A brain injury can alter the course of your life in a moment’s notice. After an accident, those who suffer brain damage may deal with lifelong symptoms, including physical, cognitive, and emotional injuries.
If you or a loved one has recently suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI), you understand how difficult the recovery process is. While it may seem like things will never improve, they will, with time. Working with a Newark brain injury lawyer is the first step towards easing the financial burdens caused by an accident. At Console & Associates, our dedicated team of New Jersey brain injury lawyers works closely with accident victims and their families, helping them through the recovery process to pursue fair compensation for what they’ve been through.
Your health is most important, so the first thing you need to do is to get checked out by a doctor. After that, reach out to an attorney who can answer your questions and provide you with guidance. Learn more about what to do after experiencing a brain injury.
Every accident, every person, and every case is unique, but by meeting with a Newark brain injury lawyer, you can get a good idea of what your claim may be worth. Learn more about the damages available through a Newark brain injury lawsuit.
Strictly speaking, you do not need to hire a lawyer to bring a case. However, a lawyer can make the process easier, and may increase your chances of success. Learn more about why hiring a Newark brain injury lawyer is a good idea
Table of Contents
Anytime someone hits their head in an accident, there is the possibility that they suffered serious brain damage. This is true even if there are no serious symptoms immediately after the accident. Brain injuries are unique in that they often do not manifest in visible or noticeable symptoms for days, weeks, or even months after the accident. Studies have also shown that brain injuries are cumulative, meaning those who may have suffered a previous brain injury are more susceptible to developing severe brain damage after an accident.
If you’ve been in an accident, and you hit your head, you need to consider that you could have suffered brain damage. The faster you act, the better the chances of a full recovery. Below are the steps to take after being involved in a brain injury accident.
The first—and most important—thing to do after an accident is to report is to call 911. Reporting an accident does two very critical things. First, the 911 dispatcher will send emergency medical personnel to the scene to ensure you are stable. If necessary, they will take you to the emergency room for immediate treatment.
In addition, reporting an accident creates a record of the event. This is critical in the event you decide to pursue a brain injury lawsuit.
If you can, gather up any evidence related to the accident before you leave the scene. For example, use your cell phone to take pictures of the accident scene. You can also ask if anyone around witnessed the accident and, if so, get their contact information. Your attorney will use whatever evidence you obtain to help create a strong case for recovery.
Of course, if you are not well enough to gather evidence, don’t worry too much about it. While getting a head start on collecting evidence is ideal, your attorney will be able to track down all necessary evidence.
The scary thing about brain injuries is that it can be difficult or impossible to tell how serious they are without getting treatment from a specialized doctor. Emergency responders will come to the scene to make sure you are stable, but they are not trained to identify any long-term damage caused by the accident. Thus, even if you were not taken to the hospital after the accident, visit your primary care doctor or an urgent care clinic as soon as possible.
Once you are ready, the next step is to reach out to a dedicated Newark brain injury lawyer to discuss your case. Recovering from a brain injury is a long—and expensive—process. If someone else was responsible for the accident, you should not be on the hook for these costs.
According to the Brain Injury Alliance, brain injuries are a “silent epidemic,” affecting more than 2.5 million people per year across the United States,. Shockingly, only about one in six people who suffer from a brain injury get admitted to the hospital. This often leads to worsening injuries over time.
According to the New Jersey Department of Health, between 12,000 and 15,000 New Jersey residents suffer from a brain injury each year. Among those suffering from a brain injury, about 1,000 will die as a result of their injuries. Nationwide, experts believe that nearly 155 people die each day from brain injuries. It is also estimated that 175,000 people in New Jersey live with disabilities stemming from a brain injury.
Traumatic brain injuries can occur anytime there is major force applied to the head. Most brain injuries result from the brain colliding with the inside of the skull, and not necessarily due to any external force. According to the Brain Injury Alliance, the following are the most common causes of brain injuries:
However, a variety of other accidents can cause brain injuries, including:
By far, falls are the leading cause of traumatic brain injuries in the United States. The Centers for Disease Control estimate that 48% of all brain injuries are due to falls. However, this figure is even higher in New Jersey. As the New Jersey Department of Human Services reports, nearly 58% of all brain injuries in the state are caused by falls.
One of the reasons why there are so many brain injuries in New Jersey is because the state is so heavily populated, especially in large cities such as Newark. As more people come to Newark, the number of construction projects increase, and construction accidents are a leading cause of New Jersey brain injuries.
In addition, Newark is surrounded by many large highways. As one of the leading causes of brain injuries, Newark car accidents occur regularly throughout the city. A few of the most dangerous roads in and around Newark include:
Those who live in a large city are at a greater risk of experiencing a brain injury, and Newark is no exception.
Brain injury patients in Newark have several options when it comes to where to receive treatment after an accident. Certain hospitals and medical centers in and around Newark specialize in treating patients with brain injuries, including:
Wherever you received treatment, the Newark brain injury lawyers are Console & Associates can help. We’re also available for remote and virtual consultations.
If you’ve suffered a traumatic brain injury after a New Jersey accident, you can pursue a personal injury claim against the party or parties responsible for the accident. To succeed in a Newark brain injury lawsuit, you must establish:
Many brain injuries cause serious, lifelong damage. Thus, the damages requirement in a brain injury lawsuit is often met with ease. However, proving that another person’s negligence resulted in your injuries can be more challenging.
Establishing negligence in a Newark brain injury lawsuit requires you to show that the other party violated a duty of care that they owed to you. A few examples of these situations include:
Of course, these are just a few examples of potential brain injury lawsuits; there are many others. If you believe that another’s negligence caused your brain injuries, reach out to a dedicated Newark brain injury lawyer for immediate assistance.
Determining who is liable in a Newark brain injury lawsuit may seem straightforward at first glance; however, naming all potentially liable parties is not always as easy as it seems. The clear choices when thinking about liability in a brain injury lawsuit include:
However, there are often less obvious parties who may also bear responsibility for your injuries. For example, the following parties may also be named as defendants in a Newark brain injury lawsuit:
Identifying all potentially liable parties in a Newark brain injury lawsuit is critical because it will enable you to pursue a claim against multiple parties. This is especially important if one party does not have the resources or insurance coverage to fairly compensate you for your injuries.
Traumatic brain injuries affect your life in numerous, immeasurable ways. Your life will never quite be the same as it was before the accident. When bringing a claim, it is imperative that you identify all of your damages.
New Jersey personal injury law allows accident victims to recover economic and non-economic damages after suffering a preventable brain injury. While every case is different, the following are among the types of damages that are common in a Newark brain injury lawsuit:
You only get one chance to bring a Newark brain injury lawsuit after an accident. It is critical that you identify all of your damages so that you recover everything you deserve.
When many think of a brain injury, thoughts of an open head wound come time mind. However, most brain injuries do not involve the penetration of the skull. However, this does not make them any less serious.
Doctors classify brain injuries are “open” or “closed.” Open brain injuries occur when the skull is penetrated. Closed head injuries are those that result from the brain colliding into the inside of the skull. Closed head injuries can develop even if there was no impact with the head and another object. For example, a car accident resulting in the airbag deploying can cause a closed head injury, even though an occupant’s head never hit the inside of the car.
If you suffered an open head injury, you will know it. However, the symptoms of a closed brain injury are harder to identify. Common symptoms of brain injuries include the following:
If you are experiencing any of the following after an accident, be sure to visit the doctor as soon as you can. And once you are ready, reach out to a dedicated Newark brain injury lawyer to discuss your options.
Treating brain injuries is both an art and a science. Brain injuries are incredibly complex, and require a specialized doctor trained to treat these specific injuries. In the event of head trauma, not everyone’s brain does respond in the same way. Doctors rely on the following treatment options to help those suffering from a Newark brain injury:
The road to recovery after a brain injury is often a long one. However, by promptly obtaining medical attention, you can shorten your recovery time.
The treatment for a Newark brain injury is not cheap. While the total cost of treating a brain injury will depend on the severity of your injury, a recent study by Northwestern University estimated the total lifetime cost of treatment for a brain injury victim to range between $85,000 and $3 million. Regardless of where your injuries fall on this spectrum, paying for medical treatment after a brain injury is more than most can afford. It shouldn’t be up to you to pay for these costs. By reaching out to an experienced Newark brain injury lawyer, you can learn more about how to pursue a personal injury claim against those responsible for your injuries.
While there is no requirement you work with a lawyer in a brain injury lawsuit, given the states involved, it is a good idea to at least meet with a lawyer to discuss your case. When you file a brain injury claim, chances are you are going to be dealing with an insurance company with vast resources and significant experience defending against similar claims. The insurance company will try to settle your claim for as little as possible and use any means necessary to convince you that your claim is worth less than it may be in reality.
Studies have shown that accident victims who retain an experienced personal injury lawyer recover approximately 3.5 times the amount of compensation than unrepresented accident victims. And, because Console & Associates takes cases on a no-win, no-fee basis, you will not be charged anything to bring a case unless we can help you recover the compensation you deserve.
A lawyer will not only increase your chances of obtaining full and fair compensation for your injuries, but they will also make the process much easier for you. At Console & Associated, we take care of everything related to your case, including:
We will also answer all your questions and be there to advocate for you throughout the entire process.
Unlike other New Jersey law firms that handle any type of case that comes their way, Console & Associates only handles Newark personal injury claims. For the last 25 years, we’ve been advocating on behalf of New Jersey brain injury victims and their families, helping them secure fair damages awards so that they can begin to move on with their lives. We’ve successfully represented thousands of clients over this time, obtaining more than $100 million on their behalf.
Newark Brain Injury Lawyer, Richard P. Console Jr.
We are not here to pressure you into filing a case. We want to be a resource for you to help you understand the process to make the best decision for you and your family. When you are ready to talk, give one of our Newark brain injury lawyers a call to schedule a free consultation. As part of our no-win, no-fee promise, we accept all brain injury cases on a contingency basis, meaning it will cost you nothing to file your case, and you won’t pay us a dime unless we can get you the compensation you need and deserve. You can reach us at (862) 229-1137, or through our online contact form.
Under New Jersey law, you have two years to file your claim. In most cases, this two-year period begins on the date of the accident. However, in some situations, it may not start until you learn of your injuries. That said, it is important to reach out to a Newark brain injury lawyer as soon as possible because this will allow us to begin investigating your claim while the evidence is still readily available.
Our Newark, NJ Law office is located at:
Console and Associates, P.C.
494 Broad Street, #208B
Newark, NJ 07102
“I whole-heartedly recommend him to anyone searching for results and compassion throughout the process. There are so many attorneys out there who don’t care about their clients or don’t really understand personal injury matters. Choosing one of them can really be a huge life-changing mistake. Do yourself a favor and just call and talk to him, and you will see what I am talking about.” D. Brown / Client
Rating: 5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
D. Brown
Read more reviews on Google!
