Gilbert Brain Injury Attorney

The brain is like the computer of the body. It tells everything in the body what to do and when to do it, often without you even knowing it’s happening. Unfortunately, this organ is susceptible to some of the most devastating injuries, ranging from a mild concussion to injuries that result in a complete change of your motor skills. When you’re a victim of such injuries, a Gilbert brain injury attorney can advocate for you as you fight for damages.

The road to recovery from a brain injury can be full of obstacles, not to mention extensive medical debt. This often leaves many injured individuals wondering how they can recover and remain financially stable at the same time.

At Luis P. Guerra, L.L.C., our compassionate team knows the impact these injuries have on you and your family. We believe that you should be focused on recovery, and let us focus on holding accountable those responsible for your injuries. With passion, dedication, and honesty, we fight on behalf of our injured clients to help them recover damages.

If you or a loved one suffers a brain injury, you may be thinking more about recovery than you are about mounting medical bills. You may find yourself in extreme pain, emotional distress, or facing a long-term disability. In the most severe cases, a family may be coming to terms with a wrongful death. No matter what type of brain injury you sustain, an adept personal injury attorney can help you fight for damages so you can prioritize healing.

With our firm’s help, you can receive indispensable assistance during a variety of legal proceedings. Some of the ways our team can help include:

• Conduct a thorough investigation of the circumstances that led up to your injury.
• Collect evidence that can be used in a potential claim when seeking monetary damages.
• Work with professionals in the medical field who can speak about the exact injury suffered and the resulting rehabilitation and long-term care expected with such injuries.
• Defend you against claims by the other party claiming you were partially or fully at fault for the accident, effectively removing some or all of the responsibility from themselves.
• Prepare arguments on your behalf and file the necessary claims to keep your case moving forward.
• Negotiate on your behalf with your insurance company, other parties involved, or with the representing attorneys of other parties to recover the damage you may be owed.

These are just a few of the benefits you gain by having a knowledgeable and experienced personal injury attorney in Gilbert on your side. Our team puts the needs of our clients first and works on their behalf to help them recover from their injuries, fight back against insurance companies, and hold negligent parties accountable for the injuries they suffered.

Commonly referred to as a TBI, a traumatic brain injury can take many forms. Generally, a traumatic brain injury is an injury that causes disruption to the brain’s normal cognitive abilities. These injuries most commonly occur when someone’s head is hit hard, whether it was bumped, jolted, or struck. Depending on the severity of a TBI, an individual can suffer symptoms ranging from blurred vision and poor memory to limited motor function or loss of speech.

Traumatic brain injuries can be considered open or closed, but both necessitate medical attention to help the injured individual begin the recovery process. It’s important to understand the differences between the two injuries when filing a personal injury claim:

• Open Head Injuries. When an object penetrates the skull and finds its way into the brain tissue, the resulting injury is considered an open injury. These injuries commonly result from bullet wounds, penetration from a sharp object, trauma such as blunt force, blasts from an explosion, or other recreational accidents. Because of the risk of bleeding, brain swelling, and injury to the spinal cord, open head injuries are complicated and severe.
• Closed Head Injuries. Opposite of an open head injury, closed head injuries do not penetrate the skull. However, the injuries can still be severe and result in concussions or even brain damage. These injuries are often the result of falls, vehicular accidents, sports injuries, bike or pedestrian accidents, or workplace accidents. Closed head injuries often impact larger areas of the brain, with dangers coming from swelling or hemorrhaging.

In addition to open and closed head injuries, TBIs can further be classified by their severity. The three levels a TBI is categorized by are:

• Mild. Although the name makes it seem manageable, even mild cases of TBIs can lead to disruptions in the brain’s function. While it may be treated with rest, medical monitoring, over-the-counter drugs, or therapy, the symptoms can still be challenging and alter daily life. They include headaches, blurred vision, dizziness, changes in mood, light sensitivity, and more.
• Moderate. A TBI that is classified as moderate is relatively long-term and more severe than a mild TBI and often includes hospital visits, surgery, or rehab services. Symptoms of a moderate TBI include severe headaches, consciousness loss, difficulties in motor skills, seizures, noticeable clear liquid from the eyes and nose, and more. With any of these symptoms, medical help should be sought immediately.
• Severe. The most life-altering of traumatic brain injuries is a severe one, which is also known as a catastrophic injury. These injuries can result in the need for life-long medical care and cause unconsciousness for extended periods of time, amnesia, and more. While many symptoms are similar to those of moderate TBI, severe classifications may include issues with respiration, severe mood swings, loss of muscle control, and more.

The type and severity of a TBI determines the extent of recovery needed as well as the long-term impacts of the injury. In many TBI cases, a person’s ability to work and complete daily tasks could be altered forever. If you or a loved one sustained a TBI because of someone else’s negligence, our attorneys are prepared to help you file a personal injury claim today.

Depending on the circumstances of your or your loved one’s TBI, you could find yourself not only dealing with a complicated medical future but also an unsustainable financial future. From long-term medical care to potential rehabilitation, the medical expenses of a TBI alone can be extremely overwhelming. Couple those uncertainties with the potential impacts on your employment and finances, and it could suddenly become a very real fear for years to come.

With our help, however, we can help you overcome those financial fears by filing a claim against those who may be responsible. Your injury is not your fault, and you should not be left paying the bill because of it. When you work with us, we can help you file a claim to recover damages owed that could include the following costs:

• Medical Costs. Depending on the circumstances and severity of your injury, you may require immediate medical attention that could include hospital stays, surgeries, and or trips to the emergency room. In addition, long-term medical expenses could include rehabilitation costs, occupational therapy, physical therapy, counseling, and more. With or without insurance, these costs could climb to hundreds of thousands of dollars.
• Indirect Costs. These costs are the ones that you often don’t see coming. They include lost wages from missing work, assistance covering lifestyle adjustments, property damages, and more. Lifestyle adjustments can include any modifications you have to make to live life comfortably with your injury, whether it means you need a new car or you have to make your home disability-friendly.
• Social and Emotional Costs. Sometimes referred to as pain and suffering, your traumatic brain injury could result in symptoms of anxiety, stress, and post-traumatic stress disorder. These financial damages could also account for the changes in your family’s lifestyle, the loss of your social relationships, and the reduction in your social activities.

The social, emotional, and physical burdens of a TBI can result in financial and personal costs. When these are the result of someone else’s negligence, you shouldn’t have to suffer for a lifetime. You have the right to hold those responsible accountable for their actions. With the help of our personal injury attorneys, you could pass that bill to the at-fault party.

While there are a number of ways that you could suffer a TBI in Gilbert, AZ, there are several common, preventable ways in which these types of injuries may happen. Some of the most common ways in which these injuries occur include:

• Vehicular accidents, including cars, trucks, and motorcycles
• Pedestrian accidents, including those who ride bicycles
• Accidents on a boat
• Accidents in the workplace
• Engaging in business on someone else’s property with inadequate security, resulting in a potential attack
• Slip and falls, one of the leading causes of personal injuries
• Injuries from participation in sports
• Falls from a great distance.
• Acts of assault or batter
• Being hit by another object

This list does not encompass all the ways in which a person could find themselves with TBI. With the head’s exposure, no matter how safe you may be, the resulting actions of another could leave you with life-altering injuries.

While a quick Google search can give you a variety of options, it can be challenging trying to sort through reviews to find an attorney who is right for you. It is important to do your research and to consult with any potential attorneys before moving forward with their services. If you’re considering retaining a personal injury lawyer after suffering a traumatic brain injury, try taking the following steps to find an attorney who can help you:

• Make a List. After conducting some initial research, make a list of potential attorneys that you are considering to hire. With your list, dig deeper and ask friends, family, and others that you know who may be familiar with the names on your list.
• Check Their Credentials. Once you have narrowed your list of potential attorneys, spend time reviewing their credentials. This can include information about their previous work experience, education, and professional associations, both past and present. This information is often available on their website or through the Arizona Bar Association.
• Use Reviews and Testimonials. Examine some of the reviews available online and check to see what others are saying about the services they received from the attorney. You should be a priority to your attorney, and how they approach the services needed by their clients can help you get a better picture of what communication might look like.
• Schedule a Consultation. Scheduling a consultation is an important step in the selection process. You want to be sure you can trust your attorney and that you are comfortable enough to be honest with them no matter what they may look like for your case. During the consultation, find out what experience they have with cases that are similar to yours, as well as their experience litigating cases in a court.
• Take Fees Into Account. Finally, inquire about your attorney’s fees so you can get a clear understanding of how their payment structure may look. For many personal injury cases, your attorney will not collect a fee unless you win your case, but the circumstances of your case and the amount of preparation your attorney will need to make could play a role in the costs of your specific claim.

Traumatic brain injuries are devastating to not just the injured but also their friends, family, and more. If you or a loved one received a traumatic brain injury from an accident in Gilbert, you should get the medical attention you need and then contact our experienced personal injury team as soon as possible. At Luis P. Guerra, L.L.C., our team puts your needs first so that we can build a strategy that represents your interests adequately. Contact us today to schedule a consultation.