Los Angeles Brain Injury Lawyer

How do Traumatic Brain Injuries Occur?

Each year, more than 2.5 million Americans sustain a traumatic brain injury, which can be defined as a head injury that damages brain tissue. Traumatic brain injuries occur as the result of several different causes, the most likely of which are:

• Slip and fall accidents
• Motor vehicle accidents
• Being struck by or against an object
• Assault(s)

Brain injuries range in severity from mild, which is commonly referred to as a concussion, to more moderate or severe TBI cases, which may have long-lasting or permanent effects. In addition to this, TBIs are further classified as being either an open TBI, where an object penetrates the skull and enters the brain, or a closed TBI, in which the victim experiences a violent, non-penetrating blow to the head.

What are the Common Symptoms of Brain Injuries?

While it may be more obvious when a severe traumatic brain injury has occurred, identifying and diagnosing mild to moderate brain injuries can be more challenging, particularly if an orthopedic injury has also occurred. There are several psychological symptoms that could indicate a brain injury, including:

• Short or long-term memory problems
• Trouble concentrating
• Sudden mood swings or increased irritability
• Depression and Anxiety
• Unusual Behavior

These symptoms may present themselves right away, or they may gradually become more apparent over a period of time. It’s important to keep an eye out for any physical manifestations of a brain injury in the immediate aftermath of a possible head trauma event. Some of the typical physical symptoms of TBI are as follows:

• Loss of consciousness
• Disorientation or confusion
• Persistent headache
• Nausea and vomiting, particularly in children
• Fatigue or drowsiness
• Dizziness or loss of coordination
• Clear fluids leaking from the nose or ears
• Numbness or weakness in the fingers or toes

It’s important to remember that there can be other signs of a traumatic brain injury, and that they might not appear right away. The most important thing you can do is look for any changes in the victim’s physical or mental condition and seek immediate medical attention when something changes or doesn’t seem right.

What are the Long-Term Effects of Traumatic Brain Injuries?

Everyone responds to a brain injury differently. Some symptoms may appear right away, while others may gradually become more apparent. Worse still, some of these symptoms can linger for years, and may even be permanent, requiring special equipment or care and affecting the victim’s ability to work and live independently. Here are some of the long-term effects of traumatic brain injuries:

• Physical Impairments such as difficulty eating, breathing, and exercising can occur, and they may require special rehabilitation programs or expensive mobility devices
• Cognitive Disabilities that affect a victim’s ability to think, organize, and ultimately act as their own agent can have permanent effects on both the victim and their family
• Issues with hearing, reading, writing, speaking, and trouble with numbers can lead to long-term Communication Issues
• Whether it’s because of the injury itself or the results of the injury on the victim’s life, the Emotional Trauma may be something that a TBI victim carries with them for the rest of their life
• TBI victims may become reckless, impatient, obsessive, or develop other Behavioral Impairments that were not present prior to their injury
• If the voluntary movement portion of the brain is injured, muscles may become continuously stiff, or Spastic, interfering with the victim’s ability to speak, move, and even eat.

All of these issues can lead to multiple surgeries or intensive therapy, and they may even require full-time care, seriously curtailing the victim’s ability to hold a job, live on their own, and truly enjoy their life. It’s because of this that many victim’s and their families eventually seek out the services of a brain injury attorney.

What Compensation is Available for Victims?

Given the serious nature of traumatic brain injuries, victims and their families are often entitled to immense compensation. While there may not be immediate symptoms in the wake of a traumatic brain injury, as the effects play out over time, there can be extensive costs associated with care for the victim. Because of this, there are a number of damages that victims and their families are entitled to recover, including:

• Medical Bills—This begins with any initial emergency care and further includes any rehabilitation and other life-support services
• Pain and Suffering—No matter if the impairments are short or long-term, if you suffered a traumatic brain injury that affected your enjoyment of life, preventing you from doing activities you once loved, you may be entitled to recover those damages
• Lost Wages—This covers any time that a victim may have had to take off of work to recover
• Impairment of Earning Capacity—When a victim’s ability to work for a living becomes diminished, and their likely future earnings are impacted as a result
• Lifestyle Changes—This is for victims who are no longer able to perform normal activities that added to their quality of life before their injury
• Future Damages—If a victim is likely to suffer additional problems in the future as a result of their TBI, they are often entitled to compensation for this
• Life Care—Unlike the medical needs and costs associated with a traumatic brain injury, this deals with other care costs such as paying someone for cooking, cleaning, and driving
• Punitive Damages—If the party who caused the victim’s brain injury acted recklessly, or with malice, punitive damages may be awarded to the victim and their family

Because of the complex legal system, employing the services of a brain injury lawyer is a TBI victim’s best chance at recovering full compensation. The Finkel Firm compassionately represents and understands the needs of brain injury victims and work tirelessly to ensure that they receive full compensation for all out-of-pocket costs and future medical care. For those clients without medical insurance or other means of paying, The Finkel Firm, can help arrange for all required medical treatment by working with doctors and hospitals to accept payment on a lien basis.

• In the event of any type of brain injury caused by accidents, speak to The Finkel Firm, about your possible options. Call (213) 787-7411 or contact us online.