Within the practice of personal injury law, representing the victims and family members of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) presents unique challenges. Attorneys representing TBI victims must possess a great deal of legal expertise in order to competently present cases, including the knowledge needed to prove TBI causation and the damages resulting from the injury. Trial attorneys must balance brain injury litigation knowledge and experience with the compassion their injured clients deserve. The law firm of Ronemus & Vilensky, LLP has mastered that balance. As the premier traumatic brain injury law firm in the greater New York City area, attorney Michael Ronemus has successfully represented hundreds of clients with TBI.
What is Traumatic Brain Injury?
The human brain is a delicate and complex organ, and as such is susceptible to serious or even fatal injury. Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is a classification of injury where the brain is damaged due to a sharp blow, jolt, or penetration of the bones that protect the brain. TBI ranges from relatively mild – concussions and bruising – to severe injuries resulting in shearing or tearing of brain tissue. Common causes of TBI include motor vehicle crashes, sports-related blows to the head, assaults, or even simple slip and fall injuries resulting in the head striking a hard surface.
Injuries in TBI cases may vary, and may include:
- Confusion
- Dizziness
- Loss of consciousness
- Behavioral and personality changes
- Temporary or permanent loss of motor function
- Death
Many TBI victims may appear to recover in a matter of days, but the damage can often lead to permanent changes or disabilities that manifest themselves months after the initial injury. Those experiencing a TBI may lose the ability to lead normal lives, requiring long-term rehabilitation, accommodations, and around-the-clock care in many cases. Many victims are unable to work, creating financial hardships for themselves and their families. In some of the most severe TBI cases, victims of TBI may even lose their lives, causing devastation to surviving family members.
Representing the Victims of Traumatic Brain Injury
Traumatic brain injuries are notoriously difficult to diagnose. Many traditional medical tests cannot pinpoint injuries, especially if there is an absence of bleeding, shearing, or other visible damage to brain tissues. CAT scans and MRIs or other diagnostic imaging tools do not always accurately identify injuries of the brain, compelling medical professionals to pronounce injury victims as “fine”. Unfortunately, symptoms of a TBI may not appear for days, weeks, or months, and by then the injury’s long-term effects have taken hold.
Because diagnosing a TBI is difficult, litigating an injury claim, then, is also extremely complex and challenging – perhaps one of the most challenging case types for personal injury attorneys.
Michael Ronemus of the New York law firm Ronemus & Vilensky, LLP has worked tirelessly on behalf of TBI victims and their families. As an active member of the Brain Injury Group for the American Association for Justice (AAJ) as well as a member of the organization’s Board of Directors, Mr. Ronemus has had the unique opportunity to educate others on TBI cases. He has provided educational guidance to medical professionals, fellow attorneys, and laypeople on the difficulties in trying cases involving TBI. Mr. Ronemus is an active supporter of the Brain Injury Association of New York State (BIANYS), an organization that provides advocacy and support to people and families living with severe brain injuries.
Advocacy and Legal Guidance
As a vocal advocate for injury victim rights, Michael Ronemus has gained the recognition of his peers in the field of personal injury law. The attorneys at Ronemus & Vilensky have represented thousands of injury victims, including many victims of TBI and their loved ones. By gaining an understanding of the circumstances that led to the injury as well as the symptoms and long-term effects of such injuries, attorneys are equipped to preserve victims’ rights, both in and out of the courtroom. Education, particularly in the negative and life-changing consequences of TBI, is the cornerstone of litigation in this challenging area of law. Michael Ronemus has secured millions of dollars in damages and settlements on behalf of his firm’s many TBI clients. Among the firm’s successes in court are:
- A client received a TBI after being struck by a vehicle in a crosswalk. The injury left the victim unable to complete graduate school. Her first attorney secured a settlement of $250,000. She appealed the case with the help of Ronemus & Vilensky; the result of the appeal was a $7.5 million verdict.
- A renowned New York City-area dermatologist was struck by a falling stop sign on her way to a holiday party in the Bronx. The injury did not seem serious at first, but over time, the victim found herself unable to concentrate. Eventually, she was forced to stop work at the hospital due to her brain injury. Ronemus & Vilensky represented her in her legal claim, and recovered a $4 million settlement on her behalf. Today, she operates her own dermatology practice and is on the road to full recovery.
Michael Ronemus and the team of legal professionals at Ronemus & Vilensky continue to provide expert legal guidance and support for TBI victims. With the firm’s compassion, care, and legal expertise, they have been able to help thousands of victims and their families recover millions of dollars in verdicts and settlements. Contact Ronemus & Vilensky today for your complimentary review.
