Los Angeles Traumatic Brain Injury Attorney

A brain injury can happen in an instant, but the consequences can last a lifetime. Whether from a car accident, slip and fall, medical malpractice, or any other type of incident caused by someone else’s negligence, a traumatic brain injury (TBI) is one of the most devastating injuries a person can suffer.

At El Dabe Ritter Trial Lawyers, our Los Angeles brain injury attorneys have seen firsthand the physical, emotional, and financial toll that TBIs take on victims and their families. We understand the complex medical issues involved and the ongoing care and therapy these catastrophic injuries often require.

That is why we fight tirelessly to secure maximum compensation for our clients to ensure they have the resources to get the absolute best treatment and long-term care possible.

The Impact of Brain Injuries in Los Angeles

Traumatic brain injuries are a major public health issue both in Los Angeles and across California. The latest data from the California Department of Public Health shows there were over 88,000 TBI-related hospitalizations in the state in just one recent year. The direct medical costs and indirect costs like lost productivity amounted to a staggering $3.7 billion annually.

In Los Angeles County alone, over 15,000 residents suffered a TBI requiring hospitalization that year. And those are just the most severe brain injury cases. Tens of thousands more people sustain concussions or mild TBIs each year that may not require hospitalization, but can still have lasting cognitive, physical, and emotional effects.

From minor concussions to severe, life-altering TBIs, brain injuries caused by someone else’s reckless or negligent actions deserve justice. The personal injury attorneys at El Dabe Ritter Trial Lawyers are dedicated to helping victims throughout Los Angeles get the compensation and care they deserve.

Glasgow Coma Scale and Brain Injury Severity

One of the main tools used to assess and classify the severity of brain injuries is the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS). This diagnostic system evaluates a person’s conscious state based on eye opening, verbal, and motor skill responses.

The GCS score runs from 3 to 15, with a lower number indicating a more severe level of unconsciousness or impaired brain function. Specifically:

• A GCS of 13-15 indicates a mild brain injury
• A GCS of 9-12 indicates a moderate brain injury
• A GCS of 8 or below indicates a severe brain injury

While no single factor determines a TBI’s severity, the GCS score helps gauge the initial extent of injury. It informs treatment protocols and can potentially indicate long-term recovery prospects.

Mild Traumatic Brain Injuries

Often caused by minor incidents like falls, sports impacts, or whiplash, mild TBIs involve brief loss of consciousness or periods of being dazed or confused. Concussions fall into this category. Though typically less severe than moderate or severe TBIs, mild brain injuries shouldn’t be taken lightly—they can still cause headaches, cognitive issues, and other lasting effects.

Moderate Traumatic Brain Injuries

These injuries involve longer periods of unconsciousness, from 20 minutes up to 24 hours. They often result in cognitive deficits like severely impaired memory or concentration. Physical symptoms like persistent headaches, dizziness, and lack of coordination are also common. Moderate TBIs require intensive treatment and rehabilitation.

Severe Traumatic Brain Injuries

Severe TBIs occur when there is excessive bruising, bleeding, or swelling of the brain. They frequently involve skull fractures or penetration of the brain by an object. Unconsciousness can last for days, weeks, or even months in severe cases. Long-term impairment of cognitive, physical, and psychosocial functions is highly likely without comprehensive rehabilitative therapy and care.

No matter the severity, all brain injuries require prompt medical evaluation and treatment. Even a “minor” concussion that seems to clear up can potentially have lasting effects. With the help of experienced Los Angeles brain injury attorneys, TBI victims get the full financial compensation they need to cover the costs of recovery and long-term care.

Symptoms of TBI and Potential Treatment

Brain injuries can have wide-ranging physical, cognitive, and behavioral/emotional symptoms. The types and severity of symptoms depend on factors like the location and extent of the brain damage. Some common symptoms include:

Physical Symptoms:

• Headaches/migraines
• Dizziness and loss of balance
• Nausea and vomiting
• Fatigue and drowsiness
• Speech difficulties
• Sensory problems with hearing, vision, perception
• Seizures
• Lack of muscle coordination

Cognitive/Mental Symptoms:

• Memory problems
• Difficulty concentrating or focusing
• Feeling confused or mentally “foggy”
• Struggling with basic cognitive skills
• Personality changes

Emotional/Behavioral Symptoms:

• Mood swings and irritability
• Depression and anxiety
• Aggression and combativeness
• Social inappropriate behavior
• Sleeping difficulties

These symptoms of traumatic brain injury can appear immediately or develop days or weeks after the initial trauma. Prompt medical evaluation is critical as some symptoms may indicate potentially life-threatening complications like brain bleeding or elevated intracranial pressure.

Treatment for Traumatic Brain Injuries 

Because no two brain injuries are exactly alike, treatment is highly individualized based on the specific symptoms and needs of the patient. Common treatment protocols include:

• Emergency care: Severe TBIs require emergency medical treatment to minimize brain damage, drain excess fluids, relieve pressure, stop bleeding, and stabilize the patient.
• Medication: Various medications may be used to treat TBI-related symptoms like headaches, anxiety, depression, behavior issues, muscle spasticity, seizures, etc.
• Surgery: In some cases, surgery is needed to repair skull fractures, remove blood clots, relieve pressure, or address other medical issues from the trauma.
• Rehabilitation therapy: Most TBI patients require extensive inpatient and/or outpatient rehabilitation to relearn basic skills, recover functions, and cope with cognitive and emotional challenges. This may include physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, cognitive therapy, and mental health counseling.
• Supportive care: Victims of moderate to severe TBI may require continued supportive care for activities of daily living. This can range from in-home care and assistance to long-term residential care.

Compassionate Advocacy for TBI Victims in LA

The consequences and symptoms of brain trauma run the gamut from physical impairments like headaches, dizziness, and loss of motor function, to cognitive deficits like memory problems and mental fog, to emotional and behavioral issues like depression, anxiety, and mood swings. In short, a TBI can impact virtually every aspect of a person’s life in profound ways.

At El Dabe Ritter Trial Lawyers, we take a comprehensive, client-focused approach when representing brain injury victims. We take the time to truly understand each client’s circumstances, challenges, needs, and long-term prognosis in order to aggressively pursue the full compensation they need. This includes:

• Past and future medical expenses
• Rehabilitation and therapy costs
• In-home care and residential facility fees
• Lost wages and future earning capacity
• Pain, suffering, and loss of life quality
• Punitive damages in cases of gross negligence

Our brain injury attorneys in Los Angeles handle all types of TBI cases, including those involving:

• Car, truck, and motorcycle accidents
• Pedestrian and bicycle crashes
• Slip and falls
• Workplace accidents and construction site injuries
• Sports and recreational accidents
• Medical malpractice
• Nursing home abuse and neglect
• Assaults and other intentional acts

We also have in-depth experience representing clients suffering from specific types of brain trauma like:

• Concussions
• Coup-contrecoup injuries
• Diffuse axonal injuries
• Penetrating head injuries
• Anoxic/hypoxic brain injuries
• Stroke
• Neurological disorders

No matter how your brain injury occurred, our legal team in Los Angeles will conduct a meticulous investigation, gather all the evidence required to prove liability, document the full extent of your damages, and fight aggressively for the maximum compensation you deserve.

California Brain Injury Laws Protect Your Rights

In California, victims of brain injuries caused by someone else’s negligence may be entitled to recover compensation through a personal injury claim or lawsuit. This includes cases involving auto accidents, slip and falls, medical malpractice, defective products, and other acts of negligence.

California’s statute of limitations gives most brain injury victims two years from the date of injury to file a claim. But there are exceptions and additional factors that can change this deadline. That’s why it’s critical to have an experienced LA brain injury lawyer evaluate your case as soon as possible to ensure your rights are fully protected.

The state’s pure comparative negligence law can also come into play in brain injury cases. It states that even if the victim was partially at fault for the accident, they can still recover damages—simply reduced by their percentage of fault. Good legal representation is key to overcoming allegations of comparative negligence.

California has also enacted several laws aimed at providing additional compensation and support for TBI victims, such as:

• The Traumatic Brain Injury Program which provides assistance and resources
• The Traumatic Brain Injury Fund that helps pay for care when insurance runs out
• Legal safeguards pertaining to life care costs and lost earnings calculations

These laws and legal technicalities surrounding TBI cases are complex. Having a Los Angeles attorney who is well-versed in brain injury litigation can make all the difference in securing the compensation you’re entitled to.

Seek Advice from Our Los Angeles Brain Injury Lawyers

After suffering a life-altering brain injury, you need a tireless legal advocate who understands the profound impacts and will fight relentlessly for the justice and compensation you deserve. At El Dabe Ritter Trial Lawyers, our Los Angeles brain injury attorneys provide compassionate support and aggressive representation to help victims like you rebuild their lives. Contact us today to start pursuing the financial recovery you need for the best medical care and long-term support. We’re here to be your voice.

Contact El Dabe Ritter Trial Lawyers today to discuss your case with one of our attorneys and to find out more about the services we provide to injury victims in Los Angeles, California. Call us now at (213) 985-1120 to experience our 50 years of combined expertise, 99% success rate, and unwavering commitment, passion, and justice.