There have been a number of studies conducted into the monetary cost associated with traumatic brain injury. Depending on criteria, the number of participants, and various data points, these studies have concluded that living with a brain injury can cost anywhere from $85,000 to just around $3 million.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) estimates that approximately 10 million people worldwide will suffer from severe head trauma annually by 2020, predicting brain injury to become one of the leading causes of death in the world. As it stands, the CDC reports that 1.7 million people in the United States sustain head trauma yearly. Of those, 275,000 are hospitalized following emergency treatment and 52,000 die from complications.
The NIH reports that 52% of those who survive traumatic brain injury live with moderate to severe disability for months, years, or a lifetime. A lifetime of disability comes with many expenses, some of which are not financial at all. The brain injury lawyers at our Atlanta office will take all of your damages into account when determining what your injury is truly worth.
PROFESSIONALS INVOLVED IN RECOVERY FROM BRAIN INJURY
1.365 million victims of brain injury in the United States are treated in emergency rooms every year*. A majority of these patients are released after emergency treatment, but around 25% are admitted to the hospital for additional care.
Following treatment from emergency room doctors and nurses, patients who are hospitalized will continue to be treated by physicians. Additional professionals that may be involved both immediately and as time passes include:
- Neurologists
- Physiatrists
- Respiratory specialists
- Occupational therapists
- Cognitive therapists
- Educational therapists
- Physical therapists
- Recreational therapists
- Vocational rehabilitation specialists
- Neuropsychologists
- Speech pathologists
Services from these professionals may be short-term or long-term, but in either event, they will be expensive. When care is needed for years, additional expenses such as home modifications or the cost of a long-term care facility can add to these costs, placing families caring for a victim of TBI in serious economic danger.
Insurance companies may cover some of these expenses, but seldom do they cover all. This is just one of the many reasons you need an experienced and aggressive brain injury attorney on your side immediately following an accident. The Atlanta brain injury lawyers at Lourie, Chance, Forlines, Carter & King have the dedication and experience needed to secure maximum compensation in these cases. Call us at 404-760-7400 to schedule a free consultation and learn how we can help today.
CALCULATING NONECONOMIC DAMAGES
Economic damages are easy to calculate: all you need is a copy of your bills, information about your wages, and perhaps a few additional easy to obtain financial documents. While not always fast or easy, it is possible to get insurance to cover all of these expenses. Of course, expect to spend a significant amount of time on the phone arguing with adjusters, but with effort, your medical bills – at the least – should be covered by insurance.
Coverage of your medical bills is, however, not nearly enough if you have suffered a traumatic brain injury.
Noneconomic damages include things like emotional suffering and physical pain – things that are impossible to put a verifiable figure on, but are nonetheless very real for victims of head trauma. Insurance covers these damages so infrequently, it is fair to assume your provider will not even consider them. So how do you get pain and suffering considered for settlement? With the help of an experienced attorney.
Victims of brain injury often face severe physical and mental challenges during recovery. In many cases, these struggles will be permanent and will have very real consequences emotionally, physically, developmentally, professionally, and socially. If your injury was the result of someone else’s negligence, you deserve to be compensated for these damages. One of the most effective ways to ensure you are compensated is to take your case to trial.
A jury trial – or the threat of one – is often needed to secure compensation for noneconomic damages. The Atlanta head trauma lawyers at our firm are prepared to build a solid case on your behalf and to take that case as far as needed to secure for you every penny you are due. During your initial consultation, we will discuss this in greater detail so that you can fully prepare for what winning a fair settlement may entail.
SETTLEMENT NEGOTIATIONS
Our lawyers will prepare your case for trial, but can engage in settlement negotiations if conditions are right. During both options, we will seek maximum compensation for damages including:
- Medical and rehabilitation expenses
- Home modifications
- In-home care or group home expenses
- Current and projected future wages
- Adaptive technologies
- Emotional duress
- Mental and physical injury
- Diminished ability
If we cannot reach a fair settlement during negotiations, we will take your case to trial where a jury will determine your settlement. This process may take a bit longer, but can result in much larger rewards and is the best option under certain circumstances.
Our lawyers view every claim as unique and take all individual considerations into account when building a case. We will work directly with you and your family to determine which course of action makes the most sense for your immediate and future needs.
WHY CHOOSE Lourie, Chance, Forlines, Carter & King?
The brain injury attorneys at Lourie, Chance, Forlines, Carter & King have secured numerous large settlements for victims of head trauma and have been awarded the “Excellent” rating by AVVO in a number of categories. A law firm with a 5.0 Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell and a SuperLawyer listing, our dedication to helping victims of serious injury is evident in all that we do – and we are fully prepared to offer you the same level of service, quality representation, and individual care we bring to every case.
The party responsible for your injury may have attorneys and insurance companies fighting hard to minimize your payment. You deserve a law firm on your side that will fight twice as hard to see that justice is served. With decades of combined experience and a true commitment to assisting seriously injured people throughout Georgia get fair and full compensation, Lourie, Chance, Forlines, Carter & King is here to take your case, fight for your rights, and get you the settlement you deserve.
To learn more or to schedule a free consultation, call us at 404-760-7400 today. Located in Atlanta, we serve Savanah, Columbus, Decatur, Augusta, and all surrounding areas of Georgia.