If you are in an accident and suffer a brain injury, it is important that you take certain steps in the moments, days, weeks, and months after your accident to ensure that you make a full recovery. Do not concern yourself with the financial aspect of your recovery until you have received a diagnosis and medical attention from a doctor. In Washington, you have three years from the date of your accident to file a personal injury claim. Focus on your own health and safety first, then contact an experienced Tacoma brain injury attorney to handle your claim for compensation later.
Seek Medical Attention as Soon as Possible
Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are often referred to as “invisible injuries” because they do not have physical symptoms. The lack of physical symptoms often causes victims to assume they are not injured, especially in cases of mild TBIs. But it is not uncommon for an injury to become worse, or at least fail to get better, as it goes untreated. Even if you think you are fine after an accident, go to the doctor for a diagnosis to determine whether you have been injured.
Follow your Doctor’s Orders
This is important no matter what type of injury you suffer. For mild TBIs, patients need to rest and avoid any type of strenuous mental stimulation. With more severe injuries, medication and/or surgical and behavioral treatment might be required. Failure to follow your doctor’s orders can not only prolong your recovery, but hurt your personal injury claim by making it appear like you are not truly injured or that you are not taking your recovery seriously.
Following your doctor’s orders might mean taking a prolonged leave of absence from your job. Notify your employer of your injury and document the time you spent out of work and the wages you did not receive because of it. Also document every medical bill you receive and keep these documents in a file so you can prove exactly how much money you need to have compensated through your claim.
Work with a Bellevue Brain Injury Attorney
You can potentially recover monetary compensation for your financial losses following an injury. To learn more about this process and how you can file and pursue a personal injury claim, contact Stephen Hornbuckle, an experienced brain injury lawyer and partner at The Hornbuckle Firm to schedule your initial legal consultation. Our firm proudly serves clients throughout the Tacoma and Seattle metropolitan area.
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Bellevue, Washington 98007
Phone: (425) 679-0742
