A traumatic brain injury (TBI) can change your life in an instant. The aftermath can be overwhelming, affecting your health, work, and daily activities. If you have experienced a brain injury in Lima, Ohio, you may be entitled to compensation from the party responsible for your accident.
At the Law Office of Michael J. Tremoulis, we understand the challenges you face and are here to help you navigate this difficult time. Contact us or call (419) 404-4444 to schedule a free consultation today with a Lima brain injury lawyer to explore your legal options and how we can help you.
How the Law Office of Michael J. Tremoulis Can Help You After a Brain Injury In Lima, OH
Our experienced legal team is dedicated to supporting clients who have sustained serious brain injuries. With over 150 years of combined experience, the Law Office of Michael J. Tremoulis has recovered tens of millions for our clients. We offer personalized attention to ensure your case receives the care it deserves.
Here’s how our Lima personal injury lawyers can assist you after an accident:
- Provide compassionate legal guidance. We listen to your story and offer legal advice tailored to your situation.
- Keep you updated about the progress of your case with regular communication.
- Conduct a thorough investigation. We gather evidence to build a strong case on your behalf.
- Work with experts and document your damages. We meticulously evaluate your damages and collaborate with specialists to prove the losses you have suffered.
- Protect your rights and defend you against the insurance company. We act in your best interest to seek fair compensation and protect you from tactics the insurer may use to limit their payout.
- Negotiate with the insurance company. We handle all communications and negotiate fair compensation for your injuries.
- Represent you in court. If necessary, we are prepared to file a lawsuit and advocate for you in court to secure the justice you deserve.
Contact our law office today for a free consultation with a Lima personal injury attorney. We accept cases on a contingency fee basis with no out-of-pocket attorneys’ fees for the representation you deserve.
Overview of Traumatic Brain Injuries
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) refers to brain damage caused by some type of external source of trauma. These injuries may be caused by a penetrating injury like a gunshot, violent movement of the head, or direct impact on the head.
The brain damage from a TBI is caused by a combination of bleeding, swelling, and tearing of nerve fibers.
These injuries disrupt brain function through several mechanisms:
- Damage to nerve cells (neurons) impairs their ability to send and receive signals. Nerve cells communicate with other cells using neurotransmitters.
- Disrupted neuron function causes an imbalance of neurotransmitters. This triggers a cascade of chemical changes in the brain.
- Swelling (cerebral edema) and bleeding further impair brain function by increasing pressure inside the skull. This damages brain tissue and disrupts signals between neurons. It also reduces blood flow, which can cause brain cell death.
Between 1.7 and 3.8 million traumatic brain injuries occur every year in the United States.
What Are Common Types of Traumatic Brain Injuries?
Traumatic brain injuries are categorized as mild, moderate, or severe based on the results of the Glasgow Coma Scale. TBIs can also be categorized as open (penetrating skull injury) or closed. A primary brain injury refers to the damage from the initial injury, while secondary brain injury refers to damage that occurs in the hours and days to follow due to bleeding, swelling, and cell death.
The most common types of TBIs are:
- Concussion or mild TBI
- Brain hemorrhage or brain bleed
- Contusion
- Anoxic or hypoxic brain injuries
- Diffuse axonal injuries (DAI)
While some types of brain injuries are inherently more severe, any TBI can be serious and cause lasting side effects.
What Are the Signs and Symptoms of a Traumatic Brain Injury?
The signs of a TBI can be mild to severe and depend on the severity and location of the damage.
Typical signs and symptoms include:
- Physical symptoms: Headaches, dizziness, nausea, fatigue, and unequal pupils
- Cognitive symptoms: Difficulty concentrating, memory problems, and confusion
- Sensory symptoms: Blurred vision, ringing in the ears, and sensitivity to light or sound
- Psychological and emotional symptoms: Mood swings, anxiety, depression, personality changes, and behavioral changes
Loss of consciousness is a serious sign of a brain injury, but not all TBI victims lose consciousness. With a concussion, loss of consciousness, if it occurs, may last seconds. Moderate to severe TBIs can cause loss of consciousness for hours or coma. Serious TBIs can also result in seizures.
These symptoms may not appear initially, especially with minor brain injuries. Delayed symptoms may appear hours or several days after the injury.
What Are Potential Long-Term Effects of a Brain Injury?
A brain injury can have lasting consequences.
Potential long-term effects include:
- Cognitive impairment
- Emotional and psychological issues
- Physical disabilities
- Social difficulties
- Post-concussion syndrome (PCS)
- Increased risk of dementia
A moderate to severe TBI reduces a person’s life expectancy by about nine years. Within five years of injury, about half of people who survive moderate to severe TBI die or experience further decline. More than half of those who survive more than five years have at least moderate disability.
What Causes Most Brain Injuries In Lima, Ohio?
The main causes of TBI vary by age group, but the leading causes of brain injuries include:
- Falls (48%)
- Struck by or against an object (17%)
- Auto accidents (14%) and motorcycle accidents
- Sports and recreation (10%)
- Assault (8%)
Men sustain brain injuries more often than women, and they have higher rates of TBI-related death and hospitalization.
What Is My Lima Brain Injury Case Worth?
Determining the value of a brain injury case involves assessing several factors, such as:
- The severity of your brain injury
- How the injury affects your ability to perform daily activities
- Ability to return to work
- Circumstances of the accident
- The strength of evidence to prove liability and the extent of your losses
- Insurance coverage available may limit what you can recover.
- Whether you share any responsibility for the accident, which can reduce the compensation you receive.
Consulting with a Lima brain injury lawyer can provide a clearer understanding of your claim’s potential value.
What Damages Are Available To Brain Injury Victims In Lima, OH?
In Ohio, brain injury victims may be entitled to compensatory damages, which include both economic and non-economic damages. You may seek compensation for all the losses you have suffered, including financial expenses, physical and emotional losses, and future damages.
Common damages you can recover include:
- Medical expenses, including the costs for hospital stays, surgery, rehabilitation, medication, and more
- Future medical bills you are likely to incur
- Lost wages to compensate for income lost due to the inability to work
- Reduced or lost earning capacity if you cannot return to your job or any gainful employment
- Physical pain
- Mental and psychological anguish
- Reduced enjoyment of life
- Disfigurement
After a catastrophic injury, a spouse and children may be entitled to loss of consortium damages through a separate claim against the at-fault party. These damages compensate for the loss of guidance, companionship, assistance, protection, and marital relations.
Can I Still Recover Compensation If I’m Being Blamed For My Accident In Lima, Ohio?
Under Ohio’s comparative negligence doctrine, injury victims can still recover compensation if they share responsibility for their accident. If you are assigned some blame, your financial award will be limited by your percentage of comparative fault, however. You are only entitled to damages if you are 50% or less responsible for the accident.
Because your compensation is directly affected by any fault you are assigned, it’s crucial to consult with a lawyer if you are being blamed for the accident. Your lawyer will defend you against attempts to unfairly blame you or assign more fault than you deserve.
What Is the Deadline To File a Personal Injury Lawsuit For a Brain Injury In Ohio?
The Ohio statute of limitations limits how long you have to file a lawsuit against the party at fault for your injury. You typically have two years from the date of your brain injury to file your case. This same deadline applies to wrongful death cases.
There are exceptions to this deadline, and certain types of cases have different deadlines. If your brain injury was caused by medical malpractice, you typically have just one year from the date you discovered your injury and no more than four years from the date of the medical error. Cases involving product liability have a two-year statute of limitations and a ten-year statute of repose.
It’s crucial to act promptly to protect your right to compensation.
Contact Our Lima Brain Injury Lawyers For a Free Consultation
Have you or someone you love suffered a TBI in Lima, OH? You may be entitled to money, and the Law Office of Michael J. Tremoulis is here to fight for you. We have 150 years of combined experience representing brain injury victims, with tens of millions recovered.
Contact our law firm to schedule a free case evaluation with a Lima brain injury attorney. We will listen to your story, discuss your options, and help you take the next step to pursue the money you deserve.
