No matter the type of accident, suffering a brain injury could lead to life-changing consequences. Besides the initial expenses related to emergency medical care, you may have to shell huge for your treatment in the long run. If the brain injury is such that you cannot work like before, the financial consequences could be severe. Unfortunately, such incidents are not that uncommon. Your best bet to win a settlement from the at-fault party is hiring a Philadelphia brain injury lawyer. Here’s what you need to know.
Proving your claim
If the accident happened because the at-fault party was negligent, you must follow the same process as a personal injury claim. This means you need to prove their fault. You can only sue the other side for your brain injury if they owed you a duty of care and failed to follow to keep up with that.
The damages you can recover
For your brain injury claim, you can recover both economic and non-economic damages. The economic damages include the cost of lost wages, the cost of initial medical care, and ongoing treatments, and you are required to prove that you incurred these losses. Because a brain injury is not a minor wound, the pain and suffering cannot be compared with anything else. Noneconomic damages are meant to cover the trauma and pain you have endured, although there is no way you can put a tag on that.
Understanding brain injuries
In general, a brain injury can be categorized as ABI or TBI. Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) happens without an external factor, such as a stroke, while Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) refers to an injury caused by an external force, like injuries suffered in a car accident. Depending on the brain injury you have endured, you may have to deal with weakened physical capabilities and a decline in cognitive abilities. Memory loss, seizures, and mood swings are other possible consequences.
Get an attorney
As you may have guessed by now, dealing with the outcome of such an injury is not easy. You need a reliable brain injury lawyer on your side to prove your case, and it could be a long battle ahead, where you may even need to file a case in court. Find law firms in Philadelphia that take such cases and have a proven track record. You have limited time to take action, and that’s something to keep in mind.