Los Angeles, California Brain Injury Attorney

Coping after a Traumatic Brain Injury

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) can happen due to any type of accident or injury. Unfortunately, these head injuries can be quite severe, frequently resulting in permanent damage or even death. Going through a brain injury can be highly stressful, especially if someone else’s negligence caused it.

Experiencing a brain injury impacts both your thoughts and emotions. The recovery process from such an injury demands significant time and financial resources. The team at TraumaLaw in Los Angeles understands the difficulties you’re facing. We are committed to fighting hard for you to obtain compensation for your situation. If you suffered a brain injury due to another person’s lack of concern for your safety, rely on us to advocate for you. We will ensure that those responsible are held accountable for their actions.

Why Do Traumatic Brain Injuries Happen?

Your brain is continuously working, assisting with everything from your nervous system to regulating your breathing. Just think about how frightening it would be if your brain couldn’t function properly, leaving you dependent on constant help for basic tasks. Sadly, this is the reality for roughly 5 million individuals in the U.S. who live with disabilities resulting from Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs).

Each year, more than 25 million people in the US suffer a traumatic brain injury, a specific kind of harm to the head that affects the brain.

Often referred to as “The Silent Epidemic,” these injuries occur for numerous reasons, with some being more prevalent than others.

• Being hit by or against an object
• Traffic collisions
• Falls
• Physical assaults

Brain injuries can range in severity. A mild brain injury is often called a concussion. More serious injuries may inflict lasting damage to the nervous system or lead to conditions that do not improve over time. Moreover, head injuries fall into two categories. If an object breaks through the skull and penetrates the brain, it is termed an open TBI. If that is not the case, it is known as a closed TBI.

In the case of a closed TBI, the individual experiences a strong, non-penetrating blow to the head. This might cause the brain to swell and hinder oxygen flow, resulting in a situation known as hypoxic brain injury.

Statistics on Traumatic Brain Injuries

Data regarding traumatic brain injuries highlights the seriousness of these issues. According to reports from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, approximately 5.3 million people in the United States are living with disabilities due to TBI.

To give a better understanding of the seriousness of these injuries, here are some additional statistics about traumatic brain injuries.

• About 775,000 elderly individuals experience permanent disabilities from TBI.
• Men are more commonly impacted by TBI, occurring at a rate of 16.7%, compared to 8.5% for women.
• About 75% of TBI incidents are classified as mild and can often be treated outside a hospital setting.
• In every year, the U.S. reports roughly 7 million new cases of TBI.
• Yearly, around 235,000 individuals are admitted to the hospital because of traumatic brain injuries (TBI), which is 20 times the hospitalizations for spinal cord injuries.
• Each year, between 80,000 and 90,000 people in the United States acquire lasting disabilities linked to TBI.
• Traffic accidents are a primary cause of TBI, responsible for up to 50-70% of these injuries.
• Falls are the leading cause of TBIs, resulting in about 1.3 million injuries.
• Sadly, TBI results in the deaths of 150 Americans daily.

What Is the Most Critical Form of Brain Damage?

The most severe type of brain injury typically occurs when an individual experiences a strong blow to the head or when an object penetrates the skull. These injuries can be particularly severe because they harm the brain’s soft tissue. When a person sustains a severe head injury, it often indicates that their skull has been crushed or fractured.

Given the critical nature of these injuries, patients usually require extended hospital stays and often undergo multiple years of rehabilitation to recover. Even though injuries with skull fractures are the most dangerous, it’s crucial to understand that injuries without a broken skull can also inflict significant damage or prove fatal.

How Can We Stop Brain Injuries From Happening?

Protect yourself from brain injuries with these tips from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Following their recommendations can help reduce the chance of brain injury.

Along with always wearing a seatbelt while in a vehicle, the CDC suggests the following measures to prevent TBI:

• Never operate a vehicle if under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
• Always wear a helmet when biking, skateboarding, or participating in sports like snowboarding.
• Ensure children use the appropriate car or booster seats to decrease the risk of head injuries.
• Take steps to prevent slips and falls, especially for older adults.
• Engage in exercises to improve strength and balance.
• Schedule regular eye examinations.
• Make your home safer and more secure.
• Adhere to sports safety rules.
• Educate younger people on concussion safety, particularly in sports.
• To safeguard children from head injuries, install window guards and safety gates, keep stairs uncluttered, and place non-slip mats in bathrooms.
• Older adults and caregivers of young children should prioritize home safety. Both seniors and small children are at a greater risk of head injuries, so taking extra care is essential.

Adding handrails, safety gates, and window screens is an intelligent choice to make your home safer and lower the risk of head injuries. If you or someone you care about suffers from a head injury, consider contacting TraumaLaw for legal advice on traumatic brain injury claims in Los Angeles. Our team can answer your questions and assist you throughout the legal process.

What Indications Show a Traumatic Brain Injury?

Recognizing subtle brain injuries when there’s no apparent severe impact can be challenging. This becomes even more difficult in the presence of other visible injuries. Pay attention to these warning signs that might indicate harm to the brain or its stem:

• difficulty recognizing faces or locations
• trouble concentrating
• feeling confused
• being restless or easily irritated
• behaving unusually.

While it’s apparent when someone has a severe brain injury, determining if an injury is minor or moderate can be tricky, especially with other visible wounds. Symptoms of the injury often emerge right away, but they may also take days to surface after a head injury. Because of this, it is vital to monitor for signs of brain injury immediately after someone hurts their head.

Typical signs of a TBI generally include:

• persistent head pain
• loss of consciousness
• convulsions or seizures
• nausea and vomiting, especially in children
• extreme fatigue or sleepiness
• slurred speech
• feeling unstable
• vision issues
• unequal pupil sizes
• clear fluid draining from the nose or ears
• difficulty hearing or being sensitive to sounds
• numbness or weakness in fingers or toes.

The indicators of a brain injury often connect to which areas of the brain are affected. Commonly injured regions in the brain include:

• Frontal lobe
• Temporal lobe
• Orbitofrontal cortex
• Cerebellum
• Occipital lobe
• Angular gyrus
• Parietal lobe
• Sensory cortex
• Olfactory bulb

To assess the severity of a traumatic brain injury, medical professionals utilize the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) to evaluate how the patient responds in various situations, such as their ability to open their eyes, speak, and move. This assessment aids doctors in categorizing head injuries into three levels: mild, moderate, or severe. Individuals with the most serious injuries often show little to no response during evaluations.

It’s essential to understand that many different signs can occur after a brain injury, and it may take time for some of these symptoms to appear. After such an event, it’s crucial to carefully monitor the individual for any new or changing symptoms in their feelings or behavior. If anything seems off or concerning, seeking medical attention immediately is essential.

Long-Term Effects of Traumatic Brain Injuries

Every individual responds differently to a brain injury. Apparent symptoms may appear immediately, while others might gradually develop over time. Furthermore, some outcomes of a head injury might not be evident until much later and could be enduring, possibly requiring specialized tools or assistance, affecting a person’s ability to work and live independently.

Often, adults and children who have experienced traumatic brain injuries will have long-lasting effects, which may include:

• Physical impairments can cause challenges with basic activities like eating, breathing, and mobility. They may require rehabilitation plans or expensive devices to aid in mobility.
• Cognitive difficulties that hinder one’s ability to think, plan, and complete tasks independently can greatly affect the individual and their family.
• Communication challenges, such as hearing, reading, writing, speaking, or understanding numbers, may lead to ongoing communication struggles.
• The profound grief and shock that an individual with a TBI might experience can persist for a lifetime, stemming from either the injury itself or its effects on their life.
• People affected by a TBI could exhibit more reckless behavior, quick frustration, strong obsessions, or display new troubling habits that were not present before the injury.
• If the brain’s motor control area is affected, muscles might remain tense or twitchy. It can make everyday actions like talking, walking, eating, or breathing correctly difficult.

Those suffering may go through multiple surgeries and lengthy rehabilitation programs, which can greatly affect their chance to work, live independently, or enjoy their lives.

Who is Responsible if Someone Suffers a Brain Injury?

Determining who is accountable for a traumatic brain injury can be complex. Numerous factors and circumstances can contribute to such an injury, making it difficult to identify who should be responsible in each case.

In various situations, these individuals or entities could be liable for a serious head injury:

• careless driver, car owner, or the driver’s employer
• manufacturers of products
• shipping companies
• retailers
• truck drivers or their businesses
• bus drivers or bus companies
• motorcyclists
• boat drivers
• auto repair shops
• product manufacturers and store owners
• landowners, both public and private
• retail shopkeepers
• pilots of aircraft
• government agencies, such as city or state officials
• anyone who acted recklessly or deliberately ignored safety protocols and caused a brain injury

Often, when a person suffers a brain injury from a significant blow to the head, their friends and family can see the struggle they face. If you hire a lawyer because of your injury, they may consult with brain specialists and other experts to gather substantial evidence to support your case. Remember that it doesn’t matter if you’re an adult or a child. If someone else’s negligence caused your brain damage, you have the right to pursue legal action. Furthermore, the individual who caused the harm must be held accountable for their reckless behavior.

What Types of Payment Can Victims Receive?

Data about recovery from traumatic brain injuries indicates that these injuries often have severe consequences and tend to result in substantial medical and rehabilitation costs. Given the severity of these injuries, victims and their families frequently have the right to seek significant financial compensation to assist them. Sometimes, the consequences of a traumatic brain injury are not immediately visible, but complications may arise later, leading to high costs for continued care.

For this reason, these injured individuals and their loved ones can request compensation for a wide range of losses, including:

Medical Costs

This includes everything from immediate emergency care to subsequent rehabilitation and any other necessary treatments.

Pain and Suffering

Suppose you’ve experienced a traumatic brain injury that has significantly altered your lifestyle and prevented you from engaging in activities you once enjoyed, regardless of whether the changes are temporary or permanent. In that case, you might be eligible for compensation for those losses.

Lost Wages

When a person sustains an injury that requires time off work to recover, this compensation addresses that lost income.

Reduced Earning Potential

If injuries make it challenging for someone to perform their work duties, this can affect their future earning ability.

Lifestyle Changes

Compensation may address changes in daily life for those unable to participate in activities they enjoyed before the injury.

Future Needs

If a person might experience more challenges down the line due to their TBI, they may seek compensation to prepare for those potential future issues.

Life Care

Brain injury survivors might struggle to carry out basic tasks like driving, cleaning, cooking, or managing everyday responsibilities. As a result, they may require financial assistance to afford help with these activities.

Punitive Damages

If the individual responsible for the brain injury acted carelessly or maliciously, the injured individual and their family might be entitled to additional money as a form of punishment.

If you have experienced a TBI, enlisting a brain injury attorney can aid you in receiving the total compensation you deserve. For information regarding brain injury settlements in California, contact us today!

The compassionate lawyers at TraumaLaw focus on brain injuries. They understand the needs of those affected by traumatic brain injuries and work tirelessly to ensure they receive the funds necessary for their expenses and future medical care.

If you lack health insurance or have no means to pay for treatment, TraumaLaw is here to assist you. We collaborate with medical providers and hospitals, allowing them to defer payment until your case concludes. We prioritize advocating for our clients and securing the highest possible compensation for their injuries. If you or someone you know is coping with a traumatic brain injury, please contact TraumaLaw at 559-490-1226. Alternatively, you can visit our website and fill out a form to discuss your situation at no cost.

Traumatic Brain Injury FAQ

The CDC explains that a TBI occurs when brain function is affected by a blow to the head or an object penetrating the skull.

What Should I Do After Getting a TBI?

In the event of a TBI, your primary step is to seek medical assistance without delay. After a doctor examines and assesses your injury, you can consider your next options. If you’re facing this situation in California and it’s quite severe, consulting with a lawyer familiar with brain injuries might be a wise choice to understand your legal options.

What Impacts the Money for a Brain Injury Case?

The financial settlement you receive following a brain injury can be influenced by:

• Medical bills and urgent care costs
• Diagnostics to evaluate your condition
• Rehabilitation and therapy expenses
• The age of the injured individual
• Assessments related to brain function

What Causes Most Traumatic Brain Injuries?

Many traumatic brain injuries—around 1.3 million cases—occur due to falls.

How Much Time Does Healing from a Traumatic Brain Injury Take?

Recovery times can vary greatly among individuals. Some people might take a few years to recover fully, while others may continue to improve for as long as 10 years.

Who Often Gets Brain Injuries?

Male children and adults tend to experience injuries more frequently than female children and adults. Adolescent boys, young adults, and older individuals are also at higher risk for these types of injuries.

Need to Talk About Your Brain Injury Case?

It’s important not to delay seeking guidance, but you need to choose the right advisors. At TraumaLaw, we have the expertise to achieve positive outcomes. Contact us at 559-490-1226, or visit our website for a complimentary discussion regarding your case!

Bike Accidents

Every year, over 130,000 cyclists are harmed in collisions that happen on U.S. roads. Bicycle crashes can be severe, often involving motor vehicles. Many individuals do not realize that cyclists possess just as much right to use public roads as other drivers, which can lead to significant injuries or fatalities.

Our goal is to secure a fair financial settlement and handle the legal proceedings, allowing you to concentrate on healing. We will also help organize your medical care so that you receive support throughout your recovery.

Common Causes

Speeding

Driving too fast is a significant cause of traffic accidents. When people go over the speed limit or drive excessively fast for the road situation, they hinder their ability to respond quickly and safely. Increased speed leads to longer stopping distances and makes crashes more intense, creating a serious threat to all those on the roads. Following speed regulations and modifying speed in line with traffic flow and weather conditions is crucial for avoiding accidents and safeguarding the well-being of every road user.

Distracted Driving

Distracted driving remains one of the foremost causes of roadway accidents today. When drivers shift their focus away from the driving task—through actions like texting, conversing on the phone, changing the radio, or engaging with passengers—they considerably raise the chances of crashes. This inability to concentrate diminishes their responsiveness to alterations in traffic situations, which can lead to severe crashes and injuries for themselves and others. Keeping full focus while behind the wheel is essential to avoiding accidents and safeguarding everyone on the road.

Worn Out Tires

Buses with worn tires present a significant danger on roads, affecting grip and balance. These avoidable issues can result in severe collisions, putting passengers and others in the vicinity at risk. Regular upkeep and prompt tire changes are essential to avert such accidents.

Brake Malfunctions

When brake systems on vehicles like buses or cars fail, the outcomes can be tragic, especially in bicycle collisions. Brakes are essential safety features that help vehicles stop securely and avoid accidents. Whether due to poor upkeep or mechanical issues, brake failures can result in severe crashes, endangering cyclists and others on the road.

Sleep

Not getting enough sleep is a significant concern for drivers, greatly raising the chance of accidents while driving. Exhaustion hinders decision-making, delays responses, and can result in serious crashes. The impact of falling asleep at the wheel can be tragic, affecting not just the driver but also passengers and other people on the road.