Chris Thayer Seattle Personal Injury Attorney

Head and Brain Injuries

It is not uncommon for accident victims to suffer from head or brain injuries. Medicine and science are learning more and more every day how fragile the brain is, and the long term effects of head injuries can have – even many years after the initial trauma. These injuries can range from mild to severe. Severe head trauma can be life threatening, and even those who survive serious brain injury, face a lifetime of challenges and difficulties. The victim and their family face prolonged periods of therapy, treatment and medical expenses. The consequences of a severe brain injury are life changing and devastating for the victim and their loved ones. If the injury was suffered as the result of the negligence of another, it is important for the victim and their loved ones to consult with an experienced Seattle personal injury attorney to protect their rights and help them deal with any insurance companies to ensure fair and equitable consideration of an injury that may likely have very serious and permanent consequences.

At times more challenging in certain respects, are mild traumatic brain injuries (commonly referred to as an MTBI or a concussion), which can occur after a moderate impact to the head in an accident. It is not uncommon for patients to not even realize they had a head injury. Over a period of weeks or months they may experience unusual symptoms, including headaches, changes in smell or vision, dizziness, irritability, light sensitivity, confusion, memory difficulties or other symptoms or problems that they do not immediately recognize as being related to the underlying accident. In such cases, the MTBI can go undiagnosed for a period of weeks or months. It is essential that if you or a loved one may have suffered even moderate head trauma in an accident that the injured person gets prompt and appropriate medical evaluation and treatment. More medical information on MTBI and concussion can be found here:

• http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/traumatic-brain-injury/DS00552/DSECTION=symptoms
• http://www.cdc.gov/Ncipc/pub-res/tbi_toolkit/physicians/mtbi/mtbi.pdf

If you have suffered a mild traumatic brain injury (concussion) in an accident, your first priority should be to obtain appropriate medical care. It is also important to seek out the advice of an experienced Seattle personal injury attorney to help you out with any potential insurance claim. Insurance companies tend to be skeptical of such claims based on what I consider a jaded and biased view that many claimants are faking or exaggerating their symptoms. As a result, obtaining a reasonable and fair settlement from the insurance company can be challenging. If you or a loved one have been involved in an accident and suffered a possible concussion or MTBI, it is important to seek out the advice of an attorney who has experience dealing with these issues and is familiar with such injuries who can help you. I have that experience. Please feel free to contact me to set up an initial consultation to discuss your personal injury claim involving a possible concussion or MTBI.