What is a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)?
A traumatic brain injury occurs when a sudden trauma, such as a violent blow or jolt to the head, causes damage to the brain. In car accidents, this often happens when a driver’s head strikes the steering wheel, window, or simply snaps back and forth violently (whiplash), causing the brain to collide with the inside of the skull.
Why are TBIs Often Missed in the Emergency Room?
When you are rushed to the ER after a severe crash, doctors are primarily focused on life-threatening injuries—stopping internal bleeding, stabilizing the spine, and treating broken bones. Furthermore, standard CT scans and MRIs often fail to detect microscopic axonal damage (the tearing of nerve fibers in the brain). Because of this, many accident victims are sent home with a diagnosis of a “mild concussion,” only to realize weeks later that something is terribly wrong.
What Are the Hidden Symptoms of a Brain Injury?
If you or a loved one have been in an accident, watch closely for these delayed cognitive and emotional symptoms:
Cognitive Issues: Short-term memory loss, difficulty concentrating, confusion, or struggling to find the right words in conversation.
Physical Symptoms: Chronic headaches, dizziness, sensitivity to light or sound, blurred vision, and profound fatigue.
Emotional/Behavioral Changes: Sudden irritability, severe anxiety, depression, mood swings, or a change in personality (often noticed first by family members).
Sleep Disturbances: Sleeping significantly more than usual, or an inability to fall and stay asleep.
How Do You Prove a TBI in a Personal Injury Claim?
Proving a brain injury requires more than just a plaintiff’s testimony. Because insurance companies aggressively fight TBI claims—labeling them as “invisible injuries” or pre-existing conditions—you need a law firm that understands the science.
At Howe.Law Injury & Accident Lawyers, we work with leading neurologists, neuropsychologists, and advanced imaging specialists (using tools like DTI and PET scans) to objectively prove the extent of your brain damage. We also gather testimony from your friends, family, and coworkers to demonstrate how the injury has fundamentally altered your daily life.
If you suspect you have suffered a head injury in an accident, do not let the insurance company minimize your trauma. Call Howe.Law Injury & Accident Lawyers at (844) 876-4357 for a free, confidential case evaluation.
14. Hit by an Uninsured Driver? How to Recover Compensation
Title: Hit by an Uninsured Driver? Here is How You Can Still Recover Compensation
Category: Auto Accidents
What Happens If the At-Fault Driver Does Not Have Insurance?
It is one of the most stressful scenarios an accident victim can face. You are sitting at a red light, you get rear-ended, and you discover the at-fault driver has no insurance—or has fled the scene entirely. Who pays for your medical bills, your totaled vehicle, and your lost wages?
Fortunately, you are not out of options. You can still recover maximum compensation through your own insurance policy, provided you have Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM) coverage.
What is Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM) Coverage?
UM/UIM is an optional (but highly recommended) add-on to your auto insurance policy. It steps into the shoes of the at-fault driver’s insurance.
Uninsured Motorist (UM): Covers your damages if the driver who hit you has zero insurance, or if you are the victim of a hit-and-run.
Underinsured Motorist (UIM): Covers the gap if the at-fault driver has state-minimum insurance that is not enough to cover your catastrophic medical bills.
Will Filing a UM Claim Increase My Insurance Rates?
In states like Georgia, Tennessee, and Mississippi, state laws generally prohibit your insurance company from raising your premiums or canceling your policy for filing a UM/UIM claim when the accident was not your fault. You pay for this coverage precisely for this scenario—you have every right to use it.
Why You Still Need a Lawyer for a UM Claim
A common misconception is that because you are dealing with your own insurance company, they will treat you fairly. They will not. Your insurance company is still a for-profit business, and in a UM claim, their goal is to pay you as little as possible. They will dispute your medical treatments, argue about the severity of your injuries, and offer lowball settlements.
You need a trial lawyer to hold them accountable. At Howe.Law Injury & Accident Lawyers, we aggressively negotiate with your UM carrier to ensure you get every penny you are owed. If they refuse to negotiate in good faith, we will take them to court.
Do not panic if you were hit by an uninsured driver. Contact Howe.Law Injury & Accident Lawyers today at (844) 876-4357 to explore all your avenues for compensation.
15. How Long Do You Have to File a Personal Injury Lawsuit?
Title: How Long Do You Have to File a Personal Injury Lawsuit? (Statute of Limitations Explained)
Category: Personal Injury
What is a Statute of Limitations?
In the legal world, a “statute of limitations” is a strict legal deadline. It is the maximum amount of time you have from the date of your accident to formally file a lawsuit against the at-fault party. If you attempt to file a lawsuit even one day after this deadline expires, the court will dismiss your case, and you will permanently lose your right to recover any compensation.
What are the Deadlines in Georgia, Tennessee, and Mississippi?
Because Howe.Law Injury & Accident Lawyers serves clients across the Southeast, it is critical to understand that these deadlines vary strictly by state:
Georgia: 2 years from the date of the injury.
Tennessee: 1 year from the date of the injury (one of the shortest deadlines in the country).
Mississippi: 3 years from the date of the injury.
Note: There are specific exceptions that can shorten these deadlines significantly. For example, if you are suing a government entity (like a city bus or a state-owned vehicle), you may only have a few months to file a formal “Notice of Claim.”
Why You Should Never Wait Until the Deadline Approaches
While you may technically have one to three years to file a lawsuit, waiting is the biggest mistake you can make. Here is why you must hire an attorney immediately:
Evidence Disappears: Skid marks wash away, security camera footage is overwritten, and witnesses forget critical details within weeks.
Insurance Company Tactics: Adjusters will purposely drag out “negotiations” for months, hoping you will miss the legal deadline and lose your leverage.
Medical Documentation: Gaps in your medical treatment give the defense the ammunition to claim your injuries are not related to the crash.
Protect Your Legal Rights Today
Do not let the clock run out on your right to justice. The moment you hire Howe.Law Injury & Accident Lawyers, we immediately launch an investigation, secure the evidence, and ensure all legal deadlines are strictly met.
Time is not on your side, but we are. Call Howe.Law Injury & Accident Lawyers 24/7 at (844) 876-4357 for a free consultation.
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