Legal Help
Legal Help for Brain Injury Victims in California
A traumatic brain injury can greatly affect the quality of life of an individual. Depending on the severity, the aftermath of a head injury can last days, weeks, and months. With a severe brain injury, victims may deal with long-term effects even years after their injury. Oftentimes, these symptoms of long-term effects may require patients to receive in-hospital medical care and various forms of therapy.
Traumatic brain injuries can cause a lot of mental anguish and emotional trauma for victims and their families, and victims are often left to struggle with the financial burdens of this event.
This is even more difficult if the injury was caused not by the victim themselves, but by another party. If this is the case, victims can get the help they need to recover from their injuries.
What is a Brain Injury?
First, let us define what a traumatic brain injury (TBI) is. A TBI is defined as an injury to the head that results from a violent blow or jolt to the head, or an object that tears through brain tissue. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), traumatic brain injuries are commonly caused by slip-and-fall accidents, assaults, and motor vehicle accidents.
Brain injuries are classified as either primary brain injury or secondary brain injury. Now, what does this mean? A primary brain injury is a sudden and traumatic injury to the brain that is considered complete at the point of impact. Primary brain injuries are common in automobile accidents, slip and fall accidents, and gunshot wounds.
A secondary brain injury, on the other hand, occurs hours or days after a primary brain injury. This type of brain injury refers to cellular, chemical, tissue, or blood vessel changes that occur in the brain that contribute to further brain tissue damage.
What Happens After Sustaining a Brain Injury?
As previously mentioned, the symptoms of a TBI will depend on the severity of your injury and the area in which the injury was sustained. TBI victims may experience symptoms weeks and months following the date of their injury. In some cases, victims may also lose some or all of their mental functions.
The human brain is responsible for controlling both thoughts and bodily movements. If a person sustains even a small amount of damage to this organ, it can have major consequences on their lives and the lives of their entire family. The long-term effects of a brain injury may even hinder some victims from living an independent life.
Some of the most common long-term effects of a severe brain injury may include:
- Memory loss
- Headaches
- Mood swings
- Fatigue
- Paralysis
- Visual impairment
- Seizures
- Reduced language skills
- Problems with balance
- Dizziness
If your loved one is exhibiting any symptoms of TBI, it is crucial that they seek medical attention from a healthcare provider as soon as possible. At the Brain Injury Help Center we can give you the assistance you need and put you in touch with the appropriate doctors to help you with your recovery.
If your traumatic brain injury was caused by the actions of another party, legal help for brain injury victims is also available to you. We can put you in touch with an experienced brain injury lawyer if you wish to file a personal injury claim. Contact us today to find out how we can help you!
Medical Treatment Following a TBI
Sometimes referred to as an invisible injury, victims of a traumatic blow to the head must seek immediate emergency treatment, most especially after an accident. Even if you think your injury may only be minor, it is still important that you are assessed by a doctor. Symptoms of a brain injury may not present themselves outwardly, or you may not be aware of these symptoms as well.
Your doctor will be able to recommend an appropriate treatment plan, tips to prevent a repeat injury, and steps on what to do should complications arise. In cases of severe brain trauma, victims may be required to be admitted to the hospital for further monitoring.
Legal Help for Brain Injury Victims
As with any injury, traumatic brain injuries can cause victims emotional distress. This distress is exacerbated by the many complications and expenses that arise from the injury. Patients may begin to wonder what kind of legal help for brain injury victims is out there.
Apart from accidents, TBIs are also well-known sports injuries, popular in contact sports such as football, rugby, boxing, and soccer. In California, brain injury court legal laws such as California Education Code 49475 mandate that a school district that offers athletic programs is required to remove an athlete from an activity if there is a suspicion of a concussion or head injury. The athlete is not allowed to return until there is a written clearance from a licensed healthcare provider.
However, if your injury was the result of an accident caused by a negligent party, filing an insurance claim can be an appropriate course of action. This is where having a traumatic brain injury lawyer by your side comes in handy.
In cases like these, insurance adjusters may take advantage of a victim’s vulnerability and use this to trick them into lowering the value of your claim.
It is crucial to contact a California brain injury lawyer as soon as possible. This is because you may only have a limited amount of time to file a claim under California law. An experienced traumatic brain injury attorney can help you determine if you have a valid claim and meet any deadlines for filing. Your TBI lawyer will handle the complex paperwork of your claim so you can focus solely on your recovery.
If you are in need of medical or legal help after sustaining TBI, do not hesitate to contact the Brain Injury Help Center as soon as possible.
What Can TBI Victims Recover After a Brain Injury?
If you have decided to file a brain injury claim as the injured party, you may be eligible for compensatory damages to help cover the cost of your injuries. Your compensation benefits will depend on several factors of your traumatic brain injury case. However, you may be entitled to the following economic and non-economic damages:
- Medical expenses
- Future care costs
- Property damage
- Loss of income (as a result of missed days or limited work due to the accident)
- Pain and suffering
- Future expenses for any additional brain damage that may appear in the following months or years, such as depression or Alzheimer’s disease
- Punitive damages if the at-fault party caused you TBI due to their reckless actions
Get the Help You Need!
We provide legal help for brain injury victims. The California Brain Injury Help Center is here to help you. Should you choose to take legal action against the person responsible for your brain injury, we can connect you with some of the best personal injury lawyers, medical specialists, and case managers in California who can help you get the medical care you need, and the fair compensation you deserve.
Contact us today for a free, no-obligation consultation. We speak English and Spanish and are available to take your call 24/7.