
Table of Contents
- What Are the Signs of a Traumatic Brain Injury After a Truck Accident?
- What Is the Invisible Toll of "Mild" TBI?
- How Can a Catastrophic Traumatic Brain Injury Caused by a Truck Accident Affect Your Life?
- What Should You Do After a Truck Accident Traumatic Brain Injury to Protect Your Rights?
- What Compensation Can I Recover for a Traumatic Brain Injury After a Truck Accident?
- How Long Does a Brain Injury Truck Accident Claim Take to Settle?
- How Can a Skilled Lawyer Help After a Brain Injury in a Truck Accident in San Diego?
When a semi-truck slams into your vehicle, the impact can alter your entire existence in an instant. Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) rank among the most devastating outcomes of these violent collisions. Unfortunately, the road forward is never simple for victims.
If you or someone you love is suffering from a truck accident brain injury, you need a legal team that understands the financial and emotional challenges you face. Our experienced San Diego truck accident lawyer will guide you through the legal process with compassion and clarity. He’ll also fight hard to obtain the justice and compensation you need to put your life back together.
What Are the Signs of a Traumatic Brain Injury After a Truck Accident?
Traumatic brain injuries can be caused by a jolt to your head or an object penetrating your skull in a truck accident. Unfortunately, your symptoms may not be immediately apparent. However, when they emerge, they can be life-altering. Watch closely for these red flags in the hours, days, and weeks that follow:
- Physical symptoms. Symptoms of a TBI can include headaches, dizziness, nausea, and changes in sleep patterns. You could also experience difficulties with mobility and hearing loss, and changes to your vision.
- Mental changes. Confusion, slowed thinking, memory gaps, and trouble concentrating can make it difficult for you to work and take care of your daily needs.
- Emotional struggles. Common emotional symptoms of a TBI include irritability, anxiety, depression, and mood swings.
Don't brush off any concerns. Early diagnosis is crucial for both your health and your legal claim. Always get examined by a doctor promptly after a truck wreck—even if you walked away.
What Is the Invisible Toll of "Mild" TBI?
A concussion can be a milder type of TBI A concussion caused by a truck collision may not land you in the ICU, but its long-term effects can still derail your life, especially if you suffer more than one concussion in your life. You could battle headaches, fatigue, and cognitive challenges for months or longer.
You may lose your ability to work, socialize, or manage daily tasks. Never let the word "mild" minimize what you're going through.
How Can a Catastrophic Traumatic Brain Injury Caused by a Truck Accident Affect Your Life?
A truck accident can inflict a traumatic brain injury in an instant—but the fallout can shadow you for a lifetime. Even a "mild" TBI can unleash a cascade of physical, cognitive, and emotional struggles that touch every corner of your world:
- Medical needs. Brain injuries often demand extensive care, from emergency treatment to ongoing therapy and specialist visits. You may require medication, assistive devices, or even surgery for the rest of your life.
- Personal care. Depending on the severity of your TBI, you may require daily assistance with basic tasks such as dressing, grooming, and meal preparation. Home health aides or live-in caregivers could become a necessity.
- Work challenges. Brain trauma can steal your ability to concentrate, remember, and reason—all critical skills for job performance. You may need extended time off, modified duties, or the flexibility to work from home as you heal—if you can return to your job.
- Relationship strain. Personality changes, irritability, and mood swings can strain even the strongest family bonds. Your loved ones may find themselves acting as caregivers, a role they never anticipated.
- Altered sense of self. A severe TBI can make you feel like a stranger in your own skin. You may mourn the loss of cherished hobbies, friendships, and the independence you once took for granted, which can significantly reduce your quality of life.
No two brain injuries are alike—but they all disrupt lives in profound ways. Our skilled truck accident lawyer's mission is to secure the resources you need to face every challenge head-on.
What Should You Do After a Truck Accident Traumatic Brain Injury to Protect Your Rights?
You may be entitled to compensation for your TBI if the truck driver’s negligence caused your truck accident. However, knowing what to do next can feel overwhelming—especially if you're struggling with a brain injury. Follow these crucial steps to protect both your health and your legal rights:
- Seek immediate medical attention. Even if you feel "fine," get evaluated right away. Brain trauma can hide beneath the surface, only to emerge with life-altering symptoms later. Prompt diagnosis and treatment can make all the difference in protecting your health and in avoiding some disputes with the insurance company.
- Call the police. Contact the police at the crash scene and obtain a copy of the police report. The officer’s conclusions and police report can help you prove that the trucker was the negligent party.
- Follow your treatment plan. Attend every appointment, take medications as prescribed, and complete any recommended therapy. Not only is this essential for your maximum recovery, but it also generates essential records of your injuries and losses.
- Keep a symptom journal. Document how your brain injury impacts your daily life, from physical pain to emotional anguish. These personal details can be powerful evidence to support your legal claim.
- Preserve evidence. If possible, gather photos of the crash scene, vehicle damage, and your injuries. Save all medical bills and insurance correspondence. The more documentation you have, the stronger your case will be.
- Watch what you say. Truck accidents often involve multiple insurance companies—and their adjusters may try to twist your words against you. Politely refuse to give a recorded statement. You should direct all communication through our truck accident lawyer so you’re not taken advantage of by the insurance company.
- Consult an experienced attorney. The sooner you have our knowledgeable truck accident lawyer on your side, the better. We can handle the heavy lifting of your claim—so you can focus on healing.
No one should have to navigate the challenges of a truck accident brain injury alone. By taking proactive steps and partnering with a skilled legal team, you can chart a course toward the support, treatment, and compensation you deserve.
What Compensation Can I Recover for a Traumatic Brain Injury After a Truck Accident?
When you're living with brain trauma, the costs are staggering—and often lifelong. Your truck accident settlement must reflect not just the losses you've already suffered, but the expenses and hardships you'll continue to bear. That includes:
- Immediate medical bills. Emergency transport, hospital stays, surgeries, and diagnostic tests can easily add up to $200,000, $300,000, or more. You shouldn't pay a penny out of pocket.
- Future care needs. TBI survivors often require ongoing therapy, home health services, and accessibility modifications. Your claim should fund a lifetime of top-quality care.
- Lost income and benefits. From missed paychecks during your recovery to the long-term impact on your earning potential, brain injuries carry an immense financial toll on your ability to support yourself and your family.
- Pain, suffering, and lost enjoyment of life. A TBI doesn't just drain your bank account—it can steal your sense of self and quality of life. You deserve compensation for that intangible yet overwhelming cost.
No settlement can undo the trauma you've endured. But with a relentless legal advocate in your corner, you can secure the resources to rebuild your life on your terms.
How Long Does a Brain Injury Truck Accident Claim Take to Settle?
When you're facing a mountain of bills and an uncertain future, the wait for a settlement can feel agonizing. But truck accident brain injury claims are inherently complex—and rushing the process can cost you dearly in the long run. It could take one to two years to settle your case.
Five key factors often extend the timeline to settle your case:
- Severity of your injuries. To build a compelling claim, your legal team needs a clear picture of your prognosis. That may mean waiting until you've reached maximum medical improvement (MMI)—the point at which your condition has stabilized and your long-term needs are evident.
- Complicated investigation. Truck accidents often involve multiple parties, including the truck driver, the trucking company, the shipper, and the truck maintenance company. These collisions are often caused by violations of Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations. Untangling liability requires an exhaustive review of evidence like logbooks, black box data, and maintenance records.
- Higher claim value. The more severe your injuries, the higher the potential payout you should receive in your settlement. Unfortunately, the insurers will fight harder and longer to minimize the amount they pay you. Our attorney won't let them get away with lowball offers.
- More liable parties. When multiple defendants share fault, assembling a winning claim demands precision and persistence. Our dedicated legal team will leave no stone unturned in our pursuit of justice for you.
- Disputes with the insurance company. Insurers have deep pockets and every incentive to protect them. If they continue to dispute your claim, our lawyer may need to take your case to court to secure the compensation you're owed, which could make it take longer to settle your claim.
Our tireless legal advocate will work efficiently to resolve your claim. But we'll never sacrifice thoroughness for speed. You deserve a settlement that reflects the actual cost of your injuries—however long that takes.
How Can a Skilled Lawyer Help After a Brain Injury in a Truck Accident in San Diego?
You're up against powerful trucking companies, shrewd insurers, and a mountain of medical needs. The right attorney is your strongest ally in this overwhelming battle. From day one, our dedicated truck accident lawyer at the Law Offices of Mark C. Blane, APC, will handle every aspect of your case, including:
- Proving liability. Our attorney will conduct a thorough investigation into logbooks, black box data, maintenance records, and other relevant documents to demonstrate how the trucker, trucking company, and others caused your crash. He’ll immediately send the carrier a spoliation letter to obtain crucial evidence that can help prove your case.
- Documenting your losses. By partnering with experts, our legal team can translate your injury into a compelling claim for damages backed by rock-solid evidence.
- Negotiating your settlement. Our battle-tested truck accident lawyer will go toe-to-toe with insurers to demand a payout that meets your current and future needs.
- Fighting in court. If the other side won't offer you a fair settlement, our attorney is ready to take your case to a jury trial.
You have enough on your plate right now. Let our dedicated legal professional shoulder the burden of settling your claim—so you can focus on piecing your life back together.