Did you recently suffer a brain injury in Austin, Texas, because someone else was negligent? Call Heaton McLean Personal Injury Lawyers at (512) 503-4878 for a free consultation. You deserve to be compensated, and our top-rated Austin brain injury lawyers are ready to help you demand the kind of case results you need to cover your losses and move on with your life.
Our law firm offers compassionate, trustworthy, and winning legal representation to victims of catastrophic injuries in Austin, TX. Backed by 32 years of combined experience handling complex civil disputes, our award-winning litigators have taken on powerful insurance companies and won millions for clients like you.
Why Choose Heaton McLean Personal Injury Lawyers for Help After a Brain Injury in Austin, TX?
You can’t count on the insurance company to do what’s right or what’s in your best interest. So, you’ll have to make an aggressive push to get the compensation you need and deserve. That’s why brain injury victims in Austin, TX, turn to Heaton McLean Personal Injury Lawyers.
We’re top-rated Austin personal injury lawyers who’ve dedicated our careers to standing up to powerful corporations in the wake of catastrophic accidents. Our representation offers the best of both worlds – the personal care and attention of a small, tight-knit law firm and the professional toughness and resources of much larger firms.
Focus on recovering from your traumatic brain injury and leave the rest to our award-winning Texas trial attorneys. We offer a complimentary case evaluation, so call our Austin law office for assistance.
What is a Brain Injury?
A brain injury broadly refers to trauma to the brain caused by some external force or exertion of forces on the head. All brain injuries suffered after birth are known as acquired brain injuries. Brain injuries that are the result of a violent blow to the head are known as traumatic brain injuries.
When you hit your head against a hard object or are struck by a hard object, it can cause your brain to shift, move, or twist around in the skull. This movement can result in significant bleeding, bruising, or tearing, which can, in turn, impair the organ’s ability to function properly.
Depending on the mechanism of the injury and the part of the brain that’s affected, the severity of a brain injury can be mild, moderate, or severe. Brain injuries are typically classified based on the length of time a person loses consciousness and how the trauma affects their ability to see, communicate, and move.
The more severe the brain injury, the more likely it is that the victim experiences short-term and long-term consequences, which can include but are not limited to the following:
- Chronic headaches
- Sensory impairment
- Nausea and vomiting
- Tingling in the extremities
- Limited mobility
- Difficulty breathing
- Memory loss
- Changes in mood and behavior
- Aggression and irritability
- Difficulty sleeping
- Spasticity
- Seizures
- Organ failure
It’s essential to seek immediate medical attention if you have suffered a violent strike, jolt, or blow to the head, even if you don’t think you’re experiencing any symptoms of a brain injury. Medical professionals can evaluate your situation and utilize a wide range of diagnostic tools and tests – including CT scans, MRIs, x-rays, and behavioral assessments – to diagnose a possible brain injury and formulate a treatment plan.
Are There Different Types of Brain Injuries?
Yes, the term brain injury is widely used to refer to several different types of more specific injuries to the brain, including:
- Concussion
- Hematoma
- Hemorrhage
- Skull fracture
- Contusion
- Diffuse axonal injury
- Laceration
- Coup-contrecoup brain injury
- Hypoxic brain injury
- Stroke
- Anoxic brain injury
We have extensive experience representing clients who’ve suffered all types of brain injuries in Austin, TX. Don’t hesitate to put our knowledge and skills to work for you if you’ve sustained a traumatic brain injury, too. We can help you launch a winning legal claim and fight to get all of the compensation you need to cover your medical expenses, lost wages, and other damages.
What Are the Leading Causes of Brain Injuries in Austin?
Brain injuries are often caused by:
- Car accidents
- Truck accidents
- Boating accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Bicycle accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- Bus accidents
- Train accidents
- Slip and fall accidents
- Construction accidents
- Workplace accidents
- Oilfield accidents
- Maritime accidents
- Dog bites
- Assault
- Sexual assault
- Medical malpractice
- Birth injury
- Nursing home abuse and neglect
- Defective products
If you or someone you love has suffered a brain injury because someone else was violent or negligent, it’s important to explore your right to pursue compensation. Call our Texas brain injury lawyers in Austin to discuss the details of your case today.
How Much Money is My Brain Injury Case Worth?
On average, treating a brain injury can cost between $85,000 and $3 million over the course of a lifetime. When you factor in other losses and hardships, the potential value of a brain injury claim can be quite high.
At the end of the day, several things will influence how much money you might be able to recover in a brain injury lawsuit:
- The specific type of brain injury you’ve suffered
- The part of the brain that’s affected
- The likelihood of making a full physical recovery
- Changes in your income and earning capacity
- If and when you can return to work
- Your age and life expectancy
- Shared responsibility for the accident in which you were injured
- Steps taken to mitigate your brain injury
- Available insurance benefits and policy limits
The more severe your brain injury and the longer it affects your ability to live your life normally, the more you can potentially recover through an insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit. The best way to get the kind of case results you deserve is by working with an experienced brain injury lawyer near you in Austin.
Choosing our law firm puts a team of highly respected and successful Texas trial attorneys in your corner, giving you the experience and resources needed to win your case and achieve the best possible results.
Can Shared Fault Hurt My Texas Brain Injury Settlement?
Yes. Unless you’re pursuing a claim for workers’ compensation benefits because your brain injury is work-related, shared responsibility will adversely affect your ability to get compensation from a third party.
Texas adheres to a modified comparative negligence rule with a 51 percent bar to recovery. You can recover compensation on a reduced basis up until your shared liability exceeds half. If you’re 25 percent to blame for a car accident in which you suffered a brain injury, your financial recovery will be reduced by 25 percent.
If you’re deemed to be 51 percent or more at fault for that crash, you forfeit the right to demand compensation from another liable party.
What Compensation Can I Get If I Win My Brain Injury Lawsuit?
In Texas, victims of avoidable traumatic brain injuries can file a claim to recover compensatory damages, which can include economic and non-economic awards for:
- Current and future medical bills
- Lost wages and income
- Disability
- Diminished earning capacity
- Rehabilitation and nursing care
- Out-of-pocket expenses
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of consortium
- Embarrassment
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Mental anguish
Punitive damages, which are intended as punishment for a defendant’s intentionally harmful or grossly negligent actions, can also potentially be awarded if your brain injury lawsuit goes to trial.
How Much Does it Cost to Hire a Brain Injury Attorney in Austin?
Our Austin brain injury attorneys handle cases on a contingency fee basis. Pay nothing to hire our law firm until we’ve won compensation for your brain injury case. When we win compensation for you, our attorney fees are simply deducted from that monetary award.
Is There a Statute of Limitations for Brain Injury Lawsuits in Texas?
Most brain injury lawsuits in Texas are subject to a two-year statute of limitations. The two-year time limit also applies to wrongful death cases if a brain injury is ultimately fatal.
You have to file your legal claim before the filing deadline, or you risk losing the ability to hold a negligent motorist, an insurance company, a hospital, or another liable party accountable for your costly brain injury.
Schedule a Free Consultation With an Experienced Austin Brain Injury Lawyer
Don’t struggle with the costly and painful consequences of a brain injury alone – not when someone is at fault. Count on Heaton McLean Personal Injury Lawyers to help you fight for the financial accountability you deserve.
Our Austin brain injury lawyers offer 32+ years of experience handling critically important personal injury cases and a proven track record of winning top case results. We take on powerful corporations in the name of justice and win millions. Now, we’re here to fight for you, too.
Contact our law office in Austin today to get started and schedule a time for your free consultation.