Skilled Portland Brain Injury Lawyer
A traumatic brain injury (TBI) can be life-changing for the victim and their loved ones. If you or someone you love has experienced a TBI due to the negligent actions of another party, it is important to understand your rights under the Portland legal system.
Fortunately, a Portland traumatic brain injury attorney at D’Amore Law Group can help you understand the value of your claim and options for recovery. We are focused on helping victims achieve maximum compensation for the damage they have sustained. We handle all of our Portland brain injury cases on contingency and will not charge a fee unless a traumatic brain injury attorney from our team is able to secure compensation on your behalf.
Key Takeaways
- TBI symptoms may not appear immediately after an accident, making it harder to prove causation the longer the delay between the incident and a confirmed diagnosis.
- The CDC reports that over 2.8 million Americans experience a brain injury each year, with falls, object impacts, and motor vehicle crashes as the leading causes.
- Types of TBI range from concussions and hematomas to diffuse axonal injury and skull fractures, each varying in severity and the compensation available for recovery.
- Oregon’s two-year statute of limitations applies to TBI claims, and D’Amore Law Group handles all brain injury cases on a contingency basis with no fee unless they win.
Why You Need a Traumatic Brain Injury Attorney
TBI cases can be challenging but worth the effort to receive meaningful compensation. In these cases, brain damage can be difficult to detect and diagnose even with scans and other medical tests. Another complicating fact is that symptoms of a TBI may not appear immediately, which can make it more difficult to prove causation if there is a significant delay between the accident causing the TBI and a successful diagnosis. Depending on the cause of your injury, there may be more than one liable party. It is imperative that you bring your case against the correct party and never settle for less than what your case is worth.
It is important to work with an experienced Portland traumatic brain injury attorney who understands how to navigate the complex Washington legal system and laws specific to TBI cases. You may be entitled to recover medical expenses, temporary or permanent disability, lost wages and earning potential, pain and suffering, mental anguish, and more.
What Constitutes a Traumatic Brain Injury?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) define a traumatic brain injury as a disruption in the normal function of the brain that is generally the result of an impact to the head. Each year, over 2.8 million Americans experience a brain injury. The leading causes of which include falls, impact with an object, and motor vehicle accidents.
The damage to the brain can be confined to one area (focal) or more than one area (diffuse). Some common types of brain injuries include concussions, contusions, intracranial hematomas, and brain hemorrhages.
Also according to the CDC, approximately 176 Americans died from TBI-related injuries each day in 2020, and there were over 223,000 TBI-related hospitalizations in 2019.
Why TBI Victims in Portland Choose D’Amore Law Group
- We Understand How Difficult TBI Cases Are to Prove — Brain damage can be hard to detect even with scans and tests, and symptoms may not appear immediately after an accident. Our attorneys know how to build a case that connects your injury to the negligent act, even when the timeline is complex.
- We Identify Every Liable Party — Depending on the cause of your TBI, there may be more than one responsible party. We conduct thorough investigations to make sure your claim is brought against the correct defendants and that nothing is left on the table.
- We Fight for the Full Scope of Your Damages — TBI victims may be entitled to recover medical expenses, temporary or permanent disability costs, lost wages and future earning potential, pain and suffering, and mental anguish. We pursue every category of compensation available under Oregon law.
- We Have Secured Over $100,000,000 for Our Clients — D’Amore Law Group has a proven track record of winning for injury victims throughout Portland and the Pacific Northwest, with total recoveries exceeding $100 million across all case types.
- We Handle TBI Cases on Contingency — Your consultation is free and you pay nothing unless our team secures compensation on your behalf. You can focus on your recovery while we handle every aspect of your legal case.
Types of Brain Injuries
There are several types of brain injury, all of which can differ in severity. Two of the biggest factors in the amount of compensation available are the severity of the injury and prognosis for recovery, both of which may be determined by the type of injury. Your Portland traumatic injury attorney can help you gather all the necessary medical records and expert testimony to prove the nature and extent of your injuries.
Concussion
A concussion is caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head or by an aggressive hit to the body that causes the brain to move rapidly back and forth in the skull. This sudden shifting and twisting movement can create chemical changes in the brain which can stretch and damage brain cells.
Hemorrhage
A hemorrhage is defined as uncontrolled bleeding which can be serious regardless of where the injury is located. There are two different kinds of hemorrhages: An intracerebral hemorrhage is bleeding within your brain tissue and can cause pressure build-up. A subarachnoid hemorrhage is bleeding in the space around your brain and can cause headaches and vomiting. Both can have serious consequences.
Hematoma
In its most basic form, a hematoma is a bruise and in most cases, a typical bruise is not serious, but in the brain, it can be. A hematoma or bruise is a collection or clotting of blood outside the blood vessel. When this clotting occurs in the brain, it can lead to pressure build-up in the skull which can result in loss of consciousness.
Skull Fracture
A fractured skull constitutes an emergency in all cases. Unlike many bones, the skull does not contain adipose (yellow) bone marrow, which is extremely tough and difficult to break. When it does break, immediate attention is required.
Edema
Any injury to the brain can cause edema, which is essentially swelling caused by excess fluid in the brain tissue. This is extremely serious and hard to stop once it begins. The skull does not flex or stretch, so it is not meant to accommodate brain swelling which may contribute to the damage.
Penetration
You have probably seen it in movies, but hopefully never in real life, a penetrating traumatic brain injury occurs when an object is forced through the skull and touches the brain. This is an extreme emergency and often results in permanent brain damage.
Coup-Contrecoup
Hitting your head on an object like a steering wheel or a wall may result in a coup-contrecoup brain injury. This occurs when the impact occurs with such force that the brain hits the opposite side of the skull and injury occurs on two sides of the brain from the movement within the skull.
Diffuse Axonal Injury
Diffuse axonal injury involves the tearing of the brain’s long connecting nerve fibers (axons) which may occur when the brain is injured as it shifts and rotates inside the bony skull. This type of brain injury is difficult to detect but can lead to permanent brain damage or even death if not treated.
Brain Injury Lawyer Near Me
D’Amore Law Group has been representing the rights of injured victims in Portland. Every member of our team is dedicated to providing compassionate representation to those who need our help. We have secured over $100,000,000 in favorable results for our clients and understand what it takes to win. If you need a Portland traumatic brain injury attorney, please contact us to schedule your free case consultation. We are here to help.