If you’ve experienced a traumatic brain injury (TBI), you may be eligible for various types of compensation to address the physical, emotional, and financial impacts of the injury. The specific compensation you can seek depends on the circumstances surrounding your case, but potential categories include medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
Vaughan & Vaughan understand that a TBI may impact your life in multiple ways, which is why we want to help you recover all your losses. Our personal injury law firm has been helping injured victims like you for over 110 years. Let our Indianapolis traumatic brain injury lawyers help you seek maximum compensation. Call us today for a free case evaluation.
Economic Damages
Economic damages refer to the measurable and quantifiable financial losses incurred by the individual as a direct result of the injury. The objective is to compensate the injured party for the tangible and calculable financial burdens brought about by the traumatic brain injury, aiming to restore them to the financial position they would have been in if the injury had not occurred.
Medical Bills
After being diagnosed with a TBI, you may face a significant burden of medical bills associated with the necessary treatments and interventions. The comprehensive nature of TBI treatment, which may involve multiple specialists and extended rehabilitation periods, can contribute to substantial medical costs.
If you suffered a TBI, your medical bills could include:
- Emergency room visits
- Diagnostic tests
- Surgeries
- Rehabilitation sessions
- Follow-up medical appointments
- Imaging studies (MRI, CT scans)
- Medications
Additionally, the need for assistive devices, medications, and adaptive technologies further adds to the financial strain. Navigating the complexities of insurance coverage, filing claims, and understanding the full scope of medical expenses can be overwhelming without professional legal assistance.
An Indiana traumatic brain injury lawyer from our team will calculate your medical expenses by reviewing all available evidence. This process involves gathering and reviewing relevant medical records, bills, and invoices related to the diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of the traumatic brain injury.
Future Medical Expenses
Our legal team recognizes that the consequences of a TBI often extend into the future. You may need ongoing medical care, rehabilitation, and potential interventions. While these may be more difficult to prove, we want to make sure that these are included in your claim.
Future medical expenses after a traumatic brain injury refer to:
- Continued therapy
- Medical monitoring
- Adaptive technologies
- Assistive devices
- Long-term care facilities
- Ongoing rehabilitation
- Home health care
- Potential surgeries
To calculate future medical expenses, the lawyer collaborates with medical experts to project the long-term impact of the injury on the individual’s health and well-being. We want to make sure that no expense is overlooked and that you receive enough money to cover all your future medical costs.
Lost Wages
A traumatic brain injury can significantly impact your ability to work, often resulting in lost wages. The severity of the injury may require time away from employment for medical treatments, rehabilitation, and recovery.
When the injury causes permanent disability or impairs cognitive and physical functions, you may face a diminished capacity to perform your job responsibilities. This leads to reduced work hours or a complete inability to return to your previous employment. The disruption in work capabilities directly translates to lost wages, affecting your income and financial stability.
An Indianapolis catastrophic injury lawyer plays a crucial role in assessing the extent of lost wages, considering current income levels, employment history, and potential future earnings to seek fair compensation that accounts for the economic impact of the injury on you and your family.
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages address the intangible losses that an individual experiences, extending beyond measurable financial impact. These damages encompass the emotional and psychological toll of the injury.
While economic damages address tangible financial losses like medical bills and lost wages, non-economic damages recognize the subjective and personal aspects of the trauma endured. Quantifying non-economic damages is inherently challenging, as it involves assessing the emotional distress and long-term implications on your well-being.
Pain and Suffering
Traumatic brain injuries can lead to profound pain and suffering, encompassing both physical and emotional anguish. The physical pain may stem from the immediate impact, surgeries, and ongoing treatments, contributing to a diminished quality of life.
Beyond the physical injuries, the emotional toll can be equally significant. You could face cognitive challenges, mood swings, and the frustration of adjusting to a new normal.
Navigating these complex aspects of pain and suffering requires not only medical attention but also the compassionate advocacy of a legal professional. Our personal injury lawyers in Indianapolis can address these subjective losses and help rebuild your life.
Emotional Pain
A traumatic brain injury can inflict profound emotional pain, encompassing a spectrum of complex challenges. The cognitive and emotional consequences of a TBI can disrupt one’s sense of self, triggering feelings of frustration, confusion, and a sense of loss. The impact of a traumatic brain injury on relationships and daily activities can further contribute to emotional distress.
Your attorney will build a compelling case that documents the emotional impact of the traumatic brain injury. This may involve gathering evidence such as medical records, expert testimony, and personal accounts detailing the emotional challenges faced by the individual. By presenting a persuasive case, your attorney will seek compensation for emotional distress as part of the overall damages claim.
Punitive Damages
These damages are intended to punish a defendant for particularly egregious conduct and to deter similar actions in the future. To be eligible for punitive damages in Indiana, a plaintiff must demonstrate that the defendant acted with malice, fraud, gross negligence, or a willful and wanton disregard for the rights and safety of others.
The primary purpose of punitive damages is not to compensate the plaintiff for their losses but rather to impose a penalty on the defendant. Indiana law imposes a cap on punitive damages, limiting them to the greater of three times the compensatory damages or $50,000.
Our Traumatic Brain Injury Lawyers Will Help You Get Maximum Compensation
With a deep understanding of the physical, emotional, and financial toll that these injuries can cause, our legal team will help you build a strong case. We assess the full extent of your damages, including medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and any long-term consequences of the injury.
Our primary goal is to alleviate the burdens you carry by seeking the highest possible compensation. Contact us today to review your options for financial recovery.
