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Brain injuries, ranging from mild concussions to severe traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), represent some of the most critical health concerns in modern medicine. Their significance lies not just in the immediate physical damage they cause but also in their profound, often long-term, impact on an individual’s cognitive, emotional, and physical well-being.
Victims might experience symptoms like memory loss, impaired motor functions, mood swings, or even profound personality changes. These life-altering effects can lead to loss of employment, strained personal relationships, and diminished quality of life.
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When such injuries result from another party’s negligence, whether in car accidents, falls, or other incidents, the affected individuals have the legal right to seek compensation. At Regan Zambri Long, our brain injury lawyers can guide you through the claims process, seeking fair compensation for your injuries.
Your claim can provide financial support for medical treatments, therapy, lost wages, and other associated costs, helping victims navigate the tumultuous journey of recovery and rehabilitation. Call today for your free consultation.
Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI) represent a significant concern in the realm of public health. A TBI is sudden trauma to the brain leading to disrupted brain function. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), TBIs are classified based on the severity of the injury: mild, moderate, and severe.
A mild TBI, often referred to as a concussion, typically results in a brief change in mental status or consciousness, while severe TBI can lead to extended periods of unconsciousness, amnesia, or even death. The difference between these categories often lies in the duration and intensity of symptoms, with severe cases potentially resulting in long-term cognitive, physical, and psychological impairments.
TBIs account for about 2.8 million emergency department visits, hospitalizations, and deaths annually in the United States. These figures give us a peak at the critical nature of understanding, preventing, and effectively treating traumatic brain injuries to lessen their impact on individuals and society.
While there is no guaranteed estimate of what the value of your case is, the brain injury lawyers at Regan Zambri Long will work tirelessly to recover maximum compensation. We have won millions for our clients, including a $20 million settlement for a brain injury in Washington DC. We are confident our experienced personal injury attorneys can do the same for you.
With that in mind, let’s talk about what can change the value of a brain injury case in Washington DC. The damages in personal injury lawsuits are divided into three different categories: economic damages, non-economic damages, and punitive damages.
Economic damages are tangible monetary losses directly resulting from your injuries. Non-economic damages are intangible losses, which make them a little more difficult to determine. Finally, punitive damages exceed basic personal injury damages and are meant to punish the defendant rather than award the victim.
Think of this as the money you have to pay when you get hurt and need to see a doctor or go to the hospital.
This means the care you get right after the injury. It can be expensive. For example, if someone needs to ride in an ambulance or get a scan of their brain, it can cost anywhere from $500 to $1,000 for a single ambulance ride.
Sometimes, after a brain injury, a person needs care for a long time. This might mean seeing a doctor often or having to stay in the hospital or a rehab facility.
After a brain injury, some people need therapy to relearn even the simplest tasks. Therapies can include physical therapy, occupational therapy, and even cognitive therapy.
Immediate medication will most likely be needed right after the accident. However, if the injury is severe enough, victims may need to be on medication for the rest of their lives, which is costly to the individual and their families.
Imagine you get hurt and can’t go to work for a few days, weeks, or even months. The money you would’ve earned during that time? That’s called “lost wages.” It’s the money you missed out on because you were healing and couldn’t work.
Now, think about if the injury is so bad that a person can’t do their job like they used to, or they can’t work at all anymore. They might have to take a job that pays less or not work at all. This situation is about “loss of earning capacity.” It means that because of the injury, the person might not be able to make as much money in the future as they could have before they got hurt.
This is not just about money spent on doctors or medicine. It’s about how the injury affects the person’s life. How much pain do they feel? Are they sad or upset because of the injury? Can they enjoy things like they used to? All of this falls under “pain and suffering.”
Punitive damages are extra money that the defendant might have to pay in a brain injury case. While economic and non-economic damages are meant to award the victim for their injuries, punitive damages are meant to punish the defendant for bad behavior.
If you think your brain injury claim includes carelessness, malice, or wanton and reckless behavior, speak to your brain injury lawyer during your free consultation. Including punitive damages in your claim will teach the offender a lesson and make sure they do not repeat the same behavior that led to your injuries.
Living with a traumatic brain injury is extremely difficult, not only for the victim, but for their loved ones, as well. The financial burden alone can trouble even the wealthiest of families. Since accidents resulting in TBIs often occur without any warning, most people are not financially prepared for the lifelong costs associated with the injury.
Victims of a traumatic brain injury might need help every day following the accident. This could be someone to help them get dressed, eat, or move around. The average wages of an in-home caregiver range anywhere from $18 per hour to $36 per hour (that can add up to almost $300 for an eight hour work day!)
Depending on the severity of the injury, traumatic brain injury victims’ homes may need to be changed following the accident. Simple modifications, like adding a ramp for wheelchair access, can cost up to $3,000. However, if the home needs structural modifications, like widening doorways or hallways, that can cost a family thousands of dollars.
Over time, a person with TBI might need different kinds of medical care or therapy. Assisted living facilities are thousands of dollars per month in rent. Occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech therapy, hospital visits, and ongoing medication are extremely expensive.
As mentioned before, the cost of a traumatic brain injury does not end with money. There is a huge emotional impact on the victim and their loved ones. The injured person may struggle with anger, depression, frustration, and loss of joy. They have to mourn their old lives while they deal with the uncertainty of their future. Many victims become isolated, anxious, and severely depressed.
TBI victims’ families and friends also have a lot on their plate. It’s hard to see someone you care about struggle. Loved ones have to grieve the old way of life while helping the victim cope with the new normal.
As you can see, the costs of living with a traumatic brain injury are steep. At Regan Zambri Long, we know we can’t change what happened to you or your loved one. However, we can provide financial relief and a sense of justice. Call today for a free consultation with a brain injury lawyer. We will get started on your case immediately so we can quickly recover the compensation you deserve.
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In a brain injury case, knowing clearly who is at fault or liable for the accident is very important for the victim to get the most compensation. The burden of proof is on the plaintiff – they need to prove the defendant acted negligently in order to collect damages.
At Regan Zambri Long, our personal injury lawyers rely on the four elements of negligence: duty of care, breach of duty of care, causation, and damages.
In a brain injury case, to prove negligence, one would have to show that someone had a duty to act safely, they failed in that duty, their failure caused the brain injury, and there were real losses or damages because of the injury.
Washington D.C. follows a strict rule called “contributory negligence.” Under this rule, if the injured party is found to be even 1% at fault for the incident leading to the brain injury, they cannot recover any damages.
The Regan Zambri Long brain injury attorneys have worked in the DC Metro area for over two decades. We know defense lawyers jump to contributory negligence to try to get their clients out of paying what they rightfully owe. We will build a strong case proving that you were not liable for the accident that caused your brain injury in any way.
It’s important to keep in mind that Washington DC is a no-fault insurance state. That means if your brain injury was caused by any kind of vehicular accident, regardless of who is at fault, you must file with your own insurer first.
Insurance policy limits play a crucial role in brain injury cases in Washington DC. Let’s dive into what they are and how they impact compensation:
A statute of limitations is like a countdown timer for legal matters. In Washington D.C., like everywhere else, it tells you how long you have to file a claim after an injury.
In Washington D.C. a brain injury victim has three years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. Three years may seem like a long time, but if you try to file a claim after the three-year limit, the court will most likely refuse to hear your case. This means you won’t be able to get any compensation for your injury, even if it’s a strong case.
Here are some tips for filing on time so you can ensure maximum compensation for your injuries:
Remember, in Washington D.C., that three-year timer starts ticking from the date of the accident. It’s very important to act quickly and make sure your rights are protected. If you think you have a brain injury claim, get started as soon as you can.
Brain injuries are intricate and life-altering. Navigating their aftermath requires expertise, compassion, and a deep understanding of the legal landscape. This is where the attorneys at Regan Zambri Long shine.
The right attorney can change the trajectory of your case. With Regan Zambri Long by your side, you’re not just getting a lawyer; you’re gaining an ally with a proven track record. Their expert attorneys:
Regan Zambri Long boasts an impressive history of substantial verdicts and settlements for their brain injury clients. These past successes serve not only as a testament to their expertise but also set precedents. Lawyers and insurance companies often look at such verdicts to gauge the potential worth of a case. With Regan Zambri Long’s past victories, they bring to the table a weight of credibility, signaling that they mean business.
Entrusting your brain injury case to Regan Zambri Long is aligning yourself with excellence, commitment, and a genuine desire to make a difference. Their track record, combined with their passion, makes them an ideal choice for anyone seeking justice and change in Washington DC.
