When a head trauma turns your life upside down, a brain injury lawyer in Des Plaines can help you make sense of medical bills, time off work, and insurance pressure. We represent injured people and families after concussions, traumatic brain injuries, and oxygen-deprivation injuries.
At Charlie Therman Injury & Accident Lawyers, P.C., we treat clients like people—not numbers. Our firm handles claims from car and truck crashes, falls, workplace incidents, and more. We bring over 75 years of combined experience to every case we handle, and we have recovered over $100 million for injured clients.
To learn more, talk to our personal injury lawyer in Des Plaines today and schedule a free consultation.
Immediate Steps to Protect Your Health and Claim
Your health comes first. Even if you feel “okay,” brain injuries can be subtle on day one and worsen later. Quick medical care documents symptoms and connects them to the event.
Take these steps as soon as you can:
- Get emergency care or see your doctor and follow all treatment orders.
- Report the incident to the police, property owner, or employer in writing.
- Photograph vehicles, hazards, and visible injuries from multiple angles.
- Save names and contact info for witnesses and involved parties.
- Keep all medical records, discharge papers, and receipts in one folder.
- Avoid recorded statements or broad medical authorizations to insurers.
These actions help protect your recovery and your claim’s strength.
Signs and Symptoms After a Head Trauma
Symptoms vary by person and may appear hours or days later. Watch for headaches, dizziness, nausea, ringing in the ears, sensitivity to light or noise, memory gaps, and sleep changes. Children may show irritability, loss of interest in toys, or changes in eating or sleeping.
Moderate to severe injuries can include loss of consciousness, repeated vomiting, seizures, confusion, slurred speech, weakness, or fluid from the nose or ears. If these occur, seek emergency care immediately. Document what you feel daily; symptom journals can be persuasive evidence.
What Illinois Law Says About Liability and Deadlines in Des Plaines
Most brain injury cases arise from negligence: someone had a duty to act safely, breached that duty, and caused harm. In Illinois, you can still recover if you share some fault, but recovery is barred if you are more than 50% at fault. Your damages are reduced by your percentage of responsibility.
Deadlines matter. For most personal injury cases, you generally have two years from the date of injury to file suit. Claims against local public entities, such as a city or public transit agency, often have shorter one–year limitations under the Tort Immunity Act.
If the injured person is a minor, time can be extended until after the 18th birthday for certain claims. Because timelines differ, the safest approach is to get legal guidance from our Des Plaines brain injury attorneys promptly.
How Our Des Plaines Brain Injury Lawyers Build Your Case
From the first meeting, we focus on clarity: what happened, how it affected you, and what recovery looks like. We gather records, preserve evidence, map the timeline, and handle all communication with insurers. Our goal is to place you in the strongest position for fair compensation, whether through settlement or trial.
We work on a contingency fee, so you pay no attorney’s fee unless we recover compensation. Throughout the process, we keep you informed and prepared for each step.
What Our Investigation Covers
- Scene evidence, photographs, and videos from traffic, dash, body, or security cameras.
- Police crash reports, incident reports, OSHA records, and maintenance logs.
- Witness interviews and sworn statements.
- Medical records, imaging, and neuropsychological testing.
- Opinions from treating doctors and independent medical professionals.
- Economic analysis of lost earnings and future care costs.
Damages You Can Seek for a Traumatic Brain Injury in Des Plaines
Damages fall into two broad categories. Economic losses include ambulance and hospital bills, surgery, medication, therapy, in-home care, medical equipment, and lost income. Many clients also face diminished earning capacity if cognitive or physical limitations reduce future work options.
Non-economic losses cover pain and suffering, loss of a normal life, emotional distress, and, for spouses, loss of consortium. Illinois law does not impose a universal cap on pain and suffering in personal injury cases. Punitive damages may be available only in rare cases involving especially wrongful conduct.
We prepare a full damages picture to reflect both present and future harm.
Why Choose Our Legal Team
Brain cases demand careful storytelling backed by science. At our firm, we bring together medical professionals, accident reconstruction analysts, and financial specialists to present a clear, evidence-based claim. We prepare every case as if it may be tried, which often strengthens settlement discussions.
We know Cook County courts and local insurers. Whether you need a lawyer for brain injury cases in Des Plaines for a car crash, a fall, or a workplace incident, we’re ready to help you move forward with confidence.
Next Steps: Free Case Review
You don’t have to handle insurers, medical paperwork, and deadlines on your own. Tell us what happened, and we’ll outline your options in plain terms. If we take your case, our team manages the details while you focus on healing.
Choose Charlie—contact us today for a free, confidential consultation. We’ll evaluate liability, calculate damages, and map a strategy that fits your goals. When you’re ready, a lawyer from our team can begin protecting your claim right away.
