If you suffered a jolt or a blow to the head, it is critical that you see a health professional as soon as possible after your accident. Certain symptoms — such as slowed thinking — may not be evident until you return to your normal habits. For the sake of your health, it’s important to get a professional opinion so you can document the concern and begin treatment right away if necessary.

From a legal standpoint, delaying treatment may also impact your case and make it more difficult to obtain the compensation you need to recover. Even so-called mild brain injuries can have serious consequences and may require expensive treatment. Yet the insurance company liable for compensation will often attempt to devalue your claim if you wait too long to see a doctor and document your symptoms. It may argue that since you did not see a specialist right away, you are not as seriously injured as you claim to be. This can dramatically increase the chances that you will have to go to trial in order to secure an adequate financial recovery.

Speaking with a specialist can also help your brain injury lawyer resolve your case more quickly and efficiently. When you visit a health professional, he or she will begin creating records that will be used to document your injuries and the potential timeline and costs of your treatment. These records will be used to build your case and prove your need for compensation, including any future medical or other costs.

The bottom line is that medical treatment should be one of your top priorities after a serious accident, even if you’re not experiencing symptoms you consider serious at the time. You may also want to begin documenting symptoms in a journal for your lawyer to help you keep track of how your injury has affected your life.

The effects of a traumatic brain injury can be far ranging and quite serious. These can fundamentally alter your ability to perform basic tasks, earn a living, and maintain your quality of life. Of course, these issues can have a life-changing impact on your family as well. When it can be proven that these harms and losses have resulted from another party’s negligence, you may have the right to seek compensation. Common damages in these cases include:

• Short- and long-term medical bills
• Mental health treatment
• Various out-of-pocket expenses
• Pain and suffering
• Loss of quality of life
• Physical impairment
• Lost income and earning potential
• Loss of companionship

Some of these losses are more difficult to prove than others, especially when they are permanent. Additionally, there may be losses connected with your injury that you have not even considered. Because understanding your rights and options following an accident is critically important to the outcome of your case, it is strongly recommended that you speak with a personal injury attorney before you decide how to proceed.

There are hundreds of ways that a person can sustain a serious head injury, but these accidents are only eligible for compensation when it can be proven that another party’s negligence contributed to or directly caused the accident. Here are a few types of accidents we see from Texas injury victims.

• Motor vehicle accidents
• Industrial accidents
• Construction accidents
• Trip and fall accidents

While hiring a traumatic brain injury lawyer may not be the best option for every accident victim, it is always a good idea to at least consult with one so you can understand your rights. There are some specific benefits to engaging an attorney to help with your case:

• Proving damages. The lifetime costs associated with any serious accident can be quite high. And some non-monetary damages — such as loss of quality of life — may be difficult to quantify. This is one reason you might choose to hire a traumatic brain injury lawyer for your case. A lawyer can help you calculate and prove the long-term costs of your injury and will work to build a strategy to prove more intangible losses.
• Providing resources to maximize your compensation. Whenever harms and losses are substantial, injury victims require a great deal of compensation. The parties responsible for paying for those harms and losses — particularly insurance carriers — will fight harder to devalue claims and pay you less than the law requires. A lawyer can help you stand up to insurance companies to get the compensation you and your loved ones need, so you can ensure your interests are properly represented.
• Handling medical bills. Unfortunately, the treatment of TBIs often results in high and long-term medical expenses. If you are unable to pay these bills immediately — or have been issued a hospital lien against your settlement — a qualified lawyer can help you negotiate more reasonable hospital bills and identify ways to pay for or even defer your medical bills until your case is resolved.
• Offering support. TBIs are serious, often life-changing events with major legal implications. Managing your case while trying to recover or adjust to your situation is typically much more than most accident victims can handle. A traumatic brain injury lawyer will help fill this role, offering not only legal but financial and emotional support and guidance during this difficult experience. That way, you can rest assured that someone is protecting your best interests.
• Wrongful death claims. In the case that a TBI does result in death, either immediately following the accident or later on, a lawyer can help you and your loved ones pursue a wrongful death claim. An experienced wrongful death lawyer understands how Texas law applies in these cases, and who is allowed to file such a claim. An excellent lawyer can also help you set up an estate in accordance with Texas probate laws.

Speaking to an attorney with knowledge of disability and TBIs can make a substantial difference in the outcome of your case. Accident victims are typically able to achieve better case results with the expertise of a lawyer on their side, since an experienced lawyer knows how to prove the full extent of your harms and losses.

However, it’s important to choose a lawyer who is not only experienced but ethical, compassionate, and committed to your case. That’s exactly what you’ll find at FVF Law. Here’s what our team brings to the table.

• Expert knowledge and outstanding reputation. Our Austin traumatic brain injury lawyers are recognized by clients and legal authorities alike as experts in our field. We maintain excellent reviews on Yelp, Google, and AVVO. Additionally, our attorneys have been included in the prestigious Texas Super Lawyers–Rising Stars list and the Million- and Multimillion Dollar Advocates Forum.
• Client compassion. A primary goal for FVF is to offer clients a sense of recognition for what they are going through. Our attorneys make sure TBI victims are receiving treatment with top-tier medical diagnosticians who can offer a thorough account of the injury, and work to treat all clients with sensitivity and dignity.
• Commitment to our ethics. The Austin personal injury attorneys at FVF Law are truly committed to client advocacy and education. We strive to be as transparent as possible with our clients, working with them to fulfill the role of trusted ally in the face of very difficult circumstances.
• Advice, not pressure. Some personal injury attorneys try to pressure victims into hiring them, regardless of whether or not that action makes sense for their case. We never try to coerce clients or make them feel as if their choices are limited. Instead, we take an education-first approach, presenting victims with all of their options and rights instead of a sales pitch, so they can choose what is in their best interest.
• Free case consultation. As stated before, we are committed to offering pressure-free, transparent advice. That’s why we provide a free initial case evaluation for every accident victim who reaches out to us.

If you suspect that you or someone you love has sustained a traumatic brain injury from an accident, get in touch with our expert team of Austin traumatic brain injury lawyers today. We will ensure that you have the knowledge, confidence, and support you need to recover and move forward with your life.