The attorneys of Geoff McDonald & Associates focus on assisting victims of traumatic brain injury (TBI). Our experience has allowed us to develop the skills and resources that are needed to properly investigate and litigate these unique and often challenging cases.
We understand that a case often is shaped by what caused the victim to suffer TBI. Some of the most common causes that we have encountered in Richmond and surrounding areas of Virginia include:
Falls
Falling and hitting your head actually is the leading cause of TBI. Falls account for about 40 percent of all TBI cases in the U.S. that result in an emergency room visit, hospitalization or death, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Elderly adults and young children are most likely to fall and suffer TBI. However, anyone can slip and fall due to an icy sidewalk, wet floor, cluttered aisle or loose stair tread or handrail. Falls tend to occur in stores and shopping centers, parking lots, hotels and apartment complexes.
Motor Vehicle Accidents
Car, truck and motorcycle accidents are the third-leading cause of TBI injuries and the second-leading cause of fatal head and brain injuries. Motor vehicle crashes also are the leading cause of hospitalizations for TBI among people ages 15 to 44 years old, the CDC reports says.
Sports / Recreation
Over the past decade, the CDC has noted a sharp increase in sports- and recreation-related TBI cases – mostly concussions. The CDC reports that emergency rooms see more than 173,000 TBIs each year among children and young adults up to age 19 from participation in sports and recreation. These TBIs can occur while a child is bicycling or skateboarding or playing a contact sport such as football, basketball, soccer or lacrosse. Head injuries may also result from a child falling at a playground due to poor supervision or defective equipment.
Workplace Injuries
Many TBIs occur while a person is working. In fact, about 20 percent of TBI-related workplace injuries occur from falling on surfaces that are uneven, wet or are blocked or cluttered by an out-of-place object. Being struck against or by objects such as something that falls onto a worker is another common cause of workplace TBIs. Such accidents can happen anywhere. However, serious head and brain injuries are most likely to occur to workers in the construction, transportation, agriculture, forestry, fishing and emergency medical services industries.
Assault / Abuse
About 10 percent of all TBIs are caused by assaults, with about 75 percent of them happening to young adults between ages 15 and 44. Additionally, abuse against elderly adults (especially those in nursing homes) or young children can result in brain injury. A TBI suffered in a form of abuse known as “shaken baby syndrome” is an example of brain injury caused by a sudden jolt to the head.
Contact a Richmond Lawyer Today
If the underlying cause of TBI suffered by you or a loved one is the careless or reckless conduct of another person, you may be eligible to recover compensation for medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering and other losses.
At Geoff McDonald & Associates, our attorneys know how the system works, who can be held responsible and the types and amounts of compensation and benefits you may be eligible to recover. We make sure that you are fully informed about your case every step of the way.
For more than two decades, we have worked closely with TBI victims and their families throughout Richmond and Virginia. To set up a free initial consultation about your case, just call us today or submit our online form.
