Few categories of injury are more serious than brain injuries. Unfortunately, brain injuries due to accidents such as car crashes, sporting accidents, and construction site accidents are incredibly common in Ohio and throughout the United States. In fact, brain injury is currently the leading cause of death in children. Even in cases where a brain injury is survivable, though, such an injury can still have a long-term impact on a person's health and wellbeing.
For all of these reasons and plenty more, anyone in Ohio who has filed a brain injury lawsuit due to an injury they suffered at the fault of another entity or individual should never settle their lawsuit without consulting an attorney. In this article, we'll take a look at the various types of brain injury Cleveland residents need to be aware of, the importance of never settling a brain injury case, and how a personal injury attorney in Cleveland can help you receive the compensation that you deserve.
Types and Sources of Brain Injury
There is a wide range of brain injury types that can be caused by an equally wide range of accidents and unfortunate circumstances. The types of brain injury that a person might suffer range from less severe but still serious injuries such as a concussion to debilitating and potentially life-threatening injuries such as a brain hemorrhage (which is bleeding between the brain tissue and skull or bleeding within the brain tissue itself), edema (which is when the brain swells and pushes against the skull), or diffuse axonal injury (which is one of the most dangerous types of brain injury and a condition that results in the permanent death of brain cells).
Any injury that results in traumatic force to the skull or results in the brain experiencing a rapid acceleration within the skull can cause a brain injury. As a result, brain injuries can result from any number of accidents that create a traumatic force, from falls to automotive crashes to sporting collisions and everything in-between. Brain injuries can also be caused by a number of circumstances that don't involve any traumatic force at all. Carbon monoxide poisoning, for example, is one instance of an accident that can lead to the death of brain cells without involving any type of traumatic force.
The Vital Importance of Never Settling a Brain Injury Case
It is never in your best interest to settle a lawsuit without first consulting a qualified attorney, and this is doubly true for lawsuits concerning brain injury cases. No matter how tempting it might be to take the settlement that is offered to you, understand that a good personal injury lawyer will almost always be able to get you more money than the settlement figure that you are offered.
The reason why it is especially important to work with an experienced lawyer on any lawsuit involving brain injury is the fact that brain injuries can result in damages that extend far beyond the medical bills you have to pay in order to treat your injury. In addition to damages resulting from medical bills, just some of the types of damages that may be recoverable in your brain injury case include damages such as pain and suffering, lost wages, and loss of enjoyment in life activities.
Unfortunately, damages such as these aren't always considered in the settlements that are typically offered in brain injury cases. Keep in mind that any company or individual who offers you a settlement for your brain injury case is looking out for their own financial interests. Settlements are only offered when the entity proposing the settlement feels that the amount they are offering is less than the amount they would have to pay if the lawsuit was brought to court.
That doesn't mean that settlements should always be refused outright. In some cases, a settlement that is agreeable for both parties can be reached without the case going to court. Without consulting a personal injury lawyer before accepting a settlement, though, it's impossible to know if the settlement you are being offered is actually a fair compensation for the damages that you have suffered,
What to do if You Suffer a Brain Injury Due to the Negligence of Another Party
If you live in Cleveland and suffer any type of brain injury due to circumstances that are the fault of another individual or company, it is essential to contact a personal injury attorney in Cleveland as soon as possible. It's important to note that there are time limits in regards to when you can file a lawsuit for a brain injury that is the fault of another entity. If too much time passes before you file the lawsuit, you may be left unable to receive any compensation for your damages. Even you are still within the set time limits on when a lawsuit can be filed, though, it is still important to act promptly. The sooner you begin the process of suing for damages, the more likely it is that your case will have a quick and favorable resolution.
It's also important to note that you may be eligible for compensation even if your brain injury is not obviously the fault of another person or company. Unless you are injured on your own property under circumstances that are entirely your own fault, you should always contact a personal injury lawyer to see if you are eligible for compensation. Any accident that takes place on property that is not your own, involves other individuals or involves a product such as a car or power tool that is manufactured by a third party is an accident that warrants a conversation with an attorney.
Get Help with Your Brain Injury Case from a Lawyer in Cleveland
Brain injuries are an incredibly serious form of injury that can lead to long-term damages that extend far beyond the medical bills you have to pay in order to treat your injury. Given the serious nature of brain injury and the damages that a brain injury is capable of causing, it is essential to work with an experienced personal injury lawyer on any brain injury case. If you live in Cleveland, Ohio, or anywhere in the surrounding area and have suffered a brain injury due to circumstances that are the fault of another individual or company, be sure to contact an attorney in Cleveland as soon as possible in order to ensure that you don't miss out on the compensation that you deserve.