Are You Suffering From a Traumatic Brain Injury?

Richard E. Lewis knows how serious such injuries can be for everyone involved. That's why he wants to meet with you. Attorney Lewis has more than three decades of experience. He has worked closely with many families dealing such serious injuries throughout the Spokane area, and he wants to help you. We can help you file a claim for a traumatic brain injury or do whatever it takes to get you the justice you deserve. Contact us today.

What is a traumatic brain injury?

Any head injury that affects how a person's brain functions can be considered a traumatic brain injury. Most TBIs occur due to a direct blow to the head. You or a loved one might hit your head on the steering wheel or dashboard of a car in a motor vehicle accident, for example. But your head doesn't have to hit something to sustain a TBI. Even the violent motion of your head in an accident can be enough to cause a brain injury. What matters most is that whoever sustained such an injury receives medical treatment right away.

Return to Top

What are common brain injuries?

In order to better understand TBIs, it's important to realize that most brain injuries involve injuries to the head. There are two major types of head injuries:

• Closed head injuries – An injury to the head caused by a blow to the head or a violent motion.
• Open head injuries – A head injury in which an object penetrates the skull and pierces the brain.

Both types of head injuries can result in mild to serious TBIs. Some of the most common brain injuries include:

• Concussion – An injury to the brain often caused by a blow to the head or violent movement. Considered the mildest type of brain injury, a concussion can cause serious health problems. And if the person sustains additional concussions in the future or does not take enough time to recover, they could suffer from permanent brain damage.
• Contusion – A medical term used to describe a bruise to the brain. Such soft tissue injuries can be extremely dangerous, especially if the injury victim does not receive immediate medical treatment. That's because contusions sometimes involve bleeding in the brain. And if not treated promptly, such an injury could prove fatal.
• Severe brain injury – People who sustain a severe brain injury often need months or years to fully recover from such an accident. During that time, injury victims often cannot work, drive a car or perform other routine tasks. Their motor skills and cognitive abilities can also be severely affected.
• Permanent brain damage – Among the most severe types of brain injuries, people who sustain permanent brain damage in an accident often cannot function on their own for the rest of their lives. Depending on the severity of the injury, the injury victim might not be able to verbally communicate or think rationally. As a result, they cannot live on their own and often require constant medical care.

Return to Top

What are the warning signs of a brain injury?

Identifying the symptoms of a brain injury can be extremely difficult. That's because the warning signs are often subtle. The first day or two after a brain injury, you or a loved one might seem completely normal. But if such injuries are not treated right away, the consequences can sometimes prove fatal – especially if internal bleeding is involved.

Seek medical attention immediately if you notice any of the following symptoms of a brain injury after an accident:

• Dizziness
• Nausea
• Vision problems
• Sensitivity to light
• Difficulty remembering events
• Headaches
• Trouble sleeping
• Seizures
• Poor balance

Return to Top

How can a brain injury change someone's life?

Many people might not realize just how much a brain injury can affect someone's life and the lives of their loved ones. Everything changes when you or a family member sustains a traumatic brain injury.

Even if the injury is considered mild, you might not be able to work for several weeks or months. The financial burden of not being able to earn an income can put a tremendous strain on a family, especially if health insurance does not cover all the expenses associated with the injury.

If the brain injury is severe, you might need medical care throughout the recovery process. This could include weeks or months of hospitalization. Or perhaps you or a loved one will need to take medication or see a doctor on a regular basis during the recovery process. All of these things take time and money.

Permanent brain damage, especially from a severe TBI, can change the lives of everyone in your family. If the person who was injured was the primary breadwinner in your household, you might have to radically change your standard of living. The same is true if you, as the breadwinner, now need to make adjustments in your life to care for an injured loved one. You might have to pass up a promotion or limit the number of hours you work.

All of these issues need to be taken into consideration when seeking compensation for your brain injury. That's why we're eager to meet with you. Attorney Lewis knows how the legal system works in Washington and he has the case results to prove it. Contact our law firm today and schedule your free case evaluation.

Return to Top