Brain injury cases are some of the most challenging in personal injury law. While symptoms may be obvious, brain damage doesn’t always show up on medical tests.
Alternatively, symptoms may not appear for several weeks or months following the accident. In these cases, you need a Torrance brain injury lawyer who understands the complexity of brain injuries.
At Peerali Law, our team has extensive experience managing complex cases. We understand the physical, emotional, and financial impact brain injuries have on victims and their families.
Additionally, we understand that finding the right brain injury attorney is difficult. If you are looking for help with your brain injury claim, call us at 818-688-4050. We’re here to help in any way we can.
Understanding Traumatic Brain Injuries
Traumatic brain injuries, also known as TBIs, happen when a violent shake or blow to the head causes damage to the brain. A common form of TBI is a concussion, but there are other types of TBIs as well.
Some may cause bleeding or inflammation in the brain, while others may injure the brain’s nerve fibers. However, even mild TBIs can have a complex and profound impact on the victim.
Common Causes of TBIs
While TBIs may seem to mostly be caused by car accidents, there are causes that are more likely. For example, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that slips and falls account for almost half of all TBI hospitalizations.
That’s more than 100,000 hospitalizations for TBI per year. Sports are also a relatively common cause of injury, with nearly 15% of all U.S. high school students reporting a concussion or related injury in a 12-month period.
Recognizing Symptoms
From immediate signs like loss of consciousness to delayed symptoms such as persistent headaches and mood changes, recognizing the symptoms of a TBI can make a difference in the success of treatment.
The more time that passes when suffering from a TBI, the more likely there is to be permanent damage. If you experience any of the following symptoms after shaking or hitting your head, seek medical attention:
- Dizziness,
- Fatigue,
- Headaches,
- Nausea,
- Light sensitivity,
- Sound sensitivity,
- Confusion,
- Memory problems,
- Depression,
- Slurred speech,
- Blurry vision,
- Sleep disturbances, or
- Seizures.
It’s important to remember that a traumatic brain injury doesn’t have to cause all of these symptoms to be severe. Sometimes, it may only come with one or two but still be detrimental to your day-to-day life.
Diagnosis and Treatment
When facing a TBI, timely diagnosis and comprehensive treatment play pivotal roles in the road to recovery. Immediate medical attention is crucial since even minor head injuries can have lasting effects.
Diagnostic procedures may include imaging tests such as CT scans and MRIs, which help identify the extent of brain damage. Some doctors may even perform a blood test for certain proteins that may show signs of a brain injury.
Following the diagnosis, treatment heavily depends on the severity of the injury and what specific symptoms you have. For instance, if the patient is having significant issues with speech, memory, or coordination, they may need months or years of rehabilitation to regain some ability.
If the injury causes significant bleeding, you may need surgery to save your life. In either case, it’s common for symptoms to last a lifetime and for patients to need constant therapy or other forms of treatment.
Outcomes
When it comes to TBIs, patient outcomes vary greatly. According to the CDC, 22% of severe brain injury patients died within five years of their injury, and 30% became worse.
Additionally, 22% of patients saw no change in their condition. This means that only a quarter of all brain injury patients see improvement in their condition. Combined with high treatment costs, the outcome of a TBI is negative for most.
This is why we recommend reaching out to a brain injury attorney if you or someone you know receives a brain injury due to another person’s negligence. Brain injuries have a significant impact on the victim that can go far beyond financial cost. For many, it changes their life forever.
Seeking Compensation After a Traumatic Brain Injury
When putting together a claim for a brain injury, it’s important to understand what types of compensation you may seek. There are several factors to consider, such as the cost of treatment, the physical impact of your injury, and more. Our Torrance brain injury lawyers always take these factors into account when pursuing your claim.
Types of Damages
When it comes to damages for brain injury settlements and judgments in California, there are two types you should know: economic and noneconomic. Some states refer to these as special and general damages. To understand how they may affect your claim, let’s look at economic damages first.
Economic Damages
Simply put, economic damages are tangible losses. This means that they have a specific and easily quantifiable economic value. For example, this category of losses may include the following:
- Emergency room costs,
- Medical treatment expenses,
- Prescription medication,
- Lost wages during recovery,
- Reduced earning capacity,
- Mobility aids, and
- Property damage.
These expenses are easy to calculate because you usually have invoices or bills where the cost of the service is spelled out. And if you lost wages, the amount is calculated by the number of hours lost times your hourly rate, or if you get a salary, your lawyer would calculate how much work you missed and how much compensation that entitles you to.
Economic damages include both past and future injury-related expenses. For example, if you cannot work the same job because of your injury, whether permanently or temporarily, you may pursue damages for missing out on those earnings.
Noneconomic Damages
On the other hand, noneconomic damages encompass intangible losses, including:
- Chronic pain,
- Permanent disability,
- Disfigurement,
- Emotional suffering, and
- Loss of enjoyment of life.
Both economic and non-economic damages fall within the compensatory damages category in California. While seeking punitive damages is possible in personal injury cases, they are relatively uncommon and typically reserved for instances where the defendant exhibited grossly negligent conduct.
How a Torrance Brain Injury Lawyer Can Help with Your Claim
When you or a loved one receives a brain injury due to another person’s negligence, it’s important to have someone passionately pursue your claim.
Our brain injury attorneys do just that. At Peerali Law, we help with all of the different aspects of your case from day one, including:
- Investigating the details of the incident,
- Gathering relevant evidence like medical records and witness statements,
- Handling legal documentation like complaints and motions,
- Consulting with expert witnesses to help support your claim,
- Negotiating a settlement with the defense on your behalf, and
- Representing you in court if a settlement can’t be reached.
We understand how life-changing this type of injury is, and we are here to help.
Peerali Law Knows the Severity of These Injuries Firsthand
Every brain injury has a chance of being severe. If you were recently in an accident and are experiencing the symptoms of a TBI, please seek medical attention. Afterwards, call Peerali Law.
Our Torrance brain injury lawyers are passionate about helping you get justice. As members of The Association for Trial Lawyers, we know what it takes to win, and we won’t back down from taking your case to trial if that is what becomes necessary.
To schedule a free consultation with one of our brain injury attorneys, call us at 818-688-4050.