At Anderson O'Brien, LLP, we understand how overwhelming a brain injury can be for both the person injured and their family. When someone’s careless or reckless actions cause this kind of harm, they should be held responsible. A Stevens Point, Wisconsin traumatic brain injury lawyer from our team helps injury victims across Wisconsin secure the compensation they deserve to move forward with their lives.
For more than 135 years, we’ve helped clients throughout Stevens Point, Plover, Wisconsin Rapids, Marshfield, and Waupaca. Our firm has a strong record of results in serious injury cases, including TBIs. We work closely with medical professionals and life care planners to build strong cases for our clients.
If you or a loved one suffered a traumatic brain injury, reach out today for a free consultation. We’ll discuss your situation, your rights, and how we can help.
Stevens Point, Wisconsin Traumatic Brain Injury Guide
- What Is a Traumatic Brain Injury?
- Common Causes of Traumatic Brain Injuries in Central Wisconsin
- How Do I Know If I Have a Valid TBI Case?
- What Compensation Can I Recover for a TBI in Wisconsin?
- Wisconsin Laws That Impact TBI Cases
- Why Choose Our Stevens Point Brain Injury Attorneys?
- How Does a Traumatic Brain Injury Lawyer Help Your Case?
- What Should I Do Immediately After Sustaining a Potential Brain Injury?
- Contact Our Experienced TBI Attorneys in Stevens Point Now
What Is a Traumatic Brain Injury?
A traumatic brain injury (TBI) happens when a sudden impact or force causes damage to the brain. It might result from a fall, a vehicle crash, a sports collision, or a workplace incident. Some TBIs heal over time, while others cause permanent changes. Every case is different, and every person’s recovery path varies.
Common Types of Traumatic Brain Injuries
- Concussions: Often caused by a direct hit or violent shaking, these are among the most common brain injuries. While some heal within weeks, others leave lasting effects.
- Contusions: This is bruising of the brain tissue. A severe contusion may require surgery if bleeding or swelling occurs.
- Diffuse Axonal Injuries: Caused by powerful shaking or rotation, this injury stretches or tears the brain’s long connecting fibers and often leads to severe impairment.
- Penetrating Injuries: When an object breaks through the skull and enters the brain, the damage can be devastating.
How TBIs Are Diagnosed
Doctors usually begin with a physical exam, questions about symptoms, and imaging like CT scans or MRIs. Sometimes, symptoms appear later, which makes follow-up visits just as important. In many cases, brain injury symptoms evolve over time, which is why proper documentation and continued medical care are critical.
Long-Term Implications of Brain Injuries
Some people recover fully. Others live with permanent changes. These can include memory loss, mood swings, depression, problems with speech, or difficulty walking. TBIs can also affect sleep, appetite, and ability to work or study. The long-term costs—financial and personal—can be steep.
Common Causes of Traumatic Brain Injuries in Central Wisconsin
In Central Wisconsin, traumatic brain injuries often happen in places we pass every day—parking lots, intersections, job sites, farming areas, and sports fields. Let’s look at some of the most common causes.
Car Accidents
Crashes in downtown areas or on country roads can throw vehicle occupants forward or sideways, causing the head to strike the dashboard, window, or headrest. Even low-speed collisions can result in brain trauma.
Truck Accidents
Large trucks on roads like I-39 can cause life-altering injuries during collisions. The size and weight of these vehicles increase the chances of a serious brain injury, especially in rear-end or underride crashes.
Motorcycle Accidents
Even with helmets, motorcyclists are vulnerable. A spill on I-39 or a collision on Highway 66 can throw a rider to the ground or into other vehicles. TBIs are common in motorcycle wrecks due to the lack of protection.
Pedestrian Accidents
Crossing streets near schools, shopping centers, or recreational trails can be risky when drivers aren't paying attention. Pedestrians hit by vehicles often suffer head injuries due to the direct impact with the vehicle or pavement.
Construction Accidents
Head injuries are common on construction sites around Stevens Point. A falling object, scaffolding collapse, or slip on uneven ground can cause a serious blow to the head. Hard hats help, but they can’t prevent all trauma.
Workplace Accidents
Whether at a factory, office, or warehouse, workers can suffer head trauma from equipment malfunctions, falls, or being struck by objects. Employers and insurance companies should be held accountable when safety lapses lead to harm.
Slip and Fall Incidents
Falls on icy sidewalks in winter, wet floors in grocery stores, or uneven surfaces in public areas can all result in someone hitting their head. These injuries often happen at places like stores, restaurants, and apartment complexes.
Sports Injuries
High school football, soccer, hockey, and other contact sports carry TBI risks. Even recreational sports like sking, biking or skateboarding can cause serious injury, especially without helmets or proper supervision.
How Do I Know If I Have a Valid TBI Case?
Not every injury leads to a lawsuit. However, when another person, company, or entity causes the injury due to negligence, the injured party has the right to seek compensation.
Establishing Negligence in Brain Injury Cases
To hold someone legally responsible, a lawyer must show that:
- The other party had a duty to act safely or follow the law.
- They failed to do so.
- That failure caused the brain injury.
- The injury led to damages like medical bills or lost income.
Examples include a distracted driver running a red light, a store failing to fix a known hazard, or a coach not following safety protocols.
Statute of Limitations for TBI Claims in Wisconsin
Wisconsin law usually gives injury victims three years to file a personal injury claim. That clock starts ticking on the day of the injury. Some cases, like those involving a government agency or a minor, may follow different timelines. Waiting too long can prevent you from filing at all.
Documenting Your Brain Injury for Legal Purposes
Strong cases rely on evidence. Medical records, doctor’s notes, CT scan results, accident reports, and witness statements all help show how the injury occurred and how it’s affected your life. A journal that tracks symptoms or missed work can also support your claim.
What Compensation Can I Recover for a TBI in Wisconsin?
TBI cases often involve high costs. Recovery might take months, years, or may never be complete. A personal injury claim helps cover both the immediate and future effects of the injury.
Medical Expenses and Ongoing Treatment Costs
This includes ambulance rides, emergency room care, surgeries, doctor visits, medication, therapy, and medical equipment. Long-term care might also involve neuropsychological evaluations or in-home support.
Lost Wages and Diminished Earning Capacity
If the injury forces someone to miss work or take a lower-paying job, they can seek compensation for those losses. Some may never return to their former profession, especially if the injury affects memory, judgment, or coordination.
Pain and Suffering Damages
TBIs often come with headaches, confusion, anxiety, and emotional distress. While hard to measure, these non-economic damages are a major part of the claim. They reflect how the injury has affected your daily life and relationships.
Rehabilitation and Long-Term Care Expenses
Some survivors need speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, or mental health counseling. Others require modifications to their home or help with daily activities. These costs add up over time and should be part of any settlement or court award.
Wisconsin Laws That Impact TBI Cases
Knowing how state laws affect brain injury cases helps you understand what to expect during the legal process.
Wisconsin's Comparative Negligence Rules
Wisconsin follows a "modified comparative fault" rule. If the injured person is partly at fault, their compensation gets reduced by their percentage of fault. But if they're more than 50% responsible, they can’t collect damages. For example, if someone is found 20% at fault, they’ll only recover 80% of the total award.
Damage Caps That May Apply to Your Case
In most personal injury cases, Wisconsin doesn’t cap damages. However, if a government entity is involved—like a city or county—the law limits how much a victim can recover. These caps can affect both economic and non-economic damages.
Special Considerations for TBI Cases Involving Government Entities
Claims against a city, school district, or public agency must follow strict rules. You must provide written notice quickly, sometimes within 120 days. These claims also go through different court processes. Missing deadlines can derail the case before it even starts.
Why Choose Our Stevens Point Brain Injury Attorneys?
The lawyers at Anderson O'Brien, LLP focus on personal injury law, including complex TBI cases. We know what these cases require and bring the right tools to the table.
Extensive Experience with TBI Litigation
We’ve handled many brain injury cases throughout Wisconsin, including in Portage, Waushara, and Wood counties. Whether the injury happened in a crash on Highway 10 or a fall near the riverfront, our team has experience dealing with insurance companies and building strong claims.
Resources and Expert Networks
We regularly work with neurologists, neuropsychologists, life care planners, and economists. These experts help explain the full impact of your injury—now and in the future. Their input strengthens your case and supports fair compensation.
Client-Centered Approach to TBI Cases
We listen. We explain your options in plain language. And we keep you involved every step of the way. Your story matters, and we’ll help you tell it in a way that gets results.
How Does a Traumatic Brain Injury Lawyer Help Your Case?
An attorney from Anderson O’Brien, LLP does more than file paperwork. We take a hands-on role to protect your rights and fight for what you deserve.
Thorough Investigation of Your Accident
We gather all the evidence—photos, surveillance video, police reports, and witness interviews—to understand exactly how the injury happened. We also analyze safety violations, maintenance records, or training gaps that contributed to the incident.
Working with Medical Experts to Document Injuries
Medical experts play a key role in showing how a brain injury affects the body and mind. We consult with professionals who can explain your symptoms, treatment, and future needs to insurance adjusters or juries.
Calculating Full and Fair Compensation
We look beyond today’s bills. A strong case includes future medical care, job changes, lost opportunities, and the personal losses that come with a serious injury.
Negotiating with Insurance Companies
Insurers often try to downplay injuries or delay payments. We push back. When the other side refuses to offer a fair resolution, we prepare for court and make it clear that we’re ready to present your case to a jury.
Litigation and Trial Representation
If the at-fault party or insurer won’t act in good faith, we take the case to court. We’ve handled brain injury cases before judges and juries across Wisconsin. When trial becomes necessary, we’re prepared.
What Should I Do Immediately After Sustaining a Potential Brain Injury?
Acting quickly after a head injury makes a big difference in both health and legal outcomes. Here’s what to do if you or someone close to you may have suffered a TBI.
Seeking Immediate Medical Attention
Some symptoms appear right away—others take days. Don’t wait. Get checked out by a doctor. Tell them about any confusion, nausea, dizziness, or sleep changes. Early records help connect your symptoms to the injury.
Documenting the Accident and Your Symptoms
Write down what happened, take photos, and get names of any witnesses. Keep a daily journal of symptoms, doctor visits, medications, and how the injury affects your daily life.
Avoiding Common Mistakes That Hurt TBI Claims
Don’t talk to the insurance company without legal guidance. Don’t post about the injury on social media. And don’t ignore follow-up care. These mistakes can hurt your case and reduce the compensation you recover.
Contact Our Experienced TBI Attorneys in Stevens Point Now
The sooner you contact Anderson O’Brien, LLP, the better your chances of building a strong case. We offer a free consultation to review your situation and discuss your legal options. We work on a contingency fee basis, which means you don’t pay unless we help you recover compensation. Don’t wait and risk losing your chance to hold the at-fault party accountable.
Our firm has served Stevens Point and Central Wisconsin for decades. If someone else’s actions caused your brain injury, we’re ready to help you take the next step forward.
Call 715-344-0890 now or fill out our contact form to request a free case evaluation with a local attorney who has your and your family’s best interests at heart.