Brain Injury Attorney in Albuquerque, New Mexico

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A sudden blow to the head can change your life in an instant. Suffering a traumatic brain injury (TBI) due to another person’s carelessness can feel like your world has been turned upside down. In the blink of an eye, you may face mounting medical bills, lost wages from time off work, and a long and uncertain road to recovery. If this describes your situation, an experienced Albuquerque brain injury attorney can help. At Ruhmann Law Firm, we are dedicated advocates for brain injury victims and their families. We understand the immense physical, emotional, and financial toll a TBI can take, and we fight to get our clients the full and fair compensation they deserve under New Mexico law.

How Dangerous Are Brain Injuries?

The brain is the body’s most complex organ. When it suffers trauma from a sudden jolt or blow to the head, the consequences can be severe and wide-ranging. Brain injuries are generally classified into two types:

Penetrating injuries: Also called open head injuries, these occur when an object pierces the skull and enters brain tissue. Common causes include gunshot wounds and sharp debris from car accidents.
Closed head injuries: These injuries occur from blunt force trauma that does not penetrate the skull. The brain is jostled inside the skull, often causing bleeding, bruising, and tearing of nerve fibers. Common causes include falls, vehicle crashes, and assaults. Concussions are a type of mild closed-head injury.

Some of the cognitive, physical, and emotional effects TBI victims may experience include:

Memory loss and problems with concentration
Difficulty speaking or understanding others
Blurred vision or ringing in the ears
Headaches, dizziness, and nausea
Mood swings, irritability, and depression
Sleep disorders and fatigue

More severe cases may result in seizures, loss of coordination, and even coma or vegetative state. The road to recovery looks different for every TBI survivor. Some are able to return to work and normal activities after a period of rest and rehabilitation. Others require lifelong care and assistance with basic tasks.

brain image and gavel on the table

Causes of Brain Injuries in Albuquerque

Tragically, most brain injuries are preventable and stem from human error or negligence. Some of the leading causes of TBIs in Albuquerque include:

Motor vehicle accidents: High-speed collisions are a major cause of brain injuries, especially if victims hit their head on the dashboard or windshield or get ejected from the vehicle.
Slip and falls: Property owners have a duty to their customers to ensure a high level of safety for their premises. When they fail to fix hazards or provide adequate warning, visitors can take a nasty tumble and hit their heads.
Dangerous products: Defective safety equipment, such as football helmets, industrial hard hats, or airbags, can fail to properly protect the brain in an accident. Manufacturers may be held liable.
Medical malpractice: Errors during brain surgery, anesthesia, or childbirth can deprive the brain of oxygen, leading to permanent damage.
Nursing home abuse: Elderly residents with limited mobility are at high risk of falling. Understaffed or poorly trained nursing homes may fail to provide proper supervision and safety measures.

Our Albuquerque brain injury lawyers carefully investigate the cause of each client’s injury to determine who may be held responsible. We often partner with accident reconstruction specialists, product engineers, and medical experts to build a strong case for negotiation or trial.

Seeking Compensation for Brain Injuries in New Mexico

Brain injury survivors often face significant expenses, including:

Ambulance transport and emergency room care
Diagnostic imaging like CT scans and MRIs
Hospitalization and surgery
Prescription medications
Rehabilitation and physical therapy
Home health assistance
Mobility aids and home modifications
Counseling for emotional trauma
Lost income and reduced earning capacity

In a successful personal injury claim, victims may be able to recover money for these economic losses, as well as non-economic damages like pain and suffering, scarring, and loss of enjoyment of life.

However, securing fair compensation is rarely easy. Insurance companies are concerned with protecting their bottom line and will look for any reason to minimize or deny a payout. They may claim the victim is exaggerating their symptoms or argue that a pre-existing condition is to blame. An experienced Albuquerque brain injury attorney can help level the playing field and fight for the maximum recovery possible.

New Mexico applies a pure comparative negligence rule in personal injury cases, meaning a victim’s compensation is reduced by their percentage of fault. For instance, if a jury awards $100,000 but determines the victim was 20% responsible, they would receive $80,000. Insurance companies often exploit this rule to shift undue blame onto the injured party, but an experienced attorney can challenge these tactics and work to limit any unfair fault assignment.

What are the Most Common Causes of Wrongful Death in New Mexico?

Losing a loved one is difficult under any circumstances, but when their death is caused by negligence, and could have otherwise been prevented, families are devastated by the sudden and inexplicable loss.

Some of the more common causes of wrongful death in New Mexico may include:

Auto accidents
Boating accidents
Bicycle accidents
Deadly fires or explosions
Crime-related deaths
Fatal dog attacks
Medical malpractice patient deaths
Pedestrian accidents
Motorcycle crashes
Semi-truck collisions
Unintentional drowning
Slip and fall accidents
Workplace accidents

If you have lost a loved one due to another person or party’s negligence, contact our compassionate personal injury lawyers in Albuquerque today to discuss your eligibility to file a claim, so we can begin investigating the negligence party and circumstances to pursue the best outcome for your unique needs.

Our Albuquerque Personal Injury Attorneys also focus on the following practice areas:

Start with a Free Albuquerque Brain Injury Case Review

If you have suffered a TBI because of another’s negligence, the Albuquerque brain injury attorneys at Ruhmann Law Firm are here to help. Please contact us today to arrange a free, no-obligation consultation. We look forward to meeting you and discussing how we can assist you during this difficult time.

client reviews

When filing for a case I had absolutely no clue where to begin and thankfully my son and I were taken care of by Ruhmann Lawfirm. Despite the pandemic they were very orderly and professional with my case making me feel comfortable with any questions I had, leaving no room for uncertainty. I definitely recommend asking for Juan. Thank you Ruhmann Lawfirm. Justice was served for me and my son.

Leslie R.

My case couldn’t have been handled any better. I only went in twice to the office in the course of less than 2 years. They keep you updated and well informed

Carmen A.

I wont go into the details of my accident, but my experience with Ruhmann Law Firm was excellent. I have to say one of the best elements of this Law Firm by far was ALEX Their paralrgal/legal assistant. From the very beginning he expressed such professionalism and dedication. He always sought to provide me with the best information and worked diligently on my case. I say this because I have retained attorneys before and I myself have worked in a Law Office, and I have never seen such dedication and hard work. I can only hope that Ruhmann fully appreciates the treasure they have with Alex on their team. With this said I highly recommend this Law Firm. thank You Alex for everything!!!

Michael

I am very happy with the services Ruhmann Law Firm provided me with. They were very informative and kept me updated on everything going on with my case. They were also very attentive to my needs and any questions I had. Highly recommend to anyone looking for a good law firm.

Demi W.

Mr Ruhmann and staff took great care to explain the process and answer any and all questions I had . They exceeded my expectations... Thank You for everything.. Y'all ROCK

Ed A.

In Need of an Experienced Brain Injury Lawyer in Albuquerque, NM?