Queens Brain Injury Lawyers

Brain injuries are among the most common types of serious injuries sustained in the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has labeled concussions as a “silent epidemic”—with approximately four million being sustained nationwide each year. Suffering a serious brain injury can have life-altering consequences for not only your life but also the lives of your spouse, children, and other close family members. Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) and acquired brain injuries (ABIs) can vary in their severity, but due to the nature of the injury, they should always be taken extremely seriously. 

At Sullivan & Galleshaw, LLP, our dedicated and strategic attorneys consider your needs and goals before deciding on a legal strategy. When you work with us you can expect a responsive and accessible attorney who will fight to hold the party responsible for your TBI financially accountable. If you or someone close to you sustained a concussion or TBI in an accident, we are more than ready to help. Call our Queens law office now or reach out to us directly online to set up a free, fully private initial consultation with a top-rated New York City brain injury attorney. 

Brain Injuries Require Immediate Medical Attention: Know the Signs of a TBI

Any blow to the head should be taken seriously. Not only do brain injuries have the potential to cause long-lasting physical and mental impairments, but they often occur with a delayed onset. A person who suffers a concussion or TBI may actually feel much worse 48 or 72 hours after the initial accident. Following a suspected brain injury, medical care and diagnostic imaging tests are necessary. Here are some of the most common warning signs that suggest that a person may have sustained a concussion or traumatic brain injury: 

• Headaches;
• Nausea or feelings of dizziness; 
• Vomiting;
• Confusion; 
• Feelings of being disoriented;
• Short term memory problems; 
• Lethargy and fatigue; 
• Balance/coordination problems;
• Pupil dilation; and
• Loss of consciousness.

A serious brain injury can transform tasks that you once completed with ease into unsurmountable endeavors. A severe TBI can be a catastrophic injury. The unfortunate reality is that a brain injury can be life-altering. Concussions and TBIs are complex—they can present themselves in myriad ways depending on the force of the impact and the specific portion of the brain that was affected. There is some good news: Medical care can help. Supportive care and therapy can improve an individual’s functionality to the point where they may be able to do the things that they used to.

What Types of Brain Injuries Are There?

While the severity of brain injuries is determined along a continuum, there are two main classes of brain injuries: those caused by trauma (TBI) and those that develop or are acquired due to a bodily condition or medical event (ABI). Traumatic brain injuries themselves can be segmented into two main categories: closed-head injuries and penetrating injuries. 

• Closed Head Injury: A closed-head injury typically occurs due to blunt-force trauma to the head, neck, or skull. An elbow to the head during a basketball game or striking one’s head on the steering wheel during a car accident are two fairly typical examples of a closed-head TBI. 
• Penetrating Brain Injury: A penetrating brain injury occurs when a foreign object penetrates the skull and enters into the intracranial space. Damage from this type of brain injury is often in a straight line that follows the path the object took through the brain. A gunshot wound to the head where the bullet passes through the skull is an example of a penetrating brain injury.

In contrast, ABIs can occur or develop after a medical event like a stroke, tumor, hypoxia, apoxia, and other conditions. In short, medical events that deprive the brain of oxygen or blood can result in serious, permanent injuries and impairments.

How Do Brain Injuries Occur?

Brain injuries can occur in a broad array of situations and contexts. Unfortunately, the potential scenarios for a brain injury are limited only by the locations and activities that people, respectively, frequent or participate in. Let’s consider a few of the scenarios where a traumatic brain injury can occur. These scenarios include:

• Car, truck, or SUV accident – A vehicular accident is a fairly common situation from which a brain injury can arise. Whether your accident involved a fellow commuter, a commercial truck, or roadway debris, it almost undoubtedly involved high speeds and violent forces that can jostle and shake the brain. Vehicle accidents can often produce moderate to severe brain injuries.
• Slip and fall – Even the relatively simple slip and fall can produce brain injuries. In fact, according to statistics compiled by the CDC, 78% of all deaths due to falls are because of a TBI and lower extremity injuries.
• Recreational and school sports – Whether you or your child plays or participates in football, soccer, baseball, cheerleading, or basketball there is a risk of brain injury.
• While shopping in a retail store or walking down a street – Believe it or not, injuries can occur in a retail location like a big box store or a small shop. If shelves are improperly stocked or if signs are improperly secured, falling items can strike a shopper and cause serious injury. A similar injury can occur while walking down the street if a careless individual drops an item out of their window.
• Following a medical event – After a stroke or heart attack changes to the brain can occur. These changes can cause damage to the brain or make it more likely that a traumatic medical event will follow.

The foregoing is only a brief synopsis of the potential scenarios and locations that a brain injury can occur. While you can certainly exercise reasonable caution, no actions can fully eliminate the risk of injury. However, if another person’s negligent, reckless or wanton behavior has caused a severe injury, you should speak with an experienced personal injury attorney, like the lawyers of Sullivan & Galleshaw, to hold the responsible party financially accountable.

What to Know About Recovering Compensation After Sustaining a Brain Injury 

If you or your loved one sustained a brain injury in an accident, you need money to pay bills and support your family. Sadly, the big insurance carriers that process and defend most personal injury cases are not interested in paying out full and fair compensation. They protect their own bottom line first. At Sullivan & Galleshaw, our Queens brain injury lawyers work tirelessly to help injured victims maximize their personal injury settlement or personal injury trial verdict. Depending on the severity of your concussion/TBI, you may be eligible to get money damages for: 

• Ambulance costs; 
• Emergency room care;
• Hospital and medical bills;
• Physical therapy for brain injury recovery; 
• Psychological counseling for brain injury recovery; 
• Loss of current and future income; 
• Pain and suffering; 
• Mental distress; and 
• Long-term impairment or disability.

Special Considerations in Brain Injury Claims: 

Severe concussions and severe TBIs often have long-lasting adverse effects on the life of the victim. The victim may suffer an ongoing health impact, including painful headaches, loss of memory, or even more debilitating psychological or physical impairments. Long-term rehabilitative support may be required. It is crucial that any personal injury settlement fully accounts for non-economic damages (pain, suffering, disability, impairments, etc), and for ongoing and future medical costs. With experience handling catastrophic injury claims, our Queens traumatic brain injury lawyers have what it takes to handle traumatic brain injury cases. We will make sure that you and your family get the complete financial compensation that you deserve. 

How Our New York Traumatic Brain Injury Attorneys Can Help

The personal injury claims process is complicated—even more so for a person who sustained a concussion or traumatic brain injury (TBI) in an accident. At Sullivan & Galleshaw, we are here to help you navigate the claims process. Among other things, our Queens brain injury lawyer will: 

• Answer your questions and explain the next stages of the legal process;
• Investigate the accident—gathering the evidence needed to prove liability; 
• Connect you with the right health care professionals and organize your records; 
• Advocate for your best interests in any TBI settlement negotiations; and
• Take your brain injury claim as far as needed to maximize your compensation. 

Our trial-tested personal injury lawyers are focused on getting the best outcome for our clients—whether that means reaching a full settlement or going through litigation. With a record of testimonials from former clients, victims, and families rely on our legal team for results. 

Put Our Personal Injury Experience to Work for You

At Sullivan & Galleshaw, Queens personal injury attorneys fight aggressively to protect the rights of injured victims and their family members. Our clients trust us to provide dedicated and strategic representation following a serious accident or other personal injuries. If you suffered a serious brain injury, we are available to help. To schedule your free and confidential brain injury legal consolation, call 718-215-9574 or contact us online. Consultations are free and fully confidential. With an office in Queens, we handle traumatic brain injury claims in New York City and communities beyond.