How Can a Virginia Concussion Injury Lawyer Help You?

What Kind of Settlement Can a Virginia Concussion Injury Attorney Help Secure?

The compensation you receive from a Virginia concussion injury lawsuit could include coverage for:

• Medical bills for initial treatments and surgeries, as well as ongoing and long-term therapeutic expenses
• Loss of income and future earnings, including for children injured at a young age who may never be able to work 
• Pain and suffering for matters like loss of independence, disfigurement or scarring, or loss of companionship in a marriage
• Punitive damages, which are “punishment” fees charged to the negligent party and then awarded to you
• Wrongful death expenses like funeral costs or the loss of income in cases where the concussion injury caused or contributed to a your loved one’s death

There are two primary ways that you can go about collecting the compensation that you deserve: filing a claim with the insurance company and filing a claim in civil court. A lawyer can help in both instances — by negotiating a fair payout from the insurance provider, and pursuing a legal cause against the negligent party who caused your injury. 

When someone else is at fault for your injuries, you have the right to be fully repaid for your suffering. It’s important to have an experienced attorney when seeking full compensation, as they will furnish the appropriate receipts, and translate your emotional losses into number values the court can understand. 

What Kind of Accident Cases Can a Virginia Concussion Lawyer Handle?

The Virginia concussion lawyers at Smith Law Center can represent you in various types brain injury accident cases, including:

• Motor vehicle accidents including car accidents, commercial truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, rideshare, and bicycle accidents
• Slip and fall accidents at workplaces, nursing homes, or other public and residential places where premises liability applies
• Recreational or sports injuries in activities like football, soccer, lacrosse, boxing, ice hockey, and rugby

The type of accident that you were involved in will likely be a strong indicator of who may be held responsible for the cost of your injuries. For example, if you were involved in a car accident, the driver of the vehicle that hit you, auto parts manufacturers, the state, and other third parties could all share responsibility. If you were diagnosed with a concussion after a slip and fall accident, you might bring a claim against the owner of the property where you were injured and their insurance company. 

In cases where there are multiple parties who have contributed to the injuries, your attorney will be sure to identify and name all at-fault parties. This helps open up all available sources of compensation, maximizing your final settlement or award.

What Are the Types of Concussions?

The symptoms of a concussion will depend on how severely the head was struck or shaken. Concussion severity is classified by grade, as follows:

Grade 1 (mild concussion)

Grade 1 concussions are characterized by brief memory loss, confusion, headache, dizziness, and nausea, but no loss of consciousness. Symptoms usually last less than an hour, but can linger for days. Most commonly, grade 1 concussions occur in minor car accidents, athletic events, or at-home mishaps.

Grade 2 (moderate concussion)

Signs of a grade 2 concussion are similar to grade 1 symptoms, although symptoms typically last from half an hour to an entire day. Certain medical experts argue that grade 2 concussions can include losing consciousness for several minutes.

Grade 3 (severe concussion)

A grade 3 concussion is characterized by unconsciousness and the lasting presence of concussion symptoms. In serious cases, victims may experience amnesia and can have difficulty with language. Professional treatment and observation are required since this grade of concussion can be a sign of mild brain damage.

Simple vs. Complex

In 2004, a group of professionals attending the Second International Conference on Concussion in Sports in Prague, introduced the categorization system of simple vs. complex concussions. A simple concussion was deemed to last less than 10 days, while complex concussions were characterized by at least 10 days of severe concussion symptoms, such as cognitive impairment or concussive convulsions.

Concussion Syndromes

There are different types of concussion syndromes that may impact your health outcome, including:

• Post-Concussion Syndrome: A disorder that is characterized by symptoms that last for weeks or months. The risk of acquiring this syndrome is not necessarily connected with the severity of the initial injury. For most post-concussion syndrome victims, symptoms show up within the first week. They will usually subside within three months, although symptoms can persist for a year or more.
• Second Impact Syndrome: A rare condition that occurs when an individual sustains a concussion before a previous concussion has properly healed. The syndrome involves rapid and severe brain swelling that can have serious and even life-threatening results.