A traumatic brain injury can change a person’s life in an instant, affecting memory, mood, judgment, and the ability to work. If you or a loved one suffered a brain injury because of someone else’s negligence in Durham or anywhere in Durham County, the Durham brain injury attorneys at Portner & Shure can help. We have handled serious personal injury claims across North Carolina for more than 30 years.
Causes and Symptoms of Brain Injuries Around Durham
Durham’s highways, hospitals, and construction activity are common settings for the accidents that cause brain injuries. Serious head injuries often result from car, truck, and motorcycle crashes, falls, and workplace accidents. A brain injury may be classified as mild, moderate, or severe, and symptoms are not always obvious right away. Warning signs include:
- Memory loss and difficulty concentrating
- Headaches, dizziness, and blurred vision
- Mood and behavioral changes
- Loss of consciousness, seizures, or nausea
- Trouble with speech, balance, or decision-making
The Cost of a Brain Injury
Treating a serious brain injury can require emergency care, surgery, and months or years of rehabilitation, including occupational, speech, and neuropsychological therapy. Depending on the facts, you may be able to pursue compensation for medical expenses, future medical care, lost wages and reduced earning capacity, and pain and suffering. Because many victims cannot return to work right away, the financial strain often falls on the whole family.
Proving Fault in a North Carolina Brain Injury Claim
A brain injury claim usually turns on proving that another party’s negligence caused the injury — a distracted driver, an unsafe property, or a careless employer, for example. North Carolina also follows a strict contributory negligence rule, which means that if the other side can show you were even slightly at fault, it can bar your recovery entirely. This is one of the harshest standards in the country, so a careful investigation and clear medical evidence are essential to protect your claim.
How Long Do I Have to File? North Carolina’s Statute of Limitations
In North Carolina, you generally have three years from the date of the injury to file a personal injury lawsuit (N.C. Gen. Stat. § 1-52), and generally two years for a wrongful death claim. Because a brain injury’s full effects can take time to appear, it is wise to speak with an attorney early so evidence is preserved. Claims in Durham County are generally pursued through the Durham County Courthouse.
How Our Durham Brain Injury Attorneys Can Help
Insurance companies often downplay a brain injury because the damage is not always visible on a scan. You should not face them alone. Our team works with medical experts to document the injury, moves quickly to preserve evidence, and pushes for fair compensation. We work on a contingency basis, which means there is no fee unless we recover for you.
We Can Help If English is Not Your First Language
Our firm serves a diverse community, and we have team members who speak Spanish and Korean. We can discuss your case in a language you are comfortable with so nothing is lost in translation.
Contact Our Durham Brain Injury Attorneys Today
If you or a loved one suffered a brain injury in Durham or anywhere in Durham County, contact Portner & Shure for a free consultation. There is no fee unless we recover compensation for you.
Other Injury Cases We Handle in Durham
- Durham Car Accident Lawyers
- Durham Truck Accident Lawyers
- Durham Motorcycle Accident Lawyers
- Durham Personal Injury Lawyers
- Durham Wrongful Death Lawyers
- Durham Premises Liability Lawyers
- Durham Pedestrian Accident Lawyers
- Durham Bicycle Accident Lawyers
- Durham Dog Bite Lawyers
- Durham Spinal Cord Injury Lawyers
- Durham Medical Malpractice Lawyers
- Durham Nursing Home Abuse Lawyers
- Durham Bus Accident Lawyers
