Catastrophic Brain Injury Legal Representation
Severe traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are among the most devastating injuries a person can survive. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), TBI is a leading cause of death and permanent disability in the United States, contributing to approximately 64,000 deaths annually. Survivors of severe TBI often face permanent cognitive impairment, physical disability, personality changes, and the loss of ability to live independently — consequences that affect not only the victim but their entire family for the rest of their lives.
At Roden Law, our severe TBI lawyers have the experience and resources to handle the most complex brain injury cases in Georgia and South Carolina. These cases involve substantial damages — often in the millions of dollars — and require specialized medical evidence, life care planning, and economic analysis to ensure victims and their families receive the compensation they need for lifetime care.
What Constitutes a Severe TBI
A traumatic brain injury is classified as severe when the victim experiences loss of consciousness lasting more than 24 hours, post-traumatic amnesia lasting more than 7 days, a Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score of 3-8 at admission, abnormal findings on CT or MRI scans showing structural brain damage, or the need for neurosurgical intervention (craniotomy, decompressive surgery). Severe TBIs may involve contusions (bruising of brain tissue), diffuse axonal injury (shearing of nerve fibers), intracranial hemorrhage (bleeding in or around the brain), penetrating injuries, or skull fractures with underlying brain damage.
Common Causes of Severe TBI
Severe traumatic brain injuries most commonly result from:
- Motor vehicle accidents: High-speed collisions, rollovers, and pedestrian impacts
- Motorcycle accidents: Riders ejected or striking fixed objects at speed
- Truck accidents: The massive force of commercial vehicle collisions
- Falls from heights: Construction site falls, ladder falls, and elevated platform falls
- Violent assaults: Blows to the head with objects or against surfaces
- Pedestrian accidents: Pedestrians struck by vehicles at moderate to high speeds
Long-Term Effects of Severe TBI
Survivors of severe TBI typically face permanent and life-altering consequences:
- Cognitive impairment: Memory loss, difficulty with reasoning and problem-solving, impaired judgment
- Physical disability: Paralysis, loss of motor function, seizure disorders, chronic pain
- Communication disorders: Aphasia, difficulty speaking and understanding language
- Behavioral and personality changes: Aggression, impulsivity, depression, emotional instability
- Loss of independence: Inability to work, drive, manage finances, or perform daily activities
- Shortened life expectancy: Severe TBI is associated with increased mortality risk and accelerated aging
Damages in Severe TBI Cases
Severe TBI cases involve the most substantial damages in personal injury law. Recoverable damages include past and future medical expenses (often millions of dollars for lifetime care), 24/7 attendant care and assisted living costs, cognitive rehabilitation and therapy, lost lifetime earning capacity, pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, loss of consortium (for the victim’s spouse), and punitive damages when the defendant’s conduct was particularly reckless.
Georgia’s personal injury statutes (O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33 for the 2-year limitations period) and South Carolina’s (S.C. Code § 15-3-530 for the 3-year period) govern the filing deadlines. For victims who are incapacitated, tolling provisions may extend these deadlines.
Life Care Planning and Economic Analysis
Our attorneys work with certified life care planners who develop comprehensive projections of the victim’s future medical and care needs, including medications, therapies, assistive technology, home modifications, and attendant care for the remainder of their life expectancy. Forensic economists calculate the present value of these future costs and the victim’s lost earning capacity. This expert evidence is essential to ensuring the jury or insurance company understands the true financial impact of a severe TBI.
Why Choose Roden Law for Severe TBI Cases
Severe TBI cases require substantial legal resources, medical expertise, and trial experience. Our attorneys have handled catastrophic brain injury cases resulting in multi-million-dollar recoveries. We advance all case costs, retain the best medical experts, and are prepared to take your case to trial if the insurance company refuses to offer fair compensation. There is no fee unless we win. If your brain injury was caused by a closed head injury or oxygen deprivation, our team handles the full spectrum of TBI cases.