According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, car accidents are among the top three causes of traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) and deaths in all age ranges in the United States. These injuries are severe in nature, as they often cause impaired thinking, memory, movement, sensation, and emotional functioning. These symptoms can often affect a person long-term.
If you suffered a TBI, you may need to consult with a St. Augustine TBI and car accidents lawyer to discuss your available options for financial recovery. Even cases that involve minor or less-serious TBIs can involve permanent damage to the brain, so it is important you receive due compensation. By hiring an experienced attorney, you could place you and your family in a better position to make life decisions after this serious injury.
The Time Limit for Filing Claims
As is the case for all personal injury claims, an injured individual must file a claim for a TBI suffered in a car accident by a strict deadline. Known as the statute of limitations, this deadline is set at four years after the date of the injury, according to Fla. Stat. §95.11 (3). Waiting to file the claim past that date may result in the injured person losing their right to pursue compensation.
One way to ensure all paperwork is filed on time is to seek the services of an experienced St. Augustine TBI and car accidents lawyer. As a local attorney, they have experience working with prosecutors and judges in the court system and can navigate the system well.
Factors That Contribute to TBIs
TBIs like concussions and diffuse axonal injuries are caused by sudden rotations and directional changes of the brain, so some car accidents are especially prone to cause TBIs:
- Accidents involving larger vehicles
- Accidents involving high speeds
- Rollover accidents
Accidents Involving Larger Vehicles and High Speeds
Car crashes that involve larger vehicles, such as tractor-trailers, are at a higher risk of producing TBIs. This is because larger vehicles carry more force and, therefore, the potential to cause a significant impact that can shake or tear brain tissue. For a similar reason, accidents that involve higher speeds are more likely to cause TBIs. The force of impact in a car crash is largely determined by its speed, so faster vehicles will result in more serious wrecks.
Rollover Accidents
When cars roll over, the people inside the car are often tossed in various directions. This increases the likelihood that a person’s brain will shift from the momentum, causing concussions and other brain damage. Rollover accidents may eject a driver or passenger from the car, which can result in even worse injuries from the force of the impact with the road or ground.
Many other types of car crashes that do not fall into these categories can additionally result in TBIs. After seeking medical care, an injured person may need to meet with a St. Augustine TBI and car accident lawyer to discuss their legal options.
Speak with a St. Augustine TBI Attorney Today
An experienced personal injury attorney in St. Augustine could help those who have suffered TBIs in car accidents. One way a lawyer could assist the injured person is by collecting and preserving evidence of the at-fault party’s negligence, including cell phone records, traffic camera or surveillance footage, and statements from eyewitnesses.
They may be able to help clients calculate their total damages for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment in life, and the cost of replacing or repairing a damaged vehicle.
If you or a loved one suffered a TBI in a car accident, contact a St. Augustine TBI and car accidents attorney today. With the help of legal representatives, you could start working toward obtaining compensation to cover the short- and long-term expenses related to the injury.
