Pittsburgh Traumatic Brain Injury Lawyer

Traumatic Brain Injury Attorney in Pittsburgh, PA

If you’ve been involved in an accident in Allegheny County and you’ve suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI), it’s important that you reach out to an experienced Pittsburgh traumatic brain injury lawyer as soon as possible. TBIs are the kind of diagnosis that can change your life forever. Even closed head injuries, like concussions, can have long-lasting ramifications.

From major falls while working on a construction site to minor car crashes, brain injuries are often the first injuries to occur, but the last to be diagnosed.

At Ainsman Levine, LLC, we know just how complicated these cases can be, and navigating Pennsylvania’s TBI laws is never easy. Our mission is to stand by your side and advocate fiercely to secure the compensation you need to move forward.

Experienced Pennsylvania Traumatic Brain Injury Lawyers

With over 10 million Americans reporting that they sustained a brain injury in 2024, proving physical injury and financial damages for a brain injury claim requires an in-depth understanding of neurological damage and symptoms. Presenting a strong, clear case for damages often requires investigating the victim’s life prior to the accident. Even a minor impact — and sometimes no impact at all — can result in a significant traumatic brain injury.

Whether the full symptoms of an injury manifest immediately or remain hidden for some time, it is important to speak with a personal injury attorney to protect your right to future compensation.

What Is a Traumatic Brain Injury?

A traumatic brain injury is an injury that’s categorized as a disruption in normal brain function. Injuries to the brain can be caused by nearly anything that results in trauma to the brain, including sudden acceleration or deceleration, which can cause front-to-back or side-to-side whiplash.

Often, concussion-type injuries remain invisible since the symptoms may not be immediately apparent. However, those who know the injured person well might see subtle indications of a problem. They recognize the problems of being unable to converse naturally and logically; they see the inconsistencies in personality; they feel the frustration of knowing something is wrong.

These kinds of injuries can range from mild to severe, and they can affect cognition, behavior, physical ability, and emotional health.

People often use the terms TBI, concussion, and closed-head injury interchangeably, but they’re not identical. A concussion is a mild form of TBI, while closed-head injuries describe how the trauma happened, as opposed to its severity.

Types of Traumatic Brain Injuries

Not all types of brain injuries happen in the same way, and how the injury occurred can have an influence on everything from the symptoms a person experiences to the kind of medical treatment they need. Understanding the type of brain injury you sustained can help narrow down the root cause of the accident and who might be held liable. There are two main categories of TBI, and they are:

• Open or penetrating TBI. These injuries happen when an object breaks through the skull to directly damage the brain. This category is often severe and can cause permanent, localized brain damage.
• Closed-head or blunt TBI. These injuries occur when the brain is injured by a sudden force or impact without penetration of the skull. These are common in car accidents, falls, and sports injuries, and they can be just as serious as penetrating injuries.

At Ainsman Levine, LLC, our Pittsburgh traumatic brain injury attorneys are dedicated to rooting out the cause of your TBI so that we can clearly connect the accident to the medical diagnosis and secure the compensation you deserve.

Closed Brain Injuries and Concussions Are Often the Most Serious

A sudden blow to the head is not the only way to suffer a serious brain injury.

The Different Severity Levels of Traumatic Brain Injuries

In addition to categorizing TBIs by how the injury happened, doctors also classify TBIs based on how serious they are. These classifications help explain why some people recover quickly while others face long-term or permanent challenges. These classifications include:

• Mild (concussion). This category involves temporary symptoms, like headaches, dizziness, or confusion.
• Moderate. TBIs in this class cause loss of consciousness and more noticeable cognitive or physical impairment, with recovery taking months, years, or permanent limitations.
• Severe. This category involves prolonged unconsciousness or coma, and it can result in serious, lifelong disabilities that can affect your independence and quality of life.

At Ainsman Levine, LLC, our team uses these medical classifications to help make sure that we take the full impact of your injury into account before calculating your damages.

Common Types of Traumatic Brain Injury Diagnoses

When someone is treated for a head injury, medical providers might use a variety of medical terms to describe what’s happening inside the brain. These diagnoses often appear in emergency room records, imaging reports, and follow-up neurology visits, and they help shape both the treatment plan and your recovery expectations. Some of the most common types of TBI diagnoses include:

• Concussion or mild TBI
• Post-concussion syndrome
• Contusion, or bruising of the brain
• Diffuse axonal injury
• Subdural hematoma or epidural hematoma
• Traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage
• Skull fracture with brain involvement
• Edema, or swelling of the brain

At Ainsman Levine, LLC, we translate complicated diagnoses into a clear narrative that supports your traumatic injury claim.

Compensation You Could Be Entitled To

A traumatic brain injury can affect nearly every aspect of your life, often in ways that aren’t immediately obvious. Because the effects of a brain injury can evolve over time, any compensation that you’re awarded needs to account for what the future may hold. Depending on the facts of your traumatic brain injury claim, you could be entitled to compensation for:

• Past, present, and future medical expenses
• Rehabilitation
• Physical, occupational, and cognitive therapy
• Lost wages
• Reduced earning capacity
• Pain and suffering
• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Long-term care
• Assisted living
• Home modification

At Ainsman Levine, LLC, our Pittsburgh traumatic brain injury attorneys have worked on behalf of countless victims to get them the full and fair amount they’re entitled to. Our team is experienced when it comes to TBI laws, and we’re ready to fight for your rights.

TBI Symptoms to Watch Out for in Pittsburgh, PA

In many cases, signs of a brain injury could appear hours, days, or even weeks after an accident. Because an early diagnosis can be critical, recognizing potential TBI symptoms is incredibly important. They include:

• Short-term memory loss
• Disorientation
• Dizziness
• Nausea
• Loss of balance
• Headaches
• Sensitivity to light
• Vision impairment
• Loss of concentration and focus

The team at Ainsman Levine, LLC, understands how these symptoms connect to long-term outcomes, and we work to make sure that the full impact of your traumatic brain injury is recognized and addressed.

FAQs

Q: How Long Do I Have to File a Traumatic Brain Injury Claim?

A: The length of time you have to file a traumatic brain injury claim is governed by PA’s statute of limitations for personal injury. Generally, that means you can file any time within two years of the accident. However, some exceptions apply, so it’s wise to engage legal counsel as soon as possible.

Q: What if the Injured Person Can’t Manage Their Own Legal Affairs?

A: If the TBI is so severe that the injured person can’t handle their own legal affairs, a guardian or power of attorney can act on behalf of the victim. Sometimes, the court might appoint a representative to protect the victim’s interests. This ensures that all legal decisions are made by a responsible person. It also ensures that the settlement is properly structured and that the victim’s rights are protected.

Q: How Long Does It Usually Take to Resolve a Traumatic Brain Injury Claim?

A: The amount of time it takes to resolve a traumatic brain injury claim can vary widely, as it depends on several factors, like the severity of your injury, how complicated liability is, and whether the insurance companies are willing to negotiate. It’s possible that some TBI claims could be resolved in a couple of months, while others could take more than a year.

Q: What Kind of Evidence Is Needed to Prove a TBI Claim?

A: The kind of evidence that’s needed to prove a TBI claim includes detailed medical records, imaging results, doctor and therapist reports, and any notes that are available on your treatment and recovery. In addition, accident reports, witness statements, and proof of lost wages also play a large role. Our Pittsburgh traumatic brain injury attorneys can help gather this evidence so that your claim reflects the full scope of your damages.

Get a Free Consultation and Hire a Traumatic Brain Injury Lawyer

At Ainsman Levine, LLC, our attorneys provide experienced and personalized legal services tailored to meet clients’ short- and long-term needs and goals. When you hire a traumatic brain injury lawyer with us, you’re in good hands. That’s because we’re Pittsburgh’s straight-talking personal injury lawyers.

As a local law firm, we routinely practice at the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas, the US District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, and the Beaver County Court of Common Pleas, giving us firsthand knowledge of the local procedures and expectations that can impact your claim.

Our offices are just off the Parkway, next to the City-County Building in downtown Pittsburgh. Contact us to discuss your questions and concerns during a free consultation with one of our experienced Pittsburgh head injury lawyers today. As long as this law firm represents you, there are no attorneys’ fees or costs if you do not recover money damages in a settlement or jury verdict.

We understand that your injuries or other circumstances may make it difficult for you to come to our offices in downtown Pittsburgh. Our lawyers can arrange to make home, office, and hospital visits throughout Western and Central Pennsylvania.