Salt Lake City Brain Injury Lawyers

Brain injuries can have lifelong repercussions and significantly alter a person’s quality of life. Brain damage is often permanent; patients may require long-term medical care and support. If you or a loved one suffered a brain injury in an accident that was someone else’s fault, you could be entitled to compensation for your losses. You need a dedicated Salt Lake City brain injury lawyer to fight for you.

At Swenson & Shelley, our Salt Lake City brain injury attorneys have the experience and resources to help you pursue the compensation and justice you deserve. We understand the long-term medical care and services you will likely need to live life to the fullest after a brain injury. Our lawyers will work tirelessly to help you seek the best possible outcome in your case. We believe that accident victims deserve the relentless pursuit of justice.

Reach out today for a free, no-risk consultation.

When Can You File a Lawsuit After a Brain Injury?

If you suffered a brain injury in Utah, you might be able to pursue compensation through a personal injury lawsuit if you can prove that someone caused your accident through negligence or misconduct.

First, you’ll need to demonstrate that the person who caused your brain injury (the at-fault party) had a fundamental responsibility to prevent you from being harmed but failed to uphold that obligation through some form of negligence. You must show that the at-fault party’s negligent actions directly contributed to your injuries and that you suffered financial or non-financial losses.

For example, if you suffered a brain injury in a severe motor vehicle accident caused by a distracted driver, you might be able to hold the at-fault driver accountable for their negligence.

How a Salt Lake City Brain Injury Attorney Can Help

You should consult a knowledgeable brain injury lawyer in Salt Lake City as soon as possible after your accident. The last thing you want to do is accept a lowball settlement from the at-fault party’s insurance company and end up with significant out-of-pocket costs for an injury you didn’t cause.

Some specific benefits of hiring a brain injury attorney include:

  • Proving the full extent of your losses ─ The lifelong costs associated with a brain injury can be steep, and it can be challenging to assign a dollar amount to your intangible losses, such as pain and suffering. The insurance company will have its methods for calculating the value of your claim, but you shouldn’t just take them at their word. An attorney can help you calculate the actual value of your claim and gather the necessary evidence to support the amount of your demand.
  • Accessing the resources necessary to build a strong case – When you consult with a brain injury lawyer, you will have access to their vast network of experts and specialists who can give testimony in support of your claim, from accident reconstruction experts to qualified medical experts. A reasonable brain injury attorney will have the necessary resources to help you prove liability and maximize your potential compensation.
  • Guiding and supporting you through the legal process ─ Navigating the insurance claims process while being treated for a brain injury can be too much to handle on your own. An attorney can manage every aspect of your legal claim, acting as your advocate with the insurance company.
  • Fighting fiercely for the compensation you need ─ An attorney can negotiate for a brain injury settlement from a position of strength, with extensive evidence and documentation to support your demand. An attorney can also take your case to trial, if litigation is the best path forward in your case.

Because these types of claims are so complex, you should work with an attorney who has extensive experience handling brain injury cases. At Swenson & Shelley, we have the knowledge and the track record you need.

Common Causes of Brain Injuries in Salt Lake City

Many different types of accidents can lead to brain injuries. Some of the most common causes of brain injuries are:

  • Bus accidents
  • Slip and fall accidents
  • Construction accidents
  • Boating accidents
  • Accidents involving dangerous and defective products

A brain injury lawyer from Swenson & Shelley will have the tools to thoroughly review the accident that caused your injury and determine who should be held accountable.

Fighting for Full Compensation for a Traumatic Brain Injury

If your brain injury occurred because another person was negligent or engaged in misconduct, you have a legal right to pursue compensation, or “damages,” for your losses. Some of the most common types of damages you can recover include:

  • Medical expenses related to treating your injuries
  • Mental health treatment
  • Long-term care costs
  • Lost earnings if you are unable to work while you are being treated
  • Lost future income if you are prevented from working in the future
  • Loss of consortium
  • Physical impairment
  • Loss of quality of life
  • Pain and suffering, including emotional distress, mental anguish, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and other intangible losses

Some losses, particularly intangible losses, are harder to prove than others. You may also experience losses in the future that are hard to predict in the early stages of your recovery. That’s why you should speak with a qualified brain injury lawyer before you file your insurance claim.

How Long Do You Have to File a Brain Injury Lawsuit in Utah?

In Utah, there is a four-year statute of limitations on personal injury cases. This means you must initiate legal action by filing a lawsuit against the at-fault party within four years of the date you suffered your injury. If you fail to file within this time period, you will most likely be barred from recovering compensation through the legal system, and you may end up with significant out-of-pocket expenses. That’s why it is crucial to speak with an attorney right away.

How to Recognize the Symptoms of a Traumatic Brain Injury

Traumatic brain injuries can cause a number of symptoms, both physical and psychological.

Physical symptoms can include:

  • A brief loss of consciousness
  • Nausea
  • Headache
  • Ringing in the ears
  • Swelling on the scalp
  • Seizures
  • Slurred speech
  • Lack of coordination
  • Blurry vision and dizziness

Psychological and behavioral symptoms can include:

  • Memory issues
  • Confusion
  • Amnesia
  • Mood swings
  • Irritability
  • Impulsivity
  • Aggression
  • Abnormal emotional outbursts such as laughing and crying

If you believe you have sustained a brain injury, you should seek medical attention right away.

What to Expect During Treatment for Traumatic Brain Injury

Mild traumatic brain injuries, such as concussions, may initially require rest and over-the-counter pain medications. However, a mild head injury can quickly worsen, so patients should always be monitored.

For life-threatening brain injuries, a medical provider’s focus will be on stabilizing the patient and controlling their symptoms. In some cases, surgery may be required to remove blood clots, repair skull fractures, remove debris from the brain area, or alleviate pressure inside the skull.

A physician may also use certain medications to treat brain injury symptoms, including diuretics, muscle relaxants, anticoagulants, anticonvulsants, and anti-anxiety medications.

Depending on the severity of the patient’s brain injury, rehabilitative care might be recommended. Common types of rehabilitative care include physical therapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy, mental health counseling, and cognitive therapy.

What Can Family Members Do to Help Brain Injury Survivors?

If your loved one suffered a serious brain injury, there are a number of ways you can offer your support:

  • Exercise patience with your loved one.
  • Find ways to help your loved one stay organized.
  • Take your loved one on outings to get them out of the house.
  • Offer to take care of household errands and chores.
  • Establish daily routines to help your loved one have a sense of normalcy.
  • If your loved one must stay in a medical facility, bring some of their favorite items to the facility to make their room feel a bit more like home.

Utah caregivers can find more resources on the Brain Injury Association of America website.

Our Attorneys Have Helped People Coping with All Types of Brain Injuries

Some of the most common types of brain injury cases we handle at Swenson & Shelley include:

  • Concussions
  • Hematomas, which cause blood to pool in or around the brain
  • Skull fractures
  • Edema, or swelling of the brain
  • Diffuse axonal injuries, which cause damage to axons in the brain and inhibit certain functions

No injury to the brain should be considered minor. If you have sustained a brain injury due to another person’s carelessness, you have a legal right to hold the person who caused the injury accountable.

Talk to a Salt Lake City Brain Injury Attorney Now

If you suffered a serious brain injury through no fault of your own, contact Swenson & Shelley today to discuss your situation with one of our compassionate Salt Lake City personal injury lawyers. Our attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, so you can retain our services right away with no upfront cost. We only collect a legal fee if we successfully obtain compensation for you.

You shouldn’t have to fight this battle alone. Reach out today for a free case review.