Traumatic Brain Injury

Washington brain injury lawyers upholding your rights

At Philbrook Law, our Vancouver, WA traumatic brain injury (TBI) lawyers work with neurosurgeons, neurologists, and many other healthcare providers, in addition to your team of physicians, to fully assess the seriousness of your injuries and all the medical care that you’ll need. We work aggressively to hold reckless drivers, makers of dangerous products, construction site owners, and property owners accountable for negligence and for putting profits before safety. We have a strong track record, through 20 years of representing personal injury victims, and for obtaining high verdicts and settlements to compensate TBI victims for all their financial and personal losses and suffering.

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You have to remember that insurance companies are for-profit corporations whose sole existence is to make money for the shareholders. That's why you need someone who knows their playbook and how to beat it.

Matthew PhilbrookAttorney

What are the signs and symptoms of a traumatic brain injury?

In some cases, it’s fairly obvious that a person has suffered a severe blow to the head – because he or she has suffered a skull fracture, or his or her brain is bleeding. In many cases, TBI victims have some or all of the following symptoms, according to the Mayo Clinic:

If you or a loved one was in an accident, it’s always wise to be examined in an emergency room or by your family doctor so they can look for these TBI symptoms.

What diagnostic tests are used to assess a TBI?

According to Brain Line, although many TBIs are mild, they can worsen quickly. The first step physicians take is to conduct a neurological exam, which assesses the victim’s motor and sensory skills, and “the functioning of one or more cranial nerves.” The victim’s mental status, balance and coordination, hearing and speech, and moods and behavior will also be examined.

Various standards are used to assess the severity of the brain injury, such as the Acute Concussion Evaluation (ACE) and the Glasgow Coma Scale. The Glasgow coma scale assigns points depending on the person’s responses, such as the victim’s ability to open his/her eyes or acknowledge questions. The level of the TBI is graded as follows:

• Severe TBI. A score of 3-8. Extremely forceful blows can cause brain hemorrhages and skull fractures which can result in death and catastrophic injuries.
• Moderate TBI. A score of 9-12. With time, some accident victims with a TBI can make a strong recovery. Many, though, are left with permanent injuries.
• Mild TBI. A score of 13-15. Many people with a mild TBI suffer a concussion and feelings of confusion. With treatment, many mild TBI patients can lead reasonably normal lives.

Are there any imaging tests for a TBI?

A brain scan (a computed tomography, or CT scan) helps determine if surgery is needed to repair any brain damage. Emergency rooms use CT scans. A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) test is a more sensitive test and can pick up complications that a CT scan misses.

CT scans and MRIs are more likely to pick up moderate to severe TBIs than mild TBIs. A mild TBI also may not show a skull fracture, hematoma, or contusion. Recently, diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) tests and fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) tests are used to detect bleeding and other mild complications. However, these tests have their limits.

Some TBI victims don’t show immediate systems or don’t know they have symptoms until a family member recognizes that something is wrong.

How do you treat the initial stages of a traumatic brain injury?

The first people to treat a TBI victim are usually Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) and Emergency Room (ER) doctors. According to the Mayo Clinic, ER care focuses on monitoring the victim’s blood pressure and blood supply, oxygen level, and treatment for any other injuries.

Medications for TBI victims include:

• Diuretics. These medications help reduce fluids in tissues and help increase the flow of urine. They are usually given through IVs when patients have a TBI. The main goal is to reduce pressure inside the brain.
• Anti-seizure drugs. During the first week after a car crash, fall, explosion, or other accident, anti-seizure drugs are used to reduce the risk of a seizure, which can cause additional brain damage.
• Coma-inducing drugs. These medications help reduce the brain’s need for oxygen. They are “especially helpful if blood vessels, compressed by increased pressure in the brain, are unable to supply brain cells with normal amounts of nutrients and oxygen.”

Some of the surgical procedures a neurosurgeon may use include working on the following problems:

• Removing clotted blood (hematomas)
• Repairing skull fractures
• Bleeding in the brain
• Opening a window in the skull

What are the long-term rehabilitative treatments for Vancouver, WA TBI patients?

Rehabilitation is medical care that aims to improve the health of the TBI patient – to help him/her walk, talk, think, react, work, function, and enjoy life. TBI patients generally show the most improvement in the first six months. They can also improve during the first two years. After two years, however, the aim of most medical care is to help ensure your condition, or the condition of a loved one, doesn’t worsen.

TBI medical care is incredibly expensive. Most accident victims, especially those with a moderate or severe TBI, require treatment with many of the following healthcare providers.

• Therapists help patients with hands-on care and with assistive devices:
  • Physical therapists help TBI victims with balance, mobility, and exercise.
  • Occupational therapists help victims eat, use writing instruments, and other daily functions.
  • Speech therapists help victims communicate.
  • Recreational therapists help with leisure activities.
• TBI nurse specialists explain to the families of the victims how they can help, and what their loved one’s care plan is.
• Psychiatrists and neuropsychologists help patients with behavioral and emotional problems and problems such as Post-Traumatic-Stress-Disorder (PTSD).
• Social workers or case managers help TBI victims get help from community and governmental agencies.
• Vocational counselors help the TBI patient return to work – if possible.
• Rehabilitation nurses help with hospital discharges and rehabilitation coordination.

The entire team is usually led by a psychiatrist, but it doesn’t have to be.

Who is liable for a traumatic brain injury accident?

At Philbrook Law, our Vancouver, WA TBI lawyers work aggressively to hold all responsible parties liable. We file cases against:

• Drivers of cars, trucks, and other vehicles that cause a TBI
• The manufacturers, distributors, and sellers of defective machines, tools, and products that cause forceful impacts
• Property owners who fail to inspect their property or warn visitors of dangers
• Construction site owners, contractors, and others liable for falls, for being struck by objects, and for other causes of a TBI
• Any other responsible parties

Contact Philbrook Law to discuss your TBI case today

At Philbrook Law, our Vancouver, WA brain injury lawyers understand just how life-altering a traumatic brain injury is. We demand compensation for your physical pain, emotional suffering, and inability to function. Our lawyers also demand payment for all your income losses due to an accident. For help with your TBI case now, please call or complete our contact form. We see victims at our offices in Vancouver or Portland, OR, and at their home if necessary. We also serve the greater Portland area and Oregon State. We handle TBI cases on a contingency fee basis. 

Related Articles:

• What Short-Term and Long-Term Complications May Arise from Brain Injuries?

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“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.”

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“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!”

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