Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) can permanently change the injured party’s life, as well as the lives of their loved ones. Recovering from a TBI is often painful and time-consuming, and the cost of the necessary medical care can be overwhelming. When a person suffers a TBI because of another person’s actions, the injury can seem even more devastating.
If someone else’s negligence caused your TBI, you may be eligible to recover damages for your injury. A Columbia, MO TBI lawyer could represent your rights in a lawsuit and help you achieve the financial compensation you need to cover your recovery costs. Learn about your options for recovering damages in Columbia traumatic brain injury cases.
A TBI is a brain dysfunction caused by an outside force, usually a violent blow to the head that creates a penetrating injury that disrupts the normal functions of the brain. It can occur when a person sharply or suddenly hits their head on an object or when an object pierces the skull and injures the brain tissue. These injuries often arise from catastrophic accidents, such as a motor vehicle collision or a slip and fall.
There are two types of damages that someone who has suffered a TBI can recover from a negligent party. Economic damages are easily quantifiable expenses that can often be supported by bills and financial statements. Non-economic damages are not as simply defined and are often more psychological in scope. The injured party and their lawyer can pursue both types of damages in their lawsuit.
TBI attorneys approach assessment of damages by looking at the totality of the circumstances, not only what the injured party has already been through, but also the challenges they will continue to face in the future, in both economic and noneconomic damages.
The very nature of traumatic brain injuries makes it difficult to ascertain as to whether a person may make a better recovery in the future or may further decline in health, so damages need to be calculated with the future in mind. By doing so, a local attorney could assess the financial impact that the TBI will have on the injured party and the consequences it will have on their everyday lives.
In most TBI cases, a skilled attorney will pursue economic damages for the medical costs the injured party incurred while recovering from their injury, and any costs that may persist in the future. Lost wages are another common form of damages, as many people suffering from TBIs are unable to work, possibly permanently, after their accidents.
Since a TBI is so disruptive to an injured person’s everyday life, many of the damages are associated with everyday activities. For example, reimbursement for having to compensate another person to perform the ordinary tasks that the injured party could have completed had the TBI not occurred. This can include such domestic activities as laundry, house cleaning, yard work and grocery shopping.
A person who has undergone a TBI will often recover substantial non-economic damages for their pain and suffering, as this type of injury is so devastating. A judge could assign a monetary amount to these more abstract concepts to ensure that the injured party is adequately compensated for their distress.
It can seem daunting to attempt to recover damages for your TBI on your own, especially in the wake of a catastrophic accident. A compassionate Columbia lawyer could take on your case and represent your best interests while you focus on your healing and recovery. A qualified legal professional could get you the compensation you deserve. Call today to discuss your eligibility for recovering damages in Columbia traumatic brain injury cases.
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