A traumatic brain injury (TBI) causes some of the most severe harm a person can suffer. Unlike other injuries, the damage from a brain injury may never go away and can prevent you from living a normal life. You don’t have to bear the significant economic effects of this injury alone, and an Ocala traumatic brain injury lawyer can help you pursue the compensation needed to protect your future.
An Ocala traumatic brain injury lawyer from Steven A. Bagen & Associates, P.A. fights to hold negligent parties accountable. We work to secure the financial compensation that pays for your medical bills, lost wages, and other damages.
Contact our Ocala office today at (352) 377-9000 for a free consultation to learn about your legal options.
Why Choose Steven A. Bagen & Associates, P.A. for Your Ocala Traumatic Brain Injury Lawyer
Choosing the right Ocala traumatic brain injury lawyer can make a major difference in the outcome of your case. At Steven A. Bagen & Associates, P.A., our long record of successful results shows the strength of our work and our commitment to the people we serve.
We take time to understand your story, protect your rights, and guide you through every step of the legal process. Our team uses proven strategies to build strong cases for individuals and families dealing with the life-changing impact of a TBI.
Over Four Decades of Experience
Steven A. Bagen & Associates, P.A. has been fighting for Florida’s injured for more than 40 years. Our legal team has over 100 years of combined experience, which fuels our 99 percent success rate. Our track record includes securing hundreds of millions of dollars in compensation for clients across Florida, giving us deep insight into the common causes of a traumatic brain injury that shape how these cases are built and proven.
Ocala Community Knowledge
Our firm knows Ocala and understands where serious accidents occur. We represent clients injured in truck accidents on I-75, intersection crashes at South Pine Avenue and Southwest 17th Street, or boating incidents at Silver Springs State Park.
We use our local insight to build a stronger case for you, whether you were injured on a construction job downtown or in a slip and fall at Paddock Mall.
A Focus on Your Recovery
We focus on clear communication, steady support, and results that help you move forward with confidence. When you work with us, you gain a law firm that fights for your medical needs, financial stability, and future well-being.
Your legal team at Steven A. Bagen & Associates, P.A. manages every detail of the legal process. We handle the paperwork, deadlines, and all communication with insurance companies.
Contact our Ocala office at (352) 377-9000 for a free case evaluation and learn how we can help you secure compensation.
How Traumatic Brain Injuries Happen in Ocala
Brain injuries can happen in practically any type of personal injury event. The mechanics of the injury often involve a direct impact or a sudden, violent motion of the head.
These injuries frequently result from:
- Direct Trauma: A person’s head strikes an object with force, which can happen in a slip and fall accident or a car wreck on SW 27th Avenue.
- Sudden Movement: A violent and abrupt jolt causes the head to snap forward or backward, a common occurrence in rear-end car accidents that causes whiplash.
- Violent Shaking: The head and brain experience a forceful shaking motion, which often occurs during car accidents and other violent events.
- Oxygen Deprivation: The brain is starved of oxygen for a period of time, which can happen during a boating accident at Silver Springs State Park or when a person stops breathing after a crash.
Common Symptoms of a Traumatic Brain Injury
Some traumatic brain injuries are easy to spot at the scene of the accident. Others develop slowly and may not appear until hours or days later. This delay makes it necessary to watch for changes in thinking, behavior, or physical health after any crash or fall, since what you get for a brain injury often depends on early diagnosis and proper medical care.
Look for these signs after an accident:
- Cognitive Issues: Confusion, forgetfulness, or memory problems often appear after a traumatic brain injury. The victim may repeat questions, lose track of conversations, or struggle to focus on simple tasks. Some describe feeling “foggy” or mentally slow.
- Mood Changes: Many people show sudden or unusual emotional shifts. Irritability, anxiety, sadness, or anger may appear even in situations that would not usually cause a strong reaction.
- Physical Symptoms: Persistent headaches, blurry or double vision, dizziness, nausea, or ringing in the ears are common signs of a brain injury. You may also feel sensitive to bright lights or loud noises. These symptoms can intensify over time.
- Sensory Problems: Changes in taste, smell, or overall sensitivity can occur after a TBI. Foods may taste different, familiar scents may seem strange, or normal sounds may feel overwhelming.
- Sleep Changes: Some people may sleep far more than usual, struggle to fall asleep, or wake up many times during the night, while others may feel exhausted throughout the day.
- Speech or Coordination Issues: Slurred speech, slow responses, or difficulty forming sentences can signal a serious injury. Trouble walking, balancing, or performing simple movements may also appear.
See a Doctor Immediately if You Suspect a Brain Injury
If you notice any of these symptoms in yourself or a family member after an accident, seek medical attention right away. These signs indicate a potential brain injury, and time is of the essence in treating it.
Delaying medical care increases the likelihood that your injuries will become permanent. Only a doctor can tell you for sure whether you have suffered a brain injury.
In the meantime, document all your injuries and keep a log of your symptoms and experiences, as this will help you prove your pain and suffering later.
The Different Kinds of Brain Injuries
Several types of brain injuries exist, each with a different mechanism and potential impact. Your Ocala traumatic brain injury lawyer works with medical experts to understand the exact nature of your injury.
Here are some specific brain injuries:
- Concussion: Trauma to the head causes the brain to move inside the skull, which may lead to chemical changes or damage brain cells.
- Contusion: A blow to the skull can cause bleeding in the brain, which is different from bleeding in other organs and can cause permanent cell death.
- Diffuse Axonal Injury: This injury happens when the skull moves faster than the brain, causing the brain to slam into the skull, which is common in whiplash events.
- Anoxic Brain Injury: This injury results not from trauma but from a lack of oxygen, where even a short period of oxygen deprivation can cause brain cells to die.
Proving Negligence in a Brain Injury Case
To win your case, your Ocala traumatic brain injury lawyer must prove that someone else’s negligence caused your harm. We establish this by demonstrating four key elements. The evidence we gather connects the other party’s actions directly to your injuries.
We prove another party was negligent by showing:
- Duty: The at-fault party owed you a duty of care to act reasonably under the circumstances.
- Breach: They breached this duty by failing to act with reasonable care.
- Causation: You suffered an injury that would not have happened if not for the defendant’s negligent actions.
- Damages: You experienced compensable damages as a result of the injury.
Documenting a Lifetime of Needs After a TBI
A TBI creates needs that last a lifetime, long after a lawsuit concludes. A successful legal claim must account for every future expense to ensure your financial stability for decades. We accomplish this by creating a comprehensive life care plan, which acts as a detailed roadmap for your future.
A life care plan is a powerful tool developed by a team of independent experts. This document outlines your anticipated medical treatments, rehabilitation needs, and daily living requirements. It replaces the insurance company’s guesswork with a data-driven forecast of your actual future costs.
The Expert Team Behind Your Plan
We assemble a team of specialists to provide a complete picture of your future needs. Each expert assesses your condition from a different professional perspective. Their combined analysis forms the foundation of our demand for compensation.
The experts who contribute to your life care plan include medical doctors, physical therapists, occupational therapists, and vocational specialists. Economists and financial planners also play a vital role.
They project the future cost of this care, factoring in inflation to ensure the funds will be there when you need them.
What Your Life Care Plan Includes
A detailed life care plan documents every anticipated expense related to your TBI. This provides a clear and undeniable picture of the true financial impact of your injury. It gives us the leverage we need during negotiations.
A life care plan documents many anticipated expenses:
- Ongoing Medical Treatment: This projects the costs for future doctor appointments, potential surgeries, hospital stays, and prescription medications.
- Rehabilitative Therapies: We account for the full course of physical, occupational, cognitive, and speech therapy needed to maximize your recovery.
- Daily Living Assistance: The plan may include provisions for in-home nursing care or a personal aide to help with daily activities and ensure your safety.
- Adaptive Equipment: We calculate the cost of necessary items, such as wheelchairs, modified vehicles, specialized computer software, and communication devices, including replacements over time.
- Home and Vehicle Modifications: This section of the life care plan outlines the one-time costs associated with installing ramps, widening doorways, creating accessible bathrooms in your Ocala home, or equipping a vehicle with hand controls.
Traumatic Brain Injuries Have Steep Medical Costs
The medical costs will be significant any time you require treatment for a traumatic brain injury. The brain is extremely delicate, and medical professionals must treat it with care. Those suffering permanent damage from a TBI may have medical costs reaching into the millions over their lifetime.
How Insurers Try to Keep Your Settlement Low
Insurance companies are for-profit businesses, and their adjusters have a primary goal of protecting the company’s bottom line. They achieve this by using specific tactics designed to devalue or deny legitimate claims.
The adjuster may request a recorded statement early on, hoping you say something they can use against you later. They may also review your social media for photos or posts that they can twist to argue your brain injury does not limit your daily activities.
A common strategy involves making a fast, low settlement offer before you or your doctors understand the whole, long-term scope of your medical needs.
We anticipate these tactics and prepare a comprehensive legal strategy to counter them at every turn with facts, evidence, and expert testimony.
We fight back against insurance company tactics by:
- Consulting With Experts: We collaborate with your doctors and other medical specialists, using your life care plan as a negotiation tool.
- Pushing Back on Denials: Our Ocala TBI attorneys challenge the insurance company when it suggests you’re not as injured as your medical records and your claim demonstrate.
- Rejecting Unfair Offers: Our firm will reject any settlement offer that doesn’t fully and fairly compensate you for all your past, present, and future damages.
FAQ for Ocala Traumatic Brain Injury Lawyer
What Are the Most Common Causes of Brain Injuries in Ocala?
In Ocala, common causes include motor vehicle accidents on I-75 and local roads like SW 27th Avenue. Slip and fall accidents at supermarkets or on uneven pavement also lead to TBIs. Other causes include boating accidents, medical malpractice, and workplace incidents.
What Is the Difference Between a TBI and an Anoxic Brain Injury?
A traumatic brain injury results from an external physical force, like a blow to the head in a car accident or a fall. An anoxic brain injury happens when the brain is deprived of oxygen, which can occur in a drowning incident or due to a medical error during surgery. Both can cause severe, permanent damage.
Why Is It Important To See a Doctor Immediately After a Head Injury?
Immediate medical attention is crucial because some severe brain injuries don’t show symptoms right away. A doctor can perform diagnostic tests to identify injuries, such as brain bleeds, that can worsen rapidly without treatment.
Seeking prompt care also creates a medical record that links your injuries directly to the accident.
What Compensation Can an Ocala Traumatic Brain Injury Lawyer Help Me Recover?
An Ocala TBI attorney can pursue compensation for all your damages, including your past and future medical bills, lost wages, and reduced earning capacity. Your claim may also include non-economic damages for your physical pain, emotional suffering, and loss of life enjoyment.
How Long Do I Have To File a TBI Lawsuit in Florida?
For most personal injury cases in Florida, the statute of limitations is two years from the date of the incident that caused the injury. Missing this deadline means you’ll likely lose your right to pursue any compensation from the at-fault party.
Get the Help You Need Now
The legal process after a traumatic brain injury is complex and demanding, but you don’t need to handle it on your own while recovering. Insurance companies have teams of adjusters and lawyers who work to protect their profits, not your well-being. You need an experienced legal team to fight for every dollar you need.
The attorneys at Steven A. Bagen & Associates, P.A. know how to build a powerful TBI case. Contact us today at (352) 377-9000 to start the conversation for free.