
Categorizing a Brain Injury After an Accident in Edmond
Not all traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are the same. In fact, brain injuries fall into different classifications - mild, moderate, or severe - depending on the seriousness and impact of the trauma.
Mild Brain Injury: A mild traumatic brain injury occurs when you experience a loss or alteration of consciousness for less than 30 minutes. Symptoms of a mild TBI include:
- Headache
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Fatigue
- Speech problems
- Blurred vision
- Tinnitus (ringing in the ears)
- Confusion
- Sensitivity to light or sound
- Mood swings
- Changes in behavior, and
- Memory problems.
Moderate Brain Injury: A moderate traumatic brain injury occurs when you experience a loss or alteration of consciousness for more than 30 minutes, but no more than 6 hours. Symptoms of a moderate TBI include those listed above, as well as:
- Persistent headache
- Convulsions
- Dilated pupil(s)
- Fluid or blood from the nose or ears
- Numbness
- Weakness
- Speech difficulty, and
- Double vision.
Severe Brain Injury: A severe TBI occurs when you experience a loss or alteration of consciousness for more than 6 hours. When you suffer a severe TBI you might experience some of the symptoms discussed above, as well as:
- Coma
- Depression
- Difficulty breathing
- Inability to wake while sleeping
- Seizures, and
- Agitation or combativeness.
The more serious your brain injury, the worse the symptoms and side effects. It’s important to seek medical treatment if you believe that you’ve suffered a head injury or trauma to the brain. Prompt medical care is the only way to limit complications and prevent your brain injury from getting worse.
Secondary Brain Injuries and Complications
Following a bump, blow, or jolt to the head, it’s not unusual to experience secondary injuries or complications. These might include:
- Diffuse axonal injury
- Concussion
- Blast
- Contusion
- Subarachnoid hematoma
- Subdural hematoma
- Epidural hematoma
- Intracerebral hematoma
- Edema, and
- Hypoxia.
Again, see a doctor if you’ve been involved in an accident. A thorough medical evaluation can help to ensure that all of your injuries are identified, diagnosed, and treated promptly.
How Common Are Brain Injuries?
Very common. According to the CDC, brain injuries are a “major cause of death and disability” across the nation. In recent years, the number of traumatic brain injuries has risen substantially. Between 2006 and 2014, the number of brain injuries increased by 53 percent.
In 2014, there were an estimated 2.87 million traumatic brain injuries in the United States. That year, at least 288,000 people were hospitalized because of a TBI. Another 56,800 people - including 2,529 children - suffered a fatal brain injury. That’s 155 brain injury-related deaths every single day.
What Are the Leading Causes of Brain Injuries in Edmond, Oklahoma?
You can suffer a brain injury any time that you experience a jolt, blow, or bump to the head. So, almost any accident can potentially cause a brain injury. McGuire Law Firm represents clients who suffered a brain injury as a result of:
- Car accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Bicycle accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- Truck accidents
- RV accidents
- Assaults
- Dog bites
- Slip and fall accidents
- Defective products
- Medical malpractice
- Boating accidents
- School accidents
- Construction accidents
- Workplace accidents
- Swimming pool accidents, and more.
Have you or a loved one suffered a brain injury because someone else was negligent? If so, contact our law firm in Edmond to learn about your legal rights and options. We offer a free consultation, so give us a call today.
What Damages Are Available If I’ve Suffered a Brain Injury in Edmond Accident?
Few injuries are more physically, emotionally, and financially devastating than those involving the brain. Depending on the severity of the TBI, the associated costs and expenses can range anywhere between $85,000 and $3 million over the course of a lifetime. Those figures don’t even factor in the intangible costs and suffering of a brain injury.
When someone else is partly or fully responsible for causing your pain and suffering, they have to be held accountable. By filing an injury claim or lawsuit, you can potentially recover life-changing compensation for your brain injury from any and all at-fault parties. This could include damages for:
- Medical bills
- Rehabilitation
- Therapy
- Nursing care
- Property damage
- Lost income and wages
- Disability, temporary and/or permanent
- Loss of consortium
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Emotional distress
- Chronic pain
- Wrongful death, and more.
Don’t let insurance companies bully you or scare you into accepting less money than your case is worth. They’ll try, but you can force them to play by the rules and take your claim seriously by enlisting our help. Insurers in Edmond know that our personal injury attorneys mean business and don’t tolerate games. They know that if our clients are offered anything less than a stellar settlement offer they can expect to see us in court. Our trial lawyers will be prepared to do whatever it takes to help you get the money you deserve. To learn more about how we might be able to help, all you have to do is give us a call. It’s that simple.
How Long Do I Have to File a Brain Injury Lawsuit in Oklahoma?
In most cases, the statute of limitations for personal injury lawsuits is two years. That means that you’ll have to file a claim and demand compensation within two years of the date you suffer a brain injury in Edmond.
Wait too long, and you will lose the right to hold at-fault parties accountable and get the money you deserve. The best course of action is to enlist the help of a qualified personal injury lawyer in Edmond as soon as you can after you get hurt.
Schedule a Free Consultation With Our Edmond Brain Injury Lawyers
Were you recently involved in an accident in Edmond, Oklahoma? Did you sustain a brain injury? Contact McGuire Law Firm to discuss your legal rights and options. You may be entitled to money to help with your medical bills, make up for lost wages, and compensate for your pain and suffering. Our Edmond brain injury attorneys will help you fight to get every last dollar you deserve.
We offer a free initial case evaluation. This way, you have the opportunity to sit down and discuss your case with experienced, passionate attorneys. We’ll do our best to answer your questions and help you figure out your next steps. It’s important to get started quickly, so give us a call today.