SAN DIEGO BRAIN INJURY ATTORNEY

If you or a loved one has suffered a brain injury, you may be entitled to compensation. The San Diego brain injury attorneys at the Law Offices of Samer Habbas & Associates can help! Our personal injury lawyers are dedicated to protecting the legal rights of brain injury victims and work diligently to get the justice they deserve. With multiple offices located in San Diego, Irvine, Anaheim, Los Angeles, El Segundo, and Riverside, our personal injury attorneys represent brain injury victims across Southern California. For more information or to schedule a complimentary consultation with an experienced San Diego brain injury lawyer, please call 949-873-0755.

Brain Injuries Are More Common Than You Think

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), traumatic brain injuries occur an average of once every 15 seconds and are the leading cause of death for individuals under the age of 45. Approximately 5 million individuals in the United States are living with some type of brain injury.

Brain injury is caused by a blow to the head or an external force that causes the head or brain to whip back and forth rapidly, affecting brain function. The extent of damage depends on the individual, the nature of the event, and the force of the impact. Some common causes of brain injury include:

• Motor vehicle accidents
• Slip and fall accidents
• Sports injuries
• ATV accidents
• Bicycle accidents
• Gunshots
• Assaults
• Exposure to toxic gasses

If the event that caused your traumatic brain injury was the result of the negligent or reckless actions of another party, it is imperative that you immediately seek the assistance of a San Diego brain injury accident attorney. The personal injury lawyers at the Law Offices of Samer Habbas are compassionate about helping brain injury victims and their loved ones obtain the full compensation they deserve. Although no amount of monetary compensation will undo the harm, it can help you seek the necessary medical assistance you need and help you to gain some measure of financial stability.

Our San Diego Brain Injury Attorneys Advocate For You

Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) can be devastating to both victims and their caregivers. Even victims of mild brain injuries often can run up huge medical bills, which is especially difficult for those who are unable to return to work, provide for their families, or regain their independence.

Our brain injury lawyers understand the ramifications of a head injury and will work relentlessly to help victims get full compensation for:

• Past and future medical expenses
• Loss of income
• Loss of future earning capacity
• Pain and suffering
• Loss of consortium
• Any other out of pocket expenses related to the accident

Frequently Asked Brain Injury Questions

How much is a traumatic brain injury worth?

In truth, there is no way to tell exactly. The estimated settlement for most brain injury cases starts at around $100,000, although TBI claims settlements can be more than several million dollars. When calculating the value of your settlement, you have to take into consideration economic and non-economic damages.

Economic Damages consist of the following:

• Lost wages or reduced earning capacity
• Property damages, vehicle repairs or replacement, etc.
• Medical expenses, assisted living expenses, medications, etc.

It is important to retain all financial documents related to your injury, including all receipts and bills. This will make calculating economic damages much easier. You can be reimbursed for what you lost financially due to the accident that caused your TBI.

Non-Economic Damages are not so straightforward and harder to calculate. Typically, non-economic damages include:

• Loss of enjoyment of life
• Loss of consortium
• Wrongful death
• Pain and suffering
• Mental anguish

Non-economic damages are difficult to assess because you have to put a price on things like pain and suffering or mental anguish. These can vary greatly from case to case. Putting a price on a lost life is harder still. There are several ways to calculate and value these damages, and an experienced San Diego brain injury lawyer can do that for you. Our brain injury attorneys will use trusted formulas to determine the value of your non-economic damages in your settlement.

Is traumatic brain injury a permanent disability?

As with other types of injuries, the long-lasting effects of a moderate or serious TBI will vary from one individual to the next. They can be long-lasting or even permanent. Although with rehabilitation, it is possible to recover from moderate to severe TBI, the vast majority of people will face life challenges that will require them to adapt and adjust to a new reality.

Moderate to severe TBI can cause not only cause permanent physical disability, but also mental disability. Many patients suffering from TBI are also suffering from additional disabilities as a result of other injuries, and even those who appear to recover fully may still have lingering long-term symptoms that might never go away.

What are some examples of traumatic brain injuries?

Traumatic brain injuries are most commonly caused by motor vehicle accidents, falls, physical assaults, and sports-related accidents. Approximately 1.7 million traumatic brain injuries happen every year in the US, according to the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, and upwards of 5.3 million Americans have a disability caused by a traumatic brain injury. Some examples of traumatic brain injuries are:

• Concussion: Concussions are probably the most common traumatic brain injuries. They occur when an external force causes the brain to hit the internal walls of the skull and alters the brain’s function.
• Edema: An edema is the swelling of the brain, which can occur as a result of a traumatic brain injury. This puts pressure on the brain since the skull cannot expand to accommodate the swelling.
• Diffuse axonal injury: A diffuse axonal injury causes damage to the axons of brain cells and renders them unable to function. Bleeding does not occur with a diffuse axonal injury, however, swelling is possible. A diffuse axonal injury can lead to the loss of certain functions.
• Hematoma: A hematoma is a bad bruise resulting from an injury that ruptures a blood vessel and causes blood to collect and pool under the skin. An intracranial hematoma involves blood pooling in the brain or empty spaces around the brain when a blood vessel is ruptured. The type of hematoma varies depending on its location in the brain.
• Skull fracture: Skull fractures are rare, but when they occur, they can cause a change in brain function and possible infection. Medical professionals usually monitor thin fractures closely, while depressed fractures or fractures that are leaking cerebrospinal fluid require surgical intervention.

How long after a head injury can symptoms occur?

When the symptoms from a traumatic head injury occur can vary depending on the individual and the severity of the injury. Symptoms might appear immediately, within 24 hours, or days or weeks later. Sometimes the symptoms are subtle enough that the injured party may not associate them with the injury. Some individuals appear to have no symptoms after a TBI, but their condition can worsen over time.

What is the difference between traumatic brain injury and concussion?

Traumatic brain injury occurs when the head suddenly and violently hits an object or when an object pierces the skull and enters brain tissue. Concussions involve a hit to the head or body that causes the head and brain to move rapidly back and forth. Although concussions are typically much less serious than TBI and not life-threatening, they can be serious, especially when multiple concussions occur over time.

Contact an Experienced San Diego Brain Injury Attorney

If you or a loved one has suffered a brain injury, contact an expert personal injury lawyer to discuss your legal options. The San Diego brain injury lawyers at the Law Offices of Samer Habbas & Associates have knowledge and experience in handling a variety of accident claims that have resulted in brain injuries. With multiple offices located in San Diego, Irvine, Anaheim, Los Angeles, El Segundo and Riverside, our personal injury attorneys represent brain injury victims across Southern California. For more information or to schedule a consultation with an experienced San Diego brain injury attorney, please call 949-873-0755.