Did you know that commercial trucks move over 70 percent of the nation’s freight by weight? To accomplish this, there are roughly 37.9 million trucks registered and used for business. An accident between a large commercial truck and a regular passenger vehicle is devastating. The sheer size and weight difference mean the injuries are often serious and may result in death.
One of the catastrophic injuries that can happen during a truck accident is a traumatic brain injury. When an injury affects the brain, it doesn’t just affect the victim. Family and friends also grieve the loss of function for their loved one.
Recovering damages after a truck accident is not simple. These accidents may involve more than one liable entity, which means working with more than one insurance company. During your free consultation and case evaluation with an experienced Northern California truck accident attorney from Tiemann Law Firm, we explain your rights and review the details of your case.
We are committed to giving each client customized and individualized attention to help recover the maximum amount of damages you are owed. Call our offices today at (916) 999-9000 for your free consultation and meet with one of our experienced attorneys who can advise you on your next best steps.
What Is the Time Limit for Filing a Lawsuit?
In California, a victim has a limited amount of time in which to file a personal injury lawsuit. A lawsuit can help you seek restitution from the at-fault party. In California, you have two years from the date of the accident to file the correct paperwork for a lawsuit. This time period is dictated by the statute of limitations.
If the necessary paperwork is not filed in the court within two years, you relinquish your right to legally seek restitution from the at-fault party. Two years can sound like a long time. However, recovering from a traumatic brain injury is a complex and difficult process and may take even longer than that.
Additionally, your personal injury attorney needs time to gather data about the accident, document your injuries, and estimate your potential future medical expenses. Two years can pass quickly. Don’t let an unexpected accident or injury destroy the plans you have for your future. Contact our office today to speak with an experienced and compassionate attorney.
What Is a Traumatic Brain Injury?
A traumatic brain injury is an injury to the brain that occurs from a traumatic or violent event. People can have brain injuries from other events that are not caused by trauma, such as after a stroke, aneurysm, or during surgery. A traumatic brain injury can be “open” or “closed.”
Your brain is encased in a bony skull and surrounded by fluid called cerebrospinal fluid. This fluid cushions the brain from movement inside the skull vault. During normal activity, it protects the brain from damage. However, during a traumatic event, the cerebrospinal fluid is not enough protection for the brain.
A closed traumatic brain injury occurs when an object hits the head and damages the brain. In an open traumatic brain injury, an object may penetrate the skull, such as a bullet or blunt object. Traumatic brain injuries are serious and cause bruising, bleeding, torn tissue, and other physical damage. Ultimately, this leads to long-term and often permanent complications and sometimes death.
During a closed head injury, you may experience coup contrecoup damage. This happens when, during a sudden stop, the brain hits the front of the skull and bounces, hitting the back of the skull. Damage occurs in both the front and the back of the brain.
Symptoms of a Brain Injury
While the signs and symptoms of a concussion can be subtle, a moderate to severe traumatic brain injury is usually evident at the time of a truck accident. The victim may experience some of the same signs and symptoms of a mild traumatic brain injury, also called a concussion. However, the following symptoms are more commonly experienced after a moderate to severe traumatic brain injury. They include:
- Loss of consciousness for several minutes or several hours
- Persistent headache
- Headache that gets worse over time
- Repeated nausea and vomiting
- Seizures
- Dilation of one or both pupils in the eyes
- Clear drainage from the nose or ears
- Hypersomnia and inability to wake from sleep
- Weakness or numbness in the fingers and toes
- Loss of coordination
- Profound confusion
- Slurred speech
- Agitation or combativeness
- Personality changes
- Loss of vision in one or both eyes
A witness to the accident may observe the victim experience a loss of consciousness, slurred speech, or delayed response to questions. The injured person may appear dazed or repeatedly ask the same questions. Immediately after a truck accident where any symptoms of a traumatic brain injury are present, it is critical that the victim is transported to the hospital via ambulance as soon as possible.
A traumatic brain injury can progress quickly as the brain swells. Without room to expand inside the skull, this brain swelling can lead to further damage or death. If you have further, don’t hesitate to contact us today.
Possible Results of a Traumatic Brain Injury
The possible results from a moderate to severe traumatic brain injury are significant, life-changing, and may result in permanent disability. These effects may require lifelong rehabilitation and could result in the victim being unable to live independently. These effects might include:
- Shortened attention span
- Memory problems
- Problems with judgment
- Problem-solving deficits
- Loss of sense of time and space
- Decreased awareness of themselves and others
- Inability to understand abstract concepts
- Paralysis, weakness, or spasticity
- Swallowing and eating problems
- Poor coordination
- Decreased endurance
- Poor balance
- Left or right-side neglect
- Vision problems
- Inability to speak or understand speech
- Difficulty reading or writing
- Slow, hesitant speech or difficulty forming sentences
- Problems identifying objects
After a traumatic brain injury, the victim may also have cognitive deficits that make organization, activities of daily living, and an ability to drive a car or operate machinery nearly impossible. Individuals often have problems with social interactions that make keeping friends difficult.
They may also experience personality changes or psychiatric challenges, such as irritability, anxiety, depression, and emotional lability. Unfortunately, after a moderate to severe brain injury, the individual may develop traumatic epilepsy. Most seizures happen within the first year after the accident. However, some seizure disorders can also develop years later.
How Can an Experienced Brain Injury Attorney Help?
Once brain cells are damaged or destroyed, they are not able to regenerate. However, with appropriate rehabilitation, other areas of the brain are sometimes able to take over those tasks. Long-term rehabilitation can be expensive.
Recovering damages to help pay for medical expenses and future medical costs can be complex. The at-fault party’s insurance company is not focused on providing the accident victim with the necessary compensation to cover their costs. Instead, they’re focused on protecting their bottom line.
An experienced and skilled Northern California brain injury lawyer can provide you and your family the necessary advantage you need to fight for your rights and the maximum compensation you deserve. Insurance companies have experienced attorneys working for them to protect their financial assets. You should, too.
Contact Tiemann Law Firm for Help Today
If you were injured in a truck accident that was not your fault, you might be owed compensation to cover your costs. However, moderate or severe traumatic brain injury often leaves the victim and their family struggling to recover. The Tiemann Law Firm team is here to provide you with the legal support you need to recover compensation for the injury you suffered that wasn’t your fault. Call our office today at (916) 999-9000, or contact us online for your free consultation and case evaluation with one of our experienced brain injury attorneys.
