A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is one of the worst types of injury a person can sustain. Damage to the brain can cause a number of severe and sometimes irreversible symptoms that can decrease your ability to hold a job or maintain relationships. Many people experience a significant decrease in quality of life following a traumatic brain injury.
If you suffered severe head trauma in an accident caused by someone else, you may need the help of a skilled injury lawyer. A Los Angeles traumatic brain injury lawyer could help you fight for compensation in a legal claim.
Types of Brain Injuries
There are many different types of brain injury, including:
- Concussion
- Contusion
- Penetrative injury
Brain injuries can range from mild to debilitating. Concussions and contusions are the most common types of brain injury, and can happen during contact sports, car accidents, slip and falls, and more. After a concussion, you may be dazed but functional, or you may end up needing to go to the hospital.
Penetrative injuries can occur when an open head injury occurs and the brain is damaged by bone or another object. Open head injuries are most often life-threatening, and require immediate medical assistance.
Open head injuries are visible and obvious, while closed head injuries may not be as easy to recognize. However, although there may not be immediate, obvious external signs, closed head injuries can also have severe consequences. When the brain hits the skull forcefully, such as during a car accident when a person is stopped by a seatbelt, it can cause damage that may only become apparent at a later date.
Common Causes of Traumatic Brain Injury in Los Angeles
There are a number of reasons a person may suffer a traumatic brain injury. Common causes of TBI can include:
If you suffered a brain injury due to a distracted driver, unsafe conditions in a public space or private residence, or any other type of negligence, speak with a local attorney as soon as possible.
Tips to Avoid a TBI
While traumatic brain injury can happen without warning at any time, there are ways you can minimize your risk. These can include:
- Wearing a helmet when riding a motorcycle or bicycle, even if you’re just going a short distance
- Carefully watching traffic and obeying all traffic signals when out walking around
- Wearing your seatbelt at all times in the car
- Being alert and aware of your surroundings
- Never texting or drinking while driving
By making safe, responsible choices you can dramatically lower your risk of getting into a potentially life-threatening accident. Unfortunately, not everyone in Los Angeles places a priority on safety, though, so your risk can never be zero.
Symptoms of Head Trauma
If you have an open head injury, it will be immediately apparent. However, closed head injuries can be a little bit more difficult to assess. Common symptoms of brain injury include:
- Headaches
- Nausea and vomiting
- Numbness or tingling
- Weakness in the extremities
In addition, people who have suffered from traumatic brain injury may experience more severe symptoms such as:
- Cognitive difficulties
- Personality changes
- Memory problems
- Speech and language problems
Brain injury symptoms are not always visible right away. You may feel okay at first, but then notice changes over time. It’s important to get checked out by a doctor as soon as you can after an accident in order to check for signs of brain injury and other injuries.
Traumatic brain injury can cause lifelong problems that you may never be able to recover fully from. TBI can also affect family members who may not be prepared to care for someone with reduced capabilities after a brain injury.
We can’t make living with a brain injury physically or emotionally easier. However, we can help make it easier financially. A dedicated attorney from Sepulveda Sanchez Law will fight aggressively to help you obtain the compensation you need to get the medical care you require, for the rest of your life if necessary.
Can a TBI Cause Psychiatric Problems?
Unfortunately, yes, brain injury can cause psychiatric problems in addition to physical ones. After your traumatic brain injury, you may experience:
- Depression or anxiety
- Anger and irritability
- A short temper
- Mood swings
If you do experience psychiatric problems due to TBI, your compensation should cover the services of a mental health professional in addition to your physical treatments.
Recovery from Traumatic Brain Injury
Depending on the nature of your injury, you may be able to make a full recovery or you may spend the rest of your life disabled. Brain injuries can be unpredictable, and we recommend listening to your doctor and following their instructions for the best chance at recovery. Traumatic brain injury may require hospitalization, surgery, extensive rehabilitation, and even permanent at-home nursing care. Recovery will likely be difficult, but modern medicine is incredibly advanced and you shouldn’t give up hope. Our legal time will be by your side throughout your TBI lawsuit, fighting to get you the maximum compensation we can so that we can ease your financial burden, if not your physical and emotional ones.
How to File a TBI Lawsuit with an Attorney
If you are considering filing a traumatic brain injury lawsuit, the first thing you should do is contact experienced lawyer Gabriel Sanchez at Sepulveda Sanchez Law. Talk to us before you talk to anyone from an insurance company.
Even if you receive a settlement offer from insurance, don’t accept it before calling us. Insurance companies are notorious for lowballing settlement offers in order to protect their bottom line. We can give you a more accurate assessment of the value of your case, and let you know whether the offer is fair or not.
It’s important that you call us as soon as you can after your accident, as there are statutes of limitations that you don’t want to run out. The statute of limitations will vary depending on the nature of your case, but in general, you want to talk to a lawyer sooner rather than later.
We have extensive experience dealing with traumatic brain injury cases, and we are not afraid to go to trial for you if needed.
Damages for a Traumatic Brain Injury Claim
Your life may be turned upside down after you or a loved one suffered a traumatic brain injury. We can help you recover damages that may include:
- Hospital bills
- Prescription medications
- Ongoing care
- Rehabilitation
- Lost wages
- Loss of future income
- Pain and suffering
When calculating the potential value of your case, we’ll take into account things such as whether you were the primary source of income for your family, how significant your injuries are, your chances for making a full or partial recovery, whether or not you can return to work, and many other variables.
If your loved one died after sustaining a severe head trauma caused by someone else’s neglect, a seasoned lawyer may be able to help you file a wrongful death lawsuit.
Reach Out to a Los Angeles Traumatic Brain Injury Attorney Today
Severe head trauma can negatively impact your life for years after an accident. Because of the significance of this type of injury, it is crucial that you seek legal counsel before filing a case. Contact a Los Angeles traumatic brain injury lawyer today to schedule a free consultation.