Head and Brain Injuries from New York & New Jersey Accidents
If you’ve suffered a head or brain injury in New York or New Jersey, contact the personal injury attorneys at Metro Law to explore your legal options and rights to compensation.
Statistics show that more than 1.5 million Americans suffer traumatic brain injuries every year throughout the United States. These incidents lead to more than 230,000 people being hospitalized following their accidents. More than 50,000 people end up passing away from their injuries while another 80,000 to 90,000 are left with long-term disabilities. It is estimated that more than 4.3 million children, women, and men are living with traumatic brain injuries in our country that leave them permanently disabled. Many of these victims live here, in the New York Metropolitan area.
When victims sustain head and brain injuries, they are often unaware of legal options they may have. When people are harmed as a result of the negligent, reckless, or intentional acts of another person, they may be entitled to compensation to help alleviate some of the financial burdens they face moving forward. Seeking the guidance of a head injury lawyer in Newark who can analyze your accident will help you get justice.
For decades, Metro Law has fought aggressively to help victims in New York and New Jersey protect their legal rights after suffering traumatic brain and head injuries in accidents. Our team is committed to fighting on behalf of injured parties so they are able to hold wrongdoers accountable. If you have suffered a head or brain injury as a result of another party’s actions, contact our heard injury attorneys in Staten Island to schedule a free case review to see how we can help you get justice.
Traumatic Brain Injuries from Accidents
Suffering a brain injury can be debilitating. The impact of the injury depends largely on the location where the injury occurred. The brain is divided into three main parts:
- The cerebrum is the largest section of the brain. Different parts of the cerebrum are related to the control of cognitive abilities, memory, motor function, learning, and speech.
- The cerebellum is a part of the hindbrain. It coordinates voluntary and involuntary muscle movements.
- The brainstem is the lower extension of the brain. It acts as a relay station between incoming stimulus and the rest of the brain.
The effects of a head injury largely depend on the severity of the accident, and the location within the brain. All head injuries have the potential to be serious. Something as common as a concussion can have serious or long-term effects. If you, or a loved one, have suffered a brain injury you should contact a lawyer who is experienced in handling brain injury-related legal claims to discuss your options.
Causes of Brain Injuries
There are two main categories of brain injuries that a victim can sustain. These include contact injuries and non-contact injuries. Each type of injury can impact a victim in a variety of ways.
Contact injuries are those which cause damage to the brain as a result of an external force. Contact brain injuries often result in closed brain injuries, bruising on the brain tissue, nerve tearing, and brain swelling. These injuries are often a result of:
- Sports injuries
- Car accidents
- Violence
- Slip and fall accidents
- Work-related injuries
On the other hand, non-contact injuries are those which result from medical emergencies. These injuries can be caused by heart attacks, strokes, and other medical episodes that affect the blood and oxygen supply to the brain. In some cases, medical malpractice and birth injuries can lead to debilitating brain injuries.
Regardless of the type of brain injury, it can have a negative impact on your life. These injuries can impact a victim’s mental, physical, and emotional health and wellbeing. In severe cases, victims can pass away from the extent of their injuries. When victims sustain head and brain injuries as a result of another person’s negligence, it is crucial that they seek legal guidance as soon as possible. A Newark personal injury lawyer can review the circumstances leading up to your injury and fight to get you justice.
Types of Brain Injuries
A traumatic brain injury can have a devastating impact on a victim. In many cases, injured parties are left disabled and have to undergo extensive medical care. It is imperative to understand the type of brain injuries that can impact victims and whether there is a high chance of recovering.
The first type of brain injury is known as a blast injury. A blast injury is a traumatic brain injury that a victim suffers as a result of an explosion. These injuries can result in the brain jolting back and forth while inside the skull. The sudden and severe shake can result in irreversible damage for the victim.
The second type of brain injury is a closed head injury. This type of TBI is the most common. Like blast injuries, these brain injuries involve sudden jolting back and forth of the brain as well. These injuries can be extremely serious in some cases. Victims may suffer brain bleeds, concussions, pressure on the brain, and other trauma. Although these are severe in nature, the skull remains intact. Victims are likely to suffer closed head injuries in car accidents, falls, due to blunt force, and other accidents where the head and neck jolt back and forth rapidly, causing the brain to strike the skull.
The final type of brain injury is a penetrating head injury. These injuries are categorized as penetrating because they involve a fracture or break in the skull. These injuries are often a result of being struck by a foreign object or against solid ground surfaces. However, penetrating head injuries are common consequences of gunshots and other acts of violence.
All of these injuries are extremely serious and require immediate medical care. The chances of making a full recovery depend highly on the specific circumstances of your accident and the type and severity of the injury. If you have suffered a head or brain injury, and negligence played a role, it is crucial that you act quickly to protect your legal rights. You may be entitled to compensation to help alleviate the financial burdens you face for medical care and more.
Effects of Severe Brain Damage
When a brain injury is very severe, it can drastically impact a person’s ability to return to a normal life. Depending on the severity, type, and location of the injury, there may be physical and/or behavioral effects. A catastrophic head injury can affect a person’s ability to work, learn, and interact with their family.
Some possible physical consequences of brain injuries include:
- Difficulty with mobility and coordination
- Difficulty talking and communicating
- Severe headaches
- Difficulty with, or loss of, sensation
The following are possible behavioral effects:
- Personality changes
- Depression
- Short attention span
- Learning difficulty
- Memory difficulty
Suffering any of these debilitating consequences can be extremely challenging. If you have suffered a brain injury as a result of another person’s negligence, contact our Staten Island personal injury law firm as soon as possible. Our team will fight to get you justice.
Suffering from Head Injuries
Not only are brain injuries incredibly debilitating, but head injuries, in general, can have an overwhelming impact on your health and wellbeing. In many cases, victims who sustain head injuries experience an array of debilitating consequences. Early on, victims may experience:
- Vertigo, or the loss of equilibrium
- Dizziness
- Headaches
- Nausea
- Vomiting
Although these symptoms may only be a minor annoyance to some, there are many cases where head injuries lead to debilitating long-term consequences. These include:
- Headaches
- Difficulty sleeping
- Lightheadedness
- Poor memory
- Depression
- Ringing in ears
- Poor concentration
- Slowed reaction time
- Intolerance to loud noise
- Mood swings and altered personality
- Difficulty choosing words
- Comas
These and other debilitating long-term consequences can prevent you from working and enjoying your life. Even more, they may require ongoing medical care. Over a lifetime, sufferers may spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on care with no guarantee of full relief. Rather than trying to move forward alone after experiencing a severe head injury from an accident, it is crucial that you reach out to our head injury lawyers in Newark as soon as possible. Our team will fight on your behalf to help you recover full and timely compensation so you can get the care you need.
Statute of Limitation for Filing a Claim Following a Brain Injury
If you have suffered a traumatic brain injury as a result of another person’s negligence, you may have legal options available for you. Working with a competent legal team can help you get the justice you deserve.
When it comes to filing a personal injury lawsuit regarding a catastrophic brain injury, it is imperative that you are aware of the statute of limitations in your state. If the accident occurred in New York, victims have three years to file a personal injury claim against the at-fault party. These guidelines are dictated by NY Civil Practice Law and Rules § 214(5).
When victims sustain traumatic brain injuries in accidents caused by government officials, the statute of limitations provides only 90 days from the date of the accident to file a personal injury claim. In some circumstances, an extension of the time can be granted.
If your loved one has passed away as a result of a traumatic brain injury caused by a government official, the statute of limitations is extended to two years from the date of the accident.
Working with a trusted New York brain injury attorney will provide you with the best chance of holding negligent parties accountable and getting the justice you deserve.
In New Jersey, victims who sustain traumatic brain injuries in accidents have a period of two years from the date of the accident to pursue legal options available to them. However, waiting to take legal action is not advised. Doing so can negatively impact your ability to gather evidence and present the strongest case imaginable. Instead, it is crucial that you seek legal guidance as soon as possible to get started on your case.
Recoverable Damages
If you have suffered a head or brain injury in an accident, due to the negligence of another party, you may have legal options available to you. In some cases, you may be entitled to compensation to help alleviate the financial burdens you face moving forward.
Some of the damages the New York and New Jersey personal injury lawyers at Metro Law help victims recover compensation for include:
- Immediate medical expenses
- Long-term care costs
- Assistive care and devices
- Lost wages
- Lost earnings/loss of benefits
- Property damages
- Loss of consortium
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Disfigurements
- Permanent disability
Contact our personal injury law firm in Staten Island to discuss legal options available to help you recover. Our team is available to meet with you at your earliest convenience to discuss the circumstances of your accident.
Metro Law Will Fight For You
Whether you sustained a brain injury as a result of a car accident, at work, or at another person’s home or place of business, it is crucial to know what legal options are available for you. Working with a trusted brain injury lawyer in New York can help you move forward from your accident in the best way possible.
We understand the overwhelming challenges victims face following personal injury accidents. Our New Jersey personal injury law firm has decades of experience fighting to help injured parties get justice. We strive to provide the most effective and trusted representation for our clients to ensure they are able to maximize their recoveries. Not only will our law firm help you protect your legal rights, but we will advocate on your behalf to ensure your best interests are reflected every step of the way. If you sustained a head or brain injury in an accident, contact our New Jersey and New York personal injury law firm at 973-344-6587. Our team will meet with you at your earliest convenience to review your case and help you get justice.
We have head injury accident lawyers in Clifton, Jersey City, Newark, Staten Island, Elizabeth, and Paterson.