Have you suffered a traumatic brain injury in El Segundo, California? Call J. Hartley Law Personal Injury Lawyers at (323) 284-2834 for a free consultation. You may be entitled to damages, and an experienced El Segundo brain injury lawyer can help you realize the full potential of your personal injury case.
A traumatic brain injury can have lasting physical, cognitive, and emotional effects that disrupt every aspect of your life. Whether your injury was caused by a car accident, a slip and fall, or another act of negligence, our firm is committed to holding the responsible parties accountable.
Why Hire J. Hartley Law Personal Injury Lawyers If You’ve Suffered a Brain Injury in El Segundo, CA?
Choosing the right legal representation after a traumatic brain injury can make a significant difference in the outcome of your case. At J. Hartley Law Personal Injury Lawyers, our team has 20 years of combined experience handling complex personal injury claims throughout California.
We understand how devastating brain injuries can be and what it takes to prove liability, damages, and long-term care needs. Our firm has helped injured clients recover tens of millions of dollars in compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and future treatment.
When you work with an El Segundo personal injury lawyer from our firm, you receive personalized attention and aggressive advocacy from start to finish. We are committed to protecting your rights and pursuing the maximum recovery available under the law. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation and learn how we can help you move forward.
What is a Traumatic Brain Injury?
A brain injury can be defined as trauma to the head that disrupts normal brain function. Traumatic brain injuries are a type of acquired brain injury, but are typically caused by a violent external force.
Most often, people suffer traumatic brain injuries when they suffer blunt force trauma to the head (e.g., a hard blow, strike, or jolt) or a penetrating head injury (e.g., struck by debris or a bullet).
Trauma to the head can cause the brain to shift and move unnaturally within the skull, leading to:
- Swelling (cerebral edema)
- Bruising (cerebral contusion)
- Bleeding (hemorrhage)
- Tearing (cerebral laceration)
The brain can also become injured if cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and other protective layers shift and allow it to make hard contact with the bone of the skull.
Individuals who suffer a traumatic brain injury may experience:
- Blurred vision
- Hearing loss
- Tinnitus
- Draining fluid from the ears and nose
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Dizziness
- Aphasia
- Numbness in the extremities
- Loss of mobility
- Headaches
- Balance and coordination problems
- Sleep issues
- Loss of consciousness
Long-term consequences of a traumatic brain injury can include paralysis, changes in mood and behavior, cognitive deficits, seizure disorders, organ failure, or death.
Are There Different Types of Brain Injuries?
“Brain injury” is a general term that can be used to refer to a wide range of more specific injuries to the brain, including:
- Hypoxic brain injury
- Anoxic brain injury
- Diffuse axonal injury
- Concussion injury
- Coup contrecoup brain injury
- Stroke
- Skull fracture
Some brain injuries can be apparent right away. Others might not be obvious, especially in the wake of a violent accident. It’s important to seek prompt medical attention if you’ve hit your head or been struck by an object. Medical professionals can use several diagnostic tools—including CT scans, MRIs, X-rays, and cognitive assessments—to determine if you’ve suffered a brain injury and, if so, help you get the treatment you need.
What Are the Most Common Causes of Brain Injuries in California?
We represent clients who’ve suffered traumatic brain injuries as a result of:
- Car accidents
- Truck accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- Bicycle accidents
- Bus accidents
- Train accidents
- Uber and Lyft accidents
- Boating accidents
- Aviation accidents
- Slip and fall accidents
- Dog bites
- Matters of premises liability
- Construction accidents
- Workplace accidents
- Medical malpractice
- Nursing abuse
- Birth injuries
- Defective products
You’ll have one opportunity to pursue damages for medical bills, lost wages, and other damages related to your traumatic brain injury. Make the most of it by putting our law firm’s experience, resources, and winning legal strategies into your corner.
How Much is My El Segundo Brain Injury Case Worth?
Many factors will dictate how much money you can potentially recover when you file a brain injury lawsuit in El Segundo, CA.
Factors include:
- What type of brain injury have you suffered?
- What part of the brain has been affected?
- Are you expected to experience a long-term impairment or disability?
- How will the brain injury impact your career and earning capacity?
- How old are you?
- Do you share any of the blame for the accident that caused your brain injury?
- How will the brain injury affect your day-to-day life?
- How has your quality of life changed?
The more catastrophic your brain injury, the more it’s going to impact your financial stability, physical health, and emotional well-being. In turn, the more money you could potentially recover if someone else is responsible for causing you harm.
Working with our California brain injury attorneys can give you the tools and resources required to negotiate a favorable settlement or win a life-changing verdict at trial.
What Types of Damages Can Be Recovered By El Segundo Brain Injury Victims?
When you’ve suffered a brain injury in El Segundo because of a defective product, an act of criminal violence, or another person’s negligence, you’ll have the right to seek compensatory damages in an insurance claim or lawsuit.
Compensatory damages include economic awards and non-economic awards.
Economic damages can help you navigate financial costs related to:
- Current and future medical expenses
- Lost wages and job benefits
- Disability
- Diminished earning capacity
- Out-of-pocket expenses
- Property damage
Non-economic damages can offer relief for harder-to-value struggles you face as a brain injury victim, such as:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Reduced quality of life
- Loss of consortium
- Embarrassment
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Physical scarring
- Chronic pain
The at-fault party will try to argue that you’ve exaggerated your injuries and damages. Our firm will not let these tactics hurt your claim’s value or your potential recovery. We’ll use every resource at our disposal to prove your losses, establish liability, and leverage a fair and favorable financial award for you in your time of need.
Can I Recover Compensation for a Brain Injury If I’m Partly to Blame For Getting Hurt?
It’s possible, yes. However, under California’s pure comparative negligence standard, damages can be reduced if you’re partly at fault for your brain injury. Damages are limited based on your proportionate fault.
The more you contribute to your brain injury, the more it’ll affect your financial recovery. For example, if you were 10 percent to blame for an El Segundo car accident in which you sustained a brain injury, your financial award would be reduced by 10 percent.
How Much Does it Cost to Hire a Brain Injury Attorney in El Segundo?
Our El Segundo brain injury attorneys represent clients on a contingency fee basis. This means we don’t get paid until we win compensation for your brain injury case. If we don’t win, you pay absolutely nothing for our legal representation.
When we obtain a settlement agreement on your behalf or win a verdict at trial, our law firm’s fee is paid out of that monetary award.
How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit If I’ve Suffered a Traumatic Brain Injury in California?
While there can be exceptions, the statute of limitations for most brain injury lawsuits in California is two years. This provides a two-year window from the date you suffered your brain injury to pursue compensation from a responsible party. Once time runs out, you give up the legal right to demand damages from a third party.
Contact an Experienced El Segundo Brain Injury Lawyer for a Free Consultation
Don’t hesitate to call J. Hartley Law Personal Injury Lawyers for help if you or someone you care about has suffered a brain injury in an accident in El Segundo, CA. If someone else’s carelessness led to your injury, you deserve to be compensated.
An El Segundo brain injury attorney can help you fight for maximum damages. We offer a free consultation, so contact our law office to speak with a member of our team today.