A brain injury can cause permanent and life-altering impairments. If another party is responsible for causing your brain injury in Chicago, IL, they may be liable for your damages. You might receive compensation for your medical bills, pain, suffering, and lost wages. At Powell and Pisman Injury Lawyers, we help injured victims and their families seek justice.
Our Chicago brain injury lawyers have over three decades of combined experience handling personal injury claims. We have won $250+ million in jury verdicts and settlements for our clients. If you need experienced legal representation, you can trust our firm to fiercely fight for your right to fair compensation.
Contact our law office or call us at (312) 635-5400 to schedule a free consultation to discuss your case with an attorney. We are available 24/7 to talk to you.
How Powell and Pisman Injury Lawyers Can Help With Your Brain Injury Claim in Chicago, IL
Brain injury claims are complicated personal injury cases. You may not have a visible injury to your head, but the damage to your brain can cause long-term impairments and disabilities. Even a mild TBI can result in complications. It is crucial that you work with an experienced attorney who can get you the compensation you need.
Our legal team has won numerous awards and honors from national legal organizations, including Elite Lawyers of America, The National Trial Lawyers, the American Association of Justice, and Avvo. We are seasoned trial lawyers and skilled negotiators.
When you hire our Chicago personal injury lawyers to handle your case, you can trust that we will:
- Investigate the cause of your brain injury to identify the parties responsible for your damages
- Gather evidence proving fault and liability, including working with leading medical specialists and other expert witnesses
- Document your damages to assess how much your claim is worth
- Handle all matters with the insurance company and other parties
- File a lawsuit and take your case to trial if that is in your best interest
We understand that you have been through a traumatic event. You need time to heal and recover from a brain injury. Our lawyers will take care of the legal battle so that you can focus on healing.
Call Powell and Pisman Injury Lawyers today to schedule a free case evaluation with an attorney in Chicago, Illinois.
Common Types of Brain Injuries
A traumatic brain injury may be caused by a strong blow to the head or blunt force trauma to the body. This can lead to a closed head injury when the brain shifts violently within the skull. The brain tissue is damaged when it strikes the skull, which can result in multiple points of damage.
Open head injuries are caused when an object fractures the skull and enters the brain. These injuries may be localized to the point of entry but are generally life-threatening.
We handle all types of brain injury cases at Powell and Pisman Injury Lawyers, including those involving:
- Concussions
- Brain hemorrhages
- Diffuse axonal injuries (DAIs)
- Contusions
- Hypoxia (oxygen deprivation)
- Intracranial hematomas
- Strokes
- Coup-contrecoup brain injuries
- Cerebral edema (brain swelling)
- Skull fractures and penetrating brain injuries
Traumatic brain injuries affect how the brain works. Without prompt medical care, a TBI could cause death or permanent impairment. In a recent year, there were over 69,000 deaths related to traumatic brain injuries.
Brain injuries require immediate medical attention. If you sustain a head injury, go to the emergency room or a medical provider.
What Are the Most Common Causes of Brain Injuries in Illinois?
Accidents often cause brain injuries. However, a TBI may also be caused by other wrongful acts and negligence.
Examples of situations and events that cause brain injuries include:
- Car accidents
- Medical malpractice
- Workplace accidents
- Truck accidents
- Assaults and intentional violence
- Slip and fall accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Defective products
- Pedestrian and bicycle accidents
- Construction accidents
- Sports and recreational activities
- Dog bites and animal attacks
- Boating accidents
- School and playground accidents
- Drownings and swimming pool accidents
One or more parties could be liable for a brain injury and related losses. You could receive compensation for damages, but you must prove that another party is responsible for the factors that led to your brain injury.
Our Chicago personal injury attorneys will fight to recover compensation that reimburses you for your losses and assists you with expenses as you work to adjust to life-altering changes caused by a brain injury.
Common Signs and Symptoms of a Brain Injury
Brain injuries can be difficult to detect. Symptoms may appear immediately, or they could develop in the hours or days following an accident or head injury.
Signs and symptoms of a brain injury include:
- Any period of unconsciousness
- Confusion
- Ringing in the ears
- Inability to think or concentrate
- Dizziness
- Vomiting or nausea
- Changes in smell or taste
- Memory loss
- Problems with motor functions, coordination, or balance
- A metallic taste in your mouth
- Blurred vision
- Persistent headache
- Difficulty waking or sleeping
- Irritability or personality changes
- Sensitivity to light or sound
A brain injury can result in cognitive deficits, problems with motor skills, and sensory and perceptual issues. Some victims may experience social and emotional changes and problems with communication and language. A doctor will evaluate your symptoms and order diagnostic tests to determine the type and severity of the brain injury.
It is always wise to be checked by a doctor after an injury or head trauma. However, seek emergency medical treatment immediately if you experience any symptoms or problems.
What Damages Can I Receive in a Chicago Brain Injury Claim?
Illinois personal injury laws provide for economic and non-economic damages.
You can demand compensation for the following:
- The cost of your medical treatment, including ongoing medical care
- Long-term personal and/or nursing care
- Emotional distress and mental anguish
- Physical, occupational, and rehabilitative therapies
- Lost wages and benefits
- Diminished quality of life and loss of enjoyment of life
- Out-of-pocket expenses
- Permanent impairments and disabilities
- Reduction in future earning capacity
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Pain and suffering
Our legal team will work closely with you and your physicians to document the extent and severity of your damages. We’ll also work with financial professionals and other experts to accurately project the future damages you will incur because of a traumatic brain injury.
We understand that no amount of money can undo the harm you have suffered. However, a damages award or settlement can help with expenses and bring some measure of justice for you and your family.
Can I Receive Compensation if I’m Partially to Blame for My Brain Injury in Illinois?
A few states have laws that prevent victims from recovering damages if they share any liability for the cause of their injury. Illinois is not one of those states. Instead, Illinois has a modified comparative fault standard.
If you are 51% or more to blame for the cause of your brain injury, you are barred from receiving compensation for your damages. You can recover if your level of fault is below 51%. However, your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault.
For example, suppose a jury finds that you were 10% to blame for causing the car crash that resulted in your traumatic brain injury. In that case, the judge would reduce the damages award by 10%.
Insurance companies often blame victims to avoid paying the full value of damages. Before you discuss your claim with an insurance adjuster, talk with our attorneys about your case. We defend clients against unjust allegations of blame.
How Much Is My Chicago Brain Injury Claim Worth?
Many factors can impact the value of your damages in your personal injury case, including:
- The cost of medical care and treatment
- Whether you can work during your recovery or return to work after your doctor releases you from care
- Your prognosis, including the type and severity of impairments and disabilities
- How your brain injury impacts your daily activities and lifestyle
- The parties involved in your case
- Whether you could be partially to blame for causing your injury
- How your injury impacts your relationship with your family
- The strength of the evidence proving fault and liability
Our legal team will pursue the maximum value of your damages from all parties responsible for your brain injury. We’ll exhaust all claims and sources of compensation to obtain the best possible outcome for your personal injury claim.
What Is the Statute of Limitations for Filing a Brain Injury Lawsuit in Illinois?
The deadline to file a brain injury claim is generally two years from the date of your injury. However, exceptions to the statute of limitations and the facts of your case could change this deadline.
Missing the deadline to file a lawsuit could result in losing your right to pursue a claim. We encourage you to contact us as soon as possible to discuss your case with one of our attorneys.
Schedule a Free Consultation With Our Skilled Chicago Brain Injury Lawyers
Our Chicago brain injury attorneys at Powell and Pisman Injury Lawyers are on your side if you need a legal team to protect your rights. Contact us now to schedule a free case review to talk about your situation or call us at (312) 635-5400.
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Additional Chicago Brain Injury Resources
- Brain Injury Association of Illinois
- Persons with Brain Injury (BI) | HFS
- Resource Directory for IL | BrainLine
- Listing: Traumatic Brain Injury Resources
Highly Rated Emergency Rooms in Chicago
- Northwestern Memorial Hospital Emergency Department – 251 E Huron St, Chicago, IL 60611
- Endeavor Health Swedish Hospital – 5140 N California Ave, Chicago, IL 60625
- Weiss Memorial Hospital – 4646 N Marine Dr, Chicago, IL 60640
- UI Health Emergency Department – 1740 W Taylor St, Chicago, IL 60612
- St. Bernard Hospital – 326 W 64th St, Chicago, IL 60621
*Disclaimer – we do not endorse these companies or profit from having them listed on our website.
