Did you sustain a brain injury in an accident someone else caused? Now is the time to claim the financial compensation you deserve. No matter the injury’s severity, you deserve to be compensated for your losses. A Houston brain injury lawyer can provide legal representation to fight for your rights.
Steinger, Greene & Feiner is the personal injury law firm you can trust to fight for your rights and get the results you want. Our Houston attorneys specialize in brain injury cases to provide clients like you with the legal and emotional support they need. Contact us today to get started.
Why Choose Steinger, Greene & Feiner?
When it comes to choosing a Houston lawyer to represent your brain injury case, you have options. So why should you hire Steinger, Greene & Feiner over another law firm? Here are five reasons.
Maximum Financial Compensation
The aftermath of a traumatic brain injury is costly. There are medical bills to pay, lost wages to make up for, and rehabilitative care to schedule. Those are large expenses to pay for out-of-pocket. When you hire Steinger, Greene & Feiner to handle your case, you can rest assured that our lawyers will fight tooth and nail to secure maximum compensation on your behalf. You shouldn’t have to pay for injuries and damages someone else caused.
A Track Record of Success
When hiring a personal injury attorney to represent your brain injury case, you don’t just want any attorney. You want one who has experience handling cases like yours and a track record of winning them. Past success is a key indicator of future success. Steinger, Greene & Feiner has been winning brain injury cases for Houston residents since 1997. You can count on us to represent you well.
Affordable Services
Quality legal representation shouldn’t cost a fortune. You deserve the best lawyer money can buy—without draining your savings. At Steinger, Greene & Feiner, we operate under a contingency fee basis. This means you don’t pay a dime until we win your case. That way, you can focus on your recovery instead of on payments.
24/7 Availability
After more than 25 years of experience, we understand that questions and concerns arise at inconvenient times—and not everything can wait until the next business day to be addressed. That’s why we have team members available 24/7 to help you when you need it most. Whenever you need us, we’ll be there.
Convenient Communication
Your schedule is busy. The last thing you have time for is meeting with your attorney to go over your case. Whether you can’t meet in person or simply prefer virtual communication, you can handle your entire case online or over the phone without missing a beat. We provide the same elite representation wherever you are.
Everything You Need to Know About Traumatic Brain Injuries
What They Are
Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) involve trauma to the brain and result from a sudden blow to or jolt of the head or body. An object that pierces through brain tissue can also cause a TBI.
TBIs range from mild to severe, with severe TBIs being most likely to cause permanent brain damage. These injuries are complex and can be life-altering or even fatal. They affect not only the person who was injured but also their family members and friends. Some people never fully recover from their TBI.
Different Types
Doctors use the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) to diagnose TBIs and rate their severity. The GCS measures the injured person’s ability to speak, open their eyes, and move. The more mild the injury, the more responsive the person will be. The more severe the injury, the less responsive the person will be. Let’s take a closer look at the three main types of TBIs.
Mild
Mild TBIs cause minimal damage. Someone who sustains a mild TBI either never loses consciousness or loses consciousness for less than 30 minutes. Their memory loss lasts for a day at most. Mild TBIs are rated between 13 and 15 on the GCS.
Moderate
Moderate TBIs cause moderate damage. Someone who sustains a moderate TBI loses consciousness for more than 30 minutes in less than 24 hours. Their memory loss lasts anywhere from one day to one week. Moderate TBIs are rated from 9 to 12 on the GCS.
Severe
Severe TBIs cause the most damage. Someone who sustains a severe TBI loses consciousness for more than one day and experiences memory loss for more than a week. Severe TBIs receive a GCS rating of 8 or lower.
Symptoms & Long-Term Effects
The symptoms of a TBI can be physical, cognitive, sensory, or behavioral. The symptoms presented can help doctors rate the severity of a TBI.
Symptoms of a Mild TBI
Physical
- Headache
- Nausea or vomiting
- Fatigue or drowsiness
- Problems with speech
- Dizziness or loss of balance
Sensory
- Sensory problems, such as blurred vision, ringing in the ears, a bad taste in the mouth, or changes in the ability to smell
- Sensitivity to light or sound
Cognitive, Behavioral, or Mental
- Loss of consciousness for a few seconds to a few minutes
- A state of being dazed, confused, or disoriented
- Memory or concentration problems
- Mood changes or mood swings
- Feeling depressed or anxious
- Difficulty sleeping
- Sleeping more than usual
Symptoms of a Moderate to Severe TBI
Physical
- Loss of consciousness from several minutes to hours
- Persistent headache or headache that worsens
- Repeated vomiting or nausea
- Convulsions or seizures
- Dilation of one or both pupils of the eyes
- Clear fluids draining from the nose or ears
- Inability to awaken from sleep
- Weakness or numbness in fingers and toes
- Loss of coordination
Cognitive or Mental
- Profound confusion
- Agitation, combativeness, or other unusual behavior
- Slurred speech
- Coma and other disorders of consciousness
Effects of TBIs
TBIs can have various effects on a person’s cognitive, sensory, and motor functions. They can cause long-term and even lifelong physical and mental disabilities. The effects depend largely upon how long the brain was deprived of oxygen after the accident. The longer the brain is deprived of oxygen, the more severe and permanent the damage is likely to be. Those who sustain a TBI typically require extensive medical and rehabilitative care to treat the condition.
The Importance of Immediate Medical Attention
Early intervention after someone has suffered a TBI can be the difference between a temporary injury and permanent damage. The goal is to stabilize the patient and minimize oxygen deprivation to reduce the severity of the injury and prevent possible damage. Here’s what the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) has to say about acute care for TBI patients.
- Acute injury management immediately following traumatic brain injury (TBI) focuses on minimizing complications, identifying sequelae, and optimizing long-term outcomes.
- In the immediate stages after traumatic brain injury (TBI), care focuses on assessing the nature and initial severity of the injury, medically stabilizing the person if needed, and preventing the occurrence of further physical and neurological damage.
Common Causes of TBIs in Houston
The sudden impact that causes TBIs is associated with certain higher-risk activities. Some of those include:
- Motorcycle crashes
- Semi-truck accidents
- Car accidents
- Bicycle accidents
- Slips and falls
- Maritime and oil rig accidents
- Sports injuries
- Construction accidents
The Legal Process for TBI Claims
How to File a TBI Claim
Here are the five steps involved in filing a claim for a TBI.
- Contact a personal injury attorney: Before you do anything else, contact Steinger, Greene & Feiner for elite legal representation. Our brain injury lawyers will help you navigate the claims process and secure maximum financial compensation.
- Gather information: You need evidence to determine fault and calculate damages. Provide your lawyer with any information you have about your injury, including where it occurred, who was involved, and the events leading up to the injury. Your lawyer will use this information to reconstruct the accident and build a case against the defendant.
- Determine fault: Your attorney must establish fault before you can seek any compensation from the defendant. Four criteria must be met to establish fault:
- Duty: The defendant owed a duty of care to the plaintiff
- Breach: The defendant breached their duty of care
- Causation: This breach caused the plaintiff’s injuries
- Damages: The plaintiff suffered some form of identifiable harm as a result of their injuries
- Calculate damages: Make a list of every loss you suffered as a result of your TBI, both economic and non-economic. Your lawyer will calculate the cost of these losses so they know how much compensation you’re owed.
- File a claim: Now it’s time to file a claim against the defendant. Your lawyer will take care of the required paperwork for you.
The Importance of Gathering Evidence and Expert Testimonies
Gathering evidence and securing expert testimonies are critical elements in building a strong case, especially in TBI cases. Here’s why:
1. Establishing Causation
Evidence and expert testimonies help establish a clear link between the traumatic incident and the resulting brain injury. This is crucial in determining liability and proving that the TBI is a direct consequence of the responsible party’s actions or negligence.
2. Quantifying Damages
Experts, such as those specialized in calculating future medical expenses, play a pivotal role in assessing the long-term impact of a TBI. They can provide estimations on the costs associated with ongoing medical care, rehabilitation, and any necessary support services, helping the court understand the financial implications for the victim.
3. Accident Reconstruction
Experts in accident reconstruction contribute by recreating the events leading to the injury. This can be particularly important in cases involving vehicular accidents or incidents where the circumstances need to be analyzed to determine fault. Their testimony can help clarify how the TBI occurred and who is responsible for the damage caused.
4. Medical Insights
Doctors and other medical experts can help others understand the type and severity of the TBI Their testimony can help the court understand the specific medical details, prognosis, and potential long-term consequences of the injury. This information is crucial in justly compensating the victim for their suffering and future needs.
Damages You Could Recover
Economic
Economic damages are measurable financial losses caused by a specific event or circumstance. Economic damages you can seek in your TBI case include:
- Medical expenses
- Medical treatments
- Prescription medications
- Rehabilitative care
- Lost wages and loss
- Reduced earning capacity
- Home and vehicle modifications
Non-Economic
Non-economic damages are more subjective and intangible losses caused by personal injuries or wrongful actions. Non-economic damages you can seek in your TBI case include:
- Pain and suffering
- Psychological trauma
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of companionship or consortium
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Disability
- Wrongful death
How Much Is Your TBI Case Worth?
Every TBI case, including how much compensation it’s worth, is different. Several factors that affect the worth of a TBI case include:
- The severity of the injury
- Who is at fault
- Economic losses
- Non-economic losses
- Anticipated insurance coverage
- Length of recovery
- Pre-existing conditions
- Expert testimony
An experienced brain injury attorney will provide the most accurate valuation for your case to make sure you get the compensation you deserve.
Statute of Limitations for TBI Claims in Texas
The statute of limitations for personal injury cases—which include TBIs—in Texas is two years. If you suffered a TBI and want to file a claim against the responsible party, you must do so within two years from the date of your accident. If you don’t file within this timeframe, you risk losing out on due compensation. Contact Steinger, Greene, & Feiner today to make sure you file on time.
Benefits of Hiring a Houston Brain Injury Lawyer
Maybe you’re still wondering why you should hire a Houston brain injury lawyer to handle your case. Our lawyers will help you accomplish the tasks below to maximize your compensation.
- Investigate the accident and gather evidence: Our team will conduct a thorough investigation of your case and gather sufficient evidence to be used in negotiations and potential litigation.
- File paperwork: From filing a claim to submitting evidence, TBI cases require a mountain of paperwork. We’ll file all paperwork promptly so you don’t risk losing compensation.
- Negotiate with insurance companies: Before resorting to litigation, your lawyer will try to reach a fair settlement with your insurance company and the responsible party’s insurance company. These negotiations can be lengthy and complex, with insurers trying to take advantage of you. We’ll handle them for you, so you don’t have to.
- Represent you in court: If we can’t reach a satisfactory settlement, we’ll take your case to court, where a judge and jury will determine fault and award damages.
The Cost of Hiring a Brain Injury Attorney in Houston
While other law firms charge you upfront and hit you with surprise fees at every turn, Steinger, Greene & Feiner put your needs first. This includes providing a free initial case evaluation and working on a contingency fee basis, meaning you don’t pay us until we win your case. This approach gives clients like you peace of mind, knowing your success is our top priority.
Talk with a Trusted Houston Brain Injury Lawyer
When you need a traumatic brain injury lawyer in Houston, look no further than Steinger, Greene & Feiner. We have the skills and resources required to win your case and secure your rightful compensation. But don’t just take our word for it. Hear what our satisfied clients have to say about partnering with us. Don’t wait to take the next step in your journey toward justice. Contact us today to see what elite representation looks like.