Riverside Brain Injury Attorneys

Representing TBI Patients & Their Families

A brain injury can forever alter the course of your life and create long-term if not lifelong physical, emotional, and financial burdens. When a brain injury results from someone else’s negligence or reckless actions, you deserve to seek compensation and justice through a civil personal injury claim. However, this process is complex and adversarial in nature, prone to dispute from powerful corporations and insurance carriers, and very difficult to navigate on your own—especially as you work toward recovery from a serious injury. 

At Greene Broillet & Wheeler, LLP, we’ve made it our mission to help accident victims and their families overcome these challenges and position themselves for success. Backed by decades of experience and millions of dollars in verdicts and settlements, we have what it takes to guide brain injury victims and their loved ones through the legal process and toward the compensation they deserve.

If you have questions about a potential lawsuit, our Riverside brain injury attorneys want to help. We serve clients across Southern California and beyond, offer FREE consultations, and work on contingency – which means there’s no cost to hire our team and no fee unless we win. 

Call (866) 634-4525 or contact our Riverside TBI lawyers online to get started.

Types of Traumatic Brain Injuries

Brain injuries, regardless of their nature or cause, can have profound and far-reaching consequences that dramatically disrupt your quality of life. Traumatic brain injury can take many different forms, each with a unique set of symptoms and complications, and requiring specialized treatment approaches. Our experienced Riverside TBI attorneys at Greene Broillet & Wheeler, LLP have a comprehensive understanding of the various types of brain injuries and are well-versed in handling cases involving TBIs arising from all sorts of accidents and acts of negligence. 

Common types of brain injuries that lead to TBI claims include:

• Concussion: A mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) usually caused by a blow to the head. Concussions are sometimes downplayed, but they should always be taken seriously as they can have severe, long-term, and life-altering consequences.
• Contusion: A bruise on the brain caused by an impact to the head, which may cause swelling and a variety of cognitive issues.
• Penetrating Injury: This type of brain injury occurs when an object penetrates the skull and damages the brain. It often results in severe damage and requires immediate medical attention, and often, extended hospitalization.
• Diffuse axonal injury: Caused by strong rotation or shaking of the head, this injury results in tearing of brain tissue and often leads to unconsciousness or permanent brain damage.
• Coup-contrecoup injury: This injury involves contusions both at the site of the impact and on the opposite side of the brain, caused by the force of the impact slamming the brain back and forth inside the skull.
• Hematoma: A clot or collection of blood outside the blood vessels that can put pressure on the brain, leading to symptoms like drowsiness, headaches, and weakness.
• Second impact syndrome: Occurs when a person sustains a second concussion before the symptoms of the first concussion have healed, potentially causing rapid and severe brain swelling.
• Hypoxic/anoxic brain injuries: While many brain injuries result from trauma, some are the result of oxygen deprivation, such as an hypoxic brain injury (which involves a partial loss of oxygen to the brain) and anoxic brain injury (which is the total loss of oxygen to the brain). These types of brain injuries can result from medical malpractice, negligence during childbirth, near-drowning events, and stroke.

How Traumatic Brain Injuries Happen

Traumatic brain injuries can be caused by many different types of accident or event, and each carries its own set of factors that affect the injury itself and its long term implications. According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), slip and fall accidents are among the most common causes of brain injuries. 

When a TBI results from another party's negligence, no matter the exact cause, the victim may be entitled to file a lawsuit against the responsible party to seek compensation for their injuries.

Common causes of brain injuries that lead to lawsuits are:

• Falls: The most common cause of TBI in general. Falls from heights (such as ladders or rooftops), slip and fall accidents, or falls due to imbalance can result in a brain injury. Elderly and young children are particularly at risk for serious fall injuries.
• Motor vehicle accidents: Car, motorcycle, and truck accidents often result in TBIs due to high-speed impacts or sudden deceleration.
• Bicycle accidents: Cyclists are vulnerable to TBIs, especially when collisions involve motor vehicles or if the cyclist isn’t wearing a helmet.
• Sports injuries: Contact sports like football, boxing, and hockey, as well as high-impact sports like skiing or skateboarding, can lead to brain injuries. Even with protective gear, it is impossible to fully guarantee that a brain injury won’t happen while engaging in these physical activities.
• Concussive blasts: Military personnel are at risk for TBIs due to exposure to explosive blasts during combat or training exercises. These blasts can cause concussions or more severe brain injuries.

If your brain injury was caused by someone else's negligence, recklessness, or intentional act, you may have legal recourse. It is always worth exploring your options with a skilled injury attorney like those at Greene Broillet & Wheeler, LLP. With insight gained through decades of experience and a proven track record of successfully representing TBI victims, our attorneys can review the circumstances surrounding your injury and discuss whether you have grounds to file a claim.

Liability in Brain Injury Claims

Liability in a brain injury case refers to the legal responsibility for the injury, and consequently, the responsibility to pay for damages caused by that injury. Determining liability is a crucial step in any TBI claim. However, proving that another party’s negligence, recklessness, or intentional wrongful act caused your injury is a complex and rigorous legal process that you should not attempt on your own. An experienced TBI attorney can help you navigate the challenges of your case, so that you can focus on your recovery. 

Our skilled team of Riverside brain injury lawyers will thoroughly investigate your case to look for evidence that proves liability for your TBI. Many types of evidence can help support your claim, including medical records, which can show the extent and nature of the brain injury, and accident reports, which can provide a detailed account of the incident leading to the injury. Witness testimonies can also be instrumental in substantiating claims of negligence or misconduct. In some cases, surveillance footage or photographs from the accident scene can provide unequivocal evidence of the circumstances surrounding the incident.

While every case is different, there are some parties that are commonly held liable in brain injury cases. Some examples include:

•  Motor Vehicle Drivers: Negligent or reckless driving, such as speeding, distracted driving, or driving under the influence, can cause accidents that result in brain injuries. Liability arises from a driver’s responsibility to safely operate their vehicles.
• Property Owners: In cases where a brain injury results from unsafe conditions on someone else’s property (e.g., slip and fall accidents, falling objects), the property owner can be held liable under premises liability laws for not maintaining safe conditions.
• Product Manufacturers: If a brain injury is caused by a defective product, such as faulty machinery, unsafe equipment, or malfunctioning vehicles, the manufacturer may be liable under product liability laws for producing or selling a dangerous product.
• Medical Professionals: Doctors, nurses, or other healthcare providers can be held liable if a brain injury results from medical negligence, such as misdiagnosis, surgical errors, or failure to treat a condition that leads to brain damage.
• Government Entities: Public agencies may be liable if a brain injury occurs due to negligence in maintaining public spaces, roadways, or government property, such as failure to repair dangerous conditions or improper maintenance of public facilities.
• Trucking Companies: In cases of truck accidents resulting in brain injuries, trucking companies can be liable if they failed to follow safety regulations, improperly maintained their vehicles, or allowed drivers to work under unsafe conditions.
•  Sports Organizations and Coaches: Sports leagues, teams, or coaches can be liable for brain injuries that occur during sporting events, especially if they failed to enforce safety rules, provide proper equipment, or adequately train athletes on avoiding head 

Are Brain Injuries Common?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), each year an estimated 1.5 million Americans suffer a traumatic brain injury. In the U.S., traumatic brain injury is responsible for approximately 30% of all injury-related deaths.Concussions are particularly prevalent, accounting for about 75% of all TBIs annually. Falls, motor vehicle accidents, and sports injuries are among the most common causes of serious head injury. 

Symptoms of Brain Injuries

Brain injury symptoms can vary significantly from person to person, based on many factors including the type and severity of the injury and its specific location within the brain. Any symptoms of a brain injury should always be taken seriously, as they may indicate underlying damage that requires immediate medical attention.

Early symptoms of a brain injury can include:

• Dizziness: A feeling of being lightheaded, unsteady, or experiencing a sensation of spinning.
• Nausea: May or may not be accompanied by vomiting.
• Tinnitus: A ringing, buzzing, hissing, or clicking noise in the ears with no apparent source.
• Headache: Can range from mild to severe and may persist for an extended period.
• Sensitivity to light and sound: Discomfort or pain when exposed to bright light or loud noises.

Long-term symptoms may also develop, including:

• Mental health challenges: May include depression, anxiety, mood swings, or personality changes.
• Memory loss: Difficulty remembering new information, or forgetting events that happened before or after the injury.
• Loss of mobility or independence: May result from physical disabilities or cognitive impairments caused by the injury.
• Chronic pain or migraines: Persistent or recurrent headaches may occur.
• Chronic fatigue: Constant tiredness or lack of energy that doesn’t improve with rest.

If you or someone you know is showing any signs of a brain injury following an accident, it is crucial to seek immediate medical attention, even when feeling “fine” at the moment. The effects of a brain injury can take time to manifest, and early intervention can significantly improve the prognosis. Therefore, any symptoms or suspicion of a brain injury should be treated as a medical emergency.

Diagnosing a Brain Injury

Brain injury diagnosis is a critical step in filing a brain injury claim, as well as ensuring the TBI patient gets the right treatment. Without an official diagnosis, it may be easier for the defendant to challenge the case or even attempt to have it dismissed. The process of diagnosing a brain injury involves a series of tests and evaluations that help medical professionals understand the extent and nature of the injury.

A brain injury may be diagnosed or first noticed through:

• Neurological workup: Typically involves both a physical examination and a review of the patient’s medical history. The doctor may check for physical signs of brain injury and assess the patient’s cognitive function, motor function, balance, reflexes, and sensory responses.
• Imaging tests: Computed tomography (CT) scans, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and other types of scans can check for signs of brain damage. Such tests allow doctors to visualize the brain and identify any visible damage, such as bleeding, swelling, or structural changes.
• Neuropsychological testing: This type of assessment evaluates cognitive functioning and can identify difficulties with memory, attention, problem-solving, and other intellectual abilities that could be indications of a brain injury.
• Personal observations: Observations from friends and family members can also be crucial in diagnosing a brain injury. They may notice changes in the individual’s behavior, mood, or daily activities that may not be immediately evident to healthcare providers.

TBI Treatments

Treatment for traumatic brain injury frequently requires a multidisciplinary approach that includes numerous types of doctors, medical specialists, and practitioners. The initial emergency treatment aims to stabilize the patient, ensuring proper oxygen supply to the brain, maintaining blood pressure, and preventing further injury. Neurologists may be involved in assessing the severity of the damage and planning further treatment. Depending on the type and location of the injury, neurosurgeons might operate to remove clots or repair skull fractures.

Rehabilitation is another critical part of recovery for many TBI victims, and may involve physical therapists, occupational therapists, and speech-language pathologists who work to restore physical functioning and improve communication and cognitive abilities. The patient may also require psychiatrists or psychologists to provide treatment for the many mental health issues that can accompany TBI, such as depression or anxiety. The specific treatment plan for each individual will depend on the nature and severity of the injury, and the patient's overall health and needs.

The cost of TBI treatment can be overwhelming, often running into the tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars just for initial care. Medical advancements and emerging treatments show promise, but they can be expensive and may not be covered by insurance. Filing a lawsuit could potentially be the best way to secure compensation to cover necessary medical care.

Compensation in Brain Injury Claims & Lawsuits

Our Riverside brain injury lawyers at Greene Broillet & Wheeler, LLP are dedicated to fighting for   maximum compensation for any client who has suffered a traumatic brain injury. We understand the immense physical, emotional, and financial burden of these injuries and strive to position our clients for the best outcomes possible. 

When pursuing a TBI claim, the damages awarded are typically categorized into two main types:

• Economic damages: These are quantifiable costs associated with the injury, including medical expenses, rehabilitation costs, lost wages, and future loss of earnings. It also covers any other financial losses directly related to the injury.
• Non-economic damages: These damages compensate for the non-financial impacts of a TBI. They often include pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and shortened life expectancy. While these damages are more subjective and difficult to quantify, they are no less real or important.

Although compensation cannot change what the brain injury victim has suffered, the goal of a TBI claim is to help the injured party on their journey to feeling “whole” again. A successful claim can provide a sense of justice as well as much-needed financial relief, allowing the injured individual to focus on recovery and rehabilitation rather than worrying about mounting medical bills and lost income.

Choose Our Riverside TBI Attorneys Today

Navigating a TBI claim can be a complex and challenging process. Our Riverside TBI attorneys at Greene Broillet & Wheeler, LLP have a proven track record of successfully advocating for our clients, and securing newsworthy verdicts and settlements, including a $12.2 million verdict for a client who suffered a TBI after a fall in her office. 

We understand the intricacies of these cases and are committed to fighting for the maximum compensation possible. With the high cost of medical care and the potential long-term impact of a TBI, hiring dependable legal representation like ours should be your top priority.

Contact our dedicated team today for a free and confidential consultation to discuss your case