Tacoma Traumatic Brain Injury Lawyer Who Can Help You Move Forward
Across the globe, out of all types of injuries, those to the brain are the most likely to result in death or permanent disability. TBIs are also the leading cause of seizure disorder. When a traumatic brain injury results from an accident caused by the negligence of an individual or entity, it could be extremely beneficial to have a Tacoma traumatic brain injury lawyer like Blake Kremer on your side. Blake understands the medical, emotional, and financial aspects of living with TBI.
Attorney Blake Kremer has helped many individuals who were involved in an accident due to a negligent party and ended up with a brain injury. Blake Kremer is a strong advocate for those diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury. Blake has taken injury cases others consider unwinnable, winning large amounts for his clients against immense odds. If you want a Tacoma brain injury lawyer who will fight for your future, you want attorney Blake Kremer.
Blake believes strongly in social justice, dedicating himself and his practice to representing those who might not otherwise have quality representation. Blake often does pro bono work, including victim advocacy, hospice work, and work for a pediatric HIV/AIDS support organization. Blake counts himself committed to social justice, and believes it is evident through his countless hours of work on its behalf. These are the types of cases he and his friends dreamed of working on while in law school.
Social Justice Representation: Read About Our Successes
Traumatic Brain Injury Statistics
According to the CDC, there were approximately 223,050 TBI-related hospitalizations in 2018 and 60,611 TBI-related deaths in 2019. These estimates do not take into account the traumatic brain injuries that are only treated in the ER, through a primary care doctor, through urgent care, or for those who do not seek treatment at all. In the United States, males are nearly twice as likely to be hospitalized for a traumatic brain injury than females.
The International Brain Injury Association estimates that across the United States there are approximately 5.3 million individuals living with some level of traumatic brain injury. While the highest rate of traumatic brain injury occurs in those between the ages of 15-24, children under the age of 5 and the elderly over the age of 75 are at a higher risk of TBI.
A traumatic brain injury affects how the brain works and is generally caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head or from a penetrating injury. A TBI may be mild (concussion), moderate, or severe. While TBI can affect any individual of any age or from any walk of life, research suggests there are certain groups that are more likely to be affected by traumatic brain injuries, including:
- Certain racial minorities
- Veterans
- Current service members
- The homeless
- Those in detention or correctional facilities
- Survivors of domestic violence
- Those who live in rural areas
What are Some of the Primary Causes of a Traumatic Brain Injury?
According to the Mayo Clinic, overall, falls are the most common cause of traumatic brain injuries. These falls are often the result of a work accident or a fall from a ladder or stairs. Among the elderly, a fall can occur from a bed or in the bathtub, and for children, falls often occur on playgrounds. The other most common causes of a TBI include:
- Auto accidents—this can include motorcycle collisions, bicycle and pedestrian accidents, car crashes, and large commercial truck accidents. Those riding a bicycle or motorcycle, as well as pedestrians, have little to no protection in the event of an auto accident. The head—particularly if a helmet is not worn—is especially vulnerable during an auto accident.
- Combat injuries, including those from explosive blasts—Active-duty military personnel are at a high risk of receiving traumatic brain injuries, in some cases from pressure waves that pass through the brain during a blast, significantly disrupting brain functions.
- Acts of violence—Shaken baby syndrome can lead to traumatic brain injury in infants, while gunshot wounds, domestic violence, child abuse, and other types of assault can cause traumatic brain injuries among individuals of all ages.
- Injuries from Sports–related activities—Jumping on a trampoline, horseback riding, skateboarding, baseball, football, boxing, soccer, and other sports can be responsible for traumatic brain injuries. We are hearing more and more about traumatic brain injuries resulting from being hit during football practice or a game, whether for high-school players, college athletes, or NFL players.
Any accident that causes the head to collide violently with an object or that causes a penetrating wound to the head can be responsible for a traumatic brain injury.
What are the Different Types and Levels of Traumatic Brain Injuries?
There are basically four “types” of traumatic brain injuries, with three “levels.” The four types of TBI include:
- Concussions, caused by a sudden change in head movement, shaking, or an impact to the head.
- Bruising of the brain, known as a brain contusion, caused by an impact to the head.
- Piercing of the skull by an object, known as a penetrating brain injury, caused by any external force strong enough to break through the skull. Gunshot wounds, slip and fall injuries, motor vehicle accidents in which something penetrates the skull, and some sports-related injuries can cause a penetrating brain injury.
- Anoxic brain injuries occur when the brain fails to receive sufficient oxygen due to a blood clot, a stroke, serious trauma, or a heart attack as well as from suffocation, choking, drowning, carbon monoxide poisoning, or poisoning.
The above types of traumatic brain injuries can be mild, moderate, or severe. A mild TBI involves either a loss of consciousness for a few seconds or minutes or no loss at all. The victim of a mild TBI may appear disoriented or confused. A moderate TBI involves a loss of consciousness that can last as long as a few hours, with confusion and other complications that can last weeks. The complications from a moderate TBI can be behavioral, cognitive, physical, emotional, or a combination of these.
A severe TBI is usually the result of a crushing blow to the skull or from penetration to the skull and brain. Severe TBIs are life-threatening and the victim of a severe TBI is unlikely to return to his or her normal life. Even when your brain injury is deemed “mild,” you may still suffer serious, life-altering consequences.
What are the Symptoms of a Traumatic Brain Injury?
Symptoms of a mild traumatic brain injury or concussion can affect how you think, act, feel, or sleep. The symptoms of a mild TBI can change throughout your recovery and may include:
- Sensitivity to light or noise
- Dizziness
- Fatigue
- Headaches
- Nausea or vomiting
- Vision issues
- Problems with memory, attention span, and concentration
- Anxiety, irritability, sadness, depression
- Sleeping more or less than usual, inability to sleep
A moderate to severe TBI can include the above symptoms, as well as the following more serious symptoms:
- Convulsions or seizures
- Clear fluids draining from the ears or nose
- Numbness or weakness in toes and fingers
- Loss of coordination
- Inability to wake from sleep
- Profound confusion
- Unusual or easy irritability
What are the Typical Damages for a TBI and How Can a Tacoma Brain Injury Lawyer Impact the Final Settlement?
While your settlement for a TBI will depend on the circumstances and facts surrounding your accident, including the level of severity, whether there is any question of liability, and your age, occupation, and medical history. A younger brain injury victim who will never be able to work at all or at his or her former level will likely receive higher compensation than an older, retired person. That being said, damages for mild to moderate TBIs often exceed $100,000.
For those with a severe TBI whose lives are severely affected and will need a lifetime of care, the settlement may go into the millions. This is due to the necessity of ongoing caregiving and the need for specialized equipment, rehabilitation, medical care, and lost wages. Some of the settlements Blake Kremer has obtained on behalf of his clients include a $2,000,000 wrongful death settlement, a $950,000 settlement for a client who was run over in a crosswalk, a $750,000 settlement for a client injured in a semi-truck accident, and a $250,000 settlement for a student injured on campus.
How Traumatic Brain Injury Lawyer Blake Kremer Can Help
Knowledgeable Tacoma brain injury lawyer Blake Kremer is a third-generation lawyer with three decades of experience. Blake has spent his lifetime exhibiting a pattern of service to his community, representing those who otherwise might never have found justice. Blake sees litigation as a crucial tool in obtaining justice for his clients, understanding that many insurance companies will not make a serious offer until a lawsuit is filed. Blake is a fierce advocate for his clients, always listening carefully to his clients, then offering a comprehensive assessment.
If you are in the Tacoma, Seattle, Western Washington, Puget Sound Region, King County or South Sound area, contact the Law Office of Blake Kremer will fight for your rights. Call (253) 830-5844 today to speak with Tacoma brain injury lawyer Blake Kremer, or (253) 368-4382 to speak with Kate, Blake’s paralegal.
