Los Angeles
Traumatic Brain Injury Lawyer

Los Angeles Traumatic Brain Injury Attorneys

Enduring and then living with a traumatic brain injury can be very difficult in many ways. TBIs are oftentimes the result of a tragic accident or incident, but it can be hard to determine what course of legal action to take after the injury has occurred. While seeking medical attention should be your top priority, it is also important to obtain compensation when you or your loved one deserve it. A Los Angeles traumatic brain injury lawyer can help you do just that.

What Is a Traumatic Brain Injury?

The term ‘traumatic brain injury’ is somewhat broad and can be used to refer to an array of various injuries. In short, TBIs can be divided into two categories: penetrating and non-penetrating.

Penetrating TBIs occur when an object pierces a person’s head and enters the brain, thereby injuring it. Some ways these types of injuries occur is through gunshot wounds or stabbing incidents. When these injuries occur, they are immediately noticeable.

Non-penetrating TBIs can happen when an object strikes or impacts a person’s head. This can cause the brain to move around inside the skull, resulting in an injury. The force of the external action is what causes the actual injury. Sometimes, this is referred to as blunt force trauma to the head. This type of injury may not be immediately noticeable, but it may gradually cause symptoms to appear.

Causes of TBI

There are an innumerable number of ways in which a TBI may occur. However, some of the more common instances include:

• Car accidents. Collisions often involve heavy machinery traveling at high speeds, which can result in serious damage to the brain upon impact.
• A bad slip and fall. Slipping and falling can cause the head to impact an object or the floor, depending on the exact circumstances. These incidents can also be lethally dangerous when there is severe trauma to the head.
• Sports collisions and injuries. Concussions and other types of TBIs can occur when playing sports, especially in high-impact activities such as soccer, football, basketball, and hockey. Cumulative injuries can lead to issues with mental functionality later in life.
• Combat and explosions. Soldiers and/or police officers who are involved in high-combat scenarios may experience TBIs as a result of such circumstances.
• Serious domestic violence. Such cases can sometimes result in gunshot wounds and/or violent physical abuse. If either of these are inflicted upon someone’s head, serious injuries or conditions can result.

Life After a TBI

For many people who experience a traumatic brain injury, their life is changed forever afterward. The degree of these changes may vary, but such an injury does not often leave a person the same. Even with hospitalization, proper care, treatment, and rehabilitation, a person may still endure lifelong effects.

Some of the common long-term effects that someone who has experienced a TBI may face include:

• An altered state of consciousness. Someone who has experienced a serious TBI may remain unresponsive for an extended period of time, often remaining in a coma or vegetative state.
• Physical implications. Aside from the behavioral and emotional effects, a TBI survivor may also experience physical pain for years to come. This can take the form of headaches, seizures, vertigo, and more. They may also experience infections or even strokes in the future due to the damage their brain has endured.
• Loss or dilution of the senses. The brain is very involved in the proper functioning of the five senses, so an injury to the brain can inhibit these. A person with a TBI may experience a loss of these senses or alterations to them, particularly smell or taste.
• Intellectual issues. It may be difficult for someone with a TBI to intellectually function the same way they once did. Their memory and ability to reason, multitask, and plan may change.
• Inability to effectively communicate. This may take many forms, such as not being able to read and/or write as well as having a hard time speaking or understanding language.
• Behavioral and emotional changes. If a person’s brain has experienced trauma, they may no longer act or behave in the same way they once did. They may seem more depressed, anxious, irritable, and even angry.

Recovering Compensation for a TBI

It can be intimidating to file a claim in court and deal with an insurance company to get the compensation you deserve. However, you should not have to pay for injuries caused by the negligence or careless actions of someone else.

Certain factors are typically taken into consideration when negotiating a settlement for someone with a TBI. These include:

• The severity of the injury you have sustained. Traumatic brain injuries refer to an array of injuries, from mild to severe. The more serious your injuries are, the more compensation you can seek for them.
• Your long-term needs as a result of the injury. There are oftentimes lifelong effects and needs that a person who has sustained a TBI will have. Treating these may involve rehabilitation, medical visits, long-term care, and more.
• Your ability to work in the future. In some cases, damages are so severe that a person who could once work can no longer do so. In cases like these, you could obtain compensation for the loss of future income.
• Pain and suffering. While there are definitely physical damages that occur as a result of a TBI, there are also oftentimes invisible damages as well. TBIs can alter a person’s behavior, mood, and overall quality of life. While these losses can be more difficult to quantify and prove, you can still pursue compensation for them.

How a TBI Attorney Can Help

There are many ways in which a lawyer in Los Angeles can be of assistance if you or a loved one has suffered a traumatic brain injury.

First, they can determine if you are eligible to file a claim for compensation. It can sometimes be hard to prove if someone else was responsible for your injury. A lawyer who has experience with these types of claims can know what to look for.

A lawyer can also provide assistance with handling the insurance companies. An experienced lawyer knows what you should rightfully receive, and they can negotiate a just settlement.

If your claim needs to go to court to fully settle, a lawyer can represent you in these proceedings. A personal injury lawyer in Los Angeles can also gather relevant evidence to:

• Prove you have been injured.
• Establish the effects of these injuries on your life.
• Show how it was the direct result of someone else’s negligent or malicious actions.

FAQs

What Is the Average Brain Injury Settlement in California?

Because the severity and extent of each brain injury are different, there is no real average settlement that is given for these types of injuries. It can oftentimes be difficult to determine the full impact of a brain injury on a person’s life, as it can extend beyond just the injury itself. Therefore, the settlement a person can obtain can vary greatly from those given to other individuals with brain injuries.

What Are Some Common Symptoms of a TBI?

Symptoms of a traumatic brain injury can vary from person to person based on the nature of the injury, but there are some common symptoms that may reveal such an injury. These can include:

• Headaches
• Seizures
• Issues with vision
• Nausea and vomiting
• Slurred speech
• Changes in behavior, such as confusion, anger, and irritability
• Problems with memory
• Light-headedness
• Sensitivity to light and/or sound

What Is the Life Expectancy of Someone With a Traumatic Brain Injury?

Each traumatic brain injury is different, and each is treated differently and will have various effects on an individual’s body and health. However, as a whole, injuries to the brain can have an impact on the length of a person’s life. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has found that, on average, a person with a moderate to severe traumatic brain injury will have a life expectancy that is nine years shorter than normal.

How Do You Prove a Traumatic Brain Injury in Court?

You can prove a traumatic brain injury in court through a variety of ways. An experienced lawyer who has handled similar cases can gather the evidence you need, such as:

• Medical records that establish the injury and its required treatments
• Documentation of the current state of your health due to your injury
• Proof of rehabilitation treatments

Relevant medical and/or police records can also establish the cause of the accident, which can further bolster your case.

Los Angeles Traumatic Brain Injury Lawyer

If you or a loved one has suffered a traumatic brain injury in California due to the reckless or harmful actions of someone else, you deserve compensation for it. It is important to review your situation with an experienced lawyer. It is difficult and demanding enough to endure the healing process without worrying about the legal ramifications that come with making a claim. Reach out to Kenneth M. Sigelman & Associates today to learn more about how we can help you during this painful time.