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Chicago Brain Injury Attorneys

Chicago Traumatic Brain Injury Lawyers

Helping injury claimants in Illinois who need long-term medical care after a TBI

Traumatic brain injuries change the lives of the accident victims and the people who love them. Many TBI victims suffer for the rest of their lives. Many TBI victims require continual physical and emotional care such as help in doing daily activities like getting dressed or eating. Brain injuries can be temporary, but most are quite severe. TBI victims are preventable – if only a driver, a property owner, or a manufacturer had been more careful.

When a brain injury occurs, the victim often needs surgery and long-term medical care, which can include extensive rehabilitative attention so the person can relearn how to function. At Gainsberg Law, P.C., our Chicago brain injury lawyers help victims and their families obtain legal and economic justice. We are skilled at showing how the accident that caused your TBI occurred and why it was preventable. We file claims against all responsible defendants. Our TBI lawyers work with your doctors and our network of TBI doctors to show the full severity of your injuries. We fight to make the wrongdoers pay for the huge medical bills, the long-term pain and suffering, and any income the victim may lose because he or she can no longer work. In one illustrative case, we obtained a $3,000,000 settlement for a female airline employee who was struck in the head by a large metal luggage container, knocking her to the ground. She also sustained a mild traumatic brain injury which resulted in cognitive deficiencies.

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How can we help?

Why are brain injuries so devastating?

According to the Brain Injury Association of America, every nine seconds, someone in the United States develops a brain injury. A traumatic brain injury (TBI) happens when the brain’s ability to function is affected by an external force, such as when someone falls or is involved in a car accident. A concussion is considered a mild TBI which occurs when a blow or jolt to the head causes the brain to bounce around or twist in the victim’s skull. Mild TBIs can have severe consequences. In addition to physical force, someone in Chicago can suffer TBI if the brain loses the oxygen it needs.

According to Johns Hopkins Medicine:

  • The brain damage from a TBI can be focal (confined to one area) or diffuse (occurs in more than one area). A TBI can range from a mild concussion to a permanent severe injury, coma, or death.
  • A closed brain injury occurs when there is “a nonpenetrating injury to the brain with no break in the skull.” This type of TBI occurs when there is a rapid backward and forward movement or shaking of the brain inside the skull – that tears and bruises blood vessels and brain tissue. Common examples include falls and car accidents. A penetrating TBI occurs when there is a break in the skull. A common example of a penetrating TBI is when the brain is injured by a bullet.
  • A primary TBI refers to the damage that is done at the time of the initial impact. A secondary TBI refers to the damage that occurs over a period of hours or days after the primary TBI. A secondary TBI “includes an entire series of steps or stages of cellular, chemical, tissue, or blood vessel changes in the brain that contribute to further destruction of brain tissue.”

What are the common causes of traumatic brain injuries in Chicago?

Some of the causes of brain injuries are:

When a TBI is caused by an accident or intentional use of force, our Chicago brain injury lawyers aggressively work to determine who caused the TBI, to show how it was caused, and to hold the wrongdoer responsible for the full range of physical and economic damages.

What are the symptoms of TBI in Chicago?

The Mayo Clinic states that the symptoms of a TBI include the following – based on the severity of the TBI:

  • Mild traumatic brain injury symptoms include headache, fatigue, speech difficulties, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and loss of balance. Chicago TBI accident victims may have blurred vision and other sensory changes. The victim may be unconscious for a few seconds or minutes, have difficulty concentrating, difficulty sleeping, depression, anxiety, and mood changes.
  • Moderate to severe traumatic brain injuries. These symptoms include mild TBI symptoms. The symptoms also include loss of consciousness for minutes or hours, seizures or convulsions, dilated pupils, difficulty waking from sleep, and numbness or weakness in the toes and fingers. Cognitive symptoms include deep confusion, agitation, slurred speech, and coma.
  • Children with a TBI may have similar symptoms to adults. They may also cry persistently, have changes in nursing and eating habits, an inability to focus, sadness, loss of interest in their toys, and other difficulties.

TBI complications may include coma, being in a vegetative state, being in a minimally conscious state, and brain death. Victims may suffer infections, seizures, blood vessel damage, fluid buildup in the brain, vertigo, and headaches. Other complications include intellectual difficulties, difficulties with communication, behavioral changes, emotional changes, and sensory disorders.

What are the treatments for TBI in Chicago?

TBIs are usually diagnosed by using the Glasgow Coma Scale, which measures the Chicago accident victim’s ability to respond to certain stimuli and other neurological tests. CT scans and MRIs may also be used. Victims will be asked to answer many questions and assessed according to their ability to answer and the content of the answers.

The treatments for moderate to severe TBIs generally include surgery, medications, and rehabilitation. According to the Mayo Clinic, the healthcare providers for TBI victims may include:

  • Physiatrists
  • Physical therapists
  • Occupational therapists
  • Speech and language therapists
  • Neuropsychologists
  • Rehabilitation nurses
  • TBI nurse specialists
  • Vocational counselors
  • Social workers

Johns Hopkins states that rehabilitation will focus on mobility skills, communication skills, cognitive skills, social interaction skills, self-care, pain management, psychological help, family support, and other healthcare treatments. They list the following types of TBI programs:

  • Acute rehabilitation programs
  • Subacute rehabilitation programs
  • Long-term rehabilitation programs
  • Transitional living programs
  • Behavior management programs
  • Day-treatment programs
  • Independent living programs

How much is my TBI case worth in Illinois?

Most traumatic brain injury victims require a lifetime of medical help. At Gainsberg Law, our Chicago TBI lawyers work with your medical team and our own network of physicians to fully understand every type of medical care you’ll need for the rest of your life, all the ways your life is more difficult and rougher because of your TBI, and the cost of all your care.

We demand compensation from the liable defendants for all your current and future:

  • Medical expenses
  • Lost income and benefits
  • Physical pain and emotional suffering
  • Loss of quality of life
  • Loss of bodily function
  • Loss of consortium

We’ll also help you and your family understand what federal, state, and local programs help TBI victims in Chicago and the people who care for them.

Do you have a traumatic brain injury lawyer near me?

Gainsberg Law meets clients at our office located at 77 W Washington Street, Suite 1215, right in downtown Chicago. There are two bus stops right near us if transportation is an issue. Our Chicago TBI lawyers speak with clients by video appointment. We do meet TBI clients at a hospital or another healthcare facility if necessary.

We’ll answer all your questions and calmly and clearly guide you through the claims process.

Speak with an experienced Chicago brain injury attorney today

At Gainsberg Law, we have the experience to prove a brain injury was the fault of some other person or business. We consult with medical professionals to prove that the TBI was caused by an accident or negligence and is not a condition that occurred internally. We also work to get medical reports that detail the full extent of medical care a loved one will need. Please call our compassionate lawyers to discuss the needs of someone whose life has been altered or damaged because someone failed to act reasonably or responsibly. You can also complete our contact form to schedule a free consultation.

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