If you or a loved one suffered a brain injury in Seal Beach, California, because of someone else’s negligence, you could have a legal claim for compensation. The road ahead may be difficult, but a compassionate Seal Beach brain injury lawyer can help investigate your accident, identify at-fault parties, and pursue fair compensation on your behalf.
At The Simon Law Group, we are experienced trial lawyers who are not afraid to go to court to seek fair compensation for our clients. Our California attorneys have over 250 years of combined experience, which we have leveraged to recover more than $600 million for our clients. Contact us today at (855) 855-8910 for a free case review.
How Can a Brain Injury Lawyer Help Me?
Traumatic brain injuries can have a drastic impact on victims and their families. They can impede mobility and the ability to earn a living. They can lead to personality changes. They can make victims dependent on loved ones for their activities of daily living. When you are going through such an ordeal, you need a legal advocate you can depend on. You need The Simon Law Group.
For more than a decade and a half, our attorneys have championed the rights of personal injury victims. We can help with all aspects of your legal claim, including:
- Initial claim assessment: We begin the process by meeting with you and your family. We discuss what happened and whether you have grounds to file a personal injury claim. This assessment is at no cost or obligation to you.
- Investigation: Our experienced team investigates the accident to identify all parties responsible for your injuries and pathways for compensation. We gather evidence to establish fault.
- Healthcare evaluations: Brain injuries can significantly impact the lives of victims. Prompt medical care is essential for your recovery. We can help connect you to qualified providers and collaborate with medical experts to build your claim.
- Damages assessment: We gather evidence to establish the full extent of your damages. This may involve working with experts such as economists, life care planners, and vocational specialists.
- Negotiations: We fight for you to recover full and fair compensation for the injuries you’ve suffered.
- Litigation: If the insurance company or at-fault party fails to offer a reasonable settlement, we can take your case to trial to demand the compensation you deserve.
If you were injured in Seal Beach, California, reach out to our experienced Seal Beach personal injury attorneys for a free consultation.
What Is a Traumatic Brain Injury?
A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is an injury to the brain commonly caused by an external physical force. TBIs can be caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head or from an object penetrating the skull and entering. While not all head injuries result in TBI, those that do can cause serious injuries and complications.
Types of Traumatic Brain Injuries
Traumatic brain injuries are typically classified as mild, moderate, or severe.
Symptoms of Mild Traumatic Brain Injuries
Mild TBIs may affect brain cells temporarily. According to the Mayo Clinic, mild traumatic brain injuries may present with the following physical symptoms:
- Headache
- Nausea or vomiting
- Dizziness or loss of balance
- Speech problems
- Fatigue or drowsiness
Common sensory symptoms of brain injuries include:
- Blurred vision
- Ringing in the ears
- Bad taste in the mouth
- Changes in the ability to smell
- Sensitivity to light
- Sensitivity to sound
Cognitive, behavioral, or mental symptoms, including the following, are also possible:
- Possible loss of consciousness for a few seconds to a few minutes
- Feeling dazed, confused, or disoriented
- Problems with memory or concentration
- Difficulty sleeping or sleeping more than usual
- Feeling depressed or anxious
- Mood changes or swings
Symptoms of Moderate to Severe Traumatic Brain Injuries
Moderate to severe traumatic brain injuries can result in bruising, torn tissues, bleeding, and other physical damage to the brain. These injuries can result in long-term complications. Others are fatal.
Moderate and severe traumatic brain injuries can present with the same symptoms as mild TBIs. They may also have the following physical symptoms within the first hours to days after the head injury:
- Loss of consciousness from several minutes to hours
- Persistent headache or worsening headache
- Repeated vomiting or nausea
- Seizures or convulsions
- Inability to wake up after sleeping
- Loss of coordination
- Weakness or numbness in the extremities
- Dilation in the pupils
- Clear fluids draining from the nose or ears
Cognitive, behavioral, or mental symptoms that may occur include:
- Coma or other consciousness disorders
- Profound confusion
- Slurred speech
- Unusual behavior
If you are experiencing any signs or symptoms of brain injury, seek immediate medical attention.
Children may display other symptoms. Babies and toddlers may not stop crying or sleep more or less than usual. They could show regressive traits such as rocking back and forth or sucking their thumbs. Carefully monitor any child who has suffered a head injury and notify their doctor if their sleep or feeding patterns change.
Common Causes of Traumatic Brain Injuries
TBIs often occur because of trauma from accidents such as:
- Car accidents: Car accidents are a leading cause of traumatic brain injuries. In a collision, your head may hit the steering wheel, dashboard, or other hard surfaces. Sometimes, the force of the impact is so strong that the brain hits the interior of the skull, causing a TBI.
- Slips and falls: If you slip and fall and bump your head, you could suffer a painful TBI.
- Construction accidents: Construction workers can fall from heights when working on roofs, ladders, or scaffolds. Tools and building materials can also cause head injuries.
- Pedestrian accidents: When a motor vehicle strikes a pedestrian, the pedestrian can be flown into the air and then come down, striking the pavement underneath. This impact can cause serious injuries.
- Medical malpractice: Healthcare providers can make surgical errors, diagnostic errors, or anesthesia errors that lead to brain injuries. Negligent maternal care or mistakes during labor or delivery can lead to birth injuries.
The Simon Law Group represents victims injured in any of the accidents described above or other incidents involving another party’s negligence.
What Is My Traumatic Brain Injury Case Worth?
Every personal injury case is different. Factors that can affect the potential value of your brain injury claim include:
- The severity of your injuries
- Who is responsible for your injuries and their insurance coverage
- Whether you are able to return to work
- The impact the injury has on your life
- The type and duration of your medical treatment
An experienced brain injury lawyer can review the factors specific to your case and explain your case value.
Can I Still Recover Compensation If I Was Partially at Fault for the Accident?
Yes. California uses a pure comparative fault system. Under this system, accident victims can still recover compensation even if they were mostly at fault for the accident. However, your damages will be reduced in proportion to your degree of fault. Therefore, if you are found 20% at fault for the accident, your damages will be reduced by 20%.
Insurance companies use comparative fault to undervalue claims, but our attorneys can fight back against these tactics and pursue the full amount of compensation you’re entitled to.
What Damages Can I Recover for a Brain Injury Claim?
Brain injuries can require lifelong medical treatment. Economic, or monetary, damages can include:
- Emergency medical treatment
- Diagnostic tests
- Hospital stays
- Surgeries
- Rehabilitation
- Nursing care
- Speech, occupational, and physical therapy costs
- Mental health counseling
- Specialist visits
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning capacity
Additionally, brain injuries can lead to complications and permanent disabilities that limit victims’ ability to work and sustain a living. They can also cause significant emotional distress and negatively affect victims’ relationships with loved ones.
In addition to recovering medical expenses, TBI victims may be able to recover compensation for the other, non-economic damages they sustain, including:
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Emotional distress
- Diminished quality of life
- Permanent disabilities and impairments
- Loss of enjoyment of life
An experienced attorney from our personal injury law firm can assess your case and identify all damages to which you are entitled. We will fight relentlessly for you to recover maximum compensation.
What Is the Time Limit to File a Personal Injury Case in California?
If you must file a personal injury lawsuit, you must do so within California’s statute of limitations, which generally gives you two years from the injury date. If you file a case after this point, the court can dismiss your complaint as untimely, and you can miss out on your chance to pursue compensation for your case. An experienced personal injury lawyer can ensure you take timely legal action in your case and if there are any exceptions to the filing deadline.
Contact Us for a Free Legal Consultation with Our Seal Beach Brain Injury Lawyers
If you or a loved one suffered a traumatic brain injury due to someone else’s negligence in Seal Beach, California, The Simon Law Group can help. We work closely with brain injury victims and their families to fight for the fair compensation they deserve. Contact us today for a free consultation with a knowledgeable Seal Beach brain injury lawyer.
