An acquired brain injury, or ABI, is an injury that occurs after birth. For example, a concussion suffered in a car accident would be classified as an acquired brain injury, as would nearly drowning and suffering an anoxic brain injury. Regardless of how the brain injury occurred, an ABI can be serious and impact both the victim’s life in numerous ways. Brain injuries can leave victims with debilitating symptoms such as prolonged headaches, dizziness, nausea, memory loss, dementia, loss of coordination, and seizures. Treatment for brain injuries can be long-term and quite expensive. The debilitating effects of a brain injury may make it impossible for the victim to work. Sadly, more often than not, victims who suffer ABIs are preventable as they are often caused by the negligence of someone other than the victim. If you have an acquired brain injury, contact an experienced New York acquired brain injury lawyer who has the knowledge and resources to help you get a fair settlement so that you can receive the proper medical treatment for your brain injury.
Common causes of acquired brain injuryJust like any other type of injury, an acquired brain can be caused a variety of accidents. For example, an anoxic brain injury is caused when the brain is deprived of oxygen. This happens when breathing is interrupted due to a swimming accident that results in a near drowning, choking, a drug overdose, or when the victim is suffocated. A traumatic brain injury can happen in a car or truck accident when the victim’s head violently hits the interior of the car, or when the victim is ejected from the car and hits the pavement. An open head injury is called when something pierces the skull and injures the brain such as a bullet. Other causes of acquired brain injures include: objects falling on the head, assaults, carbon dioxide poisoning, and inhaling toxic chemicals.
Pursuing compensation for an ABIIn addition to the medial challenges that an ABI presents for the victim, an ABI also presents financial challenges. Medical bills can be significant. For example, immediately after the accident you may have been rushed to the emergency department where you received initial treatment. You may have had to have emergency surgery. Your stay in the hospital may have been several days, followed by rehabilitation in another facility. You may need medication and medical equipment. While you are recovering you will not be able to work. As a result your income may drop significantly, while your medical bills skyrocket.
As an acquired brain injury attorney in New York will explain, when an accident is caused by someone else, such as another driver in a car accident, legal liability falls on that person. In other words, the victim can demand that the negligent person pay the medical bills, lost wages, and other losses such as pain and suffering associated with the negligence.
Keep in mind, however, that filing a claim is complicated. There are strict rules that must be followed, such as filing your paperwork on time. If you fail to follow procedure, you may put your case in jeopardy. That is why it is important to discuss you case with a New York acquired brain injury lawyer to ensure that your claim is properly filed and that you receive fair compensation based on the facts of your case.
Contact the Law Offices of Stephen Bilkis & AssociatesIf you or someone you know suffered a devastating injury to the brain in accident, we know there are many questions that need answers regarding how to file a legal claim against the responsible party. The acquired brain injury attorneys serving clients in New York at the Law Offices of Stephen Bilkis & Associates are experienced in handling personal injury and wrongful death cases stemming from traumatic accidents such as vehicle accidents, falls, construction accidents, and recreational accidents. Contact us at 800.696.9529 to schedule a free, no obligation consultation regarding your case. We represent clients in the following locations: the Bronx, Brooklyn, Long Island, Manhattan, Nassau County, Queens, Staten Island, Suffolk County and Westchester County.