Los Angeles Brain Injury Lawyers

Different types of accidents can cause varying degrees of brain injuries, and the consequences of a brain injury are unpredictable and life-changing. Farahi Law Firm’s Los Angeles brain injury lawyers know the stakes in a personal injury claim. Our skilled attorneys will fight to ensure you get the maximum compensation you deserve for your injuries and property damage.

The financial burden of brain injuries should not be borne by the victims alone. A skilled traumatic brain injury attorney will hold the negligent party accountable for their actions and protect you from the tactics of insurance adjusters to lower the value of your claim.

Whether you have suffered a brain injury or your loved one, know that you are not alone. We are here for you. Contact our experienced and compassionate Los Angeles brain injury lawyers today.

What is Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)?

All traumatic brain injuries are head injuries, but a head injury is not necessarily a brain injury. There are two main types of brain injuries: traumatic brain injury and acquired brain injury. Both disrupt the brain’s normal functioning. An acquired brain injury (ABI) is an injury caused to the brain since birth or from neurological issues like a tumor, stroke, or brain hemorrhage, while a traumatic brain injury (TBI) is caused by an external force.

TBI is defined as a bump, blow or jolt to the head or a penetrating head injury that disrupts the normal function of the brain. A sudden force causes the brain to move inside the skull and damages the brain in response. The effects of a traumatic brain injury may vary widely, depending on several factors such as the type, location, and severity of the injury.

It is a serious public health issue in the US leading to a significant number of fatalities and permanent disability cases. According to the Agency For Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), over 1 million TBI-related emergency department visits and hospitalizations occurred in 2017. An estimated cumulative 5.3 million people in the United States are living with a TBI-related disability.

The Most Common Causes of Traumatic Brain Injuries

The severity and treatment of a brain injury may depend on the type of accident one experiences. The following are some of the most common causes of brain injuries.

• Falls – Falls that cause a brain injury may occur anywhere. These may happen due to wet floors in stores or offices, at stairs without handrails, in places with inadequate lighting, in nursing homes, etc. Falls accounted for nearly half of all visits to the emergency department related to TBI.
• Being Struck by/against an object – Brain injuries suffered as a result of being struck by or against something are quite common with construction workers, individuals in active sports such as football or boxing, military personnel, etc. 
• Motor vehicle accidents – Auto accidents are the second leading cause of traumatic brain injuries. Approximately 20% of TBI-related hospitalizations are because of auto accidents. Whiplash, a sudden jerk to the neck or head in a car crash, may also result in a traumatic brain injury. Other reasons for brain injury in auto crashes are when the head hits the steering wheel, dashboard, or side window. 
• Assaults – Assaults are another common cause of traumatic brain injury. Gunshot wounds, domestic violence, and shaken baby syndrome are some common examples.

Typical Symptoms of a Serious Brain Injury

Victims of brain injuries are more likely to suffer significant problems and are at greater risk of prolonged unconsciousness. A significant percentage of brain injuries are life-changing and debilitating. The victim may be dependent on long-term medical care. The common symptoms of brain damage, whether traumatic or acquired, fall into four major categories – cognitive, perceptual, behavioral, and physical disabilities.

• Cognitive symptoms include:
  • Difficulty in processing information
  • Difficulty in expressing thoughts
  • Trouble in understanding others
  • Shortened attention span
  • Inability to understand abstract concepts
  • Reduced ability to make decisions
  • Memory loss
• Perceptual symptoms include:
  • Change in hearing or vision,
  • Lost sense of smell or touch
  • Spatial disorientation
  • Unable to sense time
  • Balance issues
  • Raised pain sensitivity
• Physical symptoms include:
  • Persistent headaches
  • Extreme mental fatigue and physical fatigue
  • Paralysis
  • Tremors or Seizures
  • Sensitivity to light
  • Sleep disturbances
  • Slurred speech
  • Loss of consciousness
• Behavioral/emotional symptoms include:
  • Irritability and impatience
  • Reduced stress tolerance
  • Sluggishness
  • Emotions or reactions faded or heightened
  • Disability denial
  • Increase in aggressiveness

Brain injuries often go unnoticed by people for a long time if there are no visible injuries to the head. Therefore, it is essential to seek a thorough examination by a medical practitioner after an accident. This is especially important if the accident has impacted the head in any way. 

Keep in mind that victims may not receive monetary compensation if their traumatic brain injury remains undiagnosed. 

Injured in an accident that was not your fault? Obtain legal counsel from an experienced Los Angeles brain injury attorney as soon as possible to protect your rights.

Recovering Compensation for a Brain Injury in Los Angeles

The effects of a brain injury are often long-lasting, and recovery is considered to be slow. It may take brain injury victims, weeks, months, or even years to fully recover. In some cases, people with severe injuries face only mild difficulties for weeks or months, while others may require personalized care or treatment for the rest of their lives. 

Having an experienced brain accident lawyer can make a significant difference in the compensation you receive to cover your present and future medical costs related to a traumatic brain injury. At Farahi Law Firm, APC, our experienced Los Angeles traumatic brain injury attorneys will fight for a full and fair recovery for our clients, including compensation for:

• Medical expenses – A severe brain injury may involve a lengthy rehabilitation requiring emergency treatment, surgery, weeks of hospitalization, and intensive care accompanied by weeks or months of physical therapy, amounting to hundreds of thousands of dollars in medical expenses. Future medical care may be needed to restore simple motor skills and independent activity.
• Loss of wages or loss of future earnings – If the severe brain injury limits your ability to work or the type of work you can do, you may be entitled to compensation for the loss of income and decreased future earning capacity.
• Pain and suffering – These are non-economic damages that may not be easily quantifiable. You may seek compensation for several types of pain and suffering damages such as emotional distress, physical damage, and more.
• Loss of consortium – A spouse and family members may be entitled to this compensation if the victim’s traumatic brain injury results in a loss of companionship or damages a victim’s ability to participate in family relationships. Because the value of these claims may be challenging to measure, you must seek legal representation from an experienced personal injury lawyer to ensure you receive a favorable result in your compensation claim.

In some rare cases, punitive damages may be awarded by a judge or jury. While the above-mentioned damages are intended to compensate a victim for their losses, punitive damages are intended to punish the defendant. As a brain injury victim, it is critical to understand that an insurance company is not on your side. 

Insurance adjusters will use every tactic possible to lower the value of your claim. Thus, it is vital to obtain legal advice from an experienced attorney immediately after the incident or as soon as possible. 

How Our Brain Injury Lawyers Can Help You

A traumatic brain injury is a serious life-changing injury that can cause permanent damage and may require years of recovery and amount to exorbitant medical bills.

At Farahi Law Firm, our brain injury attorneys will ensure that you get a fair settlement in your compensation claim. Here’s what our Los Angeles brain injury lawyers can do for you:

• Help you navigate the claims process – Brain injury claims can be complex in their own sense, and it can be difficult to deal with insurance companies. Our expert Los Angeles brain injury lawyers will ensure your rights are secured.
• Deal with insurance companies on your behalf – For our clients, the relief from the stress of dealing with insurance companies is one of the most important aspects of their partnership with our law firm. Our brain injury attorneys will be dealing with the insurance companies on your behalf and advocate for your rightful compensation.
• Conduct a detailed investigation – Our attorneys will conduct a detailed investigation of your case, collect paperwork, speak to witnesses, and determine exactly what happened. You will be kept updated about the details required to develop your claim and protect important information regarding the injuries.
• Help you get the right treatment – Our brain injury attorneys will consult your physicians and other medical professionals to evaluate your physical injury and discuss the expected course of treatment and future medical needs. 
• Present your case for a fair settlement – A personal injury attorney will estimate the severity of the damages including present and potential medical expenses, loss of income, reduced earning capacity, discomfort, distress, and other associated losses. We will help you obtain a fair settlement for your brain injury claim.

If you or a loved one in Los Angeles have suffered a traumatic brain injury due to someone else’s negligent actions, contact us today. We offer a contingency basis to all our clients, so we collect no fees unless we win. Call us at (310) 601-4925 for a free initial consultation.

Los Angeles Brain Injury Lawyers: FAQs

Below are some of the most frequently asked questions about brain injury settlement claims.

What Legal Claim Can I File if I Have Suffered a Brain Injury?

Your brain injury claim depends on the specific conditions, such as how it happened, who is liable for it, etc.  Motor vehicle accidents, intentional harm, slip and fall accidents, and other impacts usually come under the personal injury or premises liability umbrella. If the hospital, doctor or medical staff failed to provide reasonable care to the victim and caused him to sustain brain injury, a medical malpractice lawsuit can be initiated.

Who is Liable for Compensation in a Brain Injury Claim in LA?

California is a tort law state, which means you can recover compensation for your damages from the at-fault party’s insurer in an accident. For a person who has suffered a brain injury because of an accident, the typical source of recovery is the insurance company for the negligent driver or property owner.

How is Negligence Proven in a Brain Injury Claim in Los Angeles?

Negligence is established by proving these four elements:

• Duty to care: The defendant had a general legal obligation of avoiding actions or situations that can be dangerous for others. 
• Breach of duty: Defendant failed to practice the duty to care. 
• Causation: The breach of duty is the cause of the accident. 
• Damages: The breach of duty resulted in injury and losses.

How to Prevent Brain Injury in Motor Vehicle Crashes?

Follow these tips to reduce the risk of brain injury in motor vehicle crashes in Los Angeles :

• Whether when driving or as a passenger, always wear a seat belt in a car. Always put kids in the car’s backseat, secured in a child safety seat.
• Don’t drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs, as it impairs your driving ability.
• Always wear a helmet while riding a bicycle,  motorcycle , or skateboard.
• Always be vigilant while crossing the road as a pedestrian.