Traumatic Brain Injury Attorneys Serving Washtenaw County

A traumatic brain injury can change everything in an instant. Whether you suffered a concussion in a car crash in Ann Arbor, a severe head injury at a Ypsilanti worksite, or brain damage from a fall anywhere in Washtenaw County, the consequences can last a lifetime. At Logeman & Iafrate, P.C., we understand the devastating impact these injuries have on victims and their families—not just the immediate trauma, but the cognitive impairment, personality changes, and mounting costs that follow.

For more than 45 years, our attorneys have represented TBI victims throughout Washtenaw County and across Michigan. We know how to prove the full extent of brain injuries, even when CT scans look normal. We work with neurologists, neuropsychologists, and life-care planners to document every aspect of your injury and build cases that insurance companies can't dismiss. We take cases others won't, and we prepare every case for trial.

Understanding Traumatic Brain Injuries in Michigan

Traumatic brain injuries range from mild concussions to catastrophic damage requiring lifetime care. Even "mild" TBIs can cause serious, lasting problems including headaches, dizziness, memory loss, difficulty concentrating, personality changes, and depression. These symptoms are confusing and discouraging for victims and families—and insurance companies routinely dismiss them as exaggerated or unrelated to the accident.

Common causes of TBIs in Washtenaw County include:

• Motor vehicle accidents on US-23, I-94, and local roads throughout Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti, and surrounding communities
• Motorcycle crashes where riders suffer severe head trauma despite wearing helmets
• Falls from ladders, scaffolding, or defective premises in residential and commercial properties
• Construction accidents involving falling objects or equipment failures
• Assault and violent acts causing blunt force trauma

The Challenge of Proving Mild TBI Cases

Emergency room doctors are typically focused on surgical and orthopedic injuries. They often fail to diagnose mild cases of traumatic brain injury. You may never have lost consciousness or had an abnormal CAT scan, yet your head trauma may have resulted in brain damage that significantly affects your daily life and ability to work.

Defense attorneys and insurance companies will argue that because your imaging was normal and you didn't lose consciousness, you couldn't have suffered a brain injury. They'll claim your symptoms are psychological, pre-existing, or exaggerated. They'll point to any gap in treatment or inconsistency in medical records to deny your claim.

We've defeated these arguments countless times. We know how to establish cognitive impairment through neuropsychological testing, document changes in function through testimony from family and coworkers, and prove causation with medical experts who understand brain injury science. Our experience includes securing compensation for clients whose insurers denied all benefits based on "normal" scans—because we know how to prove the injury exists despite negative imaging.

Securing Lifetime Care for Severe Brain Injuries

Severe traumatic brain injuries and brain stem injuries are obvious. Following the accident, the patient may be comatose, on life support, or require lifetime attendant care or nursing care. These cases demand comprehensive evaluation of all future costs adjusted for inflation, including:

• 24-hour attendant care or skilled nursing assistance
• Cognitive and physical rehabilitation therapy
• Home modifications for accessibility and safety
• Adaptive equipment and assistive technology
• Vocational services or total disability accommodation
• Future medical treatment and prescription medications
• Life-care planning to ensure dignity and quality of life

We work with medical experts, life-care planners, and economic specialists to calculate the full loss to the victim and family. Not only the size of the settlement or verdict matters, but the way in which it is structured will determine whether the accident victim will be able to live with dignity.

Compensation Available for TBI Victims in Washtenaw County

Brain injury cases can involve multiple sources of compensation depending on how the injury occurred:

No-Fault PIP Benefits: If your TBI resulted from a motor vehicle accident, Michigan's no-fault insurance system provides Personal Injury Protection benefits for medical expenses, attendant care, lost wages, and replacement services. However, the 2019 reforms mean your coverage level matters—we fight to pursue the full value of benefits under your policy and overcome insurance company denials.

Third-Party Claims: When someone else's negligence caused your brain injury, you can pursue compensation for pain and suffering, excess medical costs, full wage loss, and reduced quality of life if your injuries meet Michigan's threshold. Our attorneys have extensive experience proving threshold injuries and maximizing third-party recoveries.

Workers' Compensation: If your TBI occurred at a Washtenaw County worksite, you're entitled to workers' compensation benefits. You may also have third-party claims against negligent contractors, equipment manufacturers, or property owners.

Premises Liability: Property owners who fail to maintain safe conditions can be held liable when falls or other accidents cause brain injuries on their property.

Why Early Action Matters in Brain Injury Cases

Traumatic brain injury cases require prompt legal action to preserve evidence and protect your rights. Medical records must be gathered while treatment is ongoing. Witnesses need to be interviewed before memories fade. Experts must evaluate you while the injury's full impact can still be assessed.

Most individuals who suffer a brain injury will make most of their recovery within the first year of the injury. Proper medical treatment can help ensure the best possible recovery—but getting the right treatment requires understanding your insurance coverage and protecting your legal rights from the start.

Serving All of Washtenaw County

From our Ann Arbor office, we represent traumatic brain injury victims throughout Washtenaw County, including:

• Ann Arbor
• Ypsilanti
• Saline
• Chelsea
• Dexter
• Manchester
• Milan
• Pittsfield Township
• Superior Township
• Ypsilanti Township

We understand the medical resources available in our community, from the University of Michigan Health System to local rehabilitation centers. We know the Washtenaw County courts and how to present brain injury cases to local juries. This local knowledge combined with our decades of trial experience gives our clients a powerful advantage.

What Sets Our Firm Apart

Traumatic brain injury cases are complicated, and it's important that your attorney understands the complexity of brain injury issues. At Logeman & Iafrate, P.C., we have extensive experience in claims and lawsuits involving brain injuries—from mild concussions to catastrophic trauma requiring lifetime care.

We're not a settlement mill. We prepare every case for trial, and insurance companies know it. When they see our name on a TBI case, they know we have the medical experts lined up, the neuropsychological testing completed, and the life-care plan documented. That trial-ready approach results in better settlements—and when settlement isn't enough, we're prepared to take your case to a Washtenaw County jury.

We offer free consultations and work on a contingency-fee basis. You pay nothing unless we win your case. When you're focused on healing and adapting to cognitive changes, we shoulder the legal burden so you can concentrate on your recovery.

Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Each case is decided on its own facts.

Frequently Asked Questions About Traumatic Brain Injuries in Washtenaw County

What is considered a mild traumatic brain injury?

A mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI) or concussion can cause serious symptoms including headaches, dizziness, emotional instability, behavioral changes, cognitive impairment, and sleep disturbances. Despite being classified as "mild," these injuries can result in long-term consequences and chronic cognitive impairment. You don't need to have lost consciousness or have abnormal CT scans to have suffered a real brain injury.

Can I recover compensation if my CT scan was normal?

Yes. It is well documented that CT scans and MRIs often appear normal even when significant brain injury exists. Neuropsychological testing can reveal cognitive deficits that imaging misses. We work with medical experts who understand that normal scans don't mean no injury—and we've successfully recovered compensation for many clients whose imaging appeared normal but whose lives were profoundly changed by TBI.

How do you prove a brain injury when the insurance company denies it exists?

We use comprehensive neuropsychological testing to document cognitive deficits, work with board-certified neurologists and neuropsychologists who can explain the injury to a jury, gather testimony from family members and coworkers about observed changes in function and personality, and present medical literature showing that brain injuries can occur without loss of consciousness or abnormal imaging. Our experience includes overcoming denials in cases insurance companies claimed were "psychological" or "exaggerated."

What compensation can I recover for a traumatic brain injury in Michigan?

Compensation depends on how the injury occurred. For motor vehicle accidents, you can receive no-fault PIP benefits covering medical expenses, attendant care, and wage loss—plus third-party claims against at-fault drivers for pain and suffering if you meet Michigan's threshold. For workplace injuries, workers' compensation provides benefits, and third-party claims may be available. For injuries on unsafe property, premises liability claims can provide full compensation including future care costs.

How long do I have to file a traumatic brain injury claim in Washtenaw County?

Michigan's statute of limitations for personal injury claims is generally three years from the date of injury. However, brain injury symptoms may not become apparent immediately, and the discovery rule may apply in some cases. For no-fault benefits, you must notify your insurer within one year. Because deadlines vary and evidence must be preserved quickly, we strongly recommend consulting an attorney as soon as possible after any accident involving head trauma.

Should I accept the insurance company's settlement offer?

Not without having an experienced brain injury attorney review it first. Insurance companies routinely undervalue TBI claims, especially when injuries appear "mild." They may offer a quick settlement before the full extent of cognitive impairment becomes clear. Once you settle, you cannot recover additional compensation if your condition worsens. Our attorneys evaluate whether settlement offers account for lifetime medical needs, ongoing cognitive deficits, and reduced earning capacity.