The brain defines who we are—our thoughts, memories, personalities, and abilities. When a traumatic brain injury strikes, it doesn't just harm an organ. It can fundamentally change a person's identity and future. For families across New York and New Jersey, these injuries bring overwhelming medical challenges, emotional strain, and financial hardships.
Serious brain injuries require medical care immediately after the accident and potentially for a lifetime. Many survivors need to relearn basic skills while adapting to new limitations in thinking, communication, and emotional regulation. Meanwhile, medical bills grow exponentially, income disappears, and families struggle to adjust to their new reality.
If this is your reality, you deserve a New Jersey or New York brain injury lawyer at Hofmann & Schweitzer who understands neurological evidence, can accurately calculate the substantial lifetime costs these injuries create, and will advocate for your full and fair recovery.
Understanding Traumatic Brain Injuries
A traumatic brain injury (TBI) occurs when a sudden trauma damages the brain. These injuries range from mild concussions to severe trauma that can cause permanent disability or death. Our New York brain injury lawyers focus on representing victims of severe brain injuries, including:
- Moderate to severe TBIs. These injuries often require extensive hospitalization and rehabilitation, and they cause permanent changes in cognitive impairment, sensation, language, and emotions.
- Diffuse axonal injuries. Diffuse axonal injuries occur when the brain rapidly shifts inside the skull, causing nerve tissues to tear. This widespread damage can result in severe neurological problems, coma, or death.
- Penetrating brain injuries. When objects penetrate the skull and brain tissue, the damage can be catastrophic, affecting specific brain regions and functions.
- Anoxic brain injuries. When the brain is deprived of oxygen for even a short period, brain cells begin to die, potentially causing widespread damage.
While we also handle cases involving concussions with lasting effects, our practice concentrates on severe injuries where victims face lifelong challenges and need substantial compensation to protect their futures.
Common Causes of Brain Injuries in New York and New Jersey
Brain injuries can result from various accidents, particularly those involving significant force or impact. Our New York brain injury lawyers regularly handle TBI cases resulting from:
- Motor vehicle accidents. Car, truck, and motorcycle crashes are leading causes of brain injuries, especially when high speeds are involved or when victims are ejected from vehicles.
- Falls. Falls from construction scaffolding, tumbles down apartment building staircases, slips in retail stores, and other falls can cause brain injuries. In each scenario, the impact can cause the brain to violently collide with the interior of the skull, resulting in brain damage.
- Workplace accidents. Construction sites, factories, and other workplaces present numerous hazards that can lead to brain injuries, from falling objects to machinery accidents.
- Recreational activities. Contact sports, boating accidents, and other recreational activities can result in serious brain trauma when proper safety measures aren't followed.
A New York brain injury lawyer can investigate these incidents thoroughly to identify all liable parties and sources of compensation for your injuries.
The Long-Term Impact of Serious Brain Injuries
Severe brain injuries create lasting challenges that affect every aspect of a victim's life and can include:
- Physical effects. Depending on which areas of the brain are damaged, victims may experience paralysis, seizures, chronic pain, vision or hearing loss, and coordination problems.
- Cognitive impairment. TBI survivors may struggle with memory problems, diminished concentration, difficulty processing information, and impaired decision-making abilities.
- Emotional and behavioral changes. Personality changes, mood swings, depression, anxiety, and impulse control issues are common following brain injuries.
- Communication difficulties. Speech and language problems can make it hard for brain injury survivors to express themselves and understand others.
- Financial burden. The lifetime cost of care for a severe TBI can exceed $3 million, not including lost income and reduced earning capacity.
Our New York brain injury lawyers work with medical experts, life care planners, and economists to document these impacts and secure compensation that addresses your current and future needs.
Compensation for Brain Injury Victims
Brain injury cases typically involve significant damages due to the catastrophic nature of these injuries. Our attorneys fight for full compensation covering:
- Medical expenses. This includes emergency care, hospitalization, surgery, rehabilitation, therapy, medications, assistive devices, and lifelong medical treatment.
- Lost income. We help recover income lost during recovery and compensation for diminished earning capacity if your brain injury prevents you from returning to work.
- Pain and suffering. People with brain injuries who suffer physical pain and emotional distress caused by a brain injury deserve substantial compensation beyond just medical bills.
- Life care costs. For permanent injuries, we calculate the lifetime cost of needed care, home modifications, and specialized services.
- Loss of quality of life. When a brain injury prevents you from participating in activities you once enjoyed or fundamentally changes your personality, you deserve compensation for these profound losses.
Insurance companies often pressure brain injury victims to accept quick settlements that fall far short of covering these extensive damages. Our experienced attorneys know how to build compelling cases that result in maximum compensation.
Why Choose Our New York Brain Injury Lawyers
When selecting a lawyer to handle your brain injury case, specialized experience and resources matter. Our legal team has:
- Proven results. Our attorneys have recovered substantial settlements and verdicts for New York and New Jersey accident victims. Over the years, we have helped our clients recover over a hundred million dollars, putting us in an elite group of legal advocates.
- Trial experience. While many cases are settled, we prepare every case as if it will go to trial, strengthening our negotiating position and ensuring we're ready if court becomes necessary.
We provide individualized attention to every client and keep you informed throughout the process.