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Hi, my name is Kenneth Berger, and I'm a member of the American Association for Justice's Traumatic Brain Injury Litigation Group and help car crash victims across South Carolina. I have devoted a large percentage of my practice to helping people who are recovering from brain injury, whether that brain injury is mild—in other words, a concussion—all the way up to a brain injury that's classified as severe. Now, crashes are a leading cause of concussion, and after a crash, you might be experiencing dizziness, memory loss, nausea, headaches, and sleeplessness. Most of those symptoms should resolve in a matter of days or weeks. However, if you're still experiencing concussion-like symptoms for more than four or five weeks, it's probably time to check in and follow up with your family doctor or with a specialist, such as a neurologist. Most people make a full recovery after a concussion, but about 10% to 15% of people are left with long-term effects. The most frustrating part is that the doctors tell you the brain imaging is normal, and your friends and family are saying, "Well, it was just a concussion, and you should be better by now." Yet, you know something's different—your mood's a little different, your memory is a little different, your personality has changed to some degree, and the people around you are treating you differently than before. All of this can be terribly frustrating. I'm here to tell you that you're not by yourself if you're experiencing any of those issues. I've met plenty of people and represent plenty of folks who have gone through the exact same thing, and I'm here to help you, too. Contact us, and I'm glad to provide you with free information, guidance, or a free consultation, and more than anything, to let you know there's someone who knows what you're going through, who believes you, and who wants to help you. I look forward to being of service.
Brain Injury Symptoms
In some cases, victims who suffer these injuries in a car wreck or on the job may be completely unaware of the harm. In fact, brain trauma often goes undiagnosed by emergency room doctors. Symptoms of traumatic brain injuries vary greatly, and you may not realize you sustained such an injury until days later.
With that in mind, it's important to be aware of the different symptoms of a brain injury, so you can recognize them in yourself or the people you care about after an accident. Likewise, it is important to know not only that damage occurred, but also what part of the brain has been affected.
There are four lobes that make up our brain. We have a frontal lobe, temporal lobe, occipital lobe, and parietal lobe. Each lobe controls certain behaviors and functions. Therefore, an injury to the frontal lobe may produce different symptoms than damage to the occipital lobe.
3 Common Causes of Brain Injuries in SC and When They May Warrant Legal Action
TBI is a leading cause of disability and death in South Carolina, and when someone else caused the injury, they should be held accountable. Below are the most common causes of brain injuries and how to determine if you need a lawyer.
1. Falls
According to the Center for Disease Control, 48% of TBIs are caused by falls. Young children and senior citizens are at the greatest risk of sustaining a head injury from falling. Most often, senior citizens lose their footing in the bathroom or trip over objects, be it in the house or a nursing facility. Preventive measures such as rails, non-slip mats, and clear walkways can help them stay safe. For young children, it is stairs and open windows that pose the greatest threat. If a daycare or nursing home facility does not have the proper measures or supervision in place to prevent a fall from taking place, you should consider speaking with a South Carolina TBI attorney to determine if you would benefit from taking legal action.
2. Struck By or Against an Object
Being struck by an object is another primary cause of traumatic brain injury. Most of these injuries occur in children under 17 – many of them are the result of sports. As someone who grew up playing five different sports – I am not encouraging any parent to take their child off the team, but people should know the statistics. According to the CDC, approximately 283,000 children visit the ER each year for sports-related TBI. Since many young athletes are diagnosed by athletic trainers and never see a doctor, the actual number of sports-related head injuries is probably much higher.
While many people believe that waivers prevent them from filing a negligence claim when their child suffers a sports injury, if the school or coach was grossly negligent or reckless when the injury occurred, you may be able to hold them legally accountable for the harm they caused.
3. Car Accidents
Car accidents are the next leading cause of TBI. In an accident, a person's head might strike the windshield, dashboard, or headrest, possibly resulting in a concussion, subdural hematoma, diffuse axonal injury, or another form of TBI. If the at-fault driver was speeding, texting and driving, drunk driving, or being reckless in any way, you may file a claim with their insurance provider to seek compensation for your damages.
Costs of a Traumatic Brain Injury
As a Columbia, South Carolina TBI lawyer handling cases across the state, I've seen how difficult the road to recovery from a closed head injury can be. Aside from the severe and life-threatening effects a TBI can have on your health, it can also put tremendous strain on your finances. Whether it be an auto accident, fall, sports-related incident, or some other cause, brain injuries can lead to astronomical expenses. The costs often include extended stays in the hospital, surgical procedures, long-term medical care, and intensive rehabilitation.
According to the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, traumatic brain injuries cost a total of $76.3 billion in the United States in 2010. While most insurers and federally-funded programs such as Medicare and Medicaid cover the costs associated with saving a TBI victim's life, i.e., brain surgery and intensive medical care, benefits fall short in the way of rehabilitation programs that help the victim relearn skills and abilities he or she lost as a result of the brain trauma. The unfortunate result is thousands of brain trauma patients are forced to go without rehabilitative treatment.
Proper rehabilitation and medical treatment do not have to mean financial ruin. If a person or business’s negligence caused you to sustain a TBI, an injury attorney can help you hold them legally and financially responsible for their actions and the expenses you incurred.
Contact South Carolina TBI Lawyer Kenneth Berger
A significant portion of my practice is devoted to helping people in South Carolina recover from mild to severe brain injuries. If you are experiencing any problems related to head trauma sustained in a car crash, know that you are not alone. I have represented people who have faced the same challenges and uncertainties as you.
Auto accidents are a leading cause of concussions. After a concussion, individuals may experience dizziness, memory loss, nausea, headaches and sleeplessness. These symptoms typically resolve in a matter of days or weeks, and the majority of people are make a full recovery. However, a percentage of victims are left facing long-term repercussions.
People have a harder time accepting and understanding brain injuries because many of the effects occur internally. TBI victims experience changes to their mood, memory, and personality that are beyond their control. As a result, friends and family members may treat them differently than before the accident. I understand how frustrating and disheartening this can be for everyone involved.
If you or a loved one needs legal guidance in the wake of a traumatic brain injury, call me today at (803) 790-2800. Most importantly, I want you to know that there is a South Carolina attorney who believes you, understands what you're dealing with, and wants to help. I look forward to being of service.
