If you or a loved one suffered a traumatic brain injury in Los Angeles, you face a challenging recovery journey. Beyond the physical and emotional toll, you may struggle with mounting medical bills, lost income, and uncertainty about your future. Dordick Law Corporation understands the devastating impact of traumatic brain injuries. Our legal team of traumatic brain injury lawyers in Los Angeles works with TBI victims and their families to pursue the compensation they deserve.
We investigate your case thoroughly, coordinate with medical experts, and hold responsible parties accountable. With decades of experience handling catastrophic injury cases, we know how to handle the complexities of brain injury litigation and maximize your recovery.
What Is a Traumatic Brain Injury?
A traumatic brain injury (TBI) occurs when a sudden impact or penetrating force damages the brain. This injury disrupts normal brain function and can range from mild to severe. The brain’s delicate tissue sustains damage when the head strikes an object or when an object penetrates the skull.
Medical professionals classify TBIs into three categories based on severity. A mild TBI, commonly called a concussion, may involve brief loss of consciousness or no loss of consciousness at all. Moderate TBIs cause longer periods of unconsciousness or confusion, typically lasting hours to days. Severe TBIs result in extended unconsciousness, coma, or permanent brain damage. Even mild TBIs can produce lasting effects that impact work performance, relationships, and quality of life. The brain’s complexity means that two injuries that appear similar can produce vastly different outcomes for different individuals.
Common Causes of Traumatic Brain Injuries in Los Angeles
Traumatic brain injuries result from various accidents and incidents. Understanding the cause of your injury matters because it determines who may be liable for your damages.
- Motor vehicle accidents represent a leading cause of TBIs in Los Angeles. Car collisions, motorcycle accidents, and truck crashes generate the force necessary to cause significant brain trauma.
- Workplace accidents, particularly in construction, manufacturing, and industrial settings, frequently result in head injuries. Falls from heights, ladders, or scaffolding can cause severe TBIs, especially among older adults.
- Sports and recreational activities, including football, soccer, and cycling, account for many TBIs, particularly among younger people.
- Assaults and acts of violence cause TBIs when individuals suffer blows to the head.
- Medical malpractice during surgery or improper anesthesia administration can also cause brain injuries.
Each cause presents unique legal considerations and liability questions that affect your case strategy.
Symptoms and Long-Term Effects of TBI
Traumatic brain injury symptoms vary widely depending on injury severity and location.
- Immediate symptoms may include headache, confusion, dizziness, nausea, loss of consciousness, or difficulty remembering events surrounding the injury. Some individuals experience sensitivity to light and sound, mood changes, or difficulty concentrating immediately after injury.
- Delayed symptoms often emerge days or weeks after the initial injury. Cognitive effects include memory problems, difficulty concentrating, slowed thinking, and trouble organizing thoughts.
- Emotional and behavioral changes may involve irritability, anxiety, depression, mood swings, or personality changes.
- Physical symptoms can include chronic headaches, fatigue, sleep disturbances, balance problems, and sensitivity to noise or light.
- Speech and language difficulties may develop, affecting communication abilities. Sensory impairments can involve vision problems, hearing loss, or altered taste and smell.
- Long-term effects of severe TBIs can be profound and permanent. Some individuals experience chronic pain, ongoing cognitive deficits, or permanent disability that prevents return to work. Relationships suffer as personality changes and emotional regulation difficulties strain family connections.
- The financial burden of ongoing medical care, rehabilitation, and lost earning capacity creates substantial hardship.
Many TBI survivors require long-term care, vocational rehabilitation, or permanent disability support. These lasting effects justify pursuing full compensation that accounts for both current and future needs.
How We Help Traumatic Brain Injury Victims
Dordick Law Corporation provides comprehensive legal representation for traumatic brain injury victims. Our approach begins with a thorough investigation of your case. We gather police reports, medical records, witness statements, and accident scene evidence. We work with accident reconstruction experts when necessary to establish how your injury occurred and who bears responsibility.
Our lawyers coordinate with medical experts throughout your case. Neurologists, neuropsychologists, and rehabilitation specialists help document your injuries, establish causation, and project long-term effects. These expert opinions strengthen your claim and support higher compensation demands. We handle all communication with insurance companies, protecting your rights and preventing settlement offers that undervalue your claim. When insurance companies refuse fair settlements, we prepare your case for trial and advocate aggressively in court. Our goal is to secure maximum compensation that reflects the true cost of your injury and supports your recovery and future care needs.
Our Los Angeles personal injury team includes experienced trial attorneys who have recovered millions for catastrophic injury victims. Gary A. Dordick, our founding partner, has over 150 jury trials in his career and brings unparalleled expertise to complex TBI litigation. Dylan Dordick, our partner and Super Lawyers Rising Star, has secured substantial settlements and verdicts for brain injury victims. Taylor Dordick brings passion and dedication to helping individuals recover from catastrophic injuries.
Compensation Available for Traumatic Brain Injuries
California law allows TBI victims to recover several categories of damages. Medical expenses include all costs related to your injury: emergency room treatment, hospitalization, surgery, medications, rehabilitation, therapy, and ongoing medical care. For severe TBIs requiring long-term care, we calculate future medical expenses over your lifetime.
Lost wages compensate you for income lost during recovery and rehabilitation. If your TBI prevents return to your previous job, we calculate loss of earning capacity—the difference between what you would have earned and what you can now earn. Pain and suffering damages address the physical pain, emotional distress, and reduced quality of life resulting from your injury. Rehabilitation and long-term care costs cover vocational rehabilitation, in-home care, assisted living, or nursing home care necessitated by your injury.
In cases involving gross negligence or intentional conduct, punitive damages may apply to punish the wrongdoer and deter similar conduct. We pursue all available damages to ensure comprehensive compensation for your losses.
Frequently Asked Questions About Traumatic Brain Injuries
How long do I have to file a traumatic brain injury claim in California?
California’s statute of limitations for personal injury claims, including traumatic brain injuries, is two years from the date of injury. This deadline applies to most TBI cases. However, certain circumstances may extend or shorten this timeline. If the injury victim is a minor, the statute of limitations may be extended. If the defendant leaves California, the time they are absent may not count toward the deadline. Missing the statute of limitations deadline results in losing your right to pursue compensation, so contacting an attorney promptly is critical.
What is the average settlement for a traumatic brain injury in Los Angeles?
TBI settlement amounts vary dramatically based on injury severity, age, earning capacity, and liability strength. Mild TBIs with full recovery may settle for thousands of dollars. Moderate TBIs causing lasting cognitive or physical effects often settle for hundreds of thousands to millions. Severe TBIs resulting in permanent disability, ongoing care needs, or shortened life expectancy can settle for more than several million dollars. Some cases exceed these ranges based on unique circumstances. Rather than focusing on average settlements, we focus on maximizing your specific case value based on your particular injuries and losses.
Review our case results and TBI verdicts to see the compensation we’ve recovered for brain injury victims. Our 7.6 million TBI verdict demonstrates our commitment to securing maximum recovery.
Do I need a lawyer for my traumatic brain injury case?
While you can pursue a claim without an attorney, having legal representation significantly improves your outcome. Insurance companies employ experienced adjusters trained to minimize payouts. Attorneys understand TBI valuation, medical evidence requirements, and negotiation strategies. We handle complex investigations, expert coordination, and legal procedures, allowing you to focus on recovery. Most personal injury attorneys, including Dordick Law Corporation, work on contingency—you pay no fees unless we recover compensation for you. Our about us page details our firm’s track record and commitment to TBI victims.
How is a traumatic brain injury diagnosed?
Doctors diagnose TBIs through clinical evaluation and imaging studies. The Glasgow Coma Scale measures consciousness level immediately after injury. CT scans and MRI imaging reveal structural brain damage, bleeding, or swelling. Neuropsychological testing evaluates cognitive function, memory, attention, and processing speed. Some TBIs, particularly mild concussions, may not show abnormalities on standard imaging despite producing significant symptoms. Comprehensive evaluation by neurologists and neuropsychologists establishes diagnosis and documents injury severity for legal purposes.
Can I recover compensation if I was partially at fault for my injury?
California follows comparative negligence rules. Even if you were partially responsible for the accident causing your TBI, you can still recover compensation. Your recovery is reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if you were 20% at fault, you can only recover 80%. This rule encourages injured parties to pursue claims even when they bear some responsibility. We evaluate fault carefully and present evidence minimizing your responsibility while establishing the defendant’s liability.
What should I do immediately after a traumatic brain injury?
Seek immediate medical attention, even if you feel fine. Some TBI symptoms emerge hours or days after injury. Report the incident to police if it involves a vehicle accident or crime. Document the scene with photos if safely possible. Collect witness contact information. Preserve evidence including clothing, damaged property, and medical records. Avoid posting about the incident on social media. Contact an attorney promptly to protect your legal rights and preserve evidence. Early legal intervention prevents evidence loss and strengthens your case.
Contact Dordick Law Corporation for Your Free Consultation
If you were injured in an accident and experienced TBI, contact Dordick Law Corporation today. We offer free, confidential consultations to evaluate your claim and explain your options. Our team represents clients on a contingency fee basis—you pay nothing unless we recover fair compensation for you.
Call us at (310) 551-0949 or complete our online contact form to schedule your consultation. A traumatic brain injury attorney in Los Angeles from our firm is available to discuss your traumatic brain injury claim.
