If you or a loved one has suffered a brain injury due to negligence, the experienced legal team at Kline & Specter, PC, is ready to help.
Our firm is uniquely qualified to handle complex personal injury cases. We have more than 50 attorneys, including five who are also medical doctors, the most in the nation. This special blend of legal and medical knowledge allows us to build strong, well-supported claims.
Whether the brain injury resulted from medical malpractice, a serious accident, or unsafe working conditions, we work aggressively to pursue fair compensation for victims and their families.
Brain Injury: A Lasting Trauma
Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are widespread throughout the United States. Consider the following statistics:
- Over 214,000 people are hospitalized for TBIs each year (CDC).
- Over 69,000 people die annually as a result of their TBIs.
- Over 80% of adults do not recognize concussions as TBIs (Brain Injury Association of America).
- Brain injury is a contributing factor in about a third of all injury-related deaths (CDC).
- The total annual healthcare cost of nonfatal TBIs is over $40.6 billion (CDC).
Types of Brain Injuries
Brain injuries vary widely and are primarily classified as traumatic or acquired.
Traumatic brain injuries include:
- Concussions (injuries causing temporary cognitive disruption)
- Brain contusions (bruising with bleeding)
- Hematomas and hemorrhages (dangerous blood clots or bleeding inside or around the brain)
- Skull fractures
- Brain edema (swelling)
- Diffuse axonal injury (tearing of nerve fibers)
- Coup-contrecoup injuries (damage at impact and opposite side)
- Second impact syndrome (severe damage from a second injury before recovery)
Acquired brain injuries include:
- Stroke
- Brain tumors
- Encephalitis (inflammation caused by an infection or an autoimmune response)
- Poisoning
Long-Term Effects of Traumatic Brain Injuries
Long-term effects of traumatic brain injuries include:
- Cognitive impairments: Memory loss, difficulty concentrating, and slowed thinking.
- Physical issues: Chronic headaches, dizziness, balance problems, and fatigue.
- Emotional and behavioral changes: Depression, anxiety, irritability, impulsivity, and personality shifts.
TBI also increases the risk of neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, dementia, and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). Many survivors face disabilities, unemployment, reliance on others for daily activities, and reduced life expectancy.
Types of Negligence Leading to Brain Injuries
Negligence leading to brain injuries can take several forms, including:
- Medical malpractice, including surgical or obstetric errors or a failure to diagnose a head injury.
- Motor vehicle accidents resulting from distracted, drunk, or reckless driving.
- Slip-and-fall incidents due to unsafe property conditions.
- Workplace accidents, particularly in construction or industrial settings.
- In sports, a lack of proper safety protocols or equipment.
Each scenario involves a failure to act with reasonable care. They may result in lasting physical, cognitive, and emotional consequences for the injured individual and warrant legal action.
Signs You Should Contact a Brain Injury Lawyer
Consider contacting a brain injury lawyer if you or a loved one suffers a head injury due to someone else's actions or unsafe conditions. It's especially important to seek legal advice when symptoms occur, such as memory loss, confusion, personality changes, chronic headaches, or difficulty speaking or concentrating occur.
If medical bills are piling up, insurance is denying coverage, or you're unsure of your legal rights, a lawyer can explain your options. Legal assistance is also crucial if the injury resulted from a car or workplace accident, a fall, or medical negligence.
How Brain Injury Cases Are Proven in Court
Brain injury cases are proven in court by establishing that another party's negligence caused harm. This process typically involves:
- Medical documentation: Records, diagnostic imaging (like CT or MRI scans), and physician evaluations to confirm the injury.
- Expert testimony: Neurologists, neuropsychologists, and other specialists can explain the severity and long-term impact of the injury.
- Accident evidence: Police or incident reports, eyewitness accounts, and surveillance footage that show how the injury occurred.
- Financial records: To demonstrate lost income, medical expenses, and other damages.
- Legal arguments: Focusing on proving negligence, causation, and the extent of the victim's losses.
Why Choose Kline & Specter?
People choose Kline & Specter for brain injury cases because of our proven results and nationally recognized legal talent. Our attorneys have secured substantial outcomes for clients, including:
- A $49 million case in which the jury ruled in favor of our client, a young man who suffered brain damage due to medical error in Philadelphia.
- A $30 million settlement our firm secured on behalf of a young child who suffered a severe brain injury due to the improper use of anesthesia during an otherwise routine hospital procedure in Philadelphia.
- A $7.5 million settlement our firm secured on behalf of a La Salle University football player who suffered a severe brain injury after being prematurely cleared to play following a concussion sustained in practice.
Founded by Tom Kline and Shanin Specter in 1995, the firm has a spectactular record of courtroom success in catastrophic injury litigation.
Explore Your Legal Options
Brain injuries can have life-changing consequences. Holding the responsible party accountable is often essential for covering medical costs, ongoing care, and lost income.
At Kline & Specter, our legal team combines extensive courtroom experience and in-depth medical insight to pursue meaningful results. Call our firm at 215-772-1000 or submit our online contact form to discuss your situation.
Kline & Specter provides free and confidential evaluations of potential cases. Kline & Specter handles cases in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, and New York. For cases outside those states, the law firm works with local attorneys in each state as applicable.
