Westland Brain Injury Attorneys

Dedicated Westland Brain Injury Lawyers Fight To Protect Their Clients

A traumatic brain injury (TBI) can disrupt everything from how we think and feel to whether our hearts beat in rhythm. It can forever alter a person’s life, along with the lives of their family members and friends. Their hopes, dreams, and plans may evaporate and be replaced by long weeks or years of relearning basic activities like walking, talking, and eating.

Someone else’s negligent or reckless behavior is often the cause of traumatic brain injuries. A lawsuit can allow injury victims and their families to hold careless individuals and companies accountable for their actions, providing them with compensation and closure.

At Sommers Schwartz, P.C., our experienced Westland brain injury attorneys have helped many clients fight for compensation after a severe brain injury. Contact us today to learn more about our skills and commitment to our clients.

What Is a Traumatic Brain Injury?

A traumatic brain injury (TBI) occurs when the brain encounters an outside force strong enough to cause damage. The outside force can result from an object hitting the head or the head hitting an object. TBI can also result if a foreign object penetrates the skull.

About 2.8 million people in the U.S. suffer a brain injury each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). The CDC also estimates that:

• About 214,110 people were hospitalized with a traumatic brain injury in 2020.
• Over 69,000 people died of brain injuries in the U.S. in 2021, about 190 deaths each day.
• Although people aged 75 and older are nearly twice as likely to need hospital care after a TBI than younger people, brain injuries can and do affect people in all age groups.

Blunt force injuries occur when the head hits something or something hits the head. For example, a person’s head hitting the frame of a vehicle during a car crash can cause a blunt-force brain injury. A defective shelving unit that breaks and causes items to fall and hit someone in the head could also cause a blunt-force injury.

Blunt force brain injuries may also be called “closed head injuries” because the skull remains intact. The damage occurs entirely within the skull.

Penetrating injuries occur when a foreign object pierces the skull and enters the brain. Bullet wounds are an example of a penetrating injury. If a piece of shrapnel or debris enters the skull during a motor vehicle crash, a penetrating injury may occur.

Penetrating injuries carry both the risks of any brain injury and additional risks of infection. The object penetrating the skull may carry bacteria, viruses, or other harmful contaminants, causing further harm.

Common Causes of Traumatic Brain Injuries

According to The National Institutes of Health (NIH), the top five causes of traumatic brain injuries are falls, blunt trauma accidents, vehicle injuries, assaults, and explosions.

Falls

Falls are the most common cause of traumatic brain injuries, especially among very young children and the elderly. Many falls can be prevented. Situations that may lead to liability for preventable falls include property owners who fail to remove hazards or warn others about them, hospitals and care facilities that fail to supervise patients properly, and employers that fail to implement proper safety procedures to prevent falls on job sites.

Blunt Trauma Accidents

Blunt trauma accidents involve hitting or being hit by an object. This category covers sports-related concussions. It also includes many accidents resulting from negligence, like a sign, shelf, or other overhead object that is improperly secured and falls on a person’s head.

Vehicle-Related Injuries

Vehicle-related injuries are the third most common category of traumatic brain injuries in the U.S., encompassing auto collisions as well as pedestrian, motorcycle, ATV, watercraft, and bicycle accidents. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) estimates that 30 percent of traumatic brain injuries in Michigan result from vehicle crashes.

Assaults

Brain injuries in this category include damage caused by violence directed at a person. Domestic violence, fights, gunshot wounds to the head, and shaken baby syndrome are all examples of assault or violence-related head injuries. Fatal brain injuries in children under 5 years old are most often the result of violence.

Explosions

Explosions and blast trauma can also cause brain injuries. Blasts from roadside bombs are a common cause of TBIs in active-duty service members. For civilians, explosions at construction or industrial sites (often caused by negligence in handling chemicals and other substances) can lead to traumatic brain injuries.

Living With a Brain Injury in Michigan

A brain injury doesn’t have to be severe to be life-altering. Even mild and moderate brain injuries can cause ongoing problems such as:

• Headache and neck pain.
• Dizziness or lightheadedness.
• Blurred vision or tired eyes.
• Ringing in the ears or changes in hearing.
• A persistent bad taste in the mouth.
• Fatigue or lethargy.
• Changes in sleeping patterns.
• Challenges with behavior and mood.
• Difficulty with memory, concentration, attention span, or coherence.

After a mild brain injury, symptoms may resolve on their own. More serious injuries can result in symptoms that linger for months or become permanent. Signs of a moderate to severe brain injury include:

• A headache that keeps getting worse.
• Constant nausea, with or without repeated vomiting.
• Seizures or convulsions.
• Difficulty waking up or staying awake.
• Dilation of one or both pupils.
• Slurred speech.
• Weakness or numbness in one or more limbs.
• Loss of coordination.
• Increased confusion, restlessness, or agitation.

If you observe any of these symptoms, seek medical care immediately.

Many brain injury survivors endure months or years of intensive medical treatment after TBI, including visits to surgeons, doctor’s offices, and rehabilitation specialists. Individuals with severe injuries may also require round-the-clock care and assistance. They may need home modifications, like ramps and handrails, which can be burdensome and expensive.

On top of these new medical needs and demands, TBI patients and their families often find themselves struggling financially. Medical costs can climb to astronomical sums. Insurance companies may fight one another to “pass the buck,” leaving the household in limbo. An experienced Westland brain injury lawyer is your ally, fighting to ensure you receive insurance payouts and other essential compensation for you and your family.

Seeking Compensation After a Brain Injury in Westland, Michigan

Michigan’s statute of limitations limits the time an injured person has to file a claim after suffering a brain injury. You must file a lawsuit within three years. This time limit typically starts running on the date of the injury.

A few narrow exceptions apply in some cases, so even if you think the three-year deadline has passed, it may be worth consulting a knowledgeable Westland injury attorney. A lawyer can help you understand exactly how the time limit applies in your case and your options for pursuing a case or recovering other compensation.

In a brain injury lawsuit, the overall goal is to secure full and fair compensation for the losses the injured person suffered due to the brain injury. Compensation can cover “economic” losses, like medical bills, lost wages, and the replacement costs of damaged property. It can also include “non-economic” losses like pain and suffering, disability, disfigurement, and the loss of enjoyment of hobbies and other life activities.

Both types of losses are real, and both can be devastating. Working with an experienced attorney helps ensure you fight for and receive appropriate compensation for all your losses, both now and in the future.

Talk to an Experienced Westland Brain Injury Lawyer Today

While the human brain can adapt to many situations, the effects of a severe brain injury are typically permanent. Building a life after a brain injury poses new challenges for everyone involved. The financial costs are often high. Fair compensation from a negligent or reckless party responsible for the injury can help ensure the injured person receives the necessary care.

If you or a loved one are dealing with the aftermath of a severe brain injury, talk to the dedicated Westland brain injury lawyers at Sommers Schwartz, P.C. We’re committed to fighting for each of our clients, using our skill and experience to recover compensation for lost wages, loss of future income, current and future medical bills, mental and emotional stress, and other losses. We’ll answer your questions and help you understand your options so you can pursue a better future for your family. Contact us today to schedule a free, confidential, no-obligation consultation.