Gainesville Brain Injury Lawyer
While mild head injuries may leave no lasting symptoms, brain injuries can be serious or even catastrophic. Have you or a loved one suffered a brain injury in Gainesville, FL? A Gainesville brain injury attorney can help you fight for fair compensation for the immediate and long-term consequences you are facing.
Since 2007, Allen Law Accident & Injury Lawyers has represented survivors of brain injuries and their families in Gainesville, Florida. We are dedicated to giving you the compassionate legal representation you deserve. Contact our law office today at (877) 255-3652 to schedule a free consultation with a Gainesville brain injury lawyer. We will listen to your story and help you understand your options.
How Allen Law Accident & Injury Lawyers Can Help If You’ve Suffered a Brain Injury in Gainesville
You have enough to deal with as you struggle to move forward with your life after a brain injury. A Gainesville personal injury attorney can help you by pursuing the compensation you need while protecting your legal rights. Your lawyer will defend you against unfair tactics by the insurance adjuster and calculate the full value of your losses.
At Allen Law Accident & Injury Lawyers, we are committed to protecting and fighting for injury victims in Gainesville, Florida. Since 2007, we have recovered hundreds of millions for our clients. Our Gainesville personal injury attorneys have more than 100 years of combined insurance and personal injury experience. We have been recognized as Top 100 Trial Lawyers and with admittance to the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum.
When you choose our Gainesville personal injury lawyers to represent you, we will:
- Offer legal advice and guidance
- Conduct an independent investigation into your accident and identify liable parties
- Gather evidence that proves causation and liability
- Work with experts to document the value of your damages and strengthen your claim
- Negotiate on your behalf to seek a fair settlement
- File a lawsuit and take your case to court when necessary
- Monitor all deadlines and handle communications
Contact us today to schedule a free consultation with a Gainesville brain injury attorney to discuss your case and what we can do to help you in Gainesville, FL.
Overview of Traumatic Brain Injuries
A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is an injury caused by external trauma, such as a blow to the head. Acquired brain injuries (ABIs), on the other hand, are the result of internal factors like stroke, disease, and infection. Brain injuries can also be caused by birth injuries and congenital conditions.
It’s estimated that 2.5 million people experience a TBI every year in the U.S. About 50,000 of these injuries are fatal, and 85,000 cause disability.
What Are the Most Common Types of Traumatic Brain Injuries?
There are many types of traumatic brain injuries, which may be mild to severe.
Common forms are:
- Concussions or mild brain injuries.
- Contusions, or bruises, which are caused by a direct blow.
- Coup injuries occur below the site of impact, and contrecoup injuries occur opposite the site of impact. These injuries can also occur together (coup-contrecoup injury).
- Hematomas, or collections of blood inside the skull. They may form within the brain tissue, between the brain and dura mater, or between the dura mater and skull.
- Hypoxic and anoxic brain injuries happen when the brain is deprived of oxygen.
- Diffuse axonal injury (DAI) is a very severe type of brain damage when nerve fibers are sheared as the brain shifts forcefully in the skull.
- Penetrating brain injuries which involve a foreign object penetrating the skull.
The Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) is a common tool to diagnose a traumatic brain injury and assess the severity and prognosis. The system scores patients on a 15-point scale based on eye movement, motor response, and verbal response. Based on the score, the TBI is defined as mild, moderate, or severe.
What Are the Signs and Symptoms of a Brain Injury?
The signs of a brain injury can vary significantly by person. Even identical injuries can cause different symptoms in different people.
Common symptoms and signs of a brain injury may include the following:
- Loss of consciousness, even lasting seconds
- Confusion
- Loss of balance and dizziness
- Headaches
- Blurred vision or other vision changes
- Sensitivity to noise and light
- Nausea
- Drowsiness or fatigue
- Problems with memory, particularly short-term memory
- Trouble concentrating
- Changes in behavior or mood
- Trouble understanding speech or speaking
- Seizures
- Unequal pupils
Symptoms of a mild brain injury can be subtle and may be more obvious to friends and coworkers than to the injury victim. Feeling like you are in a fog and struggling with memory, thinking, and concentration are common.
What Are the Potential Long-Term Consequences of a Traumatic Brain Injury?
Brain injuries can result in many long-term consequences which may be very hard to predict. Some people experience long-term or permanent cognitive impairment. Changes to behavior and emotions, such as poor impulse control and emotional regulation, may be permanent. There may be lasting physical effects as well such as paralysis, limited mobility, and balance problems.
These effects can be disabling. Victims may be unable to return to work or enjoy the same quality of life. The serious effects of a brain injury can damage relationships and the victim’s ability to function socially.
One of the most common long-term effects of post-concussion syndrome (PCS). Research estimates that 10% of people who suffer from a concussion have symptoms that persist for up to a year or longer.
What Causes Brain Injuries In Gainesville, Florida?
Any accident or blow to the head can cause a brain injury. A growing body of research indicates that the force necessary to cause even a concussion is likely lower than previously believed. Even subconcussive injuries, or sudden brain movement without any clinical symptoms, may have risks.
Still, the vast majority of diagnosed brain injuries involve one of the following scenarios.
- Motor vehicle accidents. Car accidents, motorcycle accidents, pedestrian accidents, and other crashes are a leading cause of TBIs.
- Falls. Slip and fall accidents and falls from heights cause 81% of brain injuries in older adults. They are also responsible for 40% of TBI-related ER visits.
- Violence. The leading cause of fatal brain injuries is firearm violence, including self-inflicted injuries. Domestic violence, shootings, and other types of assault are common causes of serious brain injuries.
About 25% of concussions happen in workplace accidents. Falls, traffic accidents, falling objects, and heavy machinery are often to blame. Certain workplaces and occupations are at a higher risk of brain injuries, including construction sites, warehouses, and professional drivers.
What Is My Brain Injury Case Worth?
Every personal injury case is unique, and there is no easy way to estimate the value of your case, especially in the beginning. Dozens of factors can affect what your case is worth, some of which may not be obvious. Even cases with identical injuries and financial losses can have very different values when all other factors are considered.
Estimating the value of a claim begins with the total financial value of the losses. This total may be multiplied by a factor of up to five based on the severity of the injuries and the impact on the victim’s life. This new figure can be a good starting point for negotiations. However, factors like comparative negligence, insurance coverage, and even the circumstances of your accident can influence or even limit what you may recover.
What Compensation Is Available To Victims of a Brain Injury In Gainesville?
Injury victims are entitled to recover damages from parties who are found liable. Compensatory damages are designed to reimburse you for the losses you suffered due to the at-fault party’s actions. Compensatory damages include economic and non-economic damages.
Economic damages reimburse you for the financial losses you have suffered and the future financial expenses of your accident. Non-economic damages compensate for emotional and psychological losses. These losses have no financial value and may be difficult to calculate.
Types of damages you may recover in your claim include:
- Medical bills, including future anticipated medical expenses
- Lost earnings and diminished earning capacity if you are unable to return to your job or any gainful employment
- Reasonable out-of-pocket expenses like replacement services and transportation to medical appointments
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering, mental anguish, and emotional distress
- Reduced quality of life
- Scarring and disfigurement
Very few personal injury cases reach a jury. However, this opens up an additional form of compensation in the form of punitive damages. These damages may be awarded by a jury with clear evidence of intentional misconduct or gross negligence.
Can I Still Recover Damages if I Share Fault for My Accident In Florida?
Even if you share some blame for your accident, you may still be entitled to compensation in Florida, thanks to the state’s comparative negligence rule. Comparative negligence means each party is assigned a share of liability for damages based on their share of fault. If you are found 25% at fault for the accident, your damages are reduced by 25%, and the other party is responsible for the 75% of damages that they caused.
In 2023, Florida moved to a modified comparative negligence system with a 51% bar. Under this new system, accident victims can only recover compensation if they are 50% or less at fault. If you are 51% or more to blame for your accident, you will be barred from recovering anything from the other negligent party.
How Long Do I Have To File A Brain Injury Lawsuit In Florida?
Time is limited to pursue compensation in a personal injury lawsuit. The Florida statute of limitations is just two years for negligence cases due to a new law signed in 2023. However, you may have four years to bring a claim if your brain injury was caused by assault, battery, or other intentional wrongdoing. There are very few exceptions.
The longer you wait, the harder it becomes to prove your claim. Contact a personal injury attorney as soon as you can to begin building your case and preserving any evidence that is available.
Schedule a Free Consultation With Our Gainesville Brain Injury Lawyers
After a life-changing injury, you do not need to face the insurance company or claims process alone. At Allen Law Accident & Injury Lawyers, we have more than a century of personal injury and insurance experience. We will put it to work on your behalf in Gainesville, FL, to pursue compensation that helps you move forward with your life.
Call our law firm to schedule a free case review with a Gainesville brain injury lawyer. We will listen to your story and discuss how we can help you.
Gainesville Brain Injury Review From Google
Everyone at the Allen Law Accident & Injury Lawyers are such caring and helpful people. I am sure that any question or concern I may have would be responded to quickly and efficiently. Great people, great law firm.
Marquis Perreault
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Our personal injury law firm in Gainesville, FL also provides:
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- Catastrophic Injury Lawyers in Gainesville, FL
- Lyft Accident Lawyer in Gainesville, FL
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- Motorcycle Accident Lawyers in Gainesville, FL
- Pedestrian Accident Attorneys in Gainesville, FL
- Slip and Fall Accident Lawyers in Gainesville, FL
- Truck Accident Lawyer in Gainesville, FL
- Uber Accident Attorney in Gainesville, FL
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Visit Our Personal Injury Law Office in Gainesville, FL
Allen Law Accident & Injury Lawyers
2550 SW 76 St #150
Gainesville, FL 32608
(877) 255-3652
(352) 331-6789
Gainesville Brain Injury Blog Posts
Additional Gainesville Brain Injury Resources
- Brain and Spinal Cord Injury Program
- RR&D Brain Rehabilitation Research Center (BRRC)
- Bagen Law
- Neuroinflammatory Biomarkers for Traumatic Brain Injury Diagnosis and Prognosis: A TRACK-TBI Pilot Study
Gainesville Brain Injury Infographic
