JacksonBrain Injuries Lawyer

Serious Head & Brain Injuries

If you or a loved one suffered a traumatic brain injury in Jackson, Mississippi, you generally have three years to file a claim (Miss. Code Ann. § 15-1-49). A Jackson brain injury lawyer at Mama Justice fights for your future medical care and lost income, not just today’s bills. Call 24/7 for a free consultation.

An injury to the head or brain can significantly impact the victim’s life. Traumatic brain injuries, or TBIs, often lead to devastating complications, from cognitive impairment to behavioral changes to permanent and irreversible damage. When a victim suffers a TBI in an accident or incident caused by someone else’s negligence, they and their family deserve justice.

At Mama Justice – MW Law Firm, we are committed to helping victims of serious head and brain injuries fight for the fair compensation they are owed. With more than 40 years of combined experience and a long-standing history of success, we are recognized for our dedication to our clients and our ability to successfully secure the results they need to heal. Led by our founding attorney, Missy Wigginton, AKA Mama Justice, our team is here to guide you through the legal process and advocate for your rights.

If you or someone you love suffered a TBI, contact our office at (833) 626-2587 to speak to one of our Jackson brain injury lawyers today. Your initial consultation is free.

What Are the Types of Brain Injuries?

An acquired brain injury (ABI) is a brain injury that occurs any time after a person is born. Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are those that result from catastrophic events, such as motor vehicle accidents or significant falls. The CDC tracks traumatic brain injuries as a leading cause of death and disability in the United States.

TBIs are further categorized into two main types:

• Closed-Head Injuries: A closed-head injury is a brain injury in which the skull bone surrounding the brain suffers no physical damage.
• Open-Head Injuries: An open-head injury is a brain injury in which the skull bone surrounding the brain is physically damaged.

Open-head injuries, such as skull fractures, are often viewed as more dangerous due to their immediately life-threatening nature. However, closed-head injuries are equally as serious and can sometimes be even more dangerous, as they are more difficult to detect. A person with a closed-head injury may not realize that they have suffered brain damage right away, meaning their diagnosis and treatment could be delayed. Some of the different types of TBIs include:

• Concussions: A concussion is a type of brain injury caused by sudden force, such as a blow to the head. Although they are generally considered “mild,” concussions are still serious and require professional medical treatment. Severe concussions, as well as multiple concussions, can lead to significant brain damage and related complications.
• Contusions: A brain contusion is essentially a bruise that forms on the brain, typically in conjunction with another injury, such as a concussion. In most cases, brain contusions are relatively mild and heal on their own. Sometimes, however, they can cause significant complications and may need to be surgically removed.
• Coup-Contrecoup: A coup-contrecoup brain injury is actually two injuries that occur when a powerful force or impact to the head damages the brain at the initial point of impact and causes the brain to move within the skull and hit the opposing inner wall. The second point of injury occurs where the brain slams into the inside of the skull.
• Diffuse Axonal Injuries: A diffuse axonal injury is a type of brain injury in which the tiny, microscopic connective fibers within the brain tear. Also known as “shearing,” these tears can lead to devastating and irreversible brain damage depending on their size and location. Sadly, this type of brain injury is often fatal.
• Oxygen Deprivation: Anoxia and hypoxia are two forms of oxygen deprivation in which oxygen supply is entirely cut off or partially cut off, respectively. Oxygen deprivation can lead to significant brain damage within a matter of seconds and, if oxygen is completely cut off or restricted for too long, it can be fatal.
• Penetrating Injuries: A penetrating brain injury is a type of open-head injury in which a foreign object pierces the skull and enters the brain. These types of brain injuries are commonly associated with violence and criminal activity, but penetrating brain injuries can occur in all types of accidents and catastrophic events.
• Skull Fractures: A skull fracture occurs when the skull bone breaks. This type of brain injury is particularly catastrophic and often fatal. While some fractures are relatively mild, many skull fractures lead to serious, life-threatening complications, such as hemorrhaging and coma. In some cases, pieces of the skull may contact the brain, leading to significant damage.

Regardless of the type of brain injury you or a loved one sustained, it is absolutely critical that you seek immediate medical attention. If you notice any signs of a brain injury, especially after a blow to the head or serious fall, go to the hospital or call 911 right away.

How Long Do You Have to File a Brain Injury Claim in Jackson, MS?

In Mississippi, you generally have three years from the date of the injury to file a brain injury claim (Miss. Code Ann. § 15-1-49). That deadline can be tricky with a TBI, since symptoms sometimes take days or weeks to show up, and the person who is hurt is not always able to act quickly on their own. When a brain injury takes a loved one’s life, a wrongful death claim usually follows a similar timeline.

Some deadlines are shorter. If a government vehicle or property was involved, you may have only a matter of months to give proper notice. The sooner you speak with a Jackson brain injury lawyer, the easier it is to protect your rights and preserve evidence like crash reports, incident reports, and medical records. Deadlines vary by the facts of your case, so confirm yours with an attorney as soon as you can. If a brain injury has taken a loved one’s life, our Jackson wrongful death lawyers can help your family understand your options.

What Are the Common Causes of Traumatic Brain Injuries in Jackson?

Traumatic brain injuries most commonly result from accidents and other catastrophic events, as well as intentional and/or criminal acts. Many of the Jackson car accident claims we handle involve a brain injury. Some of the leading causes of TBIs include:

If your brain injury happened on the job, our Jackson workers’ compensation lawyers can walk you through your options. When you or a loved one suffers a serious head or brain injury due to the negligent, wrongful, or intentional conduct of someone else, you do not have to face the consequences alone. Reach out to our traumatic brain injury lawyers in Jackson at Mama Justice – MW Law Firm to learn how we can help you fight for the justice you deserve.

Could You Have a Brain Injury and Not Know It?

One of the most dangerous things about a traumatic brain injury is that it does not always look serious right away. You might feel a little foggy or headachy after an accident, brush it off, and go about your day. Then hours or even days later, symptoms like confusion, memory problems, mood changes, dizziness, sensitivity to light, or trouble sleeping start to show up.

The Mayo Clinic notes that concussion symptoms can appear immediately or may not surface for days after the injury. This delay happens because swelling and bleeding inside the skull can take time to build. If you hit your head, lost consciousness even briefly, or just do not feel like yourself after an accident in Jackson, get evaluated by a doctor right away. Waiting can put your health and your claim at risk, since insurance companies often argue that a delayed diagnosis means the injury was not serious or was not related to the accident.

Who Is Liable for a Brain Injury?

As in other types of personal injury cases, determining liability in a brain injury case can be very complicated. Most often, the person or party that actually caused the injury or the incident that led to the injury is the one responsible for paying the victim’s damages. In some cases, however, a third party may share some or all of the blame. For example, if your loved one suffered a devastating TBI in a motor vehicle accident with a large commercial truck, the trucking company could be liable for the resulting damages, even though the truck driver caused the collision.

Our firm has the resources to fully investigate your claim. We work with a team of accident reconstructionists, medical evaluators, and expert witnesses to determine exactly how your injury occurred — and who is liable. We also work tirelessly to demonstrate the full extent of your damages, including your current and future losses. Our goal is to maximize your recovery and provide you and your family with the financial resources needed to heal.

What Is a Jackson Brain Injury Claim Worth?

A severe TBI often qualifies as a catastrophic injury, which can significantly affect what your claim is worth. Brain injury claims are some of the highest-value personal injury cases, because the effects can last a lifetime. There is no set number, and anyone who quotes you one before reviewing your medical records and prognosis is not being straight with you.

The Brain Injury Association of America offers resources for survivors and families navigating long-term recovery and care. Some of the factors that drive value in a Jackson brain injury case include:

• The severity of the injury, from a mild concussion to a severe, permanent TBI
• The cost of a life care plan, including future surgeries, rehabilitation, therapy, and in-home or long-term care
• Lost earning capacity, especially when a TBI affects memory, concentration, or the ability to return to your old job
• Pain and suffering, including the emotional and cognitive toll on you and your family
• How clearly the evidence points to who was at fault

Because these cases are so high in value, insurance companies fight hard to minimize them, often by arguing the injury is not as serious as your doctors say. Our team works with medical experts, life care planners, and economists to fully document your future needs. Past results, like the $950,000 brain injury result shown on this page, can give you a sense of what is possible, but they do not guarantee any particular outcome in your case.

What Should You Do After a Brain Injury in Jackson?

What you do after a suspected brain injury can protect both your health and your case:

1. Get evaluated by a doctor right away, even if you feel okay, since some TBI symptoms take time to appear.
2. Follow every recommendation from your medical team, including neurologists, therapists, and follow-up imaging.
3. Keep records of every appointment, diagnosis, and symptom, including changes in mood, memory, or concentration.
4. Ask a family member to help track your symptoms and paperwork, since a TBI can make this hard to manage alone.
5. Avoid giving a recorded statement to any insurance company before speaking with a lawyer.
6. Call a Jackson brain injury lawyer as soon as you reasonably can, so evidence can be preserved and your long-term needs properly documented.

How Long Does a Jackson Brain Injury Case Take?

Brain injury cases usually take longer than an average injury claim, often a year or more. We do not want to settle your case before your medical team can tell us the full, long-term cost of your recovery, because once you accept a settlement, you cannot go back and ask for more later, even if your condition changes.

If your case involves a dispute over the cause or severity of your TBI, multiple defendants, or a lawsuit that goes to trial, it can take even longer. We keep you and your family informed at every step and move as quickly as we responsibly can without shortchanging what your future is worth.

Do You Need a Lawyer for a Jackson Brain Injury Claim?

Yes. Brain injury claims are high in value, and insurance companies bring experienced adjusters and defense lawyers to argue your injury is less serious, or less connected to the accident, than it really is. Without a lawyer building your case with medical and economic experts, it is easy to accept far less than you need.

A Jackson brain injury lawyer at Mama Justice can gather the medical proof, calculate the true cost of your future care, and negotiate or litigate on your behalf. We work on a contingency fee basis, so there is no upfront cost, and you owe nothing unless we win.

What If You Were Partly at Fault for Your Accident?

Insurance companies often try to shift some of the blame onto you, especially in a high-value brain injury claim. Mississippi follows a pure comparative negligence rule, which means you can still recover compensation even if you were partly at fault for the accident that caused your injury.

Your compensation is reduced by your percentage of fault, but it is not eliminated, even if you are found more than half responsible. Given how much is often at stake in a brain injury case, it helps to have a Jackson brain injury lawyer pushing back on comparative fault arguments from day one.