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Every year, thousands of Californians suffer traumatic brain injuries (TBI) due to others’ negligence. These injuries can be severe and sometimes life-threatening, requiring immediate and often ongoing medical attention.
If you or someone you love has suffered a brain injury at the hands of someone else, you may be asking many questions:
- What is TBI?
- What can cause traumatic brain injury?
- What are the types of TBI?
- Can a traumatic brain injury worsen over time?
- Can I sue for TBI damages in California?
Experienced California traumatic brain injury attorneys help clients understand TBI and the legal right to financial compensation from negligent parties.
What Is a TBI?
The CDC defines traumatic brain injury (TBI) as a disruption in normal brain function resulting from a blow or penetrating injury to the head. Not all injuries to the head result in TBI, yet everyone is susceptible to TBI, particularly children and the elderly.
What Causes Traumatic Brain Injury?
The four most common causes of brain-related traumas are:
- Unintentional falls
- Motor vehicle crashes
- Blows by other mechanisms
- Assault
Unintentional falls and auto accidents combined account for over 50% of TBI-related hospitalizations. Blows by other mechanisms and instances of assault by another person round out the top four categories of TBI related causes.
What Are the Types of Traumatic Brain Injury?
When a person suffers a head injury accident, one or more traumatic brain injuries may be sustained:
- Concussions and Brain Contusions: Concussions and bruising of the brain generally occur when the head is hit with tremendous force or is violently shaken. The brain bounces back and forth inside the skull, causing concussions or bruising.
- Brain Bleeds, Clots, and Swelling: Bleeding and blood clots can occur both inside the brain tissue and outside the brain between the brain and the skull. Internal bleeding and clotting may cause a dangerous buildup of pressure or swelling of the brain.
- Diffuse Axonal Injuries (DAIs): DAIs result from the brain sliding rapidly back and forth inside the skull, causing widespread and irreparable damage to the brain’s nerve cells.
- Skull and Brain Penetration: Brain penetration occurs when a foreign object strikes a person’s skull with enough force that the object or fractured skull fragments pierce the brain.
All types of traumatic brain injuries can have lingering or lasting adverse effects on brain function, yet damage to the brain in head injury accidents may not be immediately evident. It is essential that victims of head injury accidents seek early medical attention, even when physical evidence of trauma isn’t readily apparent.
Can a Traumatic Brain Injury Worsen Over Time?
TBI victims are vulnerable to permanent changes in emotional and cognitive brain function. While many TBIs present immediate physical symptoms, others remain “silent” with complications worsening long after the injury accident.
Various factors influence the likelihood of TBI symptoms worsening with time:
- Type of trauma
- Trauma severity
- Victim’s prior health history
- Emergency medical response
- Injury diagnosis
- Follow-up medical care
- Victim’s age
Proper diagnosis and treatment of your TBI and the ability to sustain ongoing care are vital to long-term recovery.
Can I Sue for TBI Damages in California? Ask a California TBI Attorney?
Only experienced California TBI lawyers can assess your TBI case and advise if you have a legal claim for damages. Generally, if your brain injury resulted from the willful or negligent acts of another party, you have a legal right to compensation.
TBI attorneys understand the physical, emotional, and psychological changes experienced by brain injury victims and the resulting impact of these changes on victims and their families.
Once you retain a TBI attorney, they will conduct a thorough investigation of your TBI accident. Police reports, witness accounts, and medical reports will be used to determine fault and support your right to compensation.
Recoverable damages may include:
- Lost wages
- Future lost income
- Past and future medical bills
- Costs for lifestyle adjustments
- Pain and suffering
Contact a TBI attorney as soon as possible after the injury and medical treatment to protect your right to compensation.
Contact Our TBI Legal Team Today
For a comprehensive case review and strategic plan for recovering financial damages, contact our office today. Our experienced TBI legal team and skilled California TBI attorney will fight to hold the at-fault party accountable and get you the compensation you deserve.