Brain Injury Attorney in Alabama

Have you or a loved one suffered a serious head injury in Alabama? Are you struggling under the weight of expensive medical bills and worried about your long-term financial security? If so, it’s time to get in touch with Collins Law about reclaiming your future.

Led by Attorney April H. Collins, our brain injury law firm is dedicated to providing people like you with the empathetic and compassionate representation they deserve. We are known for reducing our clients’ accident-related medical bills after resolving their injury cases, a service that’s almost unheard of in the legal industry. We will not charge you any legal fees unless we win your case, and we are proud of getting our clients to keep more of the compensation we do win for them. Our law firm never takes any more money than you would, which demonstrates how committed we are to doing the right thing for you and your family.

Discover how an Alabama brain injury lawyer can empower you to get the money you need to move forward with your life. Contact us today for a free, no-obligation consultation.

What Are the Benefits of Hiring an Alabama Brain Injury Attorney?

The consequences of a severe brain injury are often profound, affecting a patient’s ability to earn a living, take part in favorite activities, and even care for themselves. If you or your loved one is dealing with the aftermath of these serious injuries, your focus should be on getting better. At the same time, you could be owed compensation from the person who caused the injury — compensation that could make all the difference in your future well-being.

Don’t try to balance medical treatment and rehabilitation with pursuing a brain injury claim. Instead, turn to the team with Collins Law for support and guidance. While you work on getting better, we’ll work on the following:

  • Investigating the accident to determine what happened and who’s to blame
  • Determining all your avenues for pursuing compensation, including relevant insurance policies
  • Calculating your past and future financial needs
  • Filing insurance claims and negotiating with insurance adjusters on your behalf
  • Preparing your case for court if a trial becomes the best way to assert your rights
  • Supporting you at every stage so that you always know where your case stands and what your options are

We know that the aftermath of a brain injury can leave you feeling marginalized and like you don’t have a voice. Let us be that voice for you. We want to empower you to get the compensation you need to rebuild your life, and we won’t charge you a fee unless we do just that.

Don’t wait — contact us today and let a brain injury lawyer in Alabama work to make you whole again.

What Compensation Can You Pursue for a Traumatic Brain Injury?

If someone else is responsible for causing the traumatic brain injury (TBI) you or your loved one suffered, they could owe you brain injury compensation for your:

  • Past, present, and future medical care, including therapy and rehabilitation costs
  • Lost income, including wages, commissions, tips, bonuses, and salary
  • Diminished future earning potential if the injury has permanent career consequences
  • Physical pain and mental suffering associated with the injuries
  • Diminished quality of life, such as inability to take part in favorite activities

How Long Do You Have to File a Traumatic Brain Injury Lawsuit in Alabama?

Unfortunately, while the effects of a severe brain injury can last a lifetime, you do not have an unlimited time in which to pursue your brain injury case. Alabama’s statute of injury on personal injury claims generally gives you two years from the date of injury to file your brain injury lawsuit. If you file your suit after this deadline has passed, the court will likely dismiss it as untimely filed.

Don’t put your rights at risk. Instead, contact Collins Law right away so we can get your case started and get things filed on time.

What Are the Types of Traumatic Brain Injuries?

There are many different types of brain injuries. Among the most common accident-related TBIs are the following:

  • Concussion – This relatively mild brain injury can temporarily impair function. It is most often caused by a direct blow, violent shaking, or sudden change in velocity, such as in a car accident.
  • Contusion – This more serious brain bruise causes swelling and pressure and often results from a direct impact like hitting the head during a car crash.
  • Coup-Contrecoup Injury – The name for this brain injury comes from the French for “strike-counterstrike.” It involves the brain hitting one side of the skull and then ricocheting into the other, resulting in matching contusions on either side of the brain.
  • Diffuse Axonal Injury (DAI) – A DAI involves the tearing of nerve fibers due to severe shaking or rotational forces, disrupting nerve communication and affecting multiple brain functions. It is common in car accidents and falls.
  • Penetrating Injury – These severe and potentially life-threatening injuries are caused by an object breaking through the skull and into the brain, such as a bullet or accident debris.
  • Second Impact Syndrome – This critical condition happens when a second concussion occurs before the first has healed, leading to rapid and severe brain swelling. It is most commonly associated with contact sports.

What Are Common Causes of Brain Injuries?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the most common causes of brain injuries nationally are as follows:

  • Falls – From heights such as ladders, stairs, or beds. The elderly and very young are at highest risk for fall-related brain injuries.
  • Violence – Examples include gunshot wounds, domestic violence, child abuse, and assaults. Shaken baby syndrome is a specific form of brain injury from violence.
  • Motor Vehicle Accidents – Collisions involving cars, motorcycles, bicycles, and pedestrians can result in various forms of traumatic brain injuries.

Other common causes of TBI include:

  • Sports Injuries – High-impact or extreme sports such as football, boxing, hockey, soccer, skateboarding, and skiing are particularly high TBI risk factors.
  • Work-Related Injuries – Heavy industries such as construction and manufacturing have higher TBI rates, though even office workers are at risk of falls or other mishaps.

What Are Symptoms of a Traumatic Brain Injury?

Brain injuries can cause a number of cognitive, behavioral, and motor functions. Some of the most common symptoms of a relatively mild injury are:

  • Headaches
  • Confusion
  • Dizziness
  • Blurred vision
  • Ringing in the ears
  • Fatigue or drowsiness
  • Change in sleep patterns
  • Behavioral or mood alteration
  • Difficulty with memory or concentration
  • Nausea and vomiting

More severe TBIs may present symptoms like the following:

  • Loss of consciousness
  • Profound confusion
  • Agitation and combativeness
  • Slurred speech
  • Weakness or numbness in the limbs
  • Persistent and worsening headaches
  • Repeated nausea and vomiting
  • Convulsions and seizures
  • Pupil dilation
  • Fluids draining from the nose and ears
  • Inability to wake from sleep

If you notice any of these symptoms, get medical help immediately. If you suspect someone else is at fault, get in touch with a lawyer as soon as possible.

What Are the Long-Term Impacts of a Brain Injury?

The long-term effects of head trauma or brain damage are profound. The CDC estimates that the lifetime costs of TBIs nationally were $76.5 billion at the time of its study. Ninety percent of these costs were associated with fatal TBI or TBIs involving hospitalization.

According to the CDC’s research, the five-year outcomes for those who received in-patient care for TBI were as follows:

  • Death – 22 percent
  • Worsening of Symptoms – 30 percent
  • Unchanged Symptoms – 22 percent
  • Improving of Symptoms – 26 percent

Specifically, those with serious TBIs are likely to experience long-term or even life-long health complications that are similar in effects to chronic disease. Patients often require intensive physical and occupational therapy to help them regain basic skills.

Even with treatment, severe TBIs may limit a patient’s ability to continue their career path, take part in favorite activities or hobbies, or simply care for themselves. The burden of providing this care may fall on their families or require in-home medical support.

What Treatment Is There for a Traumatic Brain Injury?

Treatment for TBIs depends on the severity of the injury.

For relatively minor ones, such as concussions, healthcare providers generally recommend rest and medication to relieve symptoms. Patients should avoid physical exertion as well as activities that require concentration and mental focus (using computers, watching TV, or even reading) until symptoms significantly improve.

Over-the-counter pain relievers may be used to manage headaches, although it’s important to avoid medications that might increase the risk of bleeding. Healthcare providers may advise gradual resumption of activities, monitoring closely for any recurring or worsening symptoms.

In contrast, more serious TBIs require comprehensive medical intervention. Hospitalization might be necessary, with treatments potentially involving surgery to repair brain damage, relieve pressure in the skull, and address other injuries.

Neurologists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech and language therapists, and psychologists may be needed to aid recovery and manage long-term effects. Rehabilitation is tailored to the specific needs of the individual, focusing on regaining lost skills and functions.

The severity of the injury will dictate the length and intensity of rehabilitation, which could be a lifelong process for those with significant brain damage.

Contact an Alabama Traumatic Brain Injury Lawyer Today

Are you ready to let an experienced Alabama brain injury attorney pursue full and fair compensation for you? Contact Collins Law right away for a free, no-obligation consultation and case review. We will discuss your case, advise you on your options, and explain how we can empower you to get the money you need to move forward with your life.