Traumatic Brain Injury Lawyer NYC

Did You or a Loved One Suffer TBI?

The New York traumatic brain injury attorneys at Gair, Gair, Conason, Rubinowitz, Bloom, Hershenhorn, Steigman & Mackauf have an extensive knowledge and background experience representing victims of traumatic brain injury (TBI). They are also well-known throughout New York for their meticulous preparation and attention to detail. We pride ourselves in the work we have done for our clients who have suffered such life-altering injuries. Among the recent traumatic brain injury claims we won were:

• $16 million for a hard hat who fell from a scaffold and suffered traumatic brain injury
  
• $10.775 million for a woman who sustained TBI in a truck accident
  
• $6.5 million for a construction worker who suffered TBI in a scaffold accident
• $1.25 million for a Nassau County physician who sustained a TBI in a car crash

More than a million Americans experience a brain injury each year, whether a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), closed head injury, skull fracture, depressed skull injury, or brain bleed, and 80,000 people have long-term disabilities as a result of their injury.

Brain trauma is usually the result of a direct blow to the head, which can bruise the brain and damage its internal tissues and blood vessels. The severity of a head or brain injury can range from a mild concussion to a severe injury that results in 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 Is a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)?

A traumatic brain injury is any forceful contact or trauma to the head, which disrupts the normal functioning of the brain. Depending on the severity of the injury and the part of the brain injured, a TBI can range from mild (concussion), to moderate and severe. The majority of TBIs are mild, with only a brief change in mental status or consciousness, however, a severe TBI can cause an extended period of unconsciousness, as well as other neurologic changes that may be lifelong.

How Common Is a Traumatic Brain Injury?

Approximately 1.7 million Americans will suffer a TBI each year, resulting in approximately 275,000 hospital admissions annually. More than 52,000 individuals die from a TBI every year and 125,000 people are permanently disabled as a result of a TBI. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, at least 3.2 million Americans are currently permanently disabled as a result of a TBI. The age groups at the highest risk for a TBI include children up to 4 years of age, adolescents between the ages of 15 to 19 and adults aged 65 or older. Almost 500,000 children suffer serious brain injuries as a result of accidents each year. Additionally, males are 1.5 times as likely to suffer a TBI than females, many construction workers suffer brain injuries due to the nature of their work.

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

The leading cause of a TBI is a fall (35.2%), followed by motor vehicle / traffic crashes (17.3%). Sports injuries are also a common cause of a TBI.

What Are Some of the Signs and Symptoms of a Traumatic Brain Injury? The signs and symptoms of a TBI depend on the severity and location of the injury. They can be classified as physical, behavioral, and cognitive (thought related) changes.

The physical changes that may occur from a TBI include: headache, dizziness, fatigue, weakness, muscle spasticity, loss of balance and coordination, paralysis, nausea, vomiting, changes in taste, touch, sight, sound and smell, sleep disturbances, seizures and coma. The cognitive changes that can result from a TBI include loss of memory, shortened attention span, difficulty concentrating and problem solving, confusion, lack of judgement, problems with language and communication as well as difficulties with learning and understanding new concepts. Some of the behavioral changes that can occur with a TBI include depression, mood swings, restlessness, irritability, agitation, frustration, lack of empathy, inappropriate and aggressive behavior, and an inability to control one’s emotions.

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 ones pre-injury physical and mental status, although many people will continue to improve years after their injury, with the proper care.

️How Do I Know If I Have a Lawsuit for a Traumatic Brain Injury?

If you, or someone you know, has suffered a head injury as a result of a fall, accident or any type of blunt trauma to the head and are now experiencing the physical, mental or behavioral symptoms of a TBI, you may have reason to consider consulting an attorney regarding a lawsuit.

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

It takes a lot of money, time, and resources to effectively deal with a TBI. Individuals who suffer a TBI, as well as their families, can be placed under a tremendous financial strain in dealing with this problem. Many people with a TBI will experience persistent, lifelong disabilities. A severe TBI may preclude one from the ability to work, limiting future earning potential. If you were to experience a TBI today, the costs could range into millions of dollars to provide a lifetime of care. Financial assistance for a TBI can vary depending upon the type of TBI one has, the specific insurance policy that existed at the time of the injury and the state in which one resides. In many cases, those with a TBI must make do with the limited financial resources they have available, which could have a detrimental effect on their eventual outcome. A successful lawsuit will, at the very least, help support you financially as you navigate your way through your recovery.

️Are There Time Limits on When I Can File a Lawsuit for a Traumatic Brain Injury?

Yes! There are strict limitations on when a lawsuit may be filed, which can vary among different states. For this reason, if you suspect that you or someone you know may have suffered a traumatic brain injury, it is best to seek legal counsel immediately, before those time limits expire.

️Do I Need a Lawyer If I Suffered TBI?Where traumatic brain injury is the result of someone else's wrongful conduct, experienced brain injury lawyers are required. Your attorney must be prepared to investigate, file suit, and prosecute your claim with intensity and passion. The New York TBI attorneys at Gair, Gair, Conason, Rubinowitz, Bloom, Hershenhorn, Steigman & Mackauf have the experience, medical knowledge and courtroom track record necessary to make certain that you, or the loved one for whom you are responsible, obtain full compensation covering medical expense, rehabilitation cost, lost wages, supplies and equipment, loss of enjoyment of life and pain and suffering. Our lawyers have achieved outstanding results for our clients who suffer paralysis, or loss of brain function as a result of traumatic accidents.

The NYC Traumatic Brain Injury Attorneys at Gair, Gair, Conason, Rubinowitz, Heshenhorn, Steigman & Mackauf understand that each case is different and requires a thorough preparation so that the present and future needs of the victim are fully compensated. If you believe that you or a love one suffer traumatic brain injury please contact our firm to discuss your case.