Traumatic Brain Injury Attorney

Warning SignsTBI Symptoms That Can Surface Days After an Accident

The most dangerous aspect of traumatic brain injury in a personal injury context isn't the severity — it's the delay. A person who felt "fine" at the scene of a crash, walked away without visible head injury, and declined ambulance transport can still have a significant TBI that only becomes apparent days later.

Symptoms to watch for in the days and weeks following any head impact or violent movement of the head:

• Headaches that persist, worsen, or emerge after a delay
• Dizziness, balance problems, or a feeling of fogginess
• Nausea, particularly without a clear cause
• Sensitivity to light or noise that wasn't present before
• Difficulty concentrating, remembering, or following conversations
• Sleep disturbances — sleeping far more or less than usual
• Mood changes — increased irritability, anxiety, or emotional volatility
• Slowed thinking or difficulty finding words

The Biggest MistakeWhy Settling a TBI Claim Too Early Is So Costly

Insurance companies know TBI symptoms are delayed. Their interest is in closing the claim before the full extent of the injury becomes clear — which is precisely why quick settlement offers in the first weeks after a crash are so dangerous in head-injury cases.

We generally recommend that TBI clients do not accept any settlement offer until a specialist evaluation is complete and the prognosis is reasonably stable. That position costs us time — but it's the right approach for the client, and it's what actually makes these cases work.

Common CausesHow TBI Happens in Puyallup Personal Injury Cases

Any incident that causes a violent movement or impact to the head can produce a TBI — and the most common causes in Pierce County personal injury claims are:

• Vehicle collisions — car, truck, and motorcycle crashes on corridors like Meridian Ave, Hwy 512, Canyon Road, and SR 167. Whiplash-type forces can cause TBI even without direct head impact.
• Pedestrian and bicycle accidents — impacts with vehicles where the head strikes the vehicle, the road, or another surface.
• Falls — slip and fall incidents, falls from height on construction or work sites, and stair falls.
• Workplace incidents — struck-by injuries, falling objects, equipment incidents.
• Daycare and school injuries — head impacts from falls and rough handling, where delayed and subtle symptoms in children require particular attention.
• Sports and recreational accidents — where TBI is increasingly recognized even in non-contact situations involving sudden deceleration.

Washington LawNo Cap, Comparative Fault & the Deadline

This page provides general information about Washington law and is not legal advice. The rules and deadlines that apply depend on the specific facts of your case; contact us to discuss your situation.

What We DoTBI Litigation at Greene & Lloyd

TBI cases require a different approach than a standard vehicle-crash claim. The injury isn't visible, symptoms evolve, and the defense narrative — "there's nothing on the scans" — is predictable and needs to be answered with documented specialist evaluation and neuropsychological testing.

• Early specialist referral — we connect clients with neurologists and neuropsychologists to establish a proper TBI evaluation and documented baseline early in the case.
• Thorough medical record collection — every treatment record from every provider, from the emergency room through ongoing care.
• Life-impact documentation — journals, employer statements, family accounts of how the injury has changed daily function and quality of life.
• Expert support — medical and neuropsychological experts who can explain the injury, the prognosis, and the impact to a jury in terms that make sense.
• Patience on timing — we don't push toward settlement before the medical picture is stable, even though that takes longer.

We handle TBI claims on a contingency-fee basis — no attorney fee upfront, a fee only if we recover for you. You work directly with Rob Lloyd and Tim Greene throughout.