Voice Newspaper - March 2006

Law Firm's Specialty: Helping Patients with Traumatic Brain Injury

Frank Toral occasionally surprises physicians when he talks to them about be-ing part of the team that manages the care of patients with brain injury. After all, personal injury attorneys and medical doctors are often on different sides, but the South Florida attorney has developed a very special practice.

"We are challenging the perception that we are on the opposite side of the fence. We are part of the team and our job is to obtain the funding and develop the resources to help a person with brain injury and their families," Toral told the Voice Newspaper in a recent interview. "Without us many individuals would not get the resources they need to improve their outcome."

The attorney found his calling about eight years ago when he represented a family which had recently come from Cuba. The husband was severely injured when he fell while working from a bucket crane on Interstate 95. "I learned from that case the challenge patients with traumatic brain injury have obtaining re-sources and rehabilitation services," Toral explained.

It solidified a perception he developed as an assistant state attorney in the early nineties when he realized that many individuals, due to language barriers, social or economic status, had poor access to legal counsel.

Since establishing his private practice Frank Toral has personally become in-volved with organizations such as the Brain Injury Association of Florida (BIAF) where he serves as a member of the Board of Directors and he is a board mem-ber of a pediatric brain injury advisory group. His firm no longer accepts medical malpractice cases and in a letter to the professional community Toral stated that joint cooperation with physicians, case managers and others helps to insure that the person with a brain injury and their families can be helped more effectively.

Another example of Toral's commitment to his specialty was the hiring of Betty Paleolog to serve as a liaison between the law firm, clients, their families and health care providers. Her job is to help guide the firm's clients who have suf-fered a brain and/or spinal injury through the continuum of care and link them to appropriate community resources.

"Many case managers and rehab professionals who contact us to assist family members are pleasantly surprised that we have dedicated personnel to help them navigate the system and link them to necessary services. This is highly unusual for most law firms," Paleolog said.

The Puerto Rico native, fluent in Spanish and English, has worked extensively with organizations which serve individuals facing challenges, including six years working with patients who have sustained brain injuries and their families. Like Toral, Paleolog is also a supporter of the BIAF, currently and prior to joining the law firm.

Toral sees this type of experience and commitment as crucial to the success of the practice. "When a person's life is suddenly and traumatically changed, keep-ing the family together can be difficult. We bring hope to the family and lessen the shock, especially if we can be brought on the case early on," Toral empha-sized. "We provide useful information and resources that have nothing to do with our law firm and often help out whether it is a case we ultimately accept or not," he added. As part of its mission of community involvement, the firm also takes on a number cases for no fee each year.

When hiring associates Toral said he looks for character and integrity and for individuals who have worked their way up through school and in the profession. "We work as a team and usually have up to five people working on a single traumatic brain injury case," stated.

And there is one other factor. Toral believes that you have to act on your spiri-tual faith. "It empowers us to go above and beyond what is expected."

Ed. Note: Toral & Associates is located at 3107 Stirling Road in Fort Lauder-dale. Call 877-867-2552 for information on this article. You can also visit www.torallaw.com. The firm specializes in traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury and pediatric neurotrauma.

Anthony Afong, MD

Frank L. Toral said his firm is dedicated to working with industry professionals to help individuals who have sustained brain injury and their families receive services.

"I learned.... the challenge patients with traumatic brain injury have obtaining resources and rehabilitation services."

Keeping the Family Together Can be Difficult

Betty Paleolog has the responsibility to help guide the firm's clients through the continuum of care and link them to appropriate community resources.

http://www.torallaw.com/

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

Part of the Continuum of Care 

• Provide comprehensive management of the case

• Intervene early, from the investigation of the accident through financial recovery.

• Coordinate necessary post-acute medical care

• Advocate on behalf of clients throughout the medical recovery process

• Facilitate communication among members of the treatment team

"A law firm should partner with health professionals in making a difference in the lives of persons who have suffered brain and/or spinal cord injuries and in supporting their families."