Santa Monica Brain Injury Attorneys

Comprehensive Legal Counsel for TBI Cases

A serious brain injury can drastically change your life in an instant—leaving you with devastating physical, cognitive, and emotional complications that could require lifelong care and support. The cost of managing a traumatic brain injury (TBI) can run into millions of dollars over a lifetime, encompassing medical expenses, rehabilitation, therapy, lost earnings, and more. If you or a loved one have suffered a traumatic brain injury due to someone else’s negligence, a brain injury claim may be necessary to pursue the resources needed for your recovery and adapting to the new challenges in your life

At Greene Broillet & Wheeler, LLP, our Santa Monica brain injury lawyers are ready to take on the most challenging of TBI claims and lawsuits. Our team of highly skilled and experienced litigators understand the complexities of these types of claims and how to overcome them. We navigate the entire legal process on your behalf—we investigate, gather evidence, prepare a claim, attempt to negotiate with insurance companies, and take your case to trial if necessary.We are tireless advocates who will fight to secure the compensation you need and deserve, so you can focus on healing.

Talk about your TBI claim today. Dial  (866) 634-4525and put a free consultationon your calandar.

Different Brain Injuries

Traumatic brain injuries can take many forms, depending on numerous factors including on which part of the brain has been hurt and the specific type of injury. The severity and impact of a TBI range widely, from concussions that result in short-term symptoms to severe injuries that cause permanent disability or even death.

Different types of brain injuries include:

• Concussion: A concussion is the most common type of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), typically caused by a blow or sudden jolt to the head. Symptoms can include headaches, confusion, dizziness, and temporary loss of consciousness. Although a concussion is considered a “mild” traumatic brain injury, it can still have severe and permanent consequences.
• Penetrating injury: This type of brain injury occurs when an object pierces the skull and enters the brain, damaging brain tissue in that area. 
• Hematoma: A hematoma is a clotting or pooling of blood in the brain or skull, which can occur after a head injury. Depending on its size and location, a hematoma can put pressure on the brain and cause a range of dangerous symptoms. Potentially life-threatening, a hematoma requires immediate medical treatment.
• Second impact syndrome: When a person suffers a second head injury or concussion before fully recovering from a previous head trauma, they may develop second impact syndrome, which can result in even more severe symptoms and complications. 

Based on information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Brain Injury Association of America, roughly 1.5 million Americans suffer a traumatic brain injury each year. Furthermore, at any given time, about 5.3 million Americans are living with a disability resulting from a TBI. Common causes of TBI include motor vehicle crashes, falls, sports injuries, and workplace accidents.

Causes of Brain Injuries

Brain Injury Symptoms & Complications

Brain injuries can cause a wide range of symptoms and complications, ranging from mild and short-term to extremely debilitating and long-lasting. Effects often depend on the type, location, and severity of the injury. 

A TBI can impact nearly every aspect of your life, from your physical health, motor skills, mobility, and daily activities, to your cognitive abilities, behavior, communication, and emotional well-being.

Immediate or short-term symptoms of a brain injury may include:

• Loss of consciousness
• Headache
• Dizziness or loss of balance
• Nausea or vomiting

Long-term symptoms and complications of a brain injury may become more apparent as time passes and can include:

• Memory loss or amnesia
• Loss of independence or mobility
• Chronic pain
• Struggles with socialization
• Job loss or difficulty maintaining employment
• Mental health changes like depression and anxiety

Proving How Your TBI Happened

Proving that you have suffered a traumatic brain injury, demonstrating how it occurred, and establishing responsibility is a complex and painstaking process involving multiple steps. As a law firm that focuses on catastrophic injury claims and trials, we bring our deep experience and extensive resources to preparing your case, whether or not it is headed for litigation.

Evidence that could be helpful for your TBI claim may include:

• Medical documentation: Typically, the first step in proving that a TBI has occurred is gathering all relevant medical records, such as reports from doctors and other healthcare professionals, imaging studies like CT scans or MRIs, and notes about treatment plans and prognosis.
• Expert testimony: Medical experts are often necessary to testify in a brain injury claim. These specialists can explain the cause of the injury, the severity of the damage, and the long-term implications. Our firm’s experience and reputation enable us to leverage trusted expert witnesses in your case.
• Accident reconstruction: In cases involving a vehicle collision, an accident reconstruction expert may be able to analyze evidence and identify critical details that help establish liability.
• Witness statements: If there were witnesses to the incident that caused your TBI, their statements could be valuable to your case.
• Comparative analysis: Showing significant differences in your life before and after the accident can provide compelling evidence of a TBI and its impact. Testimonials from friends and family, employment records showing a decrease in performance or inability to work, and documentation of changes in lifestyle, behavior, independence, daily activities and more can all provide an important comparative analysis to support your case.

How are TBIs Diagnosed?

Traumatic brain injuries are diagnosed through a combination of medical examinations, imaging tests, and observations of the patient’s behavior. Initially, a healthcare professional will likely conduct a physical examination and neurological assessment that includes checking the patient’s coordination, reflexes, sensation, strength, vision, balance, and other key physiological responses. The Glasgow Coma Scale may also be used, which assesses a person’s ability to open their eyes, respond verbally, and move voluntarily or in response to stimuli.

Specialized imaging tests to diagnose a TBI might include:

• CT scans
• MRIs
• X-rays (skull damage)

In addition, personal observations from people close to the TBI patient may be helpful in diagnosing a TBI. Friends, family, or coworkers sometimes notice changes in behavior, mood, or daily activities that the injured person may not recognize in themself. These statements can provide important insight into the extent of the TBI and its ongoing effects.

It’s important to understand that, in some cases, a TBI cannot be “cured”—the recovery process involves alleviating and managing symptoms with appropriate care and medical treatment, often over the long term.

Following a head trauma, immediate treatment is critical, and often requires surgery and hospitalization. Once the patient is stabilized, various medications from pain relievers to anticoagulants, anticonvulsants, and other drugs may be used to manage early TBI symptoms.

Specialized care for a brain injury can be long term and extremely expensive—from immediate hospitalization to ongoing therapies, medications, and potentially modifications to the patient’s home environment for accessibility.

How Much Is Your TBI Claim Worth?

The monetary value of a brain injury claim can vary widely based on the specifics of each individual case. Studies have estimated that the average lifetime cost of a brain injury, including medical expenses and loss of income, can exceed $1.5 million. In severe cases or those involving serious long-term impacts, the costs can rise much higher. Each case is unique and involves many factors that affect the amount of compensation that can be pursued.

Potential damages and losses that could be considered in a TBI claim are:

• Past medical care: Medical costs incurred from the time of the injury to the present—including doctor visits, hospital stays, surgeries, medications, rehabilitation, and any other related expenses—frequently make up the bulk of a case’s value. 
• Future treatments and therapies: If the victim’s TBI will require ongoing medical care, future costs can also be included in the claim, such as those relating to physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, psychological counseling, and any necessary future surgeries or treatments.
• Lost wages: If a brain injury has caused you to miss work or has impacted your ability to earn income in the future, lost wages can be also claimed as damages.
• Daily living adjustments: A TBI could require you to modify your lifestyle or living environment. Costs associated with these changes, such as home modifications for accessibility or hiring assistance for daily tasks, can be included in the value of your claim.
• Pain and suffering: Non-economic damages account for the physical pain and emotional distress you have endured as a result of your injury.
• Lessened enjoyment of life: If the TBI has affected your ability to enjoy life or participate in activities you once loved, you may be entitled to seek compensation for this type of loss as well.
• Shortened life expectancy: In severe cases where the TBI is expected to shorten the survivor’s total lifespan, this loss can also be factored into the claim.

Get Compassionate Legal Counsel – Call Now

Dealing with a traumatic brain injury claim can be a very complex and overwhelming process. Find trusted and compassionate legal support with our Santa Monica brain injury attorneys. We are ready to manage every step of your claim, including taking the case to trial if necessary. With our comprehensive understanding of the intricacies of TBI claims and our reputation for taking the toughest cases, we are well-equipped to fight for the justice and compensation you deserve.

Learn more about TBI claims today. Dial (866) 634-4525 to talk with a member of Greene Broillet & Wheeler, LLP.