Head Injury Lawyer in NYC

Head and brain injuries can impact victims in more ways than one. Physical injuries can lead to thousands of dollars in medical bills. Recovery time and cognitive impairment can force a victim to stay home from work or find a new career. The traumatic events leading up to the accident can result in emotional distress. These are all damages that the New York courts will compensate in certain circumstances. If a doctor recently diagnosed you or a loved one with a head or traumatic brain injury (TBI), come to our law offices for a consultation.

The Facts About Traumatic Brain Injuries

Car accidents frequently result in TBIs. Among all New York State victims who went to the hospital after a traffic crash from 2012 to 2014, doctors diagnosed 32% with a TBI. Ten percent of all emergency department visits led to TBI diagnoses, and 44% of deceased crash victims had TBIs. Bicyclists had the greatest number of TBI diagnoses during this time period, followed by pedestrians, occupants, and motorcyclists. Head injuries in car accidents can span from scalp lacerations to penetrations. Brain injuries can involve bleeding, swelling, or other damage to the brain and its surrounding fluids.

Head and brain injuries are common results of many personal injury accidents, not just car crashes. From slip and falls to acts of violence, almost any type of incident can inflect injury on the skull and brain. The most common circumstances we see surrounding head/brain injuries are collisions, sports incidents, amusement park rides, physical assaults, and falls. While the skull will protect the brain from serious harm in most scenarios, a severe enough injury can reach far enough to affect the delicate brain tissues.

Brain injuries can have short- and long-term effects on the victim. Short-term symptoms may include dizziness, headache, blurred vision, nausea, vomiting, confusion, and memory loss. Long-term effects can range from difficulty problem solving to speech and motor skill impairment. Many people never fully recover from serious traumatic brain injuries, although rehabilitation can help recover some lost abilities.

What to Do After Impact to the Head

Doctors often refer to brain injuries as “silent injuries.” This is because while there may be no outward signs or immediate symptoms, a patient can still have a serious brain injury. It is extremely important to visit a doctor or hospital after an incident in which the head sustained a bump or impact. If you notice signs such as drowsiness, nausea, confusion, or behavioral changes, you may have a concussion or other head injury. Go to the hospital right away. Quick treatment can make all the difference in how well a patient recovers from a brain injury.

Once you receive a head or brain injury diagnosis, follow the prescribed treatment plan exactly. Keep a record of all medical documents and bills. Hopefully, you gathered information about your accident at the scene, such as the names of other people who were involved or who saw what happened. The more information you have about your injury, the better. Once you’re on the mend, reach out to Pazer, Epstein, Jaffe & Fein, P.C. We’ve helped New Yorkers gain financial recovery for serious head and brain injuries, and we may be able to help you as well.