CHASENBOSCOLO represents those who have suffered severe brain injuries in accidents caused by negligence. We fight for victims and their families, and we get results. When a brain injury impacts your life or the life of someone you love, you do not have to suffer silently. An experienced brain injury lawyer could help you get the justice that you deserve.
Your brain is the control center for your entire body, dictating your ability to speak, think, feel, act, and remember. Any time your brain is injured, it can have far-reaching effects on how your entire body operates. A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a type of injury to the brain that is usually caused by some kind of external force to a person’s skull. An individual may be struck by something, land on something, or collide with something. The most common kind of TBI is a concussion, and many people have a tendency to believe that they can simply walk off the injuries and that the injuries will heal themselves over time. While the symptoms of a TBI can be very subtle initially, they may become much more severe over time.
If you or your loved one have suffered a traumatic brain injury in an accident caused by another party’s negligence in Virginia, do not wait to retain legal counsel. Proving a brain injury can be exceptionally difficult, but an experienced lawyer can guide you through the legal process to recover the financial compensation you need and deserve.
CHASENBOSCOLO has a record of success that includes $1 million recovered for a hockey player who sustained a career-ending concussion. Our Virginia brain injury attorneys will help you understand all of your legal options when you call (703) 538-1138 or contact us online to take advantage of a completely free consultation.
Do I Need A Brain Injury Lawyer?
If you have been diagnosed with a brain injury, you may be coming to understand the newfound limitations in your life. The insurance company representing the negligent party is unlikely to fully compensate you for the harm you have sustained and will instead be seeking to resolve your case for as little money as possible. In many cases, the insurer will try to accomplish this by finding a reason to deny your claim. This is usually by attributing some of the negligence to you. To avoid saying anything that might harm your case, it is best to hire an experienced injury attorney to speak with the insurance company on your behalf.
The insurance company may also offer you a lump-sum settlement that is likely in an amount far lower than what you are entitled to. A knowledgeable lawyer can deal with the insurance company for you in order to negotiate a fair and comprehensive settlement in your case. Your lawyer will also be able to conduct an independent investigation to collect key evidence and identify all of the liable parties involved.
Why Choose CHASENBOSCOLO To Handle My Case?
At CHASENBOSCOLO, our clients have been our top priority since our founding in 1986. Our attorneys are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Managing partners Barry M. Chasen and Benjamin T. Boscolo each have more than 30 years of legal experience. Both attorneys have received an AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell, a peer rating denoting the highest level of professional excellence.
CHASENBOSCOLO also provides a No Fee Guarantee.® That means that you pay us nothing unless you get a financial award. Our firm can negotiate a settlement that covers every possible expense you have incurred or will incur. When we cannot reach an adequate settlement, CHASENBOSCOLO can file a lawsuit and take your case to court.
Types of Brain Injury Cases We Handle
A person who suffers from a TBI will often experience a wide range of symptoms. Some of these effects may be physical, but others can be mental.
Common physical symptoms of a TBI generally include:
- Repeated vomiting or nausea
- Fluids draining from the nose or ears
- Weakness or numbness in fingers and toes
- Loss of consciousness
- Blurred vision
- Loss of coordination
- Dizziness
- Convulsions
- Seizures
- Migraine headaches
A TBI victim can also experience such mental or cognitive symptoms as:
- Changes in appetite
- Slurred speech
- Agitation
- Irritability
- Amnesia
- Disorientation
- Profound confusion
- Depression
- Short-term memory loss
There are essentially five kinds of TBIs:
- Concussion — Concussions are the most common kind of TBI and are often caused by direct blows to the head, the force of a whiplash injury, or a violent shaking of the head. Concussions do not always appear in diagnostic imaging tests, and some concussions can cause diffuse axonal type injuries that lead to temporary or permanent damage.
- Contusion — A contusion is a brain bruise causing bleeding usually caused by direct impact to the head. Large contusions can require surgical removal.
- Coup-Contrecoup — A coup-contrecoup TBI involves contusions on both sides of the brain, the point of impact and its opposite side.
- Diffuse Axonal — A diffuse axonal injury involves the tearing of nerve tissue.
- Penetration — A penetrating injury involves an external object entering the brain.
TBIs can be sustained in most accidents in which a person strikes their head.
Frequent types of accidents that cause TBIs include, but are not limited to:
- Auto Accidents
- Bicycle Accidents
- Construction Accidents
- Defective Products
- FELA Train Injury
- Maritime and Longshore Injury
- Motorcycle Accidents
- Nursing Home Abuse
- Pedestrian Accidents
- Slip and Fall Accidents
- Truck Accidents
- Workplace Accidents
Insurance companies routinely undervalue the severity of TBI claims. Most insurers do not appreciate the full extent of the damage these types of injuries can cause, but an experienced attorney will know how to seek compensation for all of the different damages applicable to your case.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Brain Injuries
A contusion is a localized bruise in the brain, but a concussion involves a generalized lesion that is more widespread. Both injuries are TBIs and usually involve impact to the head. A person can experience a contusion without experiencing a concussion or vice versa, but several TBI victims suffer both.
A “traumatic brain injury (TBI)” is caused by a sudden external force to a person’s head. According to the World Health Organization, an “acquired brain injury” is the result of damage that occurred “after birth and is not related to a congenital or a degenerative disease.” Motor vehicle accidents, slip and fall accidents, and other kinds of collisions are common causes of TBIs, while acquired brain injuries may be caused by heart attacks, strokes, near drownings, tumors, or other medical conditions affecting the brain.
The Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) is a neurological scale used to assess the impairment of the conscious state of a person with a TBI. Eye opening, best motor response, and best verbal response are the three measurements used to score responses, with eye opening having four grades, verbal response having five, and motor response having six. A total patient score of 3 indicates deep unconsciousness while a score of 14 (on the original scale) or 15 (on the modified schedule) indicates a healthy individual.
Brain Injury Statistics
The following statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Institute of Health (NIH) illustrate just how common traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are in the U.S.:
In 2020, there were approximately 214,110 TBI-related hospitalizations in the U.S.
- The following year, there were 69,473 TBI-related deaths nationwide.
- On average, there are 586 TBI-related hospitalizations and 190 TBI-related deaths per day. These figures do not account for TBIs treated in emergency departments, primary care, urgent care, or those that remain untreated.
- Adults 75 and older experienced the highest numbers and rates of TBI-related hospitalizations and deaths. They accounted for 32 percent of TBI hospitalizations and 28 percent of TBI deaths.
- Men are almost twice as likely as women to be hospitalized for a TBI (with a rate of 79.9 versus 43.7 for women). They are also three times as likely to suffer TBI-related complications (28.3 versus 8.4).
- Falls are the primary cause of nearly half of all TBI-related hospitalizations.
- The leading cause of TBI-related deaths in the U.S. is firearm-related suicide.
- Motor vehicle accidents and assaults are also notable causes of TBIs.
- Approximately 1.7 million individuals in the U.S. sustain a TBI each year. Adolescents aged 15 to 19 and older adults aged 65 and older are the most susceptible.
- Moderate to severe TBI is a leading cause of injury-related death and disability, with an annual incidence rate of roughly 500 in 100,000 people.
- TBIs significantly increase the risk of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other psychiatric conditions like psychotic disorder.
- The overall mortality rate across all TBI severity levels is approximately three percent. Fatal TBIs cause nearly 52,000 deaths annually in the U.S.
The Virginia Department of Health tracks the incidence of TBIs statewide and found the following:
- In 2021, there were a total of 33,443 injury-related hospitalizations in Virginia.
- That year, traumatic brain injuries accounted for 5,200 (15.5 percent) of these hospitalizations.
- The hospitalization rate for all injuries in 2021 was 389.3 per 100,000 residents.
- The hospitalization rate for TBIs in Virginia in 2021 was 60.5 per 100,000 residents.
- Men are more likely than women to require hospital care for TBIs across all age groups.
- The number of TBI hospitalizations in Virginia has been fairly consistent over the years, with 5,164 cases in 2016 and 5,200 in 2021.
- The hospitalization rate for traumatic brain injuries also remained relatively stable from 2016 to 2021, ranging from 60.1 to 65.2 per 100,000 residents.
Contact a Brain Injury Attorney in Virginia
Have you or your loved one sustained a brain injury as the result of another party’s negligence in Virginia? You could be facing a lifetime of treatment and rehabilitation costs, and the party responsible for your injuries is liable for covering those expenses.
CHASENBOSCOLO will fight to make sure you recover every dollar of compensation that you are entitled to. Call (703) 538-1138 or contact us online today to schedule a free consultation.