Tampa Brain Injury Lawyers - Paul Knopf Bigger

Did you suffer a brain injury due to someone else’s negligence or recklessness? If so, you deserve to pursue accountability and compensation from those responsible for causing you harm. Experienced in litigating brain injury cases, Paul Knopf Bigger could significantly increase your chances of obtaining the best outcome in your case.

Our attorneys have dedicated their careers to helping accident injury victims get their lives back on track. We work as a team to provide our clients with the personalized and compassionate service they deserve. With a proven track record of success, our law firm has a reputation among our legal peers as a trustworthy partner.

If you suffered a brain injury in an accident in Tampa, you may have the right to pursue financial relief from those responsible for your injury. Contact Paul Knopf Bigger for a consultation and learn more about your legal options.

What Are the Types of Traumatic Brain Injuries?

A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is an injury to the brain that’s caused by direct physical trauma. There are two main types:

• “Closed-head” or “closed-brain” TBIs are initiated by a force or blow to the head or body. Injury is normally caused by the impact of the brain tissue against the skull. When the brain is injured, it can swell inside of the skull. Because the brain has nowhere to expand except against the skull, the swelling causes further injury.
• “Penetrating” TBIs are caused by an object piercing the skull.

There are various types of closed brain injuries, including the following:

• Concussion – Also called a mild brain injury, a concussion involves temporary changes to brain function. Concussions usually heal on their own within a few days or weeks, but some individuals experience persistent symptoms. These individuals are sometimes diagnosed with “post-concussion syndrome.”
• Contusion – Also called a brain bruise, a contusion occurs when the head or body gets hit with enough force to cause the brain to strike the inside of the skull.
• Coup-Contrecoup – This injury occurs when the brain strikes the inside of the skull with enough force to cause the brain to rebound and strike the opposing side of the skull, inflicting bruises on opposite sides of the brain.
• Hemorrhage – Also called a brain bleed, a hemorrhage occurs when blood vessels inside or on the surface of the brain rupture. If left unchecked, a hemorrhage can cause life-threatening swelling of the brain or lead to a stroke.
• Hematoma – This is a type of bruising involving blood pooling between the brian and the skull.
• Second Impact Syndrome – A brain injury that occurs when a person recovering from a previous brain injury sustains another brain injury is called second impact syndrome. The second injury usually causes far more significant trauma.
• Diffuse Axonal Injury – This is a type of brain injury caused by twisting forces on the brain, which causes the connections between nerve cells, called axons, to shear, permanently severing those connections. Diffuse axonal injuries can cause severe trauma and may lead to death.

What Are Common Causes of Brain Injuries in Florida?

Our law firm represents clients who have sustained head trauma and traumatic brain injury arising from the following:

What Are the Symptoms of a Traumatic Brain Injury?

Traumatic brain injuries cause various symptoms, depending on the type and severity of a person’s injury.

Common symptoms of mild traumatic brain injuries include the following:

Symptoms of moderate to severe TBIs include the following:

What Are the Long-Term Impacts of a Brain Injury

While many people recover fully from mild brain injuries, moderate to severe TBIs can cause long-term brain damage that has lasting consequences for injury victims. Long-term complications or impacts of a brain injury will depend on the type of injury a person suffers and the severity of the injury.

Some possible long-term impacts from brain injuries can include the following:

What Treatment Is There for a Traumatic Brain Injury?

Treatment for a traumatic brain injury will vary depending on the severity of the injury. A mild brain injury usually requires nothing more than rest and over-the-counter pain relievers for headaches. Mild injuries typically heal on their own in a few days or weeks. However, family members and friends of someone who suffers a mild brain injury should watch for any persistent or worsening symptoms, which may indicate a more severe injury than initially diagnosed.

Treatment for moderate to severe traumatic brain injuries will require prompt medical attention. Emergency care will focus on ensuring the brain has sufficient oxygen and preventing further injury to the head or neck. A person may also receive anti-seizure drugs, diuretics to reduce brain swelling, or coma-inducing drugs to reduce the brain’s need for oxygen as it heals. A TBI victim may also need surgery to repair skull fractures, reduce pressure on the brain from swelling, remove bone fragments or debris, or fix blood clots or broken blood vessels.

Long-term treatment for a moderate to severe brain injury may include physical therapy and rehabilitation to help a person regain and maintain motor function and fine motor skills. TBI victims must work to learn adaptations so that they may perform daily tasks and resume an active, independent life.

What Compensation Can I Pursue for a Traumatic Brain Injury?

If you or your loved one suffered a traumatic brain injury, you could pursue compensation for financial expenses and personal losses experienced due to the injury. You may seek money for the following:

• Medical treatment and rehabilitation costs, including hospitalizations, surgeries, medications, doctor’s appointments, and physical/occupational/speech therapy
• Costs of long-term care for permanent impairments that result from a brain injury, including home health care or installation of disability accommodations
• Ongoing and future losses of income if you cannot work or earn less because of your brain injury
• Physical pain and emotional trauma/distress
• Reduced quality of life or life expectancy

How Long Do I Have to File a Traumatic Brain Injury Lawsuit in Florida?

Under Florida’s statute of limitations, you typically have only two years to file a brain injury lawsuit against the party or parties responsible. Although two years may seem like plenty of time to file your suit, your attorney will need time to investigate and build a compelling case for compensation.

If you file your lawsuit after the statutory deadline, your case could be dismissed and you can lose your right to pursue compensation in civil court. For this reason, you should contact a Tampa brain injury lawyer from Paul Knopf Bigger immediately to ensure your claim gets filed on time.

What a Tampa Traumatic Brain Injury Attorney Can Do

Depending on the severity of your brain injury, you may have a long road to recovery ahead of you. The attorneys at Paul Knopf Bigger can handle the details of your legal claims so that you can devote your time and energy to healing. Let our firm pursue the financial relief you deserve by:

• Gathering evidence from the event that caused your TBI
• Reviewing the facts to identify the party or parties responsible for your injuries and subsequent losses
• Evaluating your legal options for financial recovery, including determining whether insurance coverage may apply to your claim
• Documenting your past, ongoing, and future anticipated losses to help you seek the financial resources you need now and in the future
• Filing your insurance and legal claims and dealing with insurance adjusters and defense lawyers on your behalf
• Engaging expert witnesses to evaluate the facts of your specific case
• Vigorously negotiating for a fair settlement or taking your claims to trial when litigation becomes necessary to demand a fair result for you

Contact a Traumatic Brain Injury Attorney in Tampa Today

If you or a loved one has suffered a traumatic brain injury and someone else is at fault, get legal help to seek compensation and accountability for your harm and losses. Learn how a traumatic brain injury lawyer in Tampa can guide you through the claims process and advocate for your rights and interests. Contact the attorneys at Paul Knopf Bigger today for a free, no-obligation consultation.