Los Angeles Brain Injury Lawyer

Southern California Head Injury Attorneys

Brain injuries can have life-changing outcomes. Not only is a brain injury physically and emotionally traumatic, but it can also seriously impact an individual’s financial well-being.

Most brain injuries cause lasting damage, as the brain cannot heal itself the way other major organs can. Even a minor brain injury could result in permanent cognition, mood, and behavior changes. Serious brain injuries can cause life-long physical disabilities or paralysis. In some cases, a brain injury can result in death. 

Most brain injuries are caused by sudden trauma from a jolt or blow to the head. If you sustained a brain injury due to another party’s negligence, you might be eligible to receive compensatory damages for:

• Emotional distress
• Lost wages
• Medical bills
• Loss of consortium

What are the Signs and Symptoms of a Brain Injury?

Symptoms of a brain injury vary widely depending on the severity of the injury. Some signs of brain injury may appear immediately after a blow to the head, while others may take days to weeks to manifest completely. Additionally, individuals may experience unique psychological and emotional effects. 

If you notice any brain injury symptoms after a head injury, seek immediate medical attention. 

Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Symptoms

Symptoms of a mild traumatic brain injury that are likely to appear immediately include:

• Headaches
• Difficulty speaking
• Trouble sleeping 
• Nausea and vomiting
• Dizziness or trouble balancing
• Drowsiness and fatigue
• Loss of consciousness for a few seconds to several minutes
• Confusion and disorientation

In addition, individuals may experience the following mood and sensory-related symptoms several days to weeks after a head injury:

• Depression and anxiety
• Changes in mood or behavior, mood swings
• Memory issues
• Difficulty concentrating
• Sensitivity to light and sound
• Changes in smell or taste
• Ringing in the ears
• Blurred vision

Moderate to Severe Traumatic Brain Injuries

If you suffered a moderate to severe traumatic brain injury, you might experience the same symptoms as a mild brain injury. You may also notice the following symptoms within a few hours to a few days of a moderate to severe brain injury:

• Slurred speech
• Extreme confusion
• Changes in behavior such as irritability or unusual aggression
• Severe and constant headaches
• Seizures or convulsions
• Dilation of pupils
• Trouble waking up from sleep
• Trouble with balance and coordination
• Nausea
• Persistent vomiting
• Fluid leaking from the ears or nose
• Numbness or weakness in the extremities
• Loss of consciousness lasting a few minutes to hours

As with a mild traumatic brain injury, seek medical attention immediately if you exhibit any signs of a moderate to severe brain injury. 

Common Causes of Brain Injuries​

A traumatic brain injury can occur from any blow to the head, regardless of where you are. However, there may be instances where a brain injury is more likely to occur, such as in a hazardous workplace, a vehicle, or playing contact sports. 

Some of the most common causes of brain injury include:

• Slip and Fall Accidents. Slip and fall accidents are most common in children and older adults. Falling from a bed, from a ladder, down stairs, or slipping and falling on ice can result in a mild to severe brain injury. 
• Motor Vehicle Accidents. Collisions involving cars, motorcycles, cyclists, and pedestrians can all cause traumatic brain injuries for any of the parties involved. 
• Sports or Recreation Accidents. High impact sports or sports with a high amount of physical contact are common causes of traumatic brain injuries. Boxing, football, hockey, lacrosse, martial arts, rugby, soccer, and wrestling are just a few activities with an increased risk for brain injuries.
• Workplace Accidents. Workplaces that require the use of dangerous tools or power equipment may be considered high risk for brain injuries. Additionally, workplace accidents such as slip and fall incidents on wet surfaces or a fall from high up, such as from scaffolding or a rooftop, can result in brain injuries. 
• Medical Negligence. Brain injuries from medical negligence are less common but can occur when a medical professional fails to perform their duty of care. For example, medical negligence during childbirth may result in a newborn’s brain damage. Similarly, a brain injury may be misdiagnosed or missed altogether, worsening the condition. If a brain injury results from medical negligence, filing a medical malpractice claim can help you receive compensation.  

In addition, physical violence and abuse can result in traumatic brain injuries. Engaging in a physical fight or being subject to physical assault, domestic violence, child abuse, and gunshot wounds can cause serious brain damage. 

Treatment Options and Cost of Traumatic Brain Injury

If you’ve suffered a traumatic brain injury, you may require any of the following treatments:

• Emergency care
• X-rays, MRIs, or CT scans
• Surgery
• Intensive care
• Medication
• Long-term recovery
• Rehabilitation
• Assistive devices
• Ongoing care and counseling

Recovering from a brain injury may require a primary care physician, neurologist, surgeon, physical therapist, and psychologist. Patients usually receive treatment at a trauma hospital but may be moved to a specialized clinic if required. 

The cost of brain injury recovery can add up to thousands of dollars in just a few months after the injury. Over time, the cost of medical treatment can add up to millions of dollars if long-term treatment is needed. 

Many victims of traumatic brain injuries are left with life-long disabilities that make them unable to work for a living. If this is the case, their families may be left with the burden of providing for them financially or may have to place them in an assisted living facility, which can quickly become expensive. 

If you experienced a traumatic brain injury, a personal injury lawsuit could help you recover some of the costs of recovery and ongoing medical care.

Compensation for Traumatic Brain Injuries

Depending on the cause of your injury, a personal injury lawsuit can help you recover compensation for:

• Hospital stays
• Medical procedures, medications, and surgeries
• Future rehabilitation
• Loss of wages or benefits
• Complications due to disability
• Pain and suffering
• Caretaking expenses
• Past and future emotional distress

Filing a Brain Injury Claim

If your brain injury is the result of another party’s negligence, you may be able to pursue a personal injury lawsuit against them in one of the following ways:

• General negligence lawsuit
• Faulty or defective product lawsuit

Negligence means that a person owed a certain quality of performance or care they failed to meet. Negligence can be committed by an individual, a company, or a group. 

To pursue a brain injury claim based on negligence, the victim must prove the following:

• The defendant owed a duty of care to the victim
• The defendant did not meet this duty of care
• The defendant’s negligence directly caused the victim’s injury or significantly contributed to the victim’s injury 

If your brain injury resulted from a faulty or defective product, such as a defective vehicle or a defective helmet, you could recover compensation by filing a product liability claim. You can also file a product liability claim based on inadequate warnings about potential hazards or improper instructions on using the product. 

To pursue a product liability lawsuit after a traumatic brain injury, you must prove the following:

• You used the product as intended or in a reasonable way
• The defendant designed, manufactured, or sold a defective item
• The product defect significantly contributed to your brain injury
• The product had a design, manufacturing, or warning defect when it left the defendant

In a product liability claim, anyone involved in distributing the product, including designers, manufacturers, and sellers, may be held liable for any injuries the product caused.

Contact Power Trial Lawyers to File a Traumatic Brain Injury Claim Today

Filing a brain injury claim can be difficult and confusing, especially in the aftermath of a traumatic incident like a brain injury. Our attorneys can take care of the complicated legal process of filing a brain injury lawsuit so that you and your family can recover compensation for pain and suffering, medical bills, and lost wages. 

Contact us today for a free consultation. Our caring and compassionate team is standing by to help.