Dedicated Advocates for Brain Injury Victims in Portland and Beyond
At Newlin Law Offices, our dedicated team of experienced attorneys is committed to helping individuals who have suffered traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) on the challenging path to recovery.
We understand the physical, emotional, and financial toll that these injuries can take on victims and their families. That’s why we believe in being relentless advocates for our clients, working tirelessly to secure the compensation they deserve. With a deep understanding of the complexities surrounding brain injuries, we provide personalized legal guidance, compassionate support, and comprehensive representation throughout the entire process.
If you or a loved one has experienced a TBI, our team of Portland brain injury attorneys is here to stand by your side, ensuring that your rights are protected.
Types of Brain Injury Cases We Handle
Traumatic brain injuries can be categorized as mild, moderate, or severe. Within each category, various common injuries and consequences may arise.
Mild Brain Injuries:
Mild concussions are a common type of head injury that often results from accidents or sports-related incidents. They occur when a person’s brain hits the inside of their skull, resulting in widespread trauma. Pain, nausea, and a number of other consequences are possible, including:
- Post-Concussion Syndrome: Characterized by persistent symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, and cognitive difficulties.
- Memory Loss: Short-term or temporary memory issues that can affect daily life.
- Cognitive Impairment: Difficulty with thinking, concentration, and decision-making.
- Mood Changes: Emotional and behavioral changes, including irritability and mood swings.
Even a mild concussion can significantly affect your quality of life and require expensive medical intervention to treat. An attorney can help you recover compensation to mitigate the financial impacts of mild brain injuries.
Moderate Brain Injuries:
Incidents that involve more speed or force can result in more severe injuries, including:
- Contusions: Brain bruises caused by direct impact to the head.
- Hematomas: Blood clots or bleeding within the brain.
- Diffuse Axonal Injuries: Damage to brain cell connections, leading to cognitive and motor impairments.
Moderate TBIs frequently cause:
- Loss of Consciousness: Extended periods of unconsciousness or altered states of consciousness.
- Memory Impairment: Difficulty remembering recent events or information.
- Speech and Language Problems: Difficulty communicating and articulating thoughts.
Hematomas and other moderate brain injuries may require surgical intervention and significant recovery time.
Severe Brain Injuries:
Sometimes, a catastrophic incident can result in severe brain injuries that have lasting effects on victims’ lives. These types of injuries can involve:
- Comas
- Elevated intracranial pressure (ICP)
- Skull fractures
- Seizures
- Paralysis
- Cognitive disabilities
You or your loved one deserve every advantage in recovering from a severe TBI. Pursuing compensation from negligent parties can help you access treatment and focus on the important work of healing.
What Types of Accidents or Incidents Commonly Lead to TBIs?
In Oregon, traumatic brain injuries are often linked to motor vehicle accidents, which represent a significant portion of TBI cases in the state. These incidents can result in TBIs due to the force of impact created by large vehicles.
Other situations that can result in TBIs include:
- Workplace incidents
- Sports-related accidents
- Slip and fall accidents
- Assaults
If you were injured due to someone else’s negligence, consult with Newlin Law Offices to explore your legal options for pursuing compensation.
What Damages Can I Recover in a Traumatic Brain Injury Case?
Victims may be eligible to recover various types of damages to compensate for their losses, including:
- Medical Expenses: Coverage for all past, current, and future medical bills related to the TBI, including hospitalization, surgeries, doctor visits, rehabilitation, medications, and assistive devices.
- Lost Wages: Compensation for income lost due to the TBI, including missed workdays, reduced work capacity, or disability preventing you from returning to your previous occupation.
- Property Damage: Reimbursement for any property damage resulting from the accident.
- Pain and Suffering: Non-economic damages to compensate for the physical pain, emotional distress, and diminished quality of life caused by the TBI.
- Disability and Impairment: Compensation for long-term disabilities or impairments that can affect your ability to perform daily tasks or enjoy life.
- Rehabilitation and Therapy: Coverage for ongoing rehabilitation, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and cognitive therapy.
- Home Modifications: Compensation for any modifications needed for your home or vehicle to accommodate your TBI-related disabilities.
- Loss of Consortium: Damages awarded to family members or loved ones who have suffered a loss of companionship or support due to the victim's TBI.
- Punitive Damages: In cases involving extreme negligence or intentional harm, punitive damages may be awarded to punish the at-fault party and deter similar conduct in the future.
The specific damages you can recover will depend on the circumstances of your TBI case, including the severity of the injury, the degree of negligence involved, and the impact on your life.
Consulting with a knowledgeable Oregon brain injury lawyer will help you assess the full extent of your damages and pursue appropriate compensation to ensure your financial security and well-being.
Navigating Brain Injury Liability in Oregon
Navigating brain injury liability in Oregon involves understanding several key legal concepts, including establishing negligence, dealing with comparative negligence, and handling multiple at-fault parties.
Establishing Negligence
To pursue a brain injury claim, you must establish that another party was negligent or acted wrongfully, leading to your injury. Demonstrating negligence involves proving that the at-fault party owed you a duty of care and breached that duty, which caused your brain injury.
Evidence such as eyewitness testimonies, accident reports, medical records, and expert opinions may be used to establish negligence.
Comparative Negligence
Oregon follows a comparative negligence system, allowing injury victims to seek compensation even if they share some degree of fault for the accident. However, your financial award would be reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if you were found 20% at fault for the accident, your compensation would be reduced by 20%. It's crucial to work with an experienced attorney who can help assess your level of fault and minimize its impact on your compensation.
Multiple At-Fault Parties
In some cases, multiple parties may share liability for your brain injury, including individuals, companies, or government entities. Identifying all potentially liable parties is essential to maximize your compensation. Your attorney will investigate the accident thoroughly to determine who should be held responsible.
Navigating brain injury liability in Oregon can be complex, but with the right legal representation, you can build a strong case and pursue the compensation you deserve.
How Our Brain Injury Attorney Can Assist You
Newlin Law Offices is dedicated to providing comprehensive support and legal guidance to help you navigate the complexities of traumatic brain injury cases. Our experienced team can assist you by offering:
- Case Assessment: We'll review your case, gather evidence, and evaluate liability.
- Evidence Collection: We’ll gather medical records, accident reports, and witness statements.
- Identification of Liable Parties: We’ll investigate your case thoroughly to determine who is at fault.
- Damages Assessment: We’ll calculate all past, current, and future damages.
- Negotiations: We’ll engage in skilled negotiation with insurers and at-fault parties.
Most personal injury claims are settled out of court, but we are always prepared to litigate your case if negotiations fall short.