The brain is critical to all aspects of the body’s functioning. It’s arguably the most complicated organ in the entire body. Victims often struggle with sky-high medical bills, sudden loss of income, and extensive personal trauma. If you suffered a brain injury in Seattle, WA, our team at Darrell Cochran Personal Injury Lawyer can help.
Between us, our lawyers have over 31 years of combined experience in personal injury law. We’re equipped to handle even the most complicated case. To date, we’ve recovered tens of millions of dollars in settlements and jury verdicts.
An experienced Seattle brain injury lawyer can help you recover a compensation award that could change your life. Call our law offices in Seattle, Washington, at (253) 948-0250 to schedule a free consultation and explore your legal options.
How Can the Team at Darrell Cochran Personal Injury Lawyer Help With a Brain Injury Claim in Seattle?
Our Seattle personal injury attorneys at Darrell Cochran Personal Injury Lawyer have been recognized again and again for our legal success. We’ve earned the highest AV-Preeminent rating from the Martindale-Hubbell lawyer rating service. We’ve also been recognized by the National Law Journal and Super Lawyers.
Most importantly, we’ve earned the trust and respect of the countless personal injury victims we’ve helped over the years.
We’re prepared to put the full weight of our experience to work for you when you hire us, including:
- Carefully investigating and collecting evidence on your behalf
- Hiring experts to testify about complex issues, including your case value
- Documenting your losses
- Working with your family to understand how the injury has changed your life
- Defending against victim-blaming insurance tactics
- Negotiating with the other side for a full and fair settlement
We’re always ready to go to trial if the insurance company doesn’t play fair. You can learn more about how our Seattle brain injury lawyers can help by scheduling a free consultation today.
Traumatic Brain Injuries: An Overview
Traumatic brain injuries are brain injuries caused by external forces. Acquired brain injuries, on the other hand, are those caused by something internal, like a stroke.
Traumatic brain injuries can result from a blow to the head or violent back-and-forth movement of the head. These are classified as closed-head injuries. Open-head traumatic brain injuries involve a foreign object that pierces the skull to damage the brain.
Our attorneys handle all types of brain injury claims, including those where a victim has suffered:
- Concussion
- Contusions, or bruising of the brain tissue
- Contrecoup lesion
- Coup-contrecoup injury
- Diffuse axonal injury (DAI)
- Hematomas
- Brain hemorrhages
- Edema
- Hypoxic injury caused by oxygen deprivation
- Skull fractures
Brain injuries always have the potential to be serious. If you or a loved one suffered brain damage, call our lawyers in Seattle for the legal advice you deserve.
How Common Are Brain Injuries?
According to the CDC, over 69,000 people died due to traumatic brain injuries in a single year. In a recent year, roughly 214,110 people were hospitalized for care related to brain injuries.
By some estimates, about 5 million Americans are living with some type of permanent brain injury-related disability.
What Are Some Common Signs of Brain Injuries?
Brain injuries can manifest with physical, cognitive, and emotional symptoms. Some signs aren’t immediately obvious. After an accident, always seek medical attention to rule out the possibility of a brain injury.
Here are some potential signs of a brain injury:
- Headache
- Dizziness or balance problems
- Blurry vision or light sensitivity
- Memory problems or confusion
- Extreme fatigue
- Vomiting
- Nausea
- Difficulty speaking or understanding speech
- Loss of consciousness
- Confusion
- Disorientation
- Headache
- Clear fluids draining from the nose or ears
- Dilated pupils
- Weakness of arms, legs, or face
- Convulsions or seizures
Again, delayed symptoms are relatively common. If you or a loved one were involved in an accident, prompt medical care is extremely important–both to your physical recovery and your ability to recover compensation in the future.
What is My Seattle Brain Injury Case Worth?
Brain injury victims who don’t understand their case value risk taking less than they deserve. The fact is, even if a settlement seems to cover your expenses, it very likely fails to account for the full extent of your future needs. The insurance company may ignore your personal, non-financial losses entirely.
The value of your personal injury case depends on:
- The severity and permanence of the brain injury
- The cost of the treatment you receive
- Whether the injury will impact your future, and how
- Whether you’ve lost income, and how much
- The extent of damage to your future earning capacity
- How your daily life has changed
- Damage to your quality of life
- Whether shared fault is a factor
Treating a serious brain injury can be incredibly expensive. In the most severe cases, the victim may require lifelong care. Our Seattle brain injury attorneys have the tools to both document your current losses and anticipate your future needs.
What Types of Damages Are Available to Brain Injury Victims in Seattle?
Washington law provides for two types of compensatory damages in personal injury cases: economic damages and non-economic damages. Economic damages are your financial expenses. Non-economic damages account for your subjective losses, like pain and suffering.
Common damages include:
- Medical expenses and rehabilitation
- Projected future costs for medical care, rehabilitation, and therapy
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning potential
- In-home assistance
- Long-term care
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Anxiety
- Severe depression
- PTSD
- Diminished quality of life
- Physical disfigurement and scarring
- Loss of consortium
Brain injuries can have a profound impact on your life. Your non-economic damages may be substantial. They can also be tough to prove because they don’t have a clear price attached. Your lawyer’s skill can make a huge difference in helping you recover a full settlement after an injury.
How Much Does it Cost to Hire a Lawyer to Handle My Brain Injury Claim?
Our law firm uses the contingency fee model. When it comes to attorneys’ fees, you’ll agree to pay a percentage of your settlement or verdict. You’ll never have to worry about an upfront retainer fee or paying if your lawyer fails to recover damages for you.
Can Comparative Negligence Impact My Family’s Brain Injury Settlement in Seattle?
Washington uses a pure comparative negligence law when a victim shares some blame for their injuries. If the insurer can prove you shared fault, that will reduce your settlement. The amount you would otherwise take home will be reduced by the percentage of blame allocated to you.
What Causes Most Brain Injuries in Seattle?
Virtually any type of serious accident or incident can result in brain injuries.
The team at Darrell Cochran Personal Injury Lawyer handles all types of brain injury cases, including:
- Fall accidents
- Motor vehicle accidents, including motorcycle accidents and truck accidents
- Firearm violence
- Pedestrian accidents
- Bicycle accidents
- Sports accidents
- Swimming pool accidents
- Boating accidents
- Electric scooter accidents
- Exposure to toxic substances
- Workplace accidents
- Construction accidents, including scaffolding falls, accidents involving heavy machinery and equipment
- Workplace accidents
- Dog bites
- Defective products
- Medical malpractice
Any type of external force can leave a victim struggling with brain injuries. If you’re struggling because of someone else’s acts, call our lawyers to discuss your legal options today.
How Do I Prove I Deserve Compensation for a Brain Injury in Washington?
Again, brain injuries happen in different ways. The specific elements of your case will depend on the circumstances.
Brain injuries often result from someone else’s negligence. Negligence is a legal term that means something close to “careless” or “reckless”.
The legal elements of negligence are:
- The defendant had a duty of care
- They breached that duty
- The breach caused you to suffer the brain injury
- You experienced identifiable losses or damages
The scope of a defendant’s duty can vary depending on the facts. For example, drivers have certain duties. A medical provider’s duty to a patient will be much different. Similarly, there is a wide range of actions that can constitute a breach of duty.
Proving liability for a brain injury can be tough. Our lawyers are up to the challenge. We have the tools to locate the strong evidence you need to win your case. Give us a call today to learn more about how we can help.
How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit After a Brain Injury in Washington?
The statute of limitations for most personal injury victims is three years. You most likely have three years from the date of your injury to file a lawsuit.
Brain injuries can happen in all different ways. It’s possible that a different deadline could govern your case. When in doubt, consult an experienced attorney who can take steps to preserve your right to seek compensation.
Schedule a Free Consultation with a Seattle Brain Injury Lawyer
A serious brain injury can change your life in significant ways. If someone else was responsible, they should compensate you. An experienced Seattle brain injury lawyer at Darrell Cochran Personal Injury Lawyer can help you recover the money you need to move forward. Don’t hesitate to reach out to learn about your legal rights today.