Getting Legal Representation For Traumatic Brain Injuries

By Author: Mickey Fine
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The brain is the most mysterious of the body's organs, and science has barely scratched the surface in studies of it's functions and capabilities. Although medical science has developed ways to diagnose when there are injuries and other dysfunction, it has been less successful in understanding how the brain actually works. Therefore, the value of each person's brain, as well the mind that resides within it with personality, talents, abilities and memories, is beyond estimating. Truly, your brain is a priceless asset, since other organs can be damaged with life still remaining livable, but brain damage can steal the quality from your life forever.

There are many ways to damage your brain, and not all involve injuries such as car accidents or falls. Poisoning, high fevers, prescription drug interactions and even environmental factors can cause a loss of brain function and degradation in quality of life. Even when you are as careful as possible with your diet, exercise regularly, take all medications as directed and stay abreast of health issues, you can be the victim of other people's acts, both intentional and negligent, ...
... that can cause brain damage. You may have to consider getting legal representation to recover losses from a brain injury that occurs to you or a loved one. Before you do so, however, you should understand a few things about the medicine and the law.

State of brain medicine
For the reasons mentioned above, and myriad others, traumatic brain injuries are complicated matters. Clearly, the medical profession considers brain treatment, from chemical to surgical, one of the last great frontiers of medicine, and the state of the art today still provides doctors just the merest hints about the brain's functions. The problem of treatment is preceded by an equally profound problem of diagnosis, as it is difficult even for veteran neurologists to tell when someone's symptomology points clearly to traumatic brain injury. You may continue to speak and act just like you always did following a blow to the head from a car crash or accidental ingestion of some poison, but this cannot rule out damage that is not immediately apparent.

In addition to often delayed symptoms, even minor head injuries often result in quite subtle decreases in brain functions that do not immediately lead to other physical difficulties. With more serious injuries and damage the problems are both easier to detect and quicker to appear, ranging from difficulties with reasoning, communication and memory to various personality changes. Some of the personality changes can be dangerous to others, such as aggressive behavior and uncontrolled impulses, while some lead to decreased libido, irrational acts and even clinical depression.

Families, friends and doctors
When some other party is responsible for your or a loved one's traumatic brain injury, by causing a car accident, serving you tainted food or being negligent in some way that leads to your condition, you will likely need a good attorney. However, you don't just need any good attorney, you need one with specific expertise in the area of brain injuries. A good lawyer that has worked many of these kinds of cases is the best kind of representation you can get, and will handle things in a professional manner to get you the settlement you deserve. In addition to medical bills, you may need lifelong therapy or special care, so the lawyer needs to know everything about not only your physical condition, but also your life and lifestyle, to get you the appropriate settlement with the right terms.

The information obtained from your doctor is, naturally, quite vital in settling your case with insurance companies or litigating it in court. A good brain injury lawyer knows the great value of speaking directly to the client as well as friends and family members. This is by far the most effective way to attain and understanding of the day-to-day reality of victims' lives, their dreams and hopes, talents and abilities, and those valuable activities (job, trade, hobby, family matters) that truly add the qualities humans value in themselves and their love ones. Discussing and documenting attitudinal changes, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), loss of memory, anxiety and depression will complete the picture of the victim's altered life, and start the process of determining the actual value of the loss due to the brain damage.

The bottom line is, getting representation for traumatic brain injuries, or other damage that is attributable to the actions of others, is key to ensuring quality of life for the victim's remaining years. Attorneys that specialize in this practice have a body of expertise and experience that is beyond that of the general practitioner. Just as you would not choose your family physician to do brain surgery, but would get a neurology specialist, you should not choose just any attorney to help you. Getting the right representation is the single most effective first step along the path to a fair settlement and a chance to be made whole once again.
About Author:
At the Law Offices of Mickey Fine Law Firm in Manhattan Beach, California, we are los angeles personal injury lawyers that help clients who have been seriously injured due to the negligence of another party, and clients who have lost a family member in a tragic accident. We also help people whose insurance companies are denying or delaying payment of a legitimate claim.