The human brain controls many crucial bodily functions and shapes personality, perception, and cognition – and we haven’t stopped learning its capabilities. Sadly, though, this powerhouse organ is incredibly fragile and has limited, relatively unknown healing capabilities; this makes any brain injury, no matter how small it seems, a serious cause for concern. Unfortunately, nearly 2.8 million Americans suffer brain injuries each year – causing an estimated 30 percent of injury-related fatalities in the country annually at a total of over $60 billion in directly and indirectly. Injuries can occur from obvious circumstances like a blow to the head, but Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs) can come from jolts, falls, or playing sports without present any obvious signs an injury has occurred. If you were involved in an accident and suffered a brain injury, contact the experienced Wildomar Brain Injury attorneys at Walton Law today to see if you may be entitled to compensation.
Brain Injury Accidents in Wildomar
Wildomar has a perennially pleasant climate, beautiful hiking trails, picturesque parks, and is close to the resort town of Lake Elsinore. It’s no wonder that even as a small town of nearly 37,000 many more people pass through the area to recreate and enjoy the great outdoors. The area is full of trails, hiking, biking, and outdoor activity areas – all pastimes which have risks and can result in accidents. Wildomar is a growing city, as well, so the influx of people and the city’s proximity to the busy 15 Freeway come together with these other factors to make it a town where workplace accidents, motor vehicle collisions, truck accidents, motorcycle and bicycle accidents, and recreation activities gone wrong greatly increase the risk of suffering a brain injury.
What Causes Brain Injuries?
The most common cause of TBIs is a fall, but it is far from the only source. Violent crimes, sports collisions, motor vehicle accidents, and workplace incidents may all cause this grave injury. Some TBIs may not be severe, but others cause catastrophic, life-changing consequences for the victim and can bring with them enormous financial and emotional hardship for the victim and their loved ones.
TBIs, unlike many injuries, also have the alarming potential for victims not to realize they are injured and continue on with daily life – potentially worsening the damage. This injury is insidious in that it often does not present symptoms for days or even weeks after it occurs.
Can I Tell If I Sustained a Brain Injury?
Medical evaluation is currently the only method of diagnosis, which makes it critical to seek treatment immediately after a jolt, bump, collision, or hit to the head. TBI symptoms can include:
- Dizziness;
- Nausea or vomiting;
- Sleep difficulties;
- Headaches;
- Behavioral changes;
- Inability of taste; and
- Seizures.
How Do I Recover if I Was Injured?
The most common method for injury victims in Wildomar to recover is arguing someone else’s negligence caused their injuries. Once you prove negligence, the accused will be liable for your damages unless they can show a valid legal defense. To establish negligence, you must show the accused party had a legal duty of care to you, breached that duty through an act or omission, and the breaching action caused your harm.
What Can I Recover?
If you have established negligence, you may be eligible to recover compensatory damages. These are meant to make victims whole for their injuries. Awards may be given for concrete injuries such as medical expenses, property damage, and lost wages. They can also be given for more abstract injuries affecting the psyche and emotions such as mental anguish, disfigurement, and loss of consortium. Compensatory damages extremely important to victims of TBIs, because these injuries can incur massive medical bills and may hinder the ability to return to work for a lifetime. Depending on the severity, victims also may require equipment, assisted living, or other accommodations for the rest of their lives.
In some cases, victims may also recover punitive damages if the injuring party’s behavior was particularly vile or reprehensible. A high burden of proof must be met, because these damages are intended to punish the wrongdoer as well as deter others from acting similarly in the future. If the threshold is met, punitive damages will be awarded by a judge or jury and can often be much higher than compensatory damages. With the difficult of establishing punitive damages should be awarded, this argument is best left in the hands of an experienced Wildomar Brain Injury Lawyer.
If I Was in an Accident, What Should I Do?
If you were involved in an accident and suffered a brain injury, it’s important to take a few simple steps to look after both your health and the health of any claim you may bring in the future. It may seem overwhelming after your accident, but it’s critical to be proactive.
- Get Medical Care – Your health is paramount; even if you believe you were not injured in your accident, due to the delayed nature of many TBIs it’s important you be evaluated. Follow the treatment plans and orders of your providers, take medicine exactly as prescribe, keep all follow up appointments, and keep copies of expenses related to your injuries (including indirect expenses such as lost wages).
- Get Evidence – If you can, take photographs of the accident scene and your injuries, get contact information for any witnesses, and get copies of any reports created by police or your employer if the accident occurred while you were at work.
- Speak to a Brain Injury Attorney in Wildomar – If you are the victim of a brain injury in Wildomar, contact the skilled brain attorneys at Walton Law attorneys without delay. Our attorneys have spent years providing experienced, personalized advocacy for victims just like you and have recovered millions in compensation for their injuries. Let our knowledgeable attorneys review your case, educate you on your options, and start working to secure you the best possible results. Contact us 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at (866)-338-7079 or via our online Contact Page to schedule a no-risk case evaluation. There is no obligation and you do not pay until we win your case. Let us fight for the compensation you deserve so you can focus on your recovery.