I-5 runs through the city of Bellingham, which is the northernmost city. With a population of more than 50,000 in the contiguous United States, it is also the most populous city in Whatcom County, Washington. Three state highways also serve the city: routes 11, 539, and 542. One of the most serious injuries you can suffer while on the roads of the city are brain injuries, but of course, brain injuries may be sustained occur under other circumstances, too. If you were harmed or a loved one was left unable to handle certain aspects of life due to the fault of another, you should call the experienced Bellingham brain injury lawyers of Walton Law.
Brain Injuries
Types of brain injuries include anoxic brain injuries, penetrating brain injuries, contusions, and concussions. Traumatic brain injuries typically arise from a violent blow to the head or body, such as those sustained in car or truck accidents. In some cases, they involve penetrating injuries, such as when a shattered piece of skull goes into or through brain tissue. While a mild traumatic brain injury may have temporary effects, more serious brain injuries may result in damage, bleeding, torn brain tissue, long-term complications, or even death.
Accidents that can result in brain injury include falls, car accidents, truck accidents, boat accidents, sports injuries, and violence. For example, your spouse could sustain brain damage if he fell from a boat into Lake Whatcom and stayed submerged without oxygen for five minutes. For another example, if your son was struck by a truck and suffered a traumatic blow to the brain in which a piece of skull shattered and entered his brain, he could suffer permanent traumatic brain injuries.
To establish liability, our Bellingham brain injury lawyers will need to prove it’s more likely than not: (1) you were owed a standard of care by the defendant, (2) breach of the standard of care, (3) causation, and (4) damages.
The situation will determine what the standard of care was and whether and how it was breached. In a boating accident for instance, because all boating operators are supposed to use reasonable care given the circumstances, a boating operator’s decision to operate a boat with passengers under the influence after a warning has been given is not to be out on the waves would likely be a breach of the duty to use reasonable care; if one of the passengers was injured as a result, the operator could be held accountable in a lawsuit.
Where, for example, an interstate trucking company failed to supervise its driver and encouraged him to violate hours of service rules so that he caused a wide turn accident when fatigued, our brain injury lawyers based in Bellingham may be able to demonstrate negligent supervision in a truck accident lawsuit.
You might assume when serious brain injuries are sustained defendants would take responsibility for their carelessness or recklessness. Unfortunately, defendants and insurance adjusters may try to avoid blame no matter the cost to an accident victim. Under the doctrine of comparative negligence, they may look for ways in which you were at fault for your brain injuries. When a plaintiff is found comparatively negligent, the jury will determine the damages, but the award will be reduced by an amount proportionate to the plaintiff’s own fault for the accident.
Damages
Moderate to severe brain injuries may dramatically change your life or the life of a loved one forever. If we can establish liability, our lawyers may be able to recover damages to address physical symptoms of traumatic brain injuries like persistent headache, vomiting, loss of coordination, seizures, and cognitive or mental symptoms like confusion, agitation, and slurred speech. Surgery or even multiple surgeries may be necessary. When we can establish liability, our attorneys may be able to recover compensatory damages including both economic and non-economic losses like medical bills, lost wages, lost earning capacity, replacement services, pain and suffering, loss of consortium, loss of enjoyment of life, and mental anguish.
Consult an Experienced Personal Injury Attorney
As Bellingham brain injury lawyers, we strive to build a practice that provides personalized service to each and every client. Chris Walton has the highest possible rating (AV Preeminent) given by Martindale-Hubbell. At Walton Law, we understand you may not be able to meet with us during normal business hours, so we offer both evening and weekend appointments. If you’re injured, we can come to you. Call us at (866) 338-7079 or online to schedule a free consultation.