If you or someone you love suffered a brain injury in an accident, an Austin brain injury lawyer can help you pursue compensation. That compensation can account for more than medical bills because a brain injury can affect every part of your life, from your health and ability to work to your relationships and independence.
At Lorenz & Lorenz, we’re here to answer your questions, explain what comes next, and help you move forward. Our team can investigate what caused the injury, deal with the insurance company, and build a claim that accounts for both your current and future needs.
Call us anytime at (512) 477-7333 or contact us online for a free, confidential consultation. We’re available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
Why Choose Lorenz & Lorenz for Your Austin Brain Injury Lawyer
Our Austin brain injury lawyers focus on personal injury cases and have the resources to build claims involving serious and long-term injuries. We only handle personal injury cases. That focus matters because brain injury claims are complicated, and you need a team that knows how to build them from the ground up.
Here is what you can count on when you work with us:
- We’re Available 24/7: You can reach us nights, weekends, and whenever you need us.
- We Come to You: If your injuries keep you from traveling, we can come to your home or hospital room, or wherever is comfortable.
- We Have Investigation Resources: Our in-house investigator and network of outside professionals help build strong cases.
- Your Consultation Is Free: Free consultations are confidential and come with no pressure.
We know that picking a lawyer after a brain injury feels like a huge decision. It is. That is why we invite you to call us, ask questions, and see if we are the right fit for your family. Reach out today at (512) 477-7333 and let us get started on your case.
What Is a Traumatic Brain Injury?
A traumatic brain injury (TBI) happens when a sudden blow, bump, or jolt to the head disrupts how the brain normally works. It can also occur when an object pierces the skull. TBIs range from mild concussions to severe injuries that can cause lasting disabilities.
Brain injuries are often called invisible injuries because you may look fine on the outside. Inside, though, the damage can be serious. Symptoms may show up hours or even days after the accident.
The effects can involve memory, concentration, sleep, mood, balance, and other areas of daily life.
Common Causes of Brain Injuries in Austin
Brain injuries in Austin can result from vehicle crashes, falls, pedestrian and bicycle accidents, and other incidents involving trauma to the head.
Many of the brain injury cases we handle come from the following situations:
- Car accidents on I-35, US-183, SH-71, and local streets
- Truck accidents involving 18-wheelers and commercial vehicles
- Motorcycle crashes, where riders have little protection from the force of a collision
- Pedestrian accidents in downtown Austin and neighborhoods like South Congress
- Bicycle accidents on city streets and shared roadways
- Rideshare crashes in Uber or Lyft vehicles
- Drunk driving accidents caused by impaired motorists
- Slip and fall accidents on unsafe property
- Dog attacks that cause head trauma
Each of these situations brings its own legal and medical questions. Our team knows how to investigate the cause and figure out who should be held accountable.
Types of Brain Injuries We Handle
Our Austin brain injury lawyers handle claims involving concussions and other mild TBIs as well as severe injuries that can cause permanent impairment. Doctors look at how the injury happened, what part of the brain was hurt, and how severe the damage is.
Some of the most common types include:
- Concussions, which are often called mild TBIs, can still cause lasting problems
- Contusions, which are bruises on the brain itself
- Diffuse axonal injuries, which happen when the brain shifts inside the skull
- Penetrating injuries, where an object breaks through the skull
- Hematomas, which are pools of blood that press on brain tissue
- Anoxic brain injuries, which happen when the brain is cut off from oxygen
- Second impact syndrome, which can occur when a second hit happens before the first heals
Even a so-called mild concussion can lead to months of headaches, trouble sleeping, and memory issues. You deserve a lawyer who takes every brain injury seriously, no matter what the initial diagnosis says.
What Compensation Is Available in an Austin Brain Injury Claim?
An Austin brain injury claim can seek compensation for your medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and future losses caused by the injury. TBIs can create significant long-term costs. For many families, that means ongoing medical care, lost income, and major changes in daily life.
Since those effects can last for years, brain injury claims can involve future losses as well as expenses you have already incurred. When we build a brain injury claim, we look at both the money you have already spent and the costs still to come.
Brain injury claims can vary greatly when it comes to compensation. Factors like the severity of your injuries and how much work you’ll miss influence the value of our claim. In one recent case, we had a client with a brain injury recover $200,000.
In your claim, compensation may include:
- Emergency room and hospital bills
- Surgery and follow-up care
- Rehabilitation, physical therapy, and cognitive therapy
- Prescription medications
- Home health aides or long-term nursing care
- Assistive devices and home modifications
- Lost wages while you recover
- Loss of future earning ability
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Emotional distress and mental anguish
An Austin TBI claim should account for the losses the evidence shows you have already suffered, as well as future losses caused by the injury. We work with doctors, life care planners, and economists when appropriate to document how the injury may affect your future needs and earning ability.
Who Can Be Held Responsible for Your Brain Injury?
The person or company whose negligence caused your brain injury can be held responsible, and some accidents involve more than one liable party.
Parties who may be accountable include:
- Negligent drivers who caused a wreck
- Trucking companies whose actions contributed to a crash
- Bar owners or social hosts in some drunk driving cases
- Property owners who ignored dangerous conditions
- Dog owners who failed to control their animal
- Rideshare companies in certain crashes involving their drivers
- Government entities responsible for unsafe roads
Our in-house investigator pulls police reports, finds witnesses, and gathers photos, video, and other proof. We want a full picture of what happened so we can identify the parties that may be responsible.
Texas Laws That Affect Your Brain Injury Claim
Texas’s statute of limitations generally gives you two years to file a personal injury lawsuit. If you wait too long, you may lose the right to sue. There are limited exceptions, but you should never count on them.
Texas also follows a modified comparative fault system under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Section 33.001. This means you can still recover money if you were partly at fault, as long as you are not more than 50% responsible.
Your recoverable damages are reduced by your share of fault. Insurance companies may argue that you share responsibility for the accident, making evidence of what happened especially important.
How an Austin Brain Injury Lawyer Builds Your Case
An Austin brain injury lawyer builds your case by investigating the accident, documenting your injuries and losses, and gathering evidence showing who was responsible. When you hire us, we get to work right away.
Here’s a short look at how we handle your claim:
- We listen to your story, answer your questions, and explain what to expect.
- We gather medical records, police reports, witness statements, and any video footage.
- Our investigator visits the scene when it helps.
- We work with medical professionals who can explain your injury to insurers and juries.
- We calculate your past and future damages with the help of life care planners and economists.
- We handle every call with the insurance company, so you don’t have to.
- We negotiate for a settlement that reflects your losses.
- If the insurance company is not reasonable, we’ll be ready to file suit and go to court.
Throughout it all, you stay in charge of the big decisions. Our TBI lawyers in Austin give you honest advice, and you choose the path that is best for your family.
How Do Insurance Companies Handle Brain Injury Claims?
Insurance companies may dispute the severity of a brain injury, question whether the accident caused your symptoms, or offer a settlement before the full impact of the injury is clear.
Brain injuries can create particular challenges because some symptoms are not visible on the outside. Medical records, diagnostic testing, treatment history, and evidence showing how the injury has affected your work and daily life can become important parts of your claim.
Once we represent you, we handle communication with the insurance company. We can respond to disputes about your injuries, provide evidence supporting your damages, and negotiate on your behalf while you focus on your recovery.
FAQ for Austin Brain Injury Lawyer
How Much Is My Austin TBI Case Worth?
The value of an Austin TBI case depends on the severity of your brain injury, your medical needs, lost income, future limitations, available insurance coverage, and who was responsible for the accident.
A concussion that resolves after treatment will generally involve different damages than a severe TBI requiring lifelong care. We review your medical records and other evidence before evaluating the losses that should be included in your claim.
What if My Loved One Died From a Brain Injury?
If a brain injury caused your loved one’s death, certain family members may be able to bring a Texas wrongful death claim. Texas generally allows a surviving spouse, children, and parents to pursue wrongful death damages.
Depending on the circumstances, a separate survival claim may also address losses the person suffered between the injury and death.
Why Do I Need an Austin TBI Lawyer for a Concussion Case?
A concussion can support a personal injury claim when another party caused the injury, even though it is classified as a mild TBI. Symptoms such as headaches, memory problems, dizziness, sleep problems, and difficulty concentrating can affect your work and daily life.
An Austin brain injury lawyer can gather the medical and accident evidence needed to show how the concussion happened and how it has affected you.
What Happens During a Free Consultation?
During your free consultation, we listen to what happened, ask about your injuries and treatment, and explain your legal options. You can ask questions about the claim, insurance process, fees, and what working with our firm would involve. There is no obligation to hire us after the consultation.
Does It Matter What Kind of Accident Caused My TBI?
The cause of your accident matters because the cause helps determine what evidence matters and who may be responsible. A car or motorcycle accident may involve vehicle data, scene photos, and insurance records, while a fall on someone’s property may involve maintenance records and surveillance footage.
Insurance coverage can also differ depending on how the injury occurred. An Austin brain injury attorney can identify the parties, evidence, and insurance coverage involved in your claim.
Call an Austin TBI Attorney at Lorenz & Lorenz Today
If you or someone you love suffered a brain injury because of another party’s negligence, our Austin brain injury lawyers can investigate what happened and help you pursue compensation for your losses. Lorenz & Lorenz is ready to listen, answer your questions, and explain what comes next.
Call (512) 477-7333 or reach out online today to speak with an Austin brain injury lawyer about your case.