Top Traumatic Brain Injury Lawyers in California
If you or a loved one has suffered a traumatic brain injury after an accident in California, you may encounter a difficult time. You may face overwhelming expenses for rehabilitation, medical care, medication, psychotherapy, and so on. You may also suffer from loss of income and a reduced ability to work in the future. In such situations, seeking assistance from an experienced traumatic brain injury lawyer could be greatly beneficial.
We Work Hard To Get You The Compensation & Justice You Deserve
The responsibility shouldn’t be yours alone, especially if you didn’t cause the injuries you have suffered. At Adamson Ahdoot, we can help you hold the party at fault accountable for their actions. Our traumatic brain injury attorneys will build a convincing case to prove that the responsible party is legally and financially liable for your injuries.
Our firm is committed to providing you with efficient, high-quality legal services. To that end, we’re backed by some of California’s most experienced and reputable traumatic brain injury lawyers.
Contact us for a free consultation. Call us at (800) 310-1606.
What is a Traumatic Brain Injury?
Indeed, it’s human nature to protect your head. Our survival instincts are hard-wired with the understanding that the threat of head injury is never far away. Likewise, it’s no secret that such a traumatic event can be life-changing.
The brain is the center of the nervous system and controls all the major and minor functions of the human body. Any damage to this complex organ can result in difficulty performing everyday tasks, memory loss, and many other life-altering conditions.
A traumatic brain injury (TBI) occurs when sudden, external, and physical trauma disrupts the brain’s normal function and structure. It can affect one or more areas of the brain, causing various symptoms. Following a blow to the head, injuries can range from a mild concussion to a traumatic brain injury that causes permanent brain damage. For example, contact sports, car collisions, slips and falls, and even physical assault can cause these injuries.
Sometimes, freak accidents happen to unsuspecting victims. However, other times, a brain injury is the result of a deliberate and illegal act of violence. In this case, this type of injury occurs in the gray area where responsibility is undetermined.
Although we can’t prevent the worst from happening, we at Adamson Ahdoot LLP match all our clients to a highly qualified traumatic brain injury lawyer. Our attorneys will handle your legal claim and bring the at-fault party to justice for you while you recover. Moreover, we work with medical care professionals and other local authorities to support you during this difficult time.
The Different Types of Traumatic Brain Injuries
Brain or head injuries can be classified as:
Closed Brain Injury
This injury is caused by non-penetrating head trauma, developing when the head is swiftly moved forward or backward, and the brain shakes inside the bony skull. As a result, brain tissue and surrounding blood vessels are bruised and ruptured.
Common causes of a closed head injury include car accidents, falls, and, increasingly, sports. It can even stem from shaking a baby, which experts call “shaken baby syndrome.”
Penetrating Brain Injury
A penetrating or open head injury is characterized by a skull fracture. Objects that can enter the skull, like a bullet fired by a gun, can cause this traumatic brain injury.
Primary Brain Injury
A primary brain injury describes an immediate and intense brain injury that fully develops when the brain takes the impact. One can suffer this injury once a car accident occurs, they’ve sustained a gunshot wound, or they fall from a high place.
Secondary Brain Injury
A secondary brain injury develops over time, often within hours or days after a primary brain injury occurs. It may alter the brain’s cellular or chemical structure or the appearance of tissues or blood vessels, ultimately destroying brain tissue.
Other Types of Brain Injuries
Individuals can also be diagnosed with any of these brain injuries.
- Diffuse axonal injury (DAI): A DAI happens when the elongated nerves connecting to the brain, called the axons, rupture as the brain injures itself from moving and turning inside the bony skull. In turn, individuals can fall into a coma and sustain injuries to multiple parts of the brain.
- Anoxic brain injury: This condition occurs when oxygen completely stops flowing to the brain. A traumatic brain injury from blunt force can lead to an anoxic injury.
Traumatic Brain Injury Symptoms
When a brain injury occurs, there are a few tell-tale signs. Likewise, symptoms can range from mild to severe.
Symptoms of a Mild Traumatic Brain Injury May Include:
- Headache
- Nausea and, or vomiting
- Loss of consciousness, including only a few seconds
- No loss of consciousness but marked confusion or dizziness
- Fatigue, difficulty staying awake, or increased drowsiness
- Slurred speech or difficulty recalling words
- Blurred vision
- Sensitivity to light or sound
- Bad taste in the mouth
- Ringing in the ears
- Difficulty smelling
- Insomnia
- Loss of balance
- Memory or concentration issues
- Mood swings
- Increased feelings of depression or anxiety
- An increased amount of sleep
More Serious Brain Injuries May Cause the Following Symptoms:
- Chronic headache
- Ongoing nausea and, or vomiting
- Loss of consciousness for more than a few minutes
- Loss of coordination
- Convulsions or seizures
- Dilated pupils in one or both eyes
- Clear fluids leaking from the nose or ears
- Weakness or numbness in fingers and toes
- Increased irritability
- Difficulty or inability to wake from sleep
- Ongoing confusion
- Showing distress, aggressiveness, or other strange behavior
- Coma or other consciousness-related conditions
The onset of these symptoms can be sudden or delayed. If you’ve hit your head, seek immediate medical attention.
Typical Causes of Traumatic Brain Injuries
Children, young adults, seniors, and males of all ages make up the majority of traumatic brain injury statistics in California. Generally, a traumatic brain injury is caused by blunt force trauma or a direct blow to the head. Consequently, as mentioned above, these injuries can range from mild to severe and life-altering.
A variety of factors determine the severity of a traumatic brain injury.
- Slip-and-fall accidents: These incidents include falling from a roof or ladder, tripping down a flight of stairs, and slipping in the bathroom or other places.
- Auto accidents: Pedestrians and other drivers can suffer traumatic brain injuries after a car accident.
- Violence: Intentional acts of violence, even without weapons, are a common cause of head injuries.
- Sports injuries: Contact sports and other high-impact sports can cause mild concussions and other head injuries.
- Explosions or combat-related injury: Military personnel can incur injury from bomb blasts and other explosions.
Brain Injury Lawsuit Settlements
When someone has been diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury, they may feel powerless, especially if they feel someone else is responsible. For example, in cases of drunk driving accidents, slip and fall accidents from wet or slippery flooring, or defective products resulting in a traumatic brain injury, you may be entitled to compensation. If you suffered a TBI from a traffic collision, a traumatic brain injury claim can help you recover maximum damages.
For example, drunk driving accidents may hold multiple parties liable, such as the driver and the bar or restaurant responsible for serving them alcohol. Similarly, wet floors or slippery sidewalks at grocery stores, apartment buildings, or other establishments can be caused by the property manager’s negligence.
In any case, the victim must seek out a knowledgeable brain injury lawyer. Personal injury attorneys will have the experience and legal knowledge required to prove liability in a civil case.
The Statute of Limitations for Traumatic Brain Injury Cases
Under California law, you must file a personal injury claim related to a TBI within two years from the date of your injury. But if you only discovered the injury sometime after your accident, you have a year to bring your case to court.
Conversely, traumatic brain injury lawsuits against government employees or agencies must be filed with the involved office within six months from when you were injured.
Proving Negligence Through a Traumatic Brain Injury Lawsuit
To hold an individual, business, or government agency liable for a mild or severe TBI, you must prove that:
- The responsible party had to be careful to prevent an injury.
- The defendant acted recklessly toward you.
- The defendant’s action or inaction caused your injury.
- You suffered measurable injuries, losses, or both.
If you bring a traumatic brain injury case against a specific party, it may be challenging to show that you suffered an injury because of the defendant’s carelessness. TBIs are considered more complex and trickier to identify; hence, you must gather substantial evidence supporting your claim.
Building Your Case with Sufficient Evidence
Before filing a lawsuit, you’ll be asked about the nature of your brain or head injury. Your traumatic brain injury attorney may ask for your account of the accident and subsequent events, from what caused it to how your injuries were treated.
If you can’t remember important details, inform your lawyer and collect enough information from witnesses, accident reports, newspaper articles, and other sources.
Potential Damages Awarded to a Brain Injury Victim
A successful personal injury case settlement can cover these damages from a severe or mild TBI:
- Medical costs, like hospital bills, consultation fees, and therapy sessions
- Property damage
- Lost wages (current and future)
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of consortium, which describes how an injury affects one’s relationship with their family or lover
- Punitive damages meant to punish the defendant for their carelessness or recklessness
Several factors are considered when calculating a traumatic brain injury settlement, including how serious your injury is, how much care you need, and whether you’re also responsible for the injury.
Traumatic Brain Injuries By the Numbers
Data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) notes that:
- An estimated 214,110 TBI-related hospitalizations were reported in 2020, and about 69,473 TBI-related fatalities occurred the next year. These figures equate to over 586 TBI-related hospitalizations and 190 TBI-related fatalities per day.
- Older adults aged 75 and above recorded the highest numbers and rates of TBI-related hospitalizations and fatalities among age groups. Around 32% of TBI-related hospitalizations and 28% of TBI-related fatalities involved these individuals.
Furthermore, separate research on TBIs cited significant findings from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019. The original study reported 27.16 million new TBI cases and 48.99 million prevalent TBI cases in 2019, with falls causing these injuries in 74% of countries or territories. Pedestrian and motor vehicle accidents also resulted in TBIs.
In California, TBIs mostly affect the elderly. The state’s Department of Public Health reported 2,912 TBI-related fatalities, 17,528 hospitalizations, and 15,708 emergency department visits of older adults in 2020.
Why Choose Adamson Ahdoot’s Brain Injury Lawyers?
At Adamson Ahdoot LLP, we have over 100 years of combined legal experience in personal injury litigation. In addition, we bring a firm grasp of the law, processes, and procedures involved. With an experienced traumatic brain injury lawyer from our firm at your side, you’ll get the compensation and legal support you need.
We’re dedicated to advising our clients with our in-depth knowledge of the Los Angeles and California legal systems. With Adamson Ahdoot’s traumatic brain injury attorneys representing you, you won’t have to go through the process alone. We fight tirelessly for our clients and won’t stop until you receive the compensation you deserve.
We understand how difficult a brain injury lawsuit can be. That is why we strive to handle your legal matters promptly and professionally. Our team genuinely cares about our clients. We ensure you’re well informed about any new developments, and we’re committed to providing you with legal advice at every stage of your case, whether you have a mild, severe, or non-traumatic brain injury.
Have You Suffered Traumatic Brain Injuries After a Car Accident? Call Us!
Don’t waste any more time. When dealing with a traumatic brain injury after a serious accident in California, it’s advisable to seek legal assistance as soon as possible. Contact one of our traumatic brain injury lawyers immediately to begin working on the best strategy for your case — they’ll guide you every step of the way.
Our consultants can gather data and evidence from the moment you contact us. For example, we can collect medical records and data on how the accident has changed your life. We’ve helped countless clients over the past decade and look forward to assisting you.
Contact us for a free consultation. Call us at (800) 310-1606 to schedule an appointment and learn more about your traumatic brain injury case. Our experienced staff and head injury lawyers are ready to assist you.
Call us today at (800) 310-1606 to schedule your free consultation today
