A traumatic brain injury is different from almost any other injury a person can sustain. There is no cast, no visible wound, no clear marker that signals to the world, or to an insurance adjuster, that something serious happened.
The symptoms of a brain injury can be subtle at first, easy to dismiss, and slow to fully reveal themselves, making the period immediately following a brain injury important for both recovery and any eventual legal claim.
The mistakes victims make in those early days and weeks are understandable. Nobody plans for a brain injury. But some of those mistakes are costly in ways that cannot easily be undone. Here is what to watch out for. You need the guidance of a brain injury attorney in Baton Rouge.
At Chris Corzo Injury Attorneys, our traumatic brain injury lawyers have been protecting the rights of injury victims for decades and have helped secure billions of dollars in compensation. We want to help you recover maximum compensation for your brain injury claim. Contact our Baton Rouge attorneys to schedule a free consultation.
Not Seeking Medical Attention Right Away
After a motor vehicle accident, such as a car, commercial truck, or motorcycle accident, many people feel shaken up but not obviously hurt. So, they walk away, go home, and tell themselves they will see how they feel in a day or two.
With a traumatic brain injury (TBI), that decision can be dangerous in two ways. First, many brain injuries do not announce themselves immediately. Symptoms that seem mild at first can escalate rapidly into something far more serious.
Second, delaying care creates a gap that insurance companies can exploit. If there is no medical record tying your symptoms to the accident in the immediate aftermath, the defense will argue that your injury either was not caused by the accident or was not as serious as you now claim. That argument gets harder to counter the longer you wait.
Returning to Normal Activity Too Soon
Your brain needs rest to heal after a trauma. Returning to work and physical activity before your doctor clears you can cause additional harm. Additionally, insurance companies will argue that returning to work so quickly is evidence that your injuries are not as severe as you claim.
Follow your doctor’s instructions. Doing so can protect your brain health and your personal injury claim.
Talking to the Insurance Company Without a TBI Attorney
After any serious accident, the at-fault party’s insurer will reach out quickly. They may seem helpful. They will express sympathy. They will ask questions that seem entirely reasonable. And every answer you give may be recorded and potentially used to minimize your claim.
Memory issues, difficulty processing information, and impulsive responses are legitimate symptoms of a brain injury, and all of them can create problems in an unguarded conversation with an insurance adjuster. Do not give a recorded statement or accept a settlement offer. Do not sign any release of liability. Contact a Baton Rouge brain injury attorney first.
Posting on Social Media
When you are recovering from a brain injury, you may be eager to connect to others through social media. However, when you and your family members post updates, and your friends tag photos, the insurance companies are likely monitoring it all.
A single photograph of you smiling at a family dinner, or a post saying you are “doing better,” can be used to contradict your testimony about the severity of your symptoms. Even posts unrelated to the accident can be taken out of context.
Waiting Too Long to Hire a Traumatic Brain Injury Lawyer
Brain injury claims are complex. Your chances of recovering maximum compensation are much higher when your brain injury attorney can act quickly after the accident to preserve vital evidence, handle all communications with the insurance company, and bring in medical and economic expert witnesses early.
They’ll guide you on what you should and should not do while your claim is pending, and begin building your best claim as quickly as possible.
Let Our Baton Rouge Brain Injury Attorneys Help You
If you or someone you love sustained a TBI in an accident caused by someone else’s negligence, the experienced brain injury lawyers at Chris Corzo Injury Attorneys are ready to help you navigate what comes next.
Our Baton Rouge brain injury attorneys have helped thousands of injury victims secure maximum compensation for their damages, and we want to do the same for you. Call us at (225) 999-1111 or visit our contact page to schedule a free consultation with a brain injury lawyer today.