When a traumatic brain injury (TBI) changes your life, you need an attorney who understands both the medical complexity and the legal challenges ahead. At Odom Law Firm, we represent individuals and families throughout Arkansas who have suffered catastrophic brain injuries. Our team brings decades of experience handling serious personal injury cases. We know how to fight for the compensation you deserve.
Call our Fayetteville catastrophic injury lawyers today at 479-442-7575 for your free consultation. We work on contingency – no fees unless we win.
Why Choose Odom Law Firm for Your Brain Injury Case
Odom Law Firm has served Fayetteville and Northwest Arkansas since 1982, representing clients and families facing the lifelong impact of serious brain injuries. Our team has more than 100 years of combined personal injury experience dedicated to helping victims of traumatic brain injury and severe neurological harm. Here’s what sets us apart:
- Extensive experience handling traumatic brain injury cases, stroke misdiagnosis resulting in brain damage, and other complex neurological claims.
- Results for brain injury victims, including:
- $2.8 million settlement for hospital negligence in failing to diagnose a stroke, resulting in permanent brain injury.
- Thorough investigation and collaboration with medical experts in neurology and rehabilitation.
- Clients pay nothing unless we recover for their injury.
- Support, clear communication, and personalized advocacy at every stage.
Let Odom Law Firm help you secure the support and justice you need after a traumatic brain injury.
Our Approach to TBI Cases
We conduct comprehensive medical investigations. We work with neurologists, neuropsychologists, and rehabilitation specialists to document the full extent of injury. We coordinate with qualified expert witnesses. They explain complex medical concepts to judges and juries. We have extensive experience negotiating with insurance companies and their defense counsel.
We prepare every case for trial. This ensures we are ready to present your case before a jury if settlement negotiations fail. Our approach to personal injury cases has resulted in substantial recoveries for our clients. We also handle workers’ compensation claims that involve brain injuries from workplace incidents.
What Is a Traumatic Brain Injury?
A traumatic brain injury occurs when a sudden impact or force damages the brain. The injury can range from mild to severe, affecting how your brain functions. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that approximately 2.87 million TBI-related emergency department visits, hospitalizations, and deaths occur annually in the United States.
TBIs fall into two main categories: closed head injuries (where the skull remains intact but the brain is damaged from impact) and penetrating injuries (where an object pierces the skull and brain tissue). Even injuries that seem minor at first can develop into serious, life-altering conditions. Brain injuries often result from motor vehicle accidents, motorcycle crashes, pedestrian accidents, and workplace accidents.
Common TBI Symptoms
Traumatic brain injuries produce a wide range of symptoms. These may appear immediately or develop over days, weeks, or even months. Physical symptoms include persistent headaches, dizziness, balance problems, sensitivity to light and noise, and fatigue. Cognitive effects often involve memory loss, difficulty concentrating, slowed thinking, and problems with decision-making.
Emotional and behavioral changes can include mood swings, irritability, anxiety, depression, and personality changes. Many TBI survivors experience a combination of these symptoms, making diagnosis and treatment complex. If you’ve experienced a head injury from any type of accident, seeking immediate medical evaluation is critical.
How Traumatic Brain Injuries Happen
Brain injuries result from various accidents and incidents. Motor vehicle accidents—including car collisions, motorcycle crashes, truck accidents, and rideshare accidents—remain a leading cause of TBI. Falls from heights, slips on hazardous surfaces, and workplace accidents cause significant numbers of brain injuries.
Struck-by incidents in construction, manufacturing, and other industries frequently result in TBIs. Assaults and acts of violence cause traumatic brain injuries. Sports-related impacts and recreational accidents also contribute to TBI statistics. Bicycle accidents and hit-and-run incidents can also cause severe brain trauma. Additionally, dog bite injuries and other premises liability incidents may result in head trauma.
Why TBI Cases Are Complex
Traumatic brain injuries present unique legal challenges. Brain damage often remains invisible on initial examination. Symptoms may not appear for weeks or months after the injury. This delay complicates the connection between the accident and the injury. Insurance companies frequently undervalue TBI claims because the injury lacks obvious physical markers.
Proving causation requires sophisticated medical evidence, expert testimony, and a thorough understanding of neurology and brain function. Long-term consequences are difficult to predict and quantify. Yet they significantly impact a victim’s future earning capacity and quality of life. This is why working with an experienced personal injury attorney is essential to protect your rights.
Long-Term Consequences of Brain Injuries
The effects of traumatic brain injury extend far beyond the initial injury. Cognitive impairment affects memory, executive function, processing speed, and problem-solving abilities. This often prevents return to previous employment. Physical disabilities may include mobility limitations, coordination problems, chronic pain, and sensory changes.
Emotional and behavioral changes alter personality and relationships. Many TBI survivors experience permanent loss of earning capacity. This requires lifetime financial support. Ongoing medical care, rehabilitation therapy, assistive devices, and home modifications create substantial long-term expenses. Other catastrophic injuries, like spinal cord injuries and burn injuries, present similar long-term challenges requiring comprehensive legal representation.
What Damages Can You Recover?
Arkansas law allows TBI victims to recover damages for multiple categories. Medical expenses include emergency care, hospitalization, surgery, diagnostic imaging, rehabilitation, therapy, and ongoing treatment. Lost wages cover income lost during recovery and ongoing disability. Lost earning capacity compensates for reduced ability to work in the future.
Pain and suffering damages address physical pain, emotional distress, and diminished quality of life. Special damages cover rehabilitation costs, assistive devices, home modifications, and in-home care services. In cases of severe negligence, punitive damages may apply. If your injury resulted from medical malpractice, product liability, or nursing home abuse, additional damages may be available.
Steps to Take After a Traumatic Brain Injury
Immediate action following a head injury protects your health and your legal rights. Seek medical attention immediately, even if symptoms seem minor. Document the incident thoroughly. Include photographs of the scene, property damage, and visible injuries. Preserve evidence at the accident scene. Obtain contact information from witnesses.
Report the incident to the police, your employer, or the property owner as appropriate. Contact an experienced personal injury attorney as soon as possible. This protects your rights and begins the investigation. The sooner you contact Odom Law Firm, the better we can protect your interests and preserve critical evidence.
Frequently Asked Questions About TBI Claims
When a traumatic brain injury disrupts your life, it’s important to know what legal options are available. The following FAQs address common questions our Fayetteville clients ask about their rights, compensation, and how the Arkansas legal process works.
How long do I have to file a traumatic brain injury claim in Arkansas?
Under Arkansas Code § 16-56-105, you generally have three years from the date of the injury to file a personal injury claim. If symptoms appeared later, the “discovery rule” may extend this deadline.
Claims against a city or state agency require notice within 180 days, and wrongful death claims must be filed within three years of death. Because deadlines are strict, it’s best to contact a Fayetteville injury attorney immediately to preserve your rights.
What compensation can I recover for a brain injury?
Arkansas law allows recovery for both economic and non-economic damages, including:
- Medical costs: Emergency care, hospitalization, rehab, and long-term therapy
- Lost income and earning capacity: For missed work or permanent disability
- Pain, suffering, and emotional distress
- Home modifications and assistive care
- Punitive damages in cases of extreme negligence (e.g., drunk driving)
Your attorney will work with medical and financial experts to calculate the full lifetime value of your case.
How do I prove my brain injury claim?
To succeed, your lawyer must show:
- Negligence: Someone’s carelessness caused your injury.
- Causation: Medical evidence links the accident to your TBI.
- Damages: The injury caused measurable losses.
Attorneys use expert testimony from neurologists, neuropsychologists, and vocational experts to demonstrate how your brain injury affects your health, work, and daily life.
Why are TBI cases more complicated than other injury claims?
Brain injuries often involve invisible or delayed symptoms, and standard scans may not show microscopic damage.
Insurers frequently dispute causation and long-term effects, so your attorney must rely on advanced imaging (like DTI) and expert neurological evidence to prove the full impact.
Because the effects can be lifelong, TBI claims require both medical precision and strategic legal advocacy.
How Soon Should I Contact a Lawyer?
Arkansas imposes a three-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims. You have three years from the date of injury to file a lawsuit. However, waiting until near the deadline is risky. Early investigation preserves evidence. It secures witness testimony while memories are fresh. It allows time for thorough medical documentation.
Insurance companies often make early settlement offers. These offers frequently undervalue serious injuries. An attorney can evaluate whether an offer is fair. We protect your interests from the beginning. Don’t delay–contact our office today to discuss your traumatic brain injury claim.
Contact Odom Law Firm for Your Free Consultation
If you or a loved one has suffered a traumatic brain injury, we are ready to help. We offer free case evaluations with no obligation. We work on a contingency fee basis. You pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you. Our team provides compassionate representation. We pursue the maximum recovery your case deserves.
Call Odom Law Firm today at 479-442-7575 or contact us online to schedule your free consultation. We serve clients throughout Arkansas and work with co-counsel nationwide.
