Bedford Traumatic Brain Injury Lawyers
When it comes to brain injuries, the consequences can be long-lasting and severe. From losing the ability to function to experiencing intense pain, these injuries take an enormous toll on victims and their families. The scope of brain injuries can vary, from minor concussions to lethal trauma, with long-lasting, life altering repercussions.
At NOVA Injury Law, our team of brain injury lawyers has the expertise needed to evaluate your case and help you understand your options. We understand the challenges that brain injury victims and their families face. We are committed to helping you recover the compensation you deserve for your injuries and losses. And we are dedicated to giving you the support and guidance needed to get your life back on track.
We have a practicing emergency room physician with special training in occupational medicine on our team, and we work closely with brain injury specialists in Bedford and throughout Nova Scotia. This means we can build compelling case files quickly and efficiently, right away.
From the moment you talk with us about your needs, you have immediate access to medical support and advice. It also gives our lawyers the greenlight to build medically-backed watertight compensation claims in a way no other personal injury law firm can. And with our no-win, no-fee arrangements, you get all of this for free until we win your case.
This is the reason that NOVA Injury Law is considered to be one of the premier personal injury law firms in Nova Scotia.
If you or a loved one has suffered a brain injury, it’s important to seek the right legal advice and support. Contact our team of brain injury lawyers at NOVA Injury Law for a Free Case Review today.
What are the most common types of brain injuries?
There are many types of brain injuries including:
- Concussion: The most common form of brain injury is concussion, and this is a mild traumatic brain injury that usually results from a blow or jolt to the head. Symptoms can include headache, dizziness, confusion, memory loss, and sensitivity to light and sound.
- Traumatic brain injury (TBI): A TBI is a serious brain injury that usually occurs as a result of a severe blow or jolt to the head. Symptoms of a TBI may include loss of consciousness, confusion, memory loss, seizures, and mood changes.
- Contusion: A bruise on the brain that usually occurs as a result of a direct impact to the head. Symptoms may include headache, dizziness, nausea, and weakness or numbness in the arms or legs.
- Anoxic brain injury: An anoxic brain injury happens when the brain is denied oxygen. This may occur as a result of drowning, suffocation, or a heart attack. Symptoms may include memory loss, confusion, seizures, and coma.
- Stroke: A stroke occurs when the blood supply to the brain is interrupted. Symptoms of a stroke may include weakness or numbness on one side of the body, speech difficulties, and difficulty with balance or coordination.
- Brain hemorrhage: A brain hemorrhage occurs when there is bleeding in the brain. Symptoms may include headache, nausea, vomiting, seizures, and loss of consciousness.
These are just a few of the common types of brain injuries. The severity and long-term effects of a brain injury can vary widely, depending on the type and extent of the injury. There are several brain injury specialists and medical centres in Bedford and wider Nova Scotia, and it’s important to seek medical attention as soon as possible if you suspect that you or someone else has suffered a brain injury.
How do brain injuries happen?
Even a seemingly minor knock to the head can have disastrous repercussions. And accidents can happen at any time. Below are just a few possible scenarios:
- Car accidents: Motor vehicle accidents are a common cause of brain injuries, often resulting from another driver’s negligence. For example, a pedestrian or cyclist who is hit by a car may suffer a traumatic brain injury due to the driver’s failure to yield or obey traffic signals.
- Sporting accidents: Contact sports like football, soccer, hockey, and rugby can cause concussions and other brain injuries. Coaches, referees, or other players who fail to ensure a safe playing environment can be held liable for any resulting brain injuries.
- Medical malpractice: Brain injuries can also occur due to medical malpractice, such as surgical errors, anesthesia errors, or improper medication management. Healthcare providers who fail to provide safe and effective care can be held liable for any resulting brain injuries.
- Assault: Acts of violence like assault and battery can cause traumatic brain injuries. Perpetrators found guilty of the crime can be held liable for any resulting brain injuries and required to compensate the victim for their damages.
- Slip and falls: Traumatic brain injuries can occur in slip and fall accidents, especially if the person hits their head on a hard surface. If the fall is caused by someone else’s negligence, such as a property owner’s failure to fix a hazardous condition, they may be held responsible.
- Workplace accidents: Physical labour and heavy machinery in some jobs can be dangerous and result in brain injuries. Employers who fail to provide a safe work environment or adequate training can be held liable for any resulting brain injuries.
- Defective products: Malfunctioning or dangerous products like faulty car parts or children’s toys can cause brain injuries. Manufacturers or distributors who fail to provide safe products can be held liable for any resulting brain injuries.
Some other examples of how brain injuries can occur include dog bites, exposure to toxins, and swimming pool accidents. In these cases, owners or operators who are negligent in controlling their animals, addressing hazardous conditions, or providing proper supervision can be held liable for any resulting brain injuries.
What is the process for determining whether you have a claim for you or your loved ones’ brain injury?
NOVA Injury Law offers a Free Case Review, giving families the chance to consult with an experienced brain injury lawyer free of charge. This gives families a chance to consult with a lawyer to discuss whether an injured person has any legal recourse available to them. Things we consider:
- Symptoms: Common symptoms of mild brain injuries can include headaches, dizziness, confusion, memory loss, mood changes, and difficulty concentrating. Depending on the cause of your injury, documenting the symptoms you are noticing and when you started to notice them will help us assess the potential for you to bring a claim.
- Medical records: We review the individual’s medical records to determine whether they have been diagnosed with a brain injury. This may include reviewing imaging tests, such as CT scans or MRIs, and consulting with medical experts to determine the extent of the injury.
- Accident circumstances: We evaluate the circumstances of the accident that caused the injury to determine whether it was caused by someone else’s negligence or intentional act. This may include reviewing police reports, witness statements, and other evidence related to the accident.
- Impact on daily life: We evaluate how the injury has impacted your daily life. Even mild brain injuries can cause significant disruptions to a person’s ability to work, socialize, and engage in other activities. We also look at the impact on the victim’s quality of life, including their ability to care for themselves and their family.
- Potential long-term effects: We consider the potential long-term effects of the injury. Even a mild brain injury can have long-term consequences, including increased risk of future injuries and ongoing cognitive impairments. We work with medical experts in lock step to evaluate an injured person’s long-term prognosis and to estimate the future costs of treatment and care.
If you’ve experienced trauma to the head, you may be suffering from concussion or post-concussion syndrome
Concussions are common for those who have suffered head injuries in Bedford, NS. Often resulting from slips and falls and sporting accidents, concussions are known as mild traumatic brain injuries. Not to be taken lightly, they can affect your memory and concentration, leading to mood swings and personality changes, headaches, dizziness, nauseousness, and insomnia.
While victims of head injuries may experience concussion symptoms right away, symptoms can also become present long after the injury. This is known as post-concussion syndrome, and it happens when victims experience ongoing effects following the injury. These symptoms could last weeks or even months, and are usually presented as headaches, dizziness, or problems with concentration and memory.
If you have sustained a traumatic head injury, it is important to seek medical attention right away. You may also consider reaching out to a Brain Injury Support Group, located in the Bedford NeuroCommons.
How will NOVA Injury Law pursue a compensation claim for a brain injury suffered by you or someone close to you?
After a victim or their family has received a Free Case Review, they are best placed to make an informed decision about what to do next.
If a decision is made to pursue the matter, NOVA Injury Law will not charge a legal fee until a settlement is reached. That’s because at NOVA Injury Law we don’t believe that clients should have to take on financial burden in their pursuit of justice.
Once we get to work we may pursue the matter in a number of avenues including negotiation, mediation and even at trial through the courts. Unfortunately, brain injury claims can take years to resolve so it’s important that you have a trusted professional to guide you through the process.
What sets NOVA Injury law apart from other personal injury lawyers?
By relying on our extensive experience in brain injury law, we know what to look for and who to talk to. We consult with our medical experts to evaluate the circumstances of the case. For example, if the brain injury is sustained in an accident, we will seek out the opinion of a collision forensics expert. Our team also works closely with specialists like neurologists, occupational therapists who perform cognitive testing, and psychiatrists, therapists and occupational therapists trained in brain injury treatment.
We do not stop until we have a complete case that establishes the true cause and extent of the injury to give our clients the best chance at receiving a settlement large enough to restore dignity so that they can live their life to its fullest.
This also means that our lawyers will work with the family members, caregivers, and other representatives to ensure that negotiations, interviews and legal proceedings are conducted in a respectful manner.
While the process is complex and challenging, having NOVA Injury Law in your corner can assist you move past the trauma and hurt and onwards to a place of acceptance where feelings of anger and blame do not become all consuming.
How does NOVA Injury Law MAXIMIZE a compensation claim for someone with a brain injury?
First we establish the quantum of damages in each of the following areas, before advocating for payment in each:
- Compensation for medical expenses: entitlements related to the brain injury, including hospitalization, surgeries, rehabilitation, and ongoing care.
- Pain and suffering damages: usually monetary entitlements for the actual physical pain and emotional suffering sustained.
- Long-term care: entitlements for the person’s ongoing care needs such as showering, standing and going to the toilet.
- Counseling and therapy: entitlements to help the victim to cope with the emotional effects of their brain injury.
- Compensation for lost income: entitlements related to the victims’ inability to work due to their brain injury, including lost income and future earning capacity. This can also include payments for vocational training for persons who are unable to return to their previous employment and require new skills to re-enter the workforce.
- Assistive devices: entitlements for things such as mobility aids or communication devices supporting the persons’ ability to function independently.
- Modifications to living arrangements: entitlements for home and vehicular modifications to support a person with disability as a result of their brain injury access their home surroundings more freely.
Trust NOVA Injury Law to get you the compensation you deserve
In some cases, the other side may attempt to limit their liability depending on the specifics of your situation. For example, an insurance company may try to downplay the extent of the injury or argue that the injury was not caused by the accident in question. In other cases, loved ones may discourage an injured person from seeking compensation due to concerns about stress or doubts that the injury is serious enough to merit seeking compensation.
But make no mistake, seeking compensation is a crucial aspect of recovery, achieving justice, and moving forward positively. At NOVA Injury Law, we offer contingency fee arrangements, Free Case Reviews, and highly experienced lawyers who work closely with medical professionals on a regular basis. Reach out to us and we will look at your case and explain your best next steps. It’s one of the best decisions you can make for your future.
If you have suffered a brain injury it’s important you act now.
“Brain injuries are often difficult to diagnose and treat, and their effects may be long-lasting and unpredictable. As a result, many individuals with brain injuries may not fully appreciate the extent of their injury, or may be reluctant to seek compensation due to the stigma and misunderstanding associated with these types of injuries. Additionally, the effects of a brain injury may not be immediately apparent, and may only manifest themselves later in life. These factors can make it difficult for individuals with brain injuries to seek the compensation they deserve.” – Justice Bastarache – Blackwater v. Plint, [2005] 3 SCR 3
As Justice Bastarche indicates, there are many reasons for a person to not seek compensation for a brain injury, including that symptoms may not be immediately apparent leading to victims not realizing the extent of their injuries right away.
If you suspect that you or your loved one may have sustained a brain injury, however minor, NOVA Injury Law can help you get timely access to cognitive testing to determine the nature and extent of your injury.
This commitment to embedding sound medical advice and support within our legal practice is why NOVA Injury Law is a leading personal injury law firm in Bedford, NS and a key reason why we continue to win compensation claims for those who have suffered from brain injuries.
Our lawyers are also apart of the community in Bedford, and our founder Jeff Mitchell is proudly Nova Scotian born and raised. He grew up in the neighborhood, and works closely with professionals, community groups and volunteers all over the city to build your case and get you the support you need.
If you believe you or someone close to you is suffering from a brain injury, contact NOVA Injury Law so we can schedule a no obligation, Free Case Review. We will be by your side no matter what. Remember our contingency fee agreements mean you don’t pay a cent unless we get you a settlement out.
Don’t prolong your suffering, contact us today. Our team is available 24/7 to support you, and we can be reached at 1-800-262-8104 or by emailing Jeff Mitchell at jeff@novainjurylaw.com.