How Older Adults can Avoid a TBI
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention1 (CDC), falls cause 81 percent of all traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) among adults over 65 years old. TBIs are an extremely serious type of injury that can have long-term effects, even in relatively minor cases. Fortunately, the CDC had provided older adults with some ways that they can reduce their risk of sustaining a TBI, including the following:
- Exercise regularly, and focus your routine on exercises that improve strength and balance.
- Discuss your all of the medications that you are currently taking or may take with your health care provider. Some medications can cause dizziness or sleepiness, which can increase your risk of falling
- Make sure that you have your vision checked on a regular basis and make sure that your home is well lit
- Take steps to make your home safer. Remove any items that may present a fall hazard like rugs and cords. In addition, place items you use often in areas where you can easily reach them without using a step stool. In your bathroom, install handrails in your tub and shower.
If Your TBI was Caused by Negligence, You May be Entitled to Compensation
While following the advice provided above can help prevent a fall resulting in a TBI, it is impossible to eliminate all risk and there are many other kinds of accidents that can cause a traumatic brain injury. Fortunately for people who sustain TBI injuries in accidents caused by the negligence of others, Florida law often entitles them to compensation for their economic and non-economic losses. There are many examples of accidents that are often caused by negligence that have the potential to result in a TBI, including the following
- Car Accidents – The forces involved in even a minor motor vehicle accident can easily cause a TBI. TBIs can occur anytime a person hits his or her head against an external object or even if the head snaps quickly back and forth. Examples of driver negligence that can cause serious accidents include speeding, distracted driving,2 drunk driving, or following too closely.
- Slip and Fall Accidents – Slip and fall accidents also have the potential to cause TBIs. If you are hurt in a slip and fall accident on someone else’s property, you may be able to recover compensation from the party responsible for the maintenance of the property. Some of the signs that a property owner may have been negligent in the way he or she maintained the property include accumulations of snow or ice, slippery flooring, cracked pavement, inadequate lighting, stairwells without handrails, or liquid spills that are not cleaned up in a reasonable amount of time.
When Should You Talk to an Attorney?
If you have sustained a TBI, you should speak with a lawyer as soon as you can after your condition has stabilized. This is true even if an insurance company or the party responsible for your injury has contacted you and offered you money in order to pay for your medical expenses or other losses. If you accept an offer like this, you will likely not be able to bring a claim at a later date if it turns out that amount of money that you accepted was insufficient to cover your losses. By talking to an attorney who has experience representing TBI victims, you can be sure that your legal rights are protected and that you are able to recover compensation for all of your losses.
How Much Will an Attorney Cost?
Many TBI victims incur significant medical expenses and are unable to work for a significant period of time. With bills piling up and less income coming in, many TBI victims are concerned about how they will be able to afford an attorney. At the Dolman Law Group, we do not charge anything for consultations and will not collect legal fees unless we successfully recover on your behalf. As a result, you have nothing to lose by speaking to one of our lawyers or retaining our firm.
Call a TBI Attorney Today to Schedule a Free Consultation
Traumatic brain injuries can have devastating results for older adults and others, so it is critical for anyone that has sustained a TBI in an accident to speak to a skilled attorney as soon as possible. The TBI lawyers of the Dolman Law Group are dedicated to helping injured victims hold the people that caused their accident liable. To schedule a free consultation with one of our lawyers, call our office today at 727-451-6900.
Dolman Law Group
800 North Belcher Road
Clearwater, FL 33765
727-451-6900
https://www.dolmanlaw.com/legal-services/brain-injury-attorneys/
