Why Do I Need a Lawyer if I Just Suffered a Concussion?
Suffering a concussion can be a painful and disorienting experience for most people that leaves them dealing with uncomfortable adverse side effects. People often find the aftermath of a concussion to be a stressful and disheartening time to navigate, especially when their concussion is the result of an accident caused by another party’s negligence or recklessness.
Sometimes, all the symptoms of a concussion are apparent right away; however, other times, they may take days or weeks to manifest.
Concussions can have impacts that last for days, weeks, or even months for certain people, and they increase the risk of a second near-term brain injury that could result in more severe cognitive impairment.
Seeking the help of a trusted and well-versed Philadelphia traumatic brain injury lawyer will help ensure you protect your rights in the devastating aftermath of a concussion and maximize your chances of recovering compensation for your damages that resulted from your injury.
Contact our team of dedicated lawyers at Hill & Associates today at (215) 567-7600 for your free initial consultation if you or your loved one have suffered a concussion as the result of an accident. Let us provide you with the help you and your loved ones deserve during this challenging time.
Philadelphia Traumatic Brain Injury Guide
- What Is a Concussion?
- Common Signs and Symptoms of a Concussion
- Common Causes of Concussions
- Concussions in Philadelphia
- What Is My Concussion in Philadelphia Worth?
- Why Should I Hire Hill & Associates for My Concussion Case in Philadelphia?
- What Do I Do After Being Involved in a Brain Injury Accident in Philadelphia?
- Work With a Dedicated Brain Injury Accident Attorney in Philadelphia
What Is a Concussion?
A concussion is a traumatic brain injury (TBI) that occurs when a person suffers a bump, jolt, or blow to the head or body, or experiences a rapid movement of the brain within the skull.
Concussions often from motor vehicle accidents, falls, or sports injuries.
A person who gets a concussion can lose consciousness or experience an altered state of awareness. Those who suffer a concussion are at risk of having more severe cognitive damage that could result in death if they fail to receive treatment or they get a second concussion shortly after suffering the first.
A TBI can damage a person’s capability to correctly function, including an impaired ability to properly think, move, behave, understand, and engage with others.
Not all brain injuries and concussions are easy to identify when they happen. If left untreated, concussions can lead to worsening symptoms as time goes on, as well as increasing the risk of a second near-term concussion.
Common Signs and Symptoms of a Concussion
People often are not aware of what to look for when determining if a person has suffered a concussion.
According to the National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, there are three categories of traumatic brain injury (TBI) signs and symptoms.
The NIH explains that some symptoms are immediately apparent, like headaches or dizziness, confusion, and fatigue, while other emotional symptoms, like frustration and irritability, generally develop during the recovery period.
Physical Symptoms
Physical symptoms of a TBI are typically more straightforward for people to witness and identify.
Examples of physical symptoms include:
- Headaches
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Dizziness
- Seizures
- Numbness
- Pupil dilation
- Impaired speech
- Loss of balance
- Fatigue
Cognitive or Behavioral Symptoms
Traumatic brain injuries can have adverse impacts on a person’s cognitive and behavioral functions.
Examples of cognitive and behavioral symptoms include:
- Loss of consciousness
- Hard to awaken
- Confusion
- Disorientation
- Having trouble remembering, concentrating, or making decisions
- Changes in sleeping patterns
- Irritability
- Depression
Sensory or Perceptual Symptoms
Brain injuries can cause a person to experience many sensory and perceptual changes, including:
- Blurred or double vision
- Sensitivities to light and sound
- Hearing a ringing in the ears
- Having an unusual or bad taste in the mouth
If you or your loved one is suffering from any TBI symptoms after suffering a concussion from an accident, contact our team of compassionate attorneys today at Hill & Associates to get the help you deserve for your case.
Common Causes of Concussions
Concussions are often a scary and painful trauma for most people to endure.
According to the National Institute of Health’s (NIH) National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, there are five major causes of brain injuries.
Falls
Falls lead to close to half of all traumatic brain injury (TBI) related hospitalizations and are the most common cause of TBIs, according to data provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The NIH states that falls resulting in TBIs happen most often to those in the youngest and oldest age groups.
Blunt Trauma Accidents
A person being struck in the head by an object or another person with blunt force is a common factor in brain injuries. This type of accident happens often in sports-related brain injuries.
Vehicle-Related Injuries
According to the NIH, motor vehicle, bicycle, and pedestrian accidents are the third most common cause of TBIs.
Assaults and Violence
Wounds to the head caused by a gunshot or other weapon, shaken baby syndrome, assault, and intimate partner violence are common examples of assaults and violence that can often result in brain injury.
Explosions and Blasts
Blast trauma suffered by a nearby explosion can result in a brain injury. The most commonly cited explosion or blast injury that results in a TBI is military service members suffering from roadside blast trauma.
Concussions in Philadelphia
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there were more than 214,000 TBI-related hospitalizations in one recent year in the United States. The following year, more than 69,000 fatalities resulted from TBIs.
The University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine estimates that a person in the United States suffers a brain injury once every 15 seconds. An estimated 500,000 are permanently disabled from a TBI every year, with an additional 100,000 more succumbing to a TBI-related fatality.
What Is My Concussion in Philadelphia Worth?
Concussions can have a detrimental impact on a person’s ability to function and increase the risk of suffering a more devastating injury in the near future.
If you or your loved one have suffered a concussion as the result of someone else’s negligence, you could recover compensation for your damages from your brain injury accident.
Recoverable damages include:
- Physical pain and injuries
- Emotional suffering
- Partial or permanent disability
- Property damage
- Medical expenses, both present and future
- Lost wages and lost future earning capacity
- Lost quality of life
- Lost consortium or companionship
- Wrongful death
Getting the help of a dedicated and compassionate brain injury accident lawyer in Philadelphia will help you and your loved ones protect your rights while maximizing your chances of recovering compensation for all of the damages incurred from your accident.
Contact our team at Hill & Associates to schedule your free case evaluation.
Why Should I Hire Hill & Associates for My Concussion Case in Philadelphia?
Suffering a concussion in an accident that was the result of another party’s negligence or recklessness is often a devastating experience that leaves most people feeling confused and distraught.
They may suffer adverse physical, cognitive, and sensory side effects from the accident while dealing with medical bills to ensure their health is taken care of in the aftermath of their accident.
At Hill & Associates, our experienced attorneys believe in passionately pursuing fair and reasonable compensation for our clients’ accident injuries, which every person deserves.
We know that every person’s situation is unique, and we value taking the time to listen to each client’s goals thoughtfully and needs for their case. Our approach is then uniquely tailored to each client’s individualized situation.
Our firm is committed to being strong advocates for our clients when we represent them to the insurance company, the trial judge, and the jury.
We pride ourselves on our ability to share our clients’ stories and situations and impress upon the other party how our clients’ accidents and injuries have negatively impacted their lives through financial costs, physical pain and suffering, emotional anguish, and other long-term life changes.
We appreciate the importance of giving each client the time and commitment they deserve on their case, so we work with only a limited number of clients annually. This allows our team to diligently provide our clients with highly personalized care and consistently responsive support during their cases.
All of our client relationships begin with a free consultation, allowing our clients to get to know our team better while we take the time to listen to their situation, hear their needs and desired outcome, answer all of their questions, and explain the best legal path forward for their case.
Our team of assertive lawyers and Hill & Associates work professionally and aggressively to deliver positive results for our clients, maximizing the compensation recovery they deserve.
As a result, our firm has successfully recovered over $500 million for our clients, including:
- $17,000,000 for child abuse with a catastrophic injury
- $14,000,000 for an electrocution accident
- $9,000,000 for police abuse that resulted in a brain injury
- $7,000,000 for a trip-and-fall accident
- $4,000,000 for a sawmill dismemberment
- $900,000 for a defective sidewalk settlement
- $850,000 for a workplace accident
Our clients often leave favorable testimonials expressing their gratitude for our help.
Mark appreciated how quickly we moved his case along and how consistently our team returned his calls.
Anthony and Sarah suffered from a severe automobile accident and expressed their tragedy was the hardest thing they have ever been through in life. They were grateful for the settlement we secured for them and how it allowed them not to have any financial worries. They also shared how valuable our support was during their challenging time and how it helped them through their rehabilitation program.
Stanley was touched and impressed by our passion for his situation and his case. We advocated strongly for him throughout his trial.
We believe in delivering quality and compassionate service to our local Philadelphia community, helping our clients secure the compensation they deserve in their cases while protecting their rights.
Our office is conveniently located on Market Street in Philadelphia, just two blocks west of Philadelphia City Hall.
Call us today to schedule your free case evaluation with one of our trusted team members at Hill & Associates.
What Do I Do After Being Involved in a Brain Injury Accident in Philadelphia?
It is essential to take the correct steps after getting a concussion in an accident in Philadelphia to ensure you safeguard your health, protect your rights, and maximize your chances of recovering compensation for your damages.
Seek Medical Advice
It is critical to seek professional medical attention immediately after suffering a concussion.
Not all symptoms of a concussion are apparent right away. If left untreated, concussions can lead to more significant risks and worsening symptoms.
Follow all the advice and treatment plans that your medical team gives you.
Maintain Documentation
Keep a thorough file of documentation for all items associated with your brain injury accident, including
- A journal documenting what you remember from the brain injury accident, as well as any pain and suffering you experienced from the incident
- Photographs and videos from the scene of the accident, if available
- Photos and videos of any injuries that you sustained in the accident
- Photos and videos of any property damage the accident caused
- A copy of the police report or incident report, if applicable
- Notes and documentation from all interactions with other parties, including the other party(ies) involved, witnesses at the scene, emergency medical response team members, and insurance agencies
- Doctors’ notes and treatment plans
Track Expenses
Track all expenses that resulted from your brain injury accident, including
- Medical bills and any medical assistive devices needed
- Property damage
- Lost wages
Consult an Attorney
It is vital to seek the help of an attorney as soon as possible after your brain injury accident to ensure you meet all of Pennsylvania’s statutes of limitations for your case.
Having the help of an assertive and knowledgeable brain injury accident lawyer in Philadelphia after your devastating accident will help ease the stress felt by you and your loved ones and allow you to focus better on your health and well-being.
Your trusted brain injury accident attorney will handle the insurance claim process, advocate on your behalf, protect your rights, and maximize your chances of recovering total compensation for your damages.
Contact our trusted team at Hill & Associates today. Let us manage the stressful legal aftermath of your brain injury accident so you can focus on getting your life back on track.
Work With a Dedicated Brain Injury Accident Attorney in Philadelphia
Dealing with the insurance company after suffering a concussion at the expense of another party’s negligence often worsens the stress, anguish, and frustration most people feel while trying to recover from their brain injury.
Working with a dedicated and experienced Personal Injury attorney in Philadelphia will lighten the stressful load you and your loved ones feel during this traumatic time, allowing you to better focus on your health and recovery.
Call our team at Hill & Associates today at (215) 567-7600 for your free case evaluation with one of our trusted attorneys.