Average Settlement for Traumatic Brain Injuries

traumatic brain injury attorney for large settlement

The brain is one of our most vital organs. It serves as the command center for the nervous system and receives signals from sensory organs, which it then uses to relay information to our muscles. Believe it or not, our brain is larger in relation to our body size than those of any other animals on Earth! These highly-complex structures are also extremely fragile.

When a person sustains a sharp and sudden blow to the head, the brain can suffer a traumatic brain injury, or TBI. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, traumatic brain injuries contribute to 30% of all injury-related deaths in the United States. Car crashes, of which there are millions each year, are the third-leading cause of TBI-related ER visits, hospitalizations, and death.

Effects of TBIs on the Human Body

Anybody who drives runs the risk of sustaining a TBI in an auto accident in Orlando. Traumatic brain injuries can have temporary or permanent effects on a person’s functions, including:

  • Impaired thinking and memory
  • Impaired sensation and movement
  • Impaired emotional functions

traumatic brain injury scan

Those who suffer a TBI may experience a wide range of symptoms. A TBI can affect cognition, behavior, and a person’s physical state. Victims may experience:

  • Behavioral symptoms like aggression, irritability, restlessness
  • Mood symptoms like anxiety, anger, apathy or depression
  • Physical symptoms like nausea, stiff muscles, dizziness, fainting or fatigue, dilated or unequal pupils
  • Sensory symptoms like sensitivity to light or sound
  • Speech symptoms like difficulty speaking or slurred speech

It is crucial to seek a medical evaluation after a serious car accident, particularly when an object strikes the head or the head strikes a stationary object like the windshield or steering wheel. It is possible to suffer a mild TBI, also known as a concussion, or a severe TBI that may have long-term or lifelong consequences. An Orlando TBI lawyer may be able to help you file a claim against the at-fault party who caused your injury.

How do TBIs occur in Orlando car accidents?

A TBI can take place anywhere, but is most commonly associated with sports injuries, assaults, falls, and car accidents. In a car crash, the force of the impact can cause the brain to hit the inside wall of the skull. After a forceful impact, the head will stop moving before the brain does, which causes the brain to sustain bruises. Blunt trauma is more serious. This can occur when the head strikes a stationary object like the steering wheel.

Trauma to the brain is the leading cause of death for people between age 5 and 24 who sustain a TBI in a car crash. Car accidents are the top cause of fatal head trauma in the United States.

How much is my TBI case worth?

Traumatic brain injuries can have drastic effects on a person’s cognitive abilities and daily functioning. In the worst scenarios, these effects can last a lifetime. A person’s settlement depends on many factors, particularly the severity of the injury. A severe TBI may bring a settlement in the hundreds of thousands of dollars while a mild TBI may be worth a lesser amount. At the very least, your settlement should cover all medical costs.

Several factors must be calculated to accurately gauge the value of a settlement for a traumatic brain injury. Many TBI victims are entitled to special and general damages.

  • Medical bills: The cost of treatment for a TBI is usually quite steep due to a lengthy hospital stay and follow-up appointments. Your settlement should cover all costs of treatment, both treatment you have already received and treatment you will need in the future.
  • Out-of-pocket expenses: You may have already paid for things like medications, transportation costs, and other expenses that you needed to pay immediately after the accident. Make sure you keep all your receipts so they may be factored into the cost of the settlement.
  • Lost income: You can recover the wages you would have earned had you not been injured in a car crash. You may also recover additional compensation for your reduced ability to make a living in the event that your injury prevents you from returning to work or the same type of work.
  • General damages: These damages are more difficult to calculate and include losses like pain and suffering. Typically, the more suffering a person endures as the result of the injury, the higher the value of his or her pain and suffering damages.
  • Punitive damages: Punitive damages may be possible in cases of extreme disregard for human life. Your attorney will be able to investigate your accident and look for signs of gross negligence.

If you’ve sustained a TBI in an Orlando car accident, an attorney can help you understand the value of your claim should you decide to fight for the compensation you deserve.

Working with Orlando TBI Lawyers

At The Umansky Law Firm, we have a team of dedicated TBI lawyers in Orlando who have over 100 years of combined experience helping accident victims recover the funds they need to heal. Our lawyers will provide you with the information you need to make the right decision in pursuing a TBI claim. Find out how we can help you get started by calling (407) 228-3838 or completing our contact form.