Brain Injury
Bozeman Brain Injury Attorney
Legal Help For Life-Changing Brain Injuries
A serious brain injury can change a person’s memory, mood, and independence in a single moment. If you or someone you love has suffered a head injury in or around Bozeman, you may be facing an uncertain future, growing medical bills, and a lot of unanswered questions.
At Hoyt & Blewett PLLC, we help Montana families navigate some of the hardest days of their lives. We are a third-generation personal injury law firm that has handled many of the most significant injury cases in the state, including the largest reported individual personal injury settlement in Montana history. Our attorneys are known for taking cases to trial when needed and for standing up to powerful insurance companies.
You do not have to sort through medical and legal issues alone. We offer free, no-obligation consultations, with no out-of-pocket cost to sit down with our team and talk about what happened and what options you may have.
To schedule your free consultation, call (406) 233-1302.
What Is a Traumatic Brain Injury?
A traumatic brain injury (TBI) occurs when a sudden force, jolt, or blow to the head disrupts normal brain function. TBIs can range from mild concussions to severe injuries, causing permanent disability or death. While some symptoms appear immediately, others may take days or even weeks to manifest.
In legal terms, a traumatic brain injury often forms the basis of a personal injury claim when it results from another party’s negligence, such as careless driving, unsafe property conditions, or workplace safety violations.
Common Types of TBI
Traumatic brain injuries vary in severity and type. Common forms include:
- Concussions: Often considered mild TBIs, concussions can still cause serious cognitive and emotional symptoms.
- Contusions: Bruising of the brain tissue caused by direct impact.
- Diffuse Axonal Injuries: Damage caused by violent shaking or rotation of the head, commonly seen in high-speed crashes.
- Penetrating Brain Injuries: Occur when an object pierces the skull and brain tissue.
- Anoxic or Hypoxic Brain Injuries: Result from a lack of oxygen to the brain, often caused by near-drowning or medical negligence.
Each type of TBI presents unique challenges in diagnosis, treatment, and legal claims.
Common Causes of TBI
Traumatic brain injuries frequently occur due to sudden, forceful events. Some of the most common causes include:
- Car and truck accidents
- Motorcycle and bicycle crashes
- Pedestrian accidents
- Falls from heights
- Workplace accidents
- Sports and recreational injuries
In many cases, these injuries could have been prevented if proper care and safety measures had been taken.
Brain Injury Symptoms
Brain injury symptoms can vary widely depending on the severity and location of the injury. Common symptoms include:
- Headaches or migraines
- Memory loss or confusion
- Difficulty concentrating
- Dizziness or loss of balance
- Sensitivity to light or noise
- Mood swings, depression, or anxiety
- Slurred speech or difficulty communicating
- Loss of consciousness
Because symptoms may worsen over time, it is critical to seek immediate medical attention after any head injury.
Long-Term Impact of Brain Injuries
The long-term consequences of a brain injury can be overwhelming. Many victims experience lasting impairments that affect every aspect of daily life, including:
- Permanent cognitive deficits
- Speech and language disorders
- Emotional and personality changes
- Chronic pain or headaches
- Loss of independence
- Inability to work or reduced earning capacity
Families often bear a heavy burden as well, especially when a loved one requires long-term care or assistance with daily activities.
Compensation from a Brain Injury Claim
A successful brain injury claim can help victims recover compensation for both immediate and future losses. Depending on the circumstances, compensation may include:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Rehabilitation and therapy costs
- Lost wages and loss of earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Long-term care and assistive devices
At Hoyt & Blewett PLLC, we work with medical experts, economists, and life-care planners to fully calculate the true value of your brain injury claim.
Brain Injury Claim FAQs
How long do I have to file a brain injury lawsuit in Montana?
Montana generally has a three-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims, but exceptions may apply.
What if my brain injury symptoms appeared later?
Delayed symptoms are common with TBIs. Medical documentation can help connect your symptoms to the original accident.
Can I recover compensation for a mild TBI or concussion?
Yes. Even mild brain injuries can have serious consequences and may warrant compensation.
Do brain injury cases always go to trial?
Many cases settle out of court, but we prepare every claim as if it will go to trial to protect your rights.
For more information about our firm, contact us today.
Experienced Legal Representation
When a loved one has a traumatic brain injury, choosing the right legal team matters. You need more than a name on a billboard. You need a firm with the skill, resources, and resolve to handle a catastrophic case, and the patience to walk with your family for the long haul.
Hoyt & Blewett PLLC has deep roots in Montana. The Blewett family has been practicing law here since 1938, and our firm continues that legacy today. Our managing partner, Zander Blewett, is the only attorney from Montana admitted to the Inner Circle of Advocates and the only Montana lawyer in the Lawdragon Hall of Fame. All four of our partners were named to the Lawdragon 500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers in America.
Our case results reflect what is at stake in serious injury cases. We have obtained many of the top personal injury verdicts in Montana and have recovered tens of millions of dollars for injured Montanans.
A few of our notable results include:
- $27 million settlement for a brain injury from an auto accident, the largest reported individual personal injury settlement in Montana history.
- $21.35 million verdict for malicious prosecution.
- $11 million settlement for a construction accident.
- $9.79 million verdict for a railroad crossing injury.
- $7 million verdict in a serious personal injury case.
These numbers represent real people and real families who needed resources to rebuild their lives. Insurance companies in Montana know our record and know that we are prepared to go to trial. That reputation often motivates them to value claims more fairly in negotiations.
We are also selective about the Montana cases we accept. We carefully screen each potential claim for merit. When we agree to represent you, it means we believe in your case and will work to pursue every category of compensation the law allows.
Get Experience On Your Side
Our Dedicated Attorneys Are Ready to HelpSchedule your free and confidential consultation today.
Ready to Get Started?
Your Voice in the CourtroomAt Hoyt & Blewett PLLC in Montana, we understand the devastating impact of personal injuries and wrongful deaths on families. With over 100 years of combined experience, our dedicated team of Montana injury attorneys is here to provide compassionate and skilled legal representation. We offer a free consultation to discuss your case and understand your needs.
Hoyt & Blewett has proven time and again that we are more than willing to take personal injury and wrongful death cases to trial, with the results being very favorable for our clients. Our track record speaks for itself, as we have obtained numerous top personal injury verdicts in Montana, including 18 jury verdicts surpassing $1 million.
If you or someone you know has suffered damages due to the negligence of another, it is important to contact a trial lawyer who will vigorously represent your interests against insurance companies and other corporate defendants.
Call Hoyt & Blewett PLLC today at (406) 233-1302 or contact us online to schedule your initial consultation.
From their office in Great Falls, Hoyt & Blewett PLLC serves injured clients throughout Montana including Great Falls, Helena, Missoula, Billings, Kalispell, Bozeman, Butte, Anaconda, and Sidney.