Des Moines Traumatic Injury Lawyers

Serious injuries like traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and severe burns leave effects that last a lifetime. If another person’s negligence or fault caused your injury, you can seek compensation for your losses.

Traumatic injury cases can be complex, often requiring teams of experts to provide opinions and assessments. In these cases, you can trust the personal injury lawyers at GRL Law to provide the legal insight and national experts you need.

We know financial compensation will never completely replace what you’ve lost. However, we believe in fighting for justice and securing the medical assistance and compensation you need to move forward. Don’t settle for anything other than the best. Contact our law firm for a free consultation today.

A traumatic brain injury is a head injury caused by any sudden physical damage to the brain. This usually occurs as a result of a sudden forceful blow to the head that can be caused by:

• The head hitting a nonmoving object, such as the steering wheel of a car.
• A moving object hitting the head, such as would be seen in a violent assault.
• Something passing through the skull and piercing the brain. 

According to the National Institute of Health, the major cause of traumatic head injury in the United States is motor vehicle accidents.

The damage resulting from a traumatic brain injury depends upon the area of the brain that is damaged. Many traumatic brain injuries are caused by what is commonly referred to as “focal damage,” which only affects a small portion of the brain where the specific point of impact occurred. 

In other situations, “diffuse” brain injuries can result when the traumatic impact causes the brain to move back and forth within the skull, causing damage to larger areas and multiple regions of the brain.

There are two types of brain injuries: “closed head injuries” and “open head injuries.” These two types of injuries almost define themselves.

• “Closed head injuries” mean that the skull is not fractured. These injuries can be more difficult to recognize and understand because of the relatively benign appearance of the injured body part. However, due to that fact, closed head injuries can at times be more dangerous as they are not readily recognized. Also, because there is no fracture to the skull, swelling and bleeding of the brain creates= pressure and additional damage to brain tissue.
• “Open head injuries” means that the skull has been fractured. This can cause severe injury but there are also times when the fracturing of the skull may work to alleviate built-up pressure caused by bleeding and swelling which can in turn minimize the long-term brain damage.

Symptoms of a brain injury can be confused with other problems just as brain damage to the frontal lobes can result in various ongoing effects, such as:

• Dramatic increased or decreased talking
• Impaired perception of taking risks or abiding by rules
• Diminish or heightened outward socialization
• More frequent attention deficient
• Reduced problem-solving abilities
• Reduced creative abilities
• Impaired spontaneous responses
• Peculiar sexual habits if the orbital frontal lobe is damaged
• Reduced sexual drive if the dorsolateral frontal lobe is damaged
• Complete loss of smell
• Complete loss of taste

Brain injuries are often complex cases that require a unique depth of legal expertise. At GRL Law, we have the experience, the resources, and the track record of success that you can depend on. We work to not only pursue your case but also to help you secure the most favorable outcome possible. Contact our team today to get started. 

Car accidents are the leading cause of spinal cord injuries in America, causing more than 5,000 each year. 

Car accidents cause spinal cord injuries due to trauma to the spinal region that results in compression, dislocation, fracture, or crushing of the vertebrae that protect the spinal cord and other nerve fibers. Also, much like traumatic brain injuries, resulting pressure to the spinal cord by way of bleeding, swelling, or excessive fluid buildup may cause additional injuries, even weeks after the initial traumatic event.

The damage to the vertebra – whether it’s due to compression, dislocation, or another cause – will have a corresponding impact on the sensitive nerve fibers and spinal cord in and around the injured region. These nerve fibers can be pinched, partially torn, or worse yet, completely severed. Paralysis occurs when the spinal cord is completely severed. When the tear or obstruction is only partial, the individual will still have some movement or sensation below the injury site depending upon the severity of the injury.

Spinal injuries are most common in the neck (cervical region) and lower back (thoracic and lumbar regions). A severe injury to the cervical region can result in quadriplegia or loss of use of legs and arms as well as impairment of one’s ability to breathe. Severe injury to the thoracic or lumbar region may result in paraplegia or loss of use of one’s legs as well as sexual function and bowel control.

Injury to the central nervous system, head and brain, spinal column, or nerves often require long rehabilitation and therapy. This results in time off of work, lost wages, and extensive medical bills that can place your financial security in jeopardy, regardless of who is at fault for the accident.

GRL Law’s attorneys are available 24 hours a day for emergencies and during regular business hours for non-emergency legal advice and assistance. Just call us at 1-866-743-6652.

Burn injuries are one of the worst injuries that can occur in an automobile accident. Depending on the type and severity, burns are often catastrophic, whether or not they result in death. The pain involved with such an injury is extraordinary. This is because burns affect so many parts and functions of the body including skin, muscles, nerves, bones, the circulatory system, and the respiratory system. 

This type of injury often has a lifelong effect on the victim, given the likelihood of scarring and disfigurement associated with severe burns. Treatments include everything from topical ointments to scar revision therapy and skin grafts. The psychological effects of a burn can also be severe and require therapeutic intervention.

Many burns that can occur in a car accident. These include thermal burns, chemical burns, and electrical burns. Other burns, such as light and radiation, are not as common in an automobile accident.

Burns have different levels of severity:

• First-degree burns: The least severe. They generally involve only the top layer of skin and can cause pain, discoloration, and swelling. 
• Second-degree burns: These penetrate deeper and involve the second layer of skin as well. Such burns are sometimes accompanied by blisters in addition to the above effects. 
• Third-degree burns: The most severe. They require the most treatment and prolonged care. Such burns can result in permanent disfigurement or even death if severe enough or not treated. 

If you suspect you may have suffered from such an injury following an accident, or even if you are not sure, seek immediate medical attention. Sometimes, following an accident, an individual can be disoriented or in shock and not realize that they have been burned — or that they have been burned as severely as they are. Further, immediate treatment is the best way to ensure that the effects of a burn are minimized.

When you sustain a burn injury due to the fault or negligence of someone else, it can take a severe mental, emotional, and physical toll. Those difficulties can also be financial due to medical bills, lost wages, and other expenses. 

At GRL Law, we’re experts in helping Iowa burn victims get the compensation they deserve to help them along their road to recovery. While no amount of money can return life back to normal, we know it’s an important step to getting the care, the financial security, and the justice you deserve.

Contact GRL Law’s expert attorneys for a free consultation today.

Fracture and dislocation injuries are some of the more common injuries that result from car, motorcycle, biking, pedestrian, and other accidents. “Fracture” refers to breaks in bones while “dislocation” generally refers to a joint being forced out of its natural position in the body. Fractures can occur to any bone in the body while dislocations can occur at any joint in the body.

Fractures can vary greatly in severity. In some instances, a person can suffer a hairline or very small fracture that can go unnoticed immediately after an accident. Hairline fractures are not complete or displaced breaks of a bone. While they are typically the least severe type of fracture, they can certainly lead to ongoing pain and difficulty in using a certain limb or part of the body. On the other end of the spectrum in the most severe cases, bones can be broken or crushed completely and break in one or more locations and into multiple pieces. These injuries are typically much more severe and can result in temporary or permanent disability and severe pain.

Types of fractures that often occur in roadway accidents whether motorist or pedestrian collisions include the following:

• Greenstick Fractures: An incomplete fracture where a bone is bent as opposed to a clean break. This injury is often seen in children because their bones are more pliable and less brittle.
• Comminuted: Where a bone breaks into more than one piece.
• Oblique: Where a break has a curved pattern as opposed to straight across.
• Hairline: The smallest fractures. They can result from stress to a bone over time or trauma such as in a car accident.
• Transverse fracture: A fracture that results in a right angle to a bone’s axis.
• Buckle fracture: Also called an “impacted fracture,” where two ends of a bone are forced into one another.

Fractures can also lead to other serious or life-threatening complications. This can occur if the fractured bone punctures an organ or damages nerves, blood vessels, or other surrounding tissue. The pain can be excruciating and the long-term effects can be very severe. Severe injuries to bones can result in permanent disability and pain in some circumstances. When this occurs, there can be life-changing impacts on your appearance, family, work, and overall enjoyment of life.

Dislocations differ in that they refer to an injury to a joint as opposed to a bone. However, they can be just as severe as a fracture. A joint is where two bones come together, and if those bones are forced out of their natural position, a dislocation results. Dislocations most commonly occur in the shoulders and fingers. However, some of the more severe occur in the elbows, knees, and hips. In most cases, they can return to normal function within a few weeks. However, oftentimes dislocations result in a person being more prone to the same injury in the future.

Both dislocations and fractures can require reduction whereby a doctor attempts to manipulate the bone or joint back into place. In some instances, surgery is required followed by physical therapy, occupational therapy, and/or other treatment. In the most severe cases, both can result in permanent and debilitating effects.

From an insurance and legal claim standpoint, the short and long-term treatment and effects must be thoroughly understood and adequately addressed when dealing with such an injury, regardless of its severity. 

If not, an Iowan who suffers a dislocated hip, a compound tibia fracture, or other such fracture is at risk of losing the compensation that an insurance company is required to pay under Iowa law.

Work with the team of attorneys at GRL Law to get the expert help you need when you’re facing a severe fracture or dislocation injury due to the fault of someone else. Contact us for a free consultation today.