A traumatic brain injury is a kind of head injury that is caused by an external physical force and that results in physical and/or mental complications. With this, there are closed brain injuries (i.e., wounds cannot be seen) and penetrating head injuries (i.e., wounds are obvious). Regardless, injuries may result in serious physical, mental, and financial burdens. Continue reading to learn how a traumatic brain injury may affect your life and how an experienced Tampa medical malpractice lawyer at Merricks Law Group, P.A., can help you fight back by taking legal action.
What are the common causes of traumatic brain injuries in the state of Florida?
It is an unfortunate truth that a traumatic brain injury can be the result of many different types of accidents. Examples of such accidents are as follows:
- An auto accident (i.e., car, motorcycle, truck, pedestrian, public transportation, jet ski).
- A slip and fall accident on another’s premises (i.e., sidewalk, restaurant, supermarket, parking lot, stairwell, elevator, airport, etc).
- A work-related injury (i.e., construction accident).
- A combat-related injury (i.e., an explosive blast).
- A sports-related injury.
- An intentional act of violence against you.
But above all else, traumatic brain injuries are most commonly caused by medical malpractice. More specifically, they may occur during labor and/or birth, when an infant does not receive enough oxygen to their brain.
How will a traumatic brain injury affect my life?
Unfortunately, if you receive a traumatic brain injury, you may become permanently physically, emotionally, and/or financially disabled. Examples of such disabilities are as follows:
- Physical sufferings:
- Loss of muscle function.
- Loss of speech function.
- Loss of vision function.
- Loss of hearing function.
- Emotional sufferings:
- Change in personality.
- Change in memory.
- Change in personal relationships.
- Financial sufferings:
- Loss of working abilities.
- Loss of finances due to long-term medical care and rehabilitation.
What should I do if I am suffering from a traumatic brain injury?
Say, for instance, that your traumatic brain injury was caused by medical malpractice. Then, you may be eligible to file a medical malpractice claim, so long as the following are true:
- You were the patient of a trusted medical professional.
- As the patient of a trusted medical professional, you were owed a duty of care.
- The trusted medical professional breached the duty of care by acting to a lower standard than their peers would have.
- The trusted medical professional’s breached duty of care directly caused you to suffer a traumatic brain injury.
- Your traumatic brain injury led to subsequent damages that you need help in recovering.
And to help prove all of the above, you must present a sufficient amount of evidence to the Florida court. Such evidence can be your medical documents that highlight the severity of your injuries (i.e., X-ray scans, doctor’s notes, etc), along with medical bills that highlight the cost of your required treatments.
For more information, speak with a skilled Hillsborough County personal injury lawyer today.
