What kind of payout can you expect for a personal injury case that involves a concussion?
Every accident victim’s case is unique. Some accident victims suffer mild concussions that cause few symptoms and resolve with little treatment, while others sustain life-changing damage—from the brain injury itself or from other injuries they sustain in the accident.
In the examples listed below of concussion claims the law firm of Console & Associates has handled, settlements range from $100,000 to $610,000.
Concussions are the most common form of traumatic brain injury. A concussion occurs when the tissues and cells of the brain suffer damage due to the physical trauma that results from rapid movement or impact. This damage may include stretching of brain cells and physical changes to the shape of brain tissues, as well as metabolic and chemical changes in the brain, that can affect multiple areas of functioning.
Although most concussions can be treated with rest, a concussion should be considered a medical emergency. Only the proper medical tests can rule out serious injuries to the brain, such as bleeding or swelling, that require immediate intervention.
In a condition called post-concussion syndrome, a victim’s concussion symptoms last longer than it typically takes the brain to heal.
When another car struck her stopped vehicle at 30 miles per hour, our client sustained multiple injuries. Her symptoms worsened over the weeks that followed, and she was diagnosed with post-concussion syndrome and other serious injuries that necessitated a multi-level neck fusion surgery. The injuries she sustained caused serious physical and psychological impacts on her health. The attorneys at Console & Associates secured her a $610,000 settlement.
When an oncoming flatbed Mack truck pulling construction equipment veered into our client’s lane with no notice and no time to avoid it, our client sustained serious injuries in the head-on crash that ensued. A concussion was just one of several injuries that doctors at a trauma center would diagnose her with, including bulging discs that would ultimately require spinal surgery to repair. As it turned out, an investigation of the truck would uncover 14 violations of Federal Motor Vehicle Carrier Safety Regulations, which demonstrated the negligence of the defendant companies. Our lawyers secured for this client a $275,000 settlement.
Our client, a passenger injured in an auto accident caused by a driver who ran a stop sign, suffered multiple serious injuries that would take years to diagnose and treat and would never totally cease to affect her life. In addition to a concussion, she sustained injuries in multiple regions of her spine and had to undergo multiple surgeries. The car accident lawyers at Console & Associates recovered for her a $125,000 settlement.
Unfortunately, having a concussion doesn’t mean an accident victim can’t also suffer an even more serious brain injury. When our client encountered a tractor-trailer illegally and dangerously stopped in the middle of the highway on a snowy day, she tried to change lanes to avoid hitting the vehicle. The icy conditions caused her car to skid out of control—off the road and over an embankment.
Even though there was no collision between the vehicles, the way our client’s car flew into the air—an outcome that never would have happened if the tractor-trailer had been pulled over on the shoulder instead of stopped in the middle of the road—caused her to hit her head on the roof of her car. It’s clear that the truck driver was aware of the crash their negligence had caused, because a witness saw them physically go to check on our client before taking off. Our client’s injuries were serious, including a concussion and another form of traumatic brain injury.
Because these injuries continued to cause significant cognitive issues two years after the accident, doctors considered the damage to be permanent. Since the tractor-trailer’s driver had fled the scene and had not been identified, no compensation could be acquired through their auto insurance. However, our attorneys sought compensation through the uninsured motorist coverage available on our client’s own auto insurance policy and recovered for her the full policy limits of $100,000.
The types of personal injury matters in which victims most commonly sustain concussions include motor vehicle collisions, premises liability matters, and workplace accidents.
Concussions can be caused by a blow to the head. In some instances, this blow is caused by a collision with a moving object, like a vehicle crashing into a pedestrian or a vehicle occupant’s head striking the dashboard or window in a collision. A concussion can also result from striking one’s head against a stationary object, like a wall or, in the case of a fall, the floor.
Direct contact between the head and another object or surface isn’t necessary for a concussion to occur. A strong enough jolt can cause the brain to strike the inside of the skull, leaving the soft tissues of the organ with significant damage. The forces that arise in a motor vehicle accident or a sudden fall may be powerful enough to cause a concussion.
If your accident was serious enough to cause a concussion, it’s worth speaking to an attorney about your legal rights and options. An experienced concussion injury lawyer can maximize the value of your settlement by calculating the full extent of your damages. Studies have shown that attorneys get their clients 3.5 times more, on average, than unrepresented claimants receive on their own, according to the Insurance Research Council.
While a personal injury lawyer cannot take away your injuries, they can help you get what you deserve to lessen the worry and distress from medical bills, lost wages, and trauma associated with your accident. Contacting a personal injury lawyer is the first step in your journey to understanding your rights in an accident resulting in a concussion. Contact Console & Associates Accident Injury Lawyers, P.C., and one of our experienced attorneys will evaluate your case through our free consultation.
Take a look at what some of our happy Marlton clients have to say:
“I was very impressed with Console & Associates law firm. All whole staff is very professional from the first call to settlement. It’s hard to find genuine and knowledgeable attorneys these days. I recommend this law firm to anyone in need of an injury attorney. Thank you so much!”
Joselyn Alicea, April 4, 2022, Rating: 5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
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