A traumatic brain injury (TBI) generally occurs following sudden trauma. There are three levels of severity:

• Mild TBI: This is generally referred to as a concussion. The victim is awake and aware of their current situation but might have lost consciousness for a brief time. They could suffer symptoms including persistent headaches, loss of balance and blurred vision.
• Moderate TBI: A victim of moderate TBI will likely appear only responsive to stimulation. They will appear lethargic and sluggish in their movements or reactions.
• Severe TBI: Medical professionals will generally diagnose a coma state when the victim has been unresponsive to external stimuli for more than six hours.

While the CDC cautions that accidents involving falls is the single greatest factor leading to a diagnosis of traumatic brain injuries, motor vehicle collisions account for 20% of the TBIs diagnosed in the United States.

Depending on the severity of the injury and the victim’s medical history, an individual might struggle for days, weeks or months with serious symptoms. In some cases, the symptoms become life-long conditions. Even a minor collision at low speeds can lead to perceptive difficulties and cognitive challenges. These issues can make it almost impossible for an individual to maintain gainful employment while also fighting to regain a level of pre-accident health.

Both the victim and the dog owner are supposed to exchange information, just as if it were the aftermath of a car wreck. This means giving one’s name, address and contact information. The victim can, then, easily call the owner to obtain more certain data on the dog’s vaccination history.

Victims should also be taking steps to document what happened. Before treating their wound, for example, they should have it photographed. If there were witnesses, victims should record their contact information and write down their account of what happened while remaining unbiased. Any correspondence with witnesses and, later, with the insurance company should be documented. Victims should keep track of all injury-related expenses.

Lastly, they could file a report with the local animal control agency, and the agency may investigate the matter. This, along with all the steps detailed above, can help when victims file a claim against the dog owner’s insurance company. It may even become easier to achieve a fair settlement.

Any personal injury case is going to have its complexities, and insurance companies will always try to force victims into a low-ball settlement, so it’s normally recommended to have a lawyer. During a case evaluation, the lawyer may calculate how much victims can be eligible for in economic and non-economic damages, including medical expenses, lost wages and pain and suffering. The lawyer may handle all settlement negotiations, only taking the case to court if all else fails.

At the most basic level, you and your ex will have to determine how the property division is going to be handled. Even if you don’t have much in the way of assets, the ones you do have will need to be split up. This can include things as seemingly minor as the kitchen appliances and living room furniture, as well as things as large as the marital home and the vehicles. Everything that you acquired during the marriage must be given a home now.

The divorce will get even more complex if you have children together. You will have to determine the terms of the child custody agreement. Many parents opt to work as a team to work out these details. If this isn’t possible, you will need to prepare for a battle in court so that the judge can order the specifics of the custody.

Some divorces have other complex elements like alimony and child support. While there is a state formula for child support, alimony isn’t so easy to work out. It is imperative that you carefully consider all financial arrangements prior to agreeing to them. Of course, this isn’t necessary if the court is ordering the support.

We are here to help you evaluate your options for all aspects of divorce. Remember, now is the time to ensure that you are protecting your own interests.