Put Decades Of Legal Experience On Your Side After A Devastating Brain Injury

Traumatic brain injuries have long been a problem. But it is only in recent decades that science has shown just how serious and long-lasting the effects of a brain injury can be. Victims may suffer years of hardship, including the enormous financial costs of medical care.

If your or your child’s brain injury was the result of negligence on the part of another person, company or institution, contact Doug Cloud Law to discuss your legal options. I bring over 40 years of legal experience to each case and client, and much of my career has been devoted to helping injury victims in Western Washington seek justice and compensation.

Brain Injuries Include More Than Just Concussions

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) and concussion are two terms that are commonly used to describe all brain injuries caused by blunt force trauma. But you may have been diagnosed more precisely with one of the following:

Concussions: These are often considered mild TBIs, and they are not associated with any structural damage to the skull. They are nonetheless serious injuries, however.

Contusions: These are bruises on the brain. If the bruising happens at the site of impact, it is called a coup contusion. If it happens on the side of the brain opposite to the impact, it is known as a contrecoup contusion.

Diffuse axonal injury (DAI): When someone suffers a TBI, they may also experience stretching, twisting or shearing of their neuronal axons, causing additional damage.

Brain hemorrhage: Bleeding inside the skull puts pressure on the brain and causes other problems. It can be life-threatening if not treated immediately.

Chronic traumatic encephalopathy: A condition caused by repeated head trauma. It is a progressive illness that often leads to dementia, and it has been posthumously diagnosed in professional football players, boxers and others who regularly experience TBIs.

Your specific diagnosis will influence your projected recovery time, how much recovery is possible and the costs of treatment. These will be important considerations in calculating damages in your personal injury claim.

Common Causes Of Brain Injuries And Who May Be Liable

TBIs are unfortunately common. Victims of any age can suffer a brain injury, but they are especially common and consequential among children and the elderly. Scenarios that most often lead to brain injuries include:

• Automobile accidents
• Pedestrian and bicyclist accidents
• Injuries in youth and college sports, particularly football
• Blows to the head from falling or swinging objects
• Defective and dangerous products, especially those that explode
• Falls (both slip-and-fall accidents and falls from height)
• Assaults and other acts of violence

Many young athletes and their families assume they cannot take legal action because they consented to play football, a sport with known concussion risks. This isn’t necessarily true. Washington state led the nation in mandating protocols for suspected concussion management in athletics.

If you or your child suffered a brain injury (or additional brain injuries) due to the negligence of coaches and staff, I can help you seek accountability. In one previous case, I recovered more than a million dollars on behalf of a junior high football player and his family. You can read more on my success stories page.

Learn About Your Rights And Legal Options During A Free Consultation

Doug Cloud Law is based in Tacoma and serves clients throughout Western Washington. Contact my office online or call 253-753-2500 to discuss how I can help you seek accountability and compensation for a traumatic brain injury.