Portland Brain Injury Lawyer

DeShaw Law is not like other law firms; for more than 20 years, our firm has worked almost exclusively with cases involving traumatic brain injuries. 

Here are five ways DeShaw Law offers a different approach:

1. Compassion. Everyone on staff understands the challenges that TBI survivors experience and what it takes to help them put their lives back on track. We understand the profound impact a TBI can have on a person’s life and stand ready to help however we can.

2. Expertise. Dr. DeShaw donates time to helping advise traumatic brain injury survivors, both individually and as a former board member at the Brain Injury Alliance of Oregon. DeShaw is a member of the Traumatic Brain Injury Litigation Group through the American Association for Justice and is the chairman of the Brain Injury Litigation Group through Trial Guides. He closely follows medical research in this field and litigation trends in the United States.

3. Comfort. Our office is designed with brain-injured people in mind, avoiding certain types of lighting and patterns that can impact those with vision changes or photophobia (sensitivity to light) after a brain injury. We offer a quiet and calm atmosphere for brain injured clients who are sensitive to noise or who become overwhelmed easily.

4. Accuracy. We take an exceptional amount of time with our clients at the first meeting. Usually, this involves between an hour and five hours face-to-face with your lawyer. This helps us to understand your symptoms and how we can best help you. We only accept legal cases that require our expertise in serious injuries so that we can focus our attention on the people who need us most. 

5. Hands-on help. Our dedicated brain injury staff is here to help you with the day-to-day details of your case. In the meantime, your lawyer will advise you about any unique issues that arise. From filing a lawsuit to taking depositions, negotiating your case, and even taking your case to trial, DeShaw Law is with you every step of the way.

Read More: Hiring a Brain Injury Lawyer is Important in Traumatic Brain Injury Cases

Speak to a TBI Attorney Now

• Call us locally (503) 227-1233
• Toll-Free (866) 843-3476
• Schedule online

Traumatic brain injuries, or TBIs, generally involve a blow to the head. Most traumatic brain injuries are closed head injuries, meaning that no object penetrates the skull or leaves a visible mark to indicate injury. Because proving your case requires detailed medical testing and analysis, many personal injury attorneys are unwilling to take them — or unable to recover their full value.

The traumatic brain injury lawyers at DeShaw Law specialize in cases involving brain injury. We understand that proving damages—what you have suffered as a result of your injury—can be a challenge. Many TBIs require evaluation by a medical professional as well as ongoing medical care. We consult with the nation’s leading experts on traumatic brain injury when preparing your case.

The costs of a TBI can be substantial. As a dedicated brain injury law firm, we pursue compensation that not only covers your medical bills but also lost wages, loss of earning capacity, pain and suffering, and relationship changes that resulted from your brain injury (called loss of consortium). 

From motor vehicle accidents to medical malpractice, your brain injury case deserves a brain injury lawyer. Trust the experienced brain injury lawyers at DeShaw Law to help recover full, fair compensation.

Call Our Brain Injury Law Firm

• Call us locally (503) 227-1233
• Toll-Free (866) 843-3476
• Schedule online

As a dedicated brain injury law firm, DeShaw Law only handles a small number of cases at a time. This is because we know how much work goes into getting brain-injured clients full, fair compensation for their injuries, and we are committed to giving every client’s case the attention it deserves. We understand the problems associated with these TBIs and take the time to advise our clients and their families after a traumatic brain injury.

We also work on large brain injury cases nationally. In addition to handling hundreds of traumatic brain injury cases as a lawyer, lead TBI attorney Aaron DeShaw has an additional doctorate degree that required over 4,000 hours of classroom instruction. 

His medical training includes over 700 hours of classroom instruction on issues pertaining to traumatic brain injuries; this includes anatomy, neuroanatomy, neurophysiology and neurological diagnosis. While he does not personally diagnose or treat TBIs, Dr. DeShaw is able to interpret medical information and testing to expedite your brain injury claim.

When should I hire a traumatic brain injury lawyer?

A traumatic brain injury can require a lifetime of compromise and care. Because the changes to your life can be difficult to prove, you can expect that insurance companies will fight to keep from paying you your full, fair compensation. 

From ER services to long-term care, the medical costs of a TBI can be substantial. If your brain injury was the result of someone else’s negligence, you may be able to recover these costs through legal action. This includes expenses related to your emergency room care, hospital visits, physical therapy, mobility devices, and more.

A brain injury can require weeks or months off of work; a traumatic brain injury lawyer can help you recover wage loss from your time away from your job. If your ability to work is permanently affected by your TBI, a TBI attorney can recover money to make up for your loss of earning capacity.

Finally, it is not uncommon to experience major changes to your mental health and your relationships as a result of a traumatic brain injury. A traumatic brain injury lawyer can help you secure financial compensation for mental health services, pain and suffering, and even the loss of intimacy you and your loved ones have experienced as a result of your injury (loss of consortium).  

After a traumatic brain injury, you may find yourself with lots of questions. Working with a TBI attorney can give you the answers you need. Call DeShaw Law today for a free consultation: (503) 227-1233.

How do I know if I have a traumatic brain injury?

If you believe you have suffered a brain injury, see medical assistance as soon as possible.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention describes a brain injury as “an injury that affects how the brain works.” A traumatic brain injury, or TBI, may result from a bump or blow to the head (as with a motor vehicle accident or slip and fall, or a penetrating injury (for example, a gunshot wound).

Brain injuries are often called “invisible injuries”; they are often impossible to detect simply by looking at a person. The Mayo Clinic offers the following  list of physical, behavioral, and cognitive changes that could indicate a TBI:

Mild TBI:

• Headache

• Nausea or vomiting

• Fatigue or drowsiness

• Problems with speech

• Dizziness or loss of balance

• Blurred vision or temporary blindness

• Ringing in the ears

• A bad taste in the mouth

• Changes in the ability to smell

• Sensitivity to light or sound

• Cognitive, behavioral, or mental symptoms

Moderate to Severe TBI:

• Loss of consciousness for a few seconds to a few minutes

• Feeling dazed, confused, or disoriented

• Memory or concentration problems

• Mood changes or mood swings

• Feeling depressed or anxious

• Difficulty sleeping

• Sleeping more than usual

• Loss of consciousness from several minutes to hours

• Persistent headache or headache that worsens

• Repeated vomiting or nausea

• Convulsions or seizures

• Dilation of one or both pupils of the eyes

• Clear fluids draining from the nose or ears

• Inability to awaken from sleep

• Weakness or numbness in fingers and toes

• Loss of coordination

• Cognitive or mental symptoms

• Profound confusion

• Agitation, combativeness, or other unusual behavior

• Slurred speech

• Coma and other disorders of consciousness

Does my child have a brain injury?

If you believe your child has a traumatic brain injury, take them to a medical professional for evaluation as soon as possible.

Because young children may not be able to communicate how they are feeling, it is critical to know the signs of a traumatic brain injury in children. The Mayo Clinic offers the following list of symptoms of TBIs in babies:

• Change in eating or nursing habits

• Unusual or easy irritability

• Persistent crying and inability to be consoled

• Change in ability to pay attention

• Change in sleep habits

• Seizures

• Sad or depressed mood

• Drowsiness

• Loss of interest in favorite toys or activities

Questions about collecting compensation for your child’s TBI? Call our brain injury lawyer for a free consultation: (503) 227-1233.

Is a concussion considered a brain injury?

Yes, a concussion is considered a brain injury. Concussion survivors may develop post-concussion syndrome, which the Merck Manual reports as experiencing “headache, dizziness, difficulty in concentration, variable amnesia, depression, apathy, and anxiety” after a seemingly mild head injury. A post-concussion syndrome lawyer will be able to help you with your case.

Our Portland TBI Law Firm understands that a traumatic brain injury can have devastating effects on a person’s life. The additional brain injury pages on this website are a brief summary of our firm’s extensive experience on the topic of brain injuries. Check out our law firm blog for updated information on brain injury topics.

Mild Traumatic Brain Injuries

Brain Stem and Cerebellum Injuries

Temporal, Occipital, & Parietal Lobe Injuries

Frontal Lobe Brain Injuries

Diffuse Axonal Injuries in a Traumatic Brain Injury

This information is intended to assist members of the community, as well as those with brain injury symptoms, by providing a better understanding of the symptoms they experience after trauma. This information is not intended to serve as medical advice, and you should see a doctor immediately if you believe you have sustained a brain injury.  If you have a medical emergency, please call 911 immediately.

• Call us locally (503) 227-1233
• Toll-Free (866) 843-3476
• Schedule online