Brain Injuries

The attorneys at the Porter Law Group understand the devastating effects a traumatic brain injury has on the lives of our clients and their families. We know the stakes couldn’t be higher for your family as you seek long term financial security after suffering such an injury.  You want our decades of experience and unmatched reputation on your side as you fight to recover the compensation you need to protect yourself and your family. 

In a way, our results speak for themselves.  But more important than that, and what makes us different, are the relationships we build with our clients. The attorneys and staff at the Porter Law Group care deeply about our clients—and we devote all the experience and resources of our firm to protecting families.  We invite you to learn more below about whether hiring our firm makes sense for you, and we look forward to getting you the justice you deserve.

What is a Traumatic Brain Injury?

A Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is caused by any force or trauma to the head, which disrupts the way the brain normally functions. A TBI can range from mild (concussion) to moderate or severe. While most TBIs are considered to be mild, with only a brief change in mental status or consciousness, a severe traumatic brain injury can result in a prolonged period of unconsciousness and cause neurologic changes/disability that are sometimes permanent. 

More than a million Americans per year suffer a TBI, closed head injury, skull fracture, depressed skull injury, or brain bleed, and nearly 100,000 per year suffer long-term disabilities as a result of their injury.

You and your family may be entitled to compensation for :

  • Pain & Suffering
  • Permanent Disability
  • Lost Wages
  • Medical Expenses

Brain trauma is usually the result of a blow to the head, which can bruise the brain and damage its internal tissues and blood vessels. While a blow to the head may result in only a concussion without any residual symptoms, a severe TBI can cause permanent disability, coma, or even death.

In a closed head or brain injury, there is no break in the skull, and the brain is jarred against the sides of the skull, shearing (or tearing) the internal lining, nerves, tissues, and blood vessels, causing bleeding, bruising, or swelling. These types of injuries are often classified as subdural hematomas, sub-arachnoid bleeds and epidural bleeds. In a penetrating or open head injury, the skull is broken. 

The sudden and profound injury the brain sustains at the time of the accident is called the primary brain injury. It can be followed by secondary brain injury, a cascade of cellular, chemical, tissue, or blood vessel changes that evolve in the hours to days after the accident. These changes can further destroy brain tissue. 

What Are the Most Common Causes of a Traumatic Brain Injury?

According to national studies, galls are the most common causes of TBIs (35.2%), followed by car/truck/motorcycle/pedestrian motor vehicle accidents (17.3%). TBIs can also occur in work-place accidents, physical assaults, etc. 

Doctor and Radiologist Discuss Diagnosis

The legal team at the Porter Law Group has extensive experience representing clients who have suffered traumatic brain injuries due to the negligence of others. We understand all too well the impact of these devastating injuries on our client’s abilities to enjoy life, work, and provide for their families.

If you or a loved one has suffered the catastrophic consequences of a severe traumatic brain injury, it is imperative that you hire a legal team with the experience and resources necessary to investigate the accident in which you suffered the injury and to put you in the best position to hold those responsible accountable for all the injuries – both physical and financial – that you and your family have suffered.

The legal team at the Porter Law Group has helped countless families who have been victimized by this sort of injury, whether it be due to a loved one suffering a TBI in a motor vehicle accident, on a job site, or elsewhere.

What Are Some of the Signs and Symptoms of a Traumatic Brain Injury?

According to the Mayo Clinic, TBIs can have wide-ranging physical and psychological effects. Some signs or symptoms may appear immediately after the traumatic event, while others may appear days or weeks later. 

Mild Traumatic Brain Injury

The signs and symptoms of a mild TBI may include:

Physical Symptoms

  • Headache
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Fatigue or drowsiness
  • Problems with speech
  • Dizziness or loss of balance

Sensory Symptoms

  • Sensory problems, such as blurred vision, ringing in the ears, a bad taste in the mouth or changes in the ability to smell
  • Sensitivity to light or sound

Cognitive, Behavioral or Mental Symptoms

  • Loss of consciousness for a few seconds to a few minutes
  • No loss of consciousness, but a state of being dazed, confused or disoriented
  • Memory or concentration problems
  • Mood changes or mood swings
  • Feeling depressed or anxious
  • Difficulty sleeping
  • Sleeping more than usual

Moderate to Severe Traumatic Brain Injuries

Moderate to severe TBIs can include any of the signs and symptoms of a mild injury as well as the following symptoms, which may appear within the first hours to days after a head injury:

Physical Symptoms

  • Loss of consciousness from several minutes to hours
  • Persistent headache or headache that worsens
  • Repeated vomiting or nausea
  • Convulsions or seizures
  • Dilation of one or both pupils of the eyes
  • Clear fluids draining from the nose or ears
  • Inability to awaken from sleep
  • Weakness or numbness in fingers and toes
  • Loss of coordination 

Cognitive or Mental Symptoms

  • Profound confusion
  • Agitation, combativeness or other unusual behavior
  • Slurred speech
  • Coma and other disorders of consciousness
Front close up view of a female doctor helping unrecognizable injured person with head protector lying on stretcher, ambulance vehicle in background.

Children’s Symptoms

Infants and young children with brain injuries might not be able to communicate headaches, sensory problems, confusion and similar symptoms. In a child with a TBI, you may observe:

  • Change in eating or nursing habits
  • Unusual or easy irritability
  • Persistent crying and inability to be consoled
  • Change in ability to pay attention
  • Change in sleep habits
  • Seizures
  • Sad or depressed mood
  • Drowsiness
  • Loss of interest in favorite toys or activities 

How Long Does a Traumatic Brain Injury Last, and Will It Get Better?

The symptoms of a mild TBI (concussion) typically improve within hours to days and generally resolve within three months. Patients with a moderate to severe TBI may have long-lasting and possibly permanent medical, physical, and cognitive issues that require specialized care such as physical, speech, neuropsychological and occupational therapy. 

A TBI is considered a catastrophic injury. The greater the severity of a TBI, the less likely that there will be a return to one’s pre-injury physical and mental status, although many people will continue to improve years after their injury with the proper care.   

Hospital Physical Therapy: Portrait of Strong Male Patient with Injury Successfully Walks Holding Parallel Bars. Physiotherapist, Rehabilitation Doctor, Help, Assist, Disabled Person.

What Is the Benefit of Filing a Lawsuit for a Traumatic Brain Injury?

A severe TBI often results in permanent disability. This sort of injury almost always prevents our clients from enjoying the quality of life they once lived, prevents them from being gainfully employed, and makes it impossible for them to provide for their families. In short, for our clients who have suffered a severe TBI, their lives will never be the same.

Our clients and their families come to us at the Porter Law Group not only seeking answers but also in search of justice. They come in search of financial protections necessary to overcome the burden of never being able to work again and the need to cover extensive financial costs associated with long-term medical care, in-home skilled nursing, and oftentimes for the costs associated with long-term inpatient care.

Our clients understand the incredible amount of money, time, and resources they will need to secure the type of medical care that will be necessary for the remainder of their lives. To effectively investigate and prosecute a lawsuit to hold those accountable for causing such an injury takes endless legal resources and an incredible amount of experience. The lawyers at the Porter Law Group have for decades represented families in need of sophisticated legal representation to help them navigate through these incredibly difficult times.

Do I Need a Lawyer If I Suffered Traumatic Brain Injury?

Yes! If you or a loved one have suffered the catastrophic effects of a severe TBI, it is imperative that you hire a legal team with the experience and resources necessary to investigate your case and to identify those responsible for causing you this harm.

The lawyers at the Porter Law Group possess the resources and experience necessary to investigate your case and successfully prosecute your claims, holding responsible parties accountable and to getting you and your family the justice you deserve. The Porter Law Group enjoys a long and distinguished track record of obtaining maximum results for our clients— whether it be negotiating a settlement with powerful insurance companies or reaching a verdict in a courtroom in front of a jury.

When you or a loved one has suffered a catastrophic TBI, the stakes couldn’t be higher. Hiring the very best law firm for you and your family is imperative to obtaining the justice you deserve.

Contact Porter Law Group at 833-PORTER9, or email us at info@porterlawteam.com to learn about our experience assisting clients who have suffered catastrophic brain injuries and to learn all the ways we could help you and your family through these most difficult of times.

Last Updated on 
September 16, 2024
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