Medical research over the past few decades has shown us how traumatic brain injuries can have lasting, serious effects on a victim’s well-being. Someone who has endured one or more blows to the head might experience severe pain, cognitive problems, mood disorders, balance issues and other symptoms. While we know that many of these injuries arise from vehicle collisions, falls and contact sports, a woman in Oregon is alleging that she suffered significant head trauma from a rough bump caused by a pothole. 

Gillian Conroy is seeking $3.66 million in damages after she claims to have suffered a traumatic brain injury from driving over a pothole in southwest Portland. In her lawsuit against the city, Multnomah County and the State of Oregon, she alleges that the respective governments violated their duty to maintain safe conditions on the portion of Southwest Capitol Highway where the incident occurred. 

Ms. Conroy says she was not able to see the pothole while driving, so she was not able to evade the hazard or slow down to minimize the impact. The complaint states that when Ms. Conroy’s car was "abruptly and forcefully" jolted, her head hit the car’s ceiling. As a result, she suffered multiple injuries to her head and shoulder that have had a lasting impact on her health and quality of life.

Lawsuits stemming from traumatic brain injuries often present unique challenges to plaintiffs. While broken bones and other orthopedic injuries can be easily traced to the impact from a specific event, many symptoms associated with concussions and other traumatic brain injuries leave more room for potential interpretation. For example, Ms. Conroy says she has not been able to work since the accident because her job involved technical sales at Intel and the effects of her injuries prevent her from focusing on a computer screen. Defendants might try to claim that her alleged focus problems are attributable to something else. 

In traumatic brain injury cases, it is critical to retain an accomplished personal injury attorney who can assemble the factual and expert evidence necessary to link a victim’s physical, mental and emotional problems to the defendant’s negligence. 

GSJones Law Group, P.S. advocates for victims of traumatic brain injuries caused by someone else’s negligence or willful misconduct. Our firm serves Kitsap, Mason and Jefferson counties, as well as Vashon Island and other Washington communities. Please call 360-876-9221 or contact us online to schedule a consultation in our Port Orchard office.