New York Brain Injury Lawyer

The brain is the body’s control center, and a brain injury can have a long-lasting impact on your physical function and mental abilities. Unlike some physical injuries that may heal in time, a brain injury could mean having to permanently adjust to new ways of living and working. In addition, you may need intensive rehabilitation to regain your independence.

Every day, almost 400 incidents of traumatic brain injury occur in New York State. Sadly, brain injuries cause over 2,000 deaths yearly, while many victims are left with long-term disabilities. If you or a loved one has suffered a brain injury, we are aware of its potential impact on your family life, work, and psychological well-being.

In this situation, you have the right to explore every legal remedy open to you to pursue compensation to secure your future or that of your loved one. The legal team at Hill & Moin LLP is ready to explain your options. Since 1980, we have helped thousands of clients in New York secure the compensation they deserve.

The first step is to schedule a free case evaluation and tell us about your experience. Call us at (212) 668-6000 to speak to an experienced New York brain injury lawyer.

The Impact of Brain Injuries

Brain injuries can occur in seconds, yet their impact can last a lifetime. The exact symptoms differ from person to person but broadly fall into three main categories: physical, cognitive, and psychological and social symptoms.

Physical symptoms

Apart from the pain experienced at the time of the injury and during their recovery, some people experience long-term symptoms. These can include:

Sensitivity to light and noise
Tinnitus (ringing in the ears)
Sleeping difficulties
Constant tiredness
Headaches
Dizziness and balance problems
Mobility problems

Cognitive symptoms

Cognitive symptoms may affect a person’s ability to perform daily tasks, work, and live independently, including:

Concentration problems
Memory and learning difficulties
Confusion
Lack of organization

Psychological and social symptoms

A brain injury can affect a person’s enjoyment of life and put a strain on the family. Some of the symptoms can include:

Depression
Avoiding social situations
Becoming withdrawn
Finding life overwhelming

The complexity of brain injury cases means it’s important not to rush to accept a settlement. Instead, you need to work with a brain injury lawyer who understands the full impact of your injury.

At the New York law firm of Hill & Moin LLP, our professional and compassionate lawyers fight for maximum compensation for each one of our clients. Discuss your case with an experienced lawyer today by calling (212) 668-6000.

How Brain Injuries Occur?

The brain is the most complex organ in the body but is also remarkably robust and well-protected. However, it is vulnerable to injury, both from the systems within the body and external trauma. Although two incidents may appear very similar at face value, their effects on individuals can be very different.

Any brain injury that happens after birth is called an acquired brain injury (ABI). There are two forms of acquired brain injuries: non-traumatic and traumatic.

Non-Traumatic Brain Injuries (NTBI)

A non-traumatic brain injury is caused by reduced blood flow to the brain. Examples include:

Stroke
Near-drowning
Tumor
Infectious disease

You may wonder whether it is even possible to pursue a compensation claim when you have suffered a non-traumatic brain injury. However, if you acquired your injury due to another party’s negligence, you may be able to pursue a claim for compensation.

For example, if you sustained your brain injury while receiving medical treatment, it may have been caused by medical malpractice. Some scenarios include:

Diagnostic error: A medical professional may have missed clear signs and failed to provide appropriate treatment
Surgical error: Failure to follow protocols may result in an interruption of the oxygen supply to the brain during surgery
Prescription error: Being prescribed the wrong medication may cause a stroke

Due to the complex nature of a non-traumatic brain injury, determining how it was caused and who is liable can be challenging. That’s why it’s wise to consult an experienced brain injury attorney. He or she can review what led up to the brain injury and identify legal remedies that may be open to you.

Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI)

Traumatic brain injuries can be caused in two ways:

Penetrating brain injury: Causes a break in the skull and damage to the brain, such as during a shooting
Closed brain injury: An impact or inertial injury causes the brain to move back and forth violently within the skull

Some common causes include the following:

Assaults
Falls
Auto accidents
Sports accidents
Workplace accidents

It’s vital to seek immediate medical attention after any head injury. Although you may feel fine at the time, brain injury symptoms may develop later. In addition, delaying in getting medical attention may make it harder to prove later that your symptoms were caused by your head injury. Seeking medical attention right away, though, and following up on treatment throughout your recovery will add to the record of the impact your brain injury has had on your health.

Types of Traumatic Brain Injuries

A blow to the head or an auto accident can result in a wide range of traumatic brain injuries. Usually, the more severe the impact or inertial forces, the more serious the injury will be.

The following are some of the most common types of traumatic brain injuries:

Concussion: This is the most common type of traumatic brain injury. Although it is often mild, more severe concussions can cause symptoms that last for months or even years.
Intracranial hematoma (ICH): Bleeding under the skull that forms clots. This may require surgery and can lead to long-term neurological problems.
Contusion: This is a bruise on the brain. Initially, cerebral contusions can cause comas, and 25 percent of people who suffer a moderate head injury will have a residual moderate degree of disability.
Skull fracture: Pieces of the skull can break off and enter the brain, causing damage to brain cells and bleeding. This can lead to infections, long-term neurological symptoms, and memory problems.
Diffuse axonal injury: The brain’s connecting nerve fibers are sheared, often during inertial injuries in car accidents. This can result in coma, brain damage, and death.

We understand that these injuries can take a huge physical, psychological, and financial toll on you and your loved ones. When you find yourself in such a hard place, you need a lawyer who treats you like one of the family. An advocate to fight for your rights when you feel at your most vulnerable.

The compassionate and hard-working lawyers at Hill & Moin do exactly that for our clients. Our brain injury lawyers will listen to your story and advise you on the best way to proceed with your claim. Call (212) 668-6000 or fill out our online form to arrange a consultation by telephone or in person at our Manhattan office.

What Compensation Could I Receive for a Brain Injury?

Your legal options may differ depending on whether you sustained your injury at work or elsewhere. For example, in New York State, all businesses must have a workers’ compensation insurance policy. This offers no-fault coverage providing for only economic damages related to work injuries.

If you were not hurt at work, you may be able to file a personal injury claim, allowing you to seek both economic and non-economic damages.

Economic damages

Examples of economic damages include:

Medical bills
Future medical expenses
Caretaker expenses, possibly on a long-term basis
Lost wages
Loss of future earning capacity

Non-economic damages

If you are able to file a personal injury claim, you may be able to secure a higher settlement by also pursuing a claim for non-economic damages, which could include:

Physical pain
Psychological injuries
Loss of enjoyment of family life

Calculating the losses you have suffered and gathering the relevant evidence can be complicated. Brain injuries often result in long-term disabilities that require ongoing medical support. The brain injury lawyers at Hill & Moin LLP can calculate the total compensation you deserve for your injuries so you can pursue a fair settlement.

How a Brain Injury Lawyer Can Help You

Following a brain injury, you need time to focus on your recovery and adjust to your new circumstances. Unfortunately, the bills for medical treatment can quickly start piling up, and your ability to earn a living may be compromised. That’s why having a skilled and experienced personal injury attorney fighting for your rights is crucial.

When you hire the New York law firm of Hill & Moin, you can be assured that we aggressively pursue the compensation our clients deserve. We believe in treating all our clients like family and want to do all we can to secure your future. As a result, we have achieved settlements of $2.5 million and more for our clients who have suffered brain injuries.

The friendly and results-oriented attorneys at Hill & Moin LLP are ready to discuss your Personal Injury Recovery SolutionsⓇ in a free case evaluation. Fill out the online form or call our office at (212) 668-6000 to schedule a meeting with a brain injury lawyer.

Don’t wonder about your rights!