Unfortunately, the brain cannot always heal from physical trauma even with swift and comprehensive medical intervention, meaning accidents resulting in traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) often have uniquely severe consequences. Furthermore, thanks to the somewhat subjective nature of injuries like this, recovering fair compensation can be a uniquely complicated process as well.
Guidance from a seasoned Blair County traumatic brain injury lawyer could make a tremendous difference in your prospects of a positive result from your unique claim. From discovery of evidence to settlement negotiations to a possible lawsuit in civil court, your dedicated Blair County catastrophic injury attorney could represent your best interests throughout every stage of your legal proceedings.
Unlike other types of injuries, like bone fractures and ligament tears, traumatic brain injuries do not always produce consistent symptoms that can let doctors know exactly what damage a patient has sustained. In fact, TBIs may cause no symptoms whatsoever for hours or possibly days after an injury occurs, at which point it may be too late to avoid serious long-term harm.
In light of all that, it is especially crucial for anyone who suffers head or neck trauma in an accident to seek medical attention immediately afterwards, even if he or she feels fine or only experienced what seems like a minor injury. While TBIs cannot always be treated in the same direct way that broken bones and similarly obvious injuries can, prompt medical care can still substantially decrease the likelihood of traumatic brain damage resulting in permanent losses of cognitive, sensory, and/or physical function.
Any medical expenses related to diagnosing, treating, or even determining that a traumatic brain injury did not occur could be factored into an ensuing civil claim as compensable damages. Likewise, a Blair County attorney could pursue compensation for long-term damages like lost earning capacity, physical pain, costs of future medical care, and lost quality of life.
In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, people who get hurt in accidents caused by someone else’s negligence or wrongful conduct have a limited period of time in which to pursue civil litigation over that incident. This period—known as a “statute of limitations”—applies to nearly every personal injury claim, regardless of how serious a particular injury is or how long the effects of that injury are expected to last.
Pursuant to 42 P.S. §5524, the deadline applicable to most TBI claims is two years from the date on which the injury in question actually occurred. However, in some rare instances where the victim could not have reasonably discovered the wrongful conduct, the clock may not begin to run until the time at which he or she reasonably should have discovered the wrongdoing. This exception – known as the discovery rule – can extend the filing deadline, but it applies in only a small fraction of cases. Most cases must be filed within two years of the incident. A TBI lawyer in Blair County could offer further clarification during an initial meeting about what time limits might impact a specific plaintiff’s case.
Traumatic brain damage is a uniquely dangerous and, unfortunately often, deadly consequence that an accident born of negligence can have. Anyone who sustains this type of harm solely because another person acted recklessly or carelessly could have grounds to recover significant financial compensation for the immense harm he or she has already experienced and will experience in the future because of the accident.
A knowledgeable Blair County traumatic brain injury lawyer could provide the help you might need to pursue a positive case outcome more effectively. Learn more by calling Marcus & Mack today.
Marcus & Mack
