New Jersey Brain Injuries from Car Accidents Attorney

According to the New Jersey Department of Health, state residents sustain 12,000 to 15,000 brain injuries every year. Approximately 1,000 are fatal. It is estimated that roughly 175,000 New Jersey residents live with disabilities as a result of a traumatic brain injury (TBI). One of the leading causes of TBIs are car accidents.

The brain is vulnerable to any impact, even if an injury does not break the skull. It can cause internal damage to the brain as it slams back and forth against the inside of the skull.

While car accidents can involve many different types of injuries, not everyone thinks about unseen injuries, such as whiplash and TBIs. Hitting one’s head does not always produce noticeable and visible injuries such as broken bones and deep cuts. While people can recover from cuts, bruises, broken bones and torn muscles, recovering from brain injuries is far more difficult and may take months, years or be permanent.

Brain injuries from car accidents are very common and were, for a long time, thought to be not as severe as other injuries. It was once thought that a concussion only lasted a few days and resolved on its own with rest. That is not always the case. Striking the head, or even sustaining severe whiplash, can result in brain injuries. Statistics show 52,000 Americans die every year due to traumatic brain injuries.

Brain Injury Symptoms

Brain injury symptoms are varied. Most common brain injury symptoms include, but are not limited to:

• Feeling of pressure in the head
• Headaches
• Dizziness
• Nausea
• Fatigue
• Slurred speech
• Confusion
• Retrograde amnesia or partial or total memory loss of events leading to the accident
• Anterograde amnesia or partial or total memory loss of events just after the accident
• Vomiting
• Change in sleep habits
• Loss of balance
• Sensitivity to lights or sounds
• Blurred vision
• Mood swings
• Dilated pupils
• Numbness

Some of the initial symptoms may begin to ease or clear within a few months, but many also persist for years or worsen following a traumatic brain injury and post-concussion, becoming what is referred to as post-concussion syndrome. TBI and post-concussion syndrome many include depression, short term memory loss, personality changes, persistent dizziness, persistent headaches, impaired coordination and balance, and difficulty making decisions. Brain injuries are difficult for patients who appear normal, but their injuries impact the quality of their lives.

Dealing With Insurance Companies

The main job of insurance companies is to negotiate the lowest possible compensation for your injuries. Insurance companies will attempt to convince you that concussion or post-concussion symptoms are not related to your accident. If they succeed, they can avoid paying for your treatment. Moreover, insurance companies will attempt to get an accident survivor to agree to a quick settlement before they know the full extent of their injuries and before they reach maximum recovery.

If you have suffered a concussion or head injury, seek medical attention immediately and make sure to clearly and completely detail the diagnosis, treatment and retain all receipts relating to all related expenses. Keep this information for your brain injury attorney.

Your experienced New Jersey traumatic brain injury attorney from the Todd J. Leonard Law Firm will help you deal with insurance companies while you take the time to recover. Dealing with a brain injury may require numerous medications, speech therapy, home nursing care, assistive equipment, occupational/physical therapy, home modifications, cognitive therapy and more. These expenses may be recovered by filing a lawsuit. Additionally, your lawyer could recover other forms of compensation such as lost wages, lost income, and pain and suffering.

At the Todd J. Leonard Law Firm, we have counseled and represented many traumatic brain injury and car accident victims for more than 30 years, and have significant experience obtaining maximum financial compensation. Our firm can help you recover the damages you need to get your life back on track after suffering a serious car accident injury. Contact us for a free, confidential consultation today at (973) 920-7900. There is no risk in calling, because we never charge a fee unless we can help you recover compensation for your injuries. We have offices conveniently located in Denville and Morristown.