In the blink of an eye, a traumatic brain injury can change a person’s life forever. Many who suffer severe brain injuries will require extensive and costly medical treatment. As a result, some might find it difficult or impossible to work, support themselves and those they love, or even live independently.
If you or a loved one suffered a brain injury due to someone else’s negligence in Gwinnett County, turn to an attorney with specific experience handling brain injury claims. You could be owed significant compensation from the at-fault party. ContactCain Injury Law today for a free initial consultation to learn more about your legal options.
Common Types of Brain Injuries in Gwinnett County, GA
Some of the most common types of traumatic brain injuries (TBI) in Gwinnett County, Georgia, include:
- Concussions – A concussion is a less-severe type of TBI that results in a temporary interruption of brain function, which may or may not cause loss of consciousness.
- Contusions – When the brain suffers a contusion or bruise, the leakage of small blood vessels can result in a dangerous buildup of pressure in the skull.
- Penetrating injuries – Penetrating injuries occur when foreign objects or skull fragments directly injure the brain’s soft tissue, which can have serious consequences.
- Diffuse axonal injuries – Diffuse axonal injuries occur when extreme forces damage or tear the delicate nerve fibers connecting the brain’s two hemispheres.
- Hypoxic brain injuries – Hypoxic brain injuries occur when the brain does not receive enough oxygen and therefore cannot function properly.
- Anoxic brain injuries – Anoxic brain injuries occur when the brain receives no oxygen at all, which can lead to permanent brain damage within minutes.
- Coup-contrecoup injuries – Coup-contrecoup injuries occur when a violent blow to one side of the head results in trauma to both the side of the brain facing the impact and the opposite side of the brain that strikes the inside of the skull.
Causes of Brain Injuries in Gwinnett County, GA
Traumatic brain injuries typically occur due to violent blows or penetrating injuries to the head. Common causes of these devastating injuries include:
- Transportation accidents – Transportation accidents, including car accidents, truck accidents, and motorcycle accidents, frequently result in TBI when they occur at high speeds. Vehicle occupants without seatbelts and motorcycle riders without helmets are especially likely to sustain a TBI.
- Slips, trips, and falls – When people slip or trip and fall, they can sustain TBI if they suffer direct or indirect injury to the head. That is especially true if someone falls from a height, such as down a set of stairs.
- Medical malpractice – When healthcare providers fail to diagnose, monitor, or treat patients, their malpractice can result in preventable trauma to the head, skull, and brain.
- Sports and recreation accidents – High-impact sports and recreational activities such as skiing, snowboarding, boxing, and football frequently involve blunt-force trauma that can easily result in TBI.
- Workplace accidents – Work-related TBI can happen in any industry but are especially common in dangerous fields such as construction, transportation, and manufacturing.
- Acts of violence – Intentional acts of violence, including gunshots, stabbings, battery, and domestic violence are common causes of TBI.
When Can I Sue for a Brain Injury?
If you want to file a personal injury lawsuit after a traumatic brain injury, you must be able to prove the following elements:
- The other party had a legal responsibility to avoid causing your injury, such as the legal responsibility to drive safely and avoid causing an accident.
- The other party failed to act responsibly, which could include violating traffic laws, making errors in judgment, or driving aggressively.
- Your traumatic brain injury directly resulted from the other party’s negligence.
- As a result of your traumatic brain injury, you have suffered measurable personal and financial losses, such as medical expenses and diminished quality of life.
The Time Limit for Filing a Brain Injury Claim in Gwinnett County, GA
Under Georgia law, you have just two years from the date when you initially sustained a brain injury to file a personal injury lawsuit. If you wait to file your lawsuit until after this two-year deadline has passed, you will likely lose your right to demand compensation, even if you have a solid underlying case.
Gwinnett County, GA Traumatic Brain Injury Facts and Statistics
The following data from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) illustrate some striking facts and statistics about TBI throughout the U.S. and in Georgia:
- In a single recent year, roughly 61,000 TBI-related deaths occurred throughout the U.S., or about 166 TBI-related deaths per day.
- Although anyone can suffer a TBI at any age, certain individuals are more at risk for long-term, TBI-related health issues or death. These include racial and ethnic minorities, military service members, homeless individuals, incarcerated individuals, residents of rural areas, and victims of domestic violence.
- Fall accidents result in nearly half of all TBI-related hospitalizations nationwide.
- Motor vehicle accidents and violent assaults are among the top causes of TBI nationwide, and firearm-related suicide is the most common cause of TBI-related deaths in the U.S.
- In Georgia alone, 27,840 TBI injuries resulted in 20,488 emergency room visits and 7,352 hospital visits in a single recent year.
- TBI-related losses cost Georgia residents more than $1.5 billion in lost wages and medical expenses each year.
Demanding the Compensation You Need After a Brain Injury
At Cain Injury Law, our Gwinnett County TBI attorneys understand the life-changing consequences that can accompany a brain injury. When you work with our firm, we will take the time to learn about the many different ways the injury has impacted your life so we can relentlessly pursue fair compensation for the losses you have suffered.
We know how much real results matter to you, so we take our work incredibly seriously. Once you choose to retain our services, you will receive your attorney’s direct cell number and access to a free case status app. That way you remain in control and up to date at all times.
Talk to a Gwinnett County, GA, Brain Injury Attorney Now
If you suffered a TBI in Gwinnett County, GA, don’t hesitate to contact the dedicated attorneys of Cain Injury Law. We can answer your questions and determine whether you have grounds for a claim in a free initial case review.