Welcome to the Hardison & Cochran
Raleigh Closed Head Injuries website. Our goal is to provide
exceptional legal services to all of our clients. We have offices
conveniently located in Raleigh, High Point and Dunn, NC. If you have
suffered a closed head injury due to the negligence of someone else,
please call the law firm of Hardison & Cochran today for a free assessment
of your case.
At Hardison & Cochran, we are extremely proud of our Personal Injury
Division. This division is made up of lawyers with extensive experience in
personal injury law. Our attorneys are supported by a team of case
managers, litigation paralegals, legal assistants and investigators.
Ken Hardison, known as the "people's lawyer," has spent the past 20 years
building a highly respected practice specializing in injury law. All
of the attorneys at Hardison & Cochran have the experience, knowledge, and
overwhelming desire to get you the results you deserve. While our practice
has grown over the years, one thing has remained constant- - our
dedication to personal attention.
Statistics show that there are approximately 2 million brain injuries
reported each year in this country. Of those reported brain injuries, over
51,000 were fatal and 20-30% of the surviving victims suffered permanent
disabilities.
In personal injury law, there are two major types of head injury: an open
injury -- one that penetrates or opens the skull such as would be the case
from a gunshot wound-- and a closed injury. A closed head injury is caused
by any situation where the head is caused to snap rapidly back and forth,
creating movement of the brain within the skull. With a closed head
injury, the skull is not penetrated or opened.
The symptoms of closed head injuries are similar to those of depression,
so a head injury diagnosis is frequently overlooked. The diagnosis of a
closed head injury is best made by an physician who has experience in
cognitive perceptual motor testing. A physician will base his diagnosis on
evaluations of the function of many different areas of the brain which can
show abnormalities that other medical tests cannot detect. Factors,
including distraction, illness, or depression, can affect the outcome of
testing.
On the outside, a person who is suffering from a closed head injury may
appear perfectly normal. In some cases relatives and friends may notice an
attitude or personality change. Only the victims of these injuries are
fully aware of the physical and emotional harm associated with a closed
head injury.
The most common symptoms are:
- Difficulty paying attention and
concentrating
- Problems making sense of what has been
read or seen on television
- Forgetting things
- Finding it difficult to learn new tasks
or complete tasks
- Confusion in finding places or following
geographical directions
- Unclear thinking
- Inflexibility
- Diminished organizational skills
- Poor decision making, judgment, and
reasoning
- Fatigue
- Restless sleeping
- Dizziness
- Headaches
- Speech problems
Closed head injuries can be permanent, but
many of the problems can be improved with rehabilitation. This includes
cognitive rehabilitation and cognitive perceptual motor remediation.
Comprehensive rehabilitation may include any, or all, of the following
health care providers: a physician, a physical therapist, an occupational
therapist, a speech pathologist, a neuropsychologist, a social worker, a
vocational counselor, a recreational therapist, a nutritionist, and/or a
case manager.
Vehicular accidents are the leading cause of traumatic head injuries.
Occupant protection such as seat belts and air bags cannot fully protect a
person's head and neck. A side impact against a door, even at low speeds,
can have significant force impact on the head. Head-on collisions pose an
extremely high risk of injury because the body is moving back away from
seat belts and air bags.
Head injuries also frequently result from:
- Construction Site Accidents
- Slip and Falls
- Bike, Scooter and Motorcycle Accidents
- Shaken Baby Syndrome Situations
- Violent Acts
- Sports and Recreational Events
- Plane Crashes
- Railroad Accidents
- Defective Products
- Boating Accidents
Many motor vehicle accidents are caused by
negligence. When negligence is the cause of a closed head injury, the
victim may be entitled to recover damages due to the other person’s
negligence. Families of the victim may also be entitled to compensation
for damages if, due to the injury, they are forced to change their
circumstances and lifestyles in order to care for their loved one.
Negligence is the failure to act reasonably in any given situation.
Negligence does not simply mean doing something wrong. All of the
following elements must exist for an act to be considered negligent:
- Lack of reasonable care
- Breach of duty
- Injury to the victim
- Forseeability (knowing an act would
occur based on the circumstances)
- Damages
Generally, there is a two year statute of
limitations in this type of case. This means that you have two years from
the date of the accident to file a lawsuit against the negligent party. If
you fail to file within this time frame, you will be forever barred from
doing so in the future.
If you, or a loved one, have sustained a closed head injury in an accident
that you believe was caused by someone else’s negligence, you may be able
to obtain compensation for your medical and rehabilitation costs, as well
as lost wages. Litigation is often the only way to ensure that you receive
the compensation that you are entitled to. Please contact a Hardison & Cochran
Closed Head Injury attorney immediately regarding your injuries. We will make arrangements
for your medical bills to be paid out of any future settlement, which will
allow you to focus on your recovery instead of your medical bills.
The most often asked question regarding personal injury lawsuits is, “What
is the value of my claim?” This is dependent on a variety of factors; such
as previous verdicts, cost of medical bills, type of injury, disability
rating given to you by your physician, liability of the person who injured
you and the amount of your lost wages.
At Hardison & Cochran, we have over 20 years experience handling accident
cases and we can help you achieve the largest settlement possible. We
handle each case as if it were going to trial. Insurance companies know
that law firms, such as Hardison & Cochran, who have a reputation for going
to trial receive higher settlements than those who do not.
We will also be there to guide you through the entire legal process.
Having an attorney on your side is the most efficient route to settling
your case and getting the compensation that you deserve. So please contact
Hardison & Cochran today. We look forward to meeting you and discussing your
claim. Please know that we appreciate the trust you have placed in our
firm. We can be reached at 1-800-434-8399 or
via e-mail.
Our personal injury practice also includes the following areas:
- Accidents involving automobiles, trucks,
motorcycles, trains, and pedestrians
- Slip and Fall cases
- Products Liability
- Nursing Home Negligence
- Medical Malpractice
- Catastrophic Injuries
- Security Assaults
- Fire Cases due to negligence
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