Traumatic Brain Injury

Caring representation when Oregon accidents cause head trauma

We work with neurologists and other medical professionals to verify how your head injury is affecting every part of your life, including the loss of cognitive function, physical pain, emotional trauma, and loss of bodily function. TBIs often affect every member of your family because they must provide home care in addition to your medical care. Since 2005, our Portland traumatic brain injury lawyers have been fighting for TBI accident victims to obtain full compensation for their financial losses and personal damages.

What is a traumatic brain injury?

According to the Washington State Department of Health, a TBI is “caused by a bump, blow or jolt to the head or by a penetrating head injury that changes the normal function of the brain. Each year, several thousand people in Washington die or need to be hospitalized due to traumatic brain injuries.”

According to Johns Hopkins Medicine in Baltimore, Maryland, the damage from a TBI can be “focal (confined to one area of the brain) or diffuse (happens in more than one area of the brain).”

Closed brain injuries don’t involve any break in the skull. They involve a “rapid forward or backward movement and shaking of the brain inside the bony skull that results in bruising and tearing of brain tissue and blood vessels.”  Penetrating brain injuries (open brain injuries) occur when there is a break, such as when a bullet pierces the brain due to the negligent security of a property owner.

A primary brain injury “refers to the sudden and profound injury to the brain that is considered to be more or less complete at the time of impact.” A secondary brain injury “refers to the changes that evolve over hours to days after the primary brain injury. It includes a series of steps or stages of cellular, chemical, tissue, or blood vessel changes in the brain that contribute to further destruction of brain tissue.”

What types of accidents cause TBIs?

At Philbrook Law, we work with you, investigators, the police, construction industry professionals, and others to determine how you or someone you love suffered a traumatic brain injury.

Common causes of TBIs in Portland include:

• Car accidents, truck accidents, and motorcycle accidents. The drivers, owners, employers, and trucking companies may be liable.
• Pedestrian accidents and bicycle accidents. Drivers, vehicle owners, employers, and trucking companies may be liable.
• Construction accidents. Construction companies, contractors, subcontractors, drivers, and others may be liable.
• Premises liability accidents include falls and negligent security attacks. Property owners, maintenance, repair, and security companies may be liable.
• Defective car, truck, and motorcycle parts. The manufacturers, distributors, and retailers may all be liable.
• Defective machines, equipment, household goods, and other products. The manufacturers and others in the supply chain may be liable.
• Other causes

What are the signs of a traumatic brain injury?

According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, TBIs are generally categorized as:

• The symptoms disappear with proper medical care.
• These types of TBIs may require surgery and lifelong rehabilitative care

TBI symptoms include:

• Cognitive disorders. These symptoms include coma, confusion, an inability to concentrate, memory challenges, difficulty solving problems, an inability to understand abstract challenges, a reduced awareness of self, and other symptoms.
• Motor deficits. These symptoms include paralysis, weakness, spasticity (tightening and shortening of the muscles), lack of endurance, poor balance, tremors, difficulty swallowing, poor coordination, sensory changes, vision difficulties, and other symptoms.
• Communication disorders. These symptoms include difficulty talking and understanding speech, reading and writing problems, a reduced vocabulary, difficulty forming sentences that make sense, difficulty forming sentences that make sense, math difficulties, daily living challenges, and inability to drive a car or operate machinery.
• Social disorders. These symptoms include difficulty making and keeping friends, interpersonal challenges, and social interaction challenges.
• Regulatory disturbances. These symptoms include different eating and sleep patterns, dizziness, headaches, tiredness, and bowel and bladder control loss.
• Personality or psychiatric changes. The symptoms include lack of motivation, emotional challenges, anxiety, depression, and other symptoms

A TBI can also cause epilepsy.

Some TBI accident victims don’t know that they have any symptoms until a family member or friend tells them.

“

You shouldn't have to face the insurance system alone; especially at a time when regaining your health is the most important thing. At Philbrook Law, we have a team ready to work for you. We level the playing field and take the fight to them.

Matthew PhilbrookAttorney

What diagnostic tests are used to assess a TBI?

According to Brain Line, doctors will conduct a neurological exam. This exam reviews the Portland accident victim’s motor and sensory skills, balance, hearing, speech, behavior, and “the functioning of one or more cranial nerves.”

The Glasgow Coma Scale assesses a victim’s responses to various questions and examinations and grades the responses from severe (8 and below), moderate (9-12), and mild (13-15). Severe TBIs may be fatal or cause catastrophic life-changing injuries. Moderate TBIs are likely to be permanent. Victims with mild TBIs can lead reasonably normal lives.

Some imaging tests used are CT scans, MRIs, diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) tests, and fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) tests.

Are there treatments for a traumatic brain injury in Portland, OR?

According to the Mayo Clinic, TBI patients are normally examined in an emergency room first.

Medications for Portland TBI victims include diuretics to reduce tissue fluid and increase urine output, anti-seizure drugs (normally administered during the first week of medical care), and coma-inducing drugs, which may be necessary in some cases.

Surgical procedures for TBIs, according to the Mayo Clinic, include:

• Removing clotted blood
• Repairing skull fractures
• Treating brain bleeding
• Opening a window in the skull

What type of rehabilitative care is used for Portland TBI victims?

Johns Hopkins Medicine identifies the following rehabilitative care programs:

• Acute rehabilitation programs
• Subacute rehabilitation programs
• Long-term rehabilitation programs
• Transitional living programs
• Behavior management programs
• Day-treatment programs
• Independent living programs

The rehabilitative team includes:

• A neurologist/neurosurgeon
• A physiatrist
• Internists and specialists
• A rehabilitation nurse
• Physical therapists
• Occupational therapists
• Recreation therapists
• Respiratory therapists
• Vocational therapists
• Speech/language pathologists
• Psychologist/neuropsychologist/psychiatrists
• Audiologists
• Nutritionists
• Social workers
• Orthotists
• Case managers
• Chaplains

The cost of medical care for TBI patients is incredibly expensive. Our Portland TBI lawyers work with your doctors and medical life planners to assess the cost of your TBI care, including the cost of reasonably likely complications.

At Philbrook Law, we seek compensation for all your medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, loss of bodily function, inability to enjoy life’s pleasures, and loss of consortium (enjoyment of marital relations).

Do you have a Portland traumatic brain injury lawyer near me?

Philbrook Law meets traumatic brain injury accident victims and families at our Portland, Oregon office located at 107 SE Washington St. Suite 520. If your TBI prevents you from coming to our office, we will arrange to meet with you at your home or a healthcare facility. Our lawyers also discuss cases by phone and through online conversations.

We’ll guide you through this difficult time.

Get help today by contacting our Portland TBI attorneys now

At Philbrook Law, we understand how scary a traumatic brain injury is. We work with your doctors and our network of physicians to assess what treatments you need, the cost of your care, whether you can work again, what complications might arise, and how your TBI affects every phase of your life. We’ve helped many personal injury victims obtain strong verdicts and settlements.

Please call our Portland traumatic brain injury lawyers today or complete our contact form to schedule a free consultation.  We see victims at our offices in Portland, Oregon, and Vancouver, WA. We handle TBI cases on a contingency fee basis. 

Rated 5 Stars by Our Clients

Read firsthand accounts from the clients our personal injury attorneys have represented in complex personal injury claims.

“You will not be disappointed. After my first meeting with Matthew I felt confident they were the team for my case. Tiffany provided great communication and assistance during the info gathering phase and also throughout the settlement phase. Thank you so much for going the extra mile.”

“They were able to find his insurance. I highly recommend hiring Matt and Tiffany. They took all of the insurance stress off my shoulders so I could concentrate on helping my son who had many broken bones and surgeries.”

“I reached out to them and within minutes, we had a great conversation. You can tell how much they care about their clients. They also went above and beyond to get the best results for my situation. Would highly recommend. You won't find anyone better!”

“Amanda especially was such a huge help. They handled two back-to-back car accident settlements for me, and I couldn’t be more pleased with the outcome. The entire team was professional, responsive, and made the whole process smooth and stress-free. I truly appreciate their hard work and highly recommend them!”

“Not our fault! The other driver turned left in front of as after he was waved on by another driver. We both had minor to moderate injuries. Our Ford F150 Lightning became undriveable. We went to urgent care! One year later, we were having difficulty in reaching a settlement with the other drivers insurance company after they gave us a low offer. We felt we needed legal advice or assistance. We met with Tiffany Henson, who reviewed our case. She gave us the advice we needed to negotiate with the other insurance, rather than try to take it to court. Tiffany offered to review our letter and gave us further advise. After the insurance company reviewed our letter and statements they doubled the settlement amount and made all of the stipulations we had requested! We can not thank Tiffany enough for her caring personable attitude toward us. Her advise was right on and saved us from more anxiety and stress. If you have an injury accident do not hesitate to contact Philbrook attorneys. They will treat you right.”

“That’s how great these people are. Driving home one night in my shiny new car I was suddenly sandwiched inbetween 2 much larger vehicles. The damage didn’t seem like much at first, but ended up being four years of treatment & life long conservative care. I wasn’t a case that was easy to get treatment for and I felt very lost before I was recommended the Philbrook law team. I actually fired an attorney who had left me with more questions than answers and hired this office. It was the best choice I could have made for myself. They stood by me every step of the way. Thousands of questions and appointments all the way to discovery and settlements. I have recommended them to hundreds of people and will continue to at any given chance. Not once in 4 years did I question if I was in good hands. They really go above and beyond for their clients and I can’t thank them enough. I truly miss hearing from them. I’m sure not everyone can say that about their attorneys. Give them a call, you won’t regret it.”

“I had never needed to hire a lawyer for anything so I didn't know what to expect and I was nervous. Matt and his team were awesome. They helped me throughout the whole process with every question and concern. They were timely, knowledgeable, patient and courteous. I appreciate the hard work everyone contributed to my case and getting me a fair settlement.”

“They did everything to get what I deserved, They work for the best of my interest, and I really have the best experience with her, everyone in there is very polite and respectful. I hope that I will never have the need to hired them again but if I have to I will. If you're reading this review and you're looking a lawyer to represent you in a car accident matter, then don't look any further, they are the best.”

“My recovery treatment took well over a year and took up a lot of time outside of other life stuff. Once they took over my case, a huge weight was lifted from my shoulders and they took on all the burden from there on out. My insurance tried to settle for an absurdly low offer and Philbrook law got a settlement beyond my imagination. And they made it so quick and easy. I would recommend Philbrook law to anyone needing an accident lawyer. They were so efficient and stayed in touch through the whole process. Their whole team works hard to ensure people get the justice they deserve. Couldn't be happy with my settlement outcome!”

“It was very thoughtful, kind and helpful to have good advice, especially after asking another local firm and them not knowing what to do! I will definitely use this law firm in the future. Thank you!”

~ D. Pierce

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