Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are appropriately named since everything about them is traumatic — the accident or incident that caused the harm, the organ affected, and the serious, often life-altering, consequences of the injury. This is true whether the TBIs are closed or open, meaning whether or not they involve a skull fracture. At Cooper Schall & Levy in Philadelphia, our personal injury attorneys have spent decades fighting for the rights of victims hurt by another party’s negligent or reckless behavior. Contact us now so we can fight for you.
What is a Closed Traumatic Brain Injury?
A TBI is considered “closed” when the victim suffers a violent blow or jolt to the head in which, although the skull is not cracked or penetrated, the brain bangs against the skull, interfering with brain function. Frequently, a closed TBI results in swelling, brain bleeding, and/or blood clots, any of which can have disastrous repercussions.
Common Causes of Traumatic Brain Injuries
Although the brain is protected by the bony fortress of the skull, it is still vulnerable. Too many innocent people suffer closed TBIs due to:
- Car accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Truck accidents
- Bicycle accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- SEPTA bus and trolley accidents
- Sports accidents
- Slip and fall accidents
- Construction accidents
Whether your closed TBI was the result of a fall on a wet supermarket floor, a drunk driving accident, or a poorly supervised school football game, you are entitled to meaningful damages and we will do everything in our power to see to it that you get them. Contact us now for a free evaluation of your case. Once you become our client, we will charge you no attorneys’ fees until we recover damages through negotiation or, if necessary, litigation.
How Closed Traumatic Brain Injuries Are Classified
Closed TBIs are categorized as follows:
- Mild TBIs involve a period of lost consciousness and confusion or disorientation that lasts for less than 30 minutes.
- Moderate TBIs involve a loss of consciousness for far longer, up to 6 hours, and result in some memory loss.
- Severe TBIs frequently result in a lengthy period of unconsciousness or a comatose state and result in significant cognitive impairment
Symptoms of Closed TBIs Cover a Broad Range
Depending on the severity of a closed TBI, the patient may experience a wide variety of symptoms.
Mild symptoms may include:
- Headaches
- Dizziness, balance issues
- Lightheadedness
- Dilated pupils (one or both)
- Loss of consciousness for a few minutes
- Confusion or disorientation
- Nausea and vomiting
- Sensory disturbances (e.g. blurred vision, sensitivity to light and sound, ringing in the ears)
- Fatigue or drowsiness
- Problems with memory or concentration
- Depression, anxiety, or mood swings
- Sleep disturbances
Moderate to severe symptoms encompass a worsening of the symptoms above, and additional symptoms, such as:
- Loss of consciousness from several minutes to hours
- Persistent, worsening headache
- Ongoing nausea, repeated vomiting
- Convulsions or seizures
- Clear fluids draining from the nose or ears
- Inability to awaken from sleep
- Weakness or numbness in fingers and toes
- Loss of coordination
- Profound confusion
- Slurred speech
- Agitation, combativeness, or other unusual behavior
The most severe symptoms of closed TBIs are: coma, vegetative state, and locked-in syndrome. For some patients, such states are permanent.
Our Attorneys Will Hold the Responsible Party Accountable
Depending on circumstances, we may target one of the following with a lawsuit:
- The impaired, distracted, or reckless driver who hit you or collided with your vehicle
- The school system whose coach did not enforce the wearing of protective helmets
- The neighbor or other property owner who did not clear their walkway of ice
- The construction company that carelessly dropped a tool from a scaffold
We also handle closed traumatic brain injury cases in which a third party is at fault, for example, a car manufacturer that sold a vehicle with defective steering or a pharmaceutical company that did not warn consumers of the dizziness its medication could cause. You can depend on us to hold the individual or entity that caused your traumatic brain injury liable. We will work tirelessly to bring you the maximum compensation you need and deserve.
Damages We Will Fight To Win for You and Your Family
Our attorneys are well aware that a closed TBI can disrupt life as you know it, not only for you but for your loved ones. Even if your injury is considered “mild,” you are doubtless coping with symptoms that limit your activities, medical treatment that is costly and time-consuming, loss of income, and a family under terrible stress.
Changes to your home may have to be made to accommodate you, and you may have to hire out services you are used to taking care of yourself. No matter what level of care you need, our legal team will fight vigorously to recover damages to cover:
- Medical and surgical expenses
- Physical, occupational, and/or psychiatric therapy
- Lost income and earning power
- Replacement services (e.g. childcare)
- Property damage or loss
- Alterations to make your home accessible
- Long-term nursing care
- Medical transport
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional anguish
- Permanent disability/disfigurement
- Loss of enjoyment of life
Some closed TBIs can be fatal. If you have suffered the shattering loss of a family member to a TBI resulting from another party’s negligence, we will fight tooth and nail to recover damages for final medical costs, end-of-life suffering, funeral and burial/cremation expenses, and loss of emotional and financial support.
Contact Our Experience Closed TBI Attorneys Today
You will find our lawyers to be as compassionate as they are capable. Our goal is to bring you some measure of justice by providing you and your family with the resources you need going forward. After all you have been through, you are entitled to have a secure future and we will do all that we can to ensure that you do. Contact us today.
