Each year, an estimated 1.5 to 2.5 million Americans sustain a traumatic brain injury (TBI). The CDC reports that TBIs affect approximately 190 deaths in 132 Americans annually. In Riverside, California, TBIs result from motor vehicle accidents on busy highways, workplace incidents, slip and fall accidents, or violent assaults.
TBI victims often face months or years of medical treatment and rehabilitation. They experience cognitive challenges and financial hardship. The consequences extend far beyond the initial injury.
At Dordick Law Corporation, we represent traumatic brain injury victims throughout Riverside and surrounding areas. We understand how a TBI impacts your life and your family’s future. Our legal team works to hold responsible parties accountable. We pursue the compensation you deserve for your injuries, medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. We handle every case on a contingency fee basis. You pay nothing unless we win your case.
If you or a loved one has suffered a traumatic brain injury in Riverside, contact Dordick Law Corporation today for a free consultation. We are available 24/7 to discuss your case and explain your legal options.
Why Choose Dordick Law Corporation for Your Traumatic Brain Injury Case
Dordick Law Corporation has experience representing catastrophic injury victims, including those with traumatic brain injuries. We understand the medical, legal, and financial complexities of TBI cases. We work to secure compensation for our clients.
Our approach to TBI representation is thorough and client-focused. We conduct thorough investigations into the circumstances of your injury. We identify all liable parties and gather evidence to support your claim. Then, we work with medical experts to document the extent of your injuries and their long-term impact on your life.
Our lawyers negotiate with insurance companies and are prepared to take your case to trial if a fair settlement cannot be reached. We handle every case on a contingency fee basis. You pay no upfront fees or costs. We only recover a fee if we win your case. This arrangement ensures that cost is never a barrier to obtaining legal representation.
Dordick Law Corporation is available 24/7 to discuss your case and answer your questions. We understand that traumatic brain injuries often require immediate legal action. Immediate action preserves evidence and protects your rights. Our team responds quickly to client inquiries and provides the personalized attention your case deserves.
We are committed to holding negligent parties accountable. We work to secure the compensation you need to rebuild your life after a traumatic brain injury. Contact Dordick Law Corporation today to schedule your free consultation.
What Is a Traumatic Brain Injury?
A traumatic brain injury occurs when a bump, jolt, blow, or penetrating injury disrupts normal brain function. TBIs range from mild concussions to severe, life-altering injuries. Severe injuries can result in permanent disability. Understanding your injury is essential for pursuing appropriate medical treatment and legal compensation.
Brain injuries fall into two primary categories: open head injuries and closed head injuries. An open head injury involves a penetrating wound to the skull. This can result from a gunshot or sharp object. A closed head injury occurs when the brain is damaged without a break in the skull. Blunt force trauma, like a car accident or fall, typically causes closed head injuries.
Types of Traumatic Brain Injuries
Common types of traumatic brain injuries include:
- Concussion – The most common type of TBI, resulting from a blow to the head that causes the brain to move within the skull
- Contusion – Bruising of brain tissue that can cause bleeding and swelling
- Diffuse Axonal Injury (DAI) – Damage to nerve fibers throughout the brain, often resulting from severe head trauma or rotational forces
- Penetrating TBI – An open head injury where an object pierces the skull and damages brain tissue
The severity of a TBI depends on several factors. These include the force of impact, the location of the injury, and the individual’s age and overall health. Even injuries that initially seem minor can have serious long-term consequences. Many TBI victims do not realize the full extent of their injuries until days or weeks after the accident.
Common Causes of Traumatic Brain Injuries in Riverside
Traumatic brain injuries in Riverside result from a variety of accidents and incidents. Understanding the common causes helps identify situations where negligence may have played a role in your injury.
- Motor vehicle accidents (cars, trucks, motorcycles) cause a significant number of TBIs, particularly severe and fatal injuries. Riverside’s busy highways, including Interstate 10 and Interstate 15, see thousands of vehicles daily. High-speed collisions, rear-end accidents, and multi-vehicle pileups frequently result in serious head injuries. Distracted driving, speeding, and impaired driving increase the risk of severe accidents.
- Slip and fall accidents cause another significant number of TBIs. Older adults face particular risk. Wet floors, uneven surfaces, poor lighting, and inadequate handrails in commercial properties, apartment complexes, and public spaces lead to falls that cause head injuries. Premises liability claims can help recover damages for these injuries. Unintentional falls are the leading cause of TBIs nationally. Falls account for approximately 48% of all traumatic brain injuries.
- Workplace injuries account for a substantial number of TBIs in Riverside. Construction, manufacturing, and transportation industries see the most workplace TBIs. Falls from heights, being struck by falling objects, and equipment-related accidents all result in traumatic brain injuries.
- Sports injuries and recreational activities also cause TBIs. Contact sports like football and soccer carry inherent risks. Activities like cycling and skateboarding also carry head injury risks. Bicycle accidents in particular can result in serious brain trauma.
- Assaults and violent incidents result in severe traumatic brain injuries. These cases often involve criminal activity. They may support both criminal prosecution and civil lawsuits.
Other accident types that lead to traumatic brain injuries include:
If your TBI resulted from someone else’s negligence or wrongful conduct, you may have the right to pursue a personal injury claim. Dordick Law Corporation investigates the circumstances of your injury. We identify all liable parties and build a strong case for compensation.
How a Traumatic Brain Injury Can Impact Your Life
The impact of a traumatic brain injury extends far beyond the initial injury. TBI victims often experience physical, cognitive, emotional, and financial consequences. These consequences affect every aspect of their lives.
- Physical Effects – TBI victims may experience headaches, dizziness, balance problems, sensitivity to light and sound, and fatigue. More severe injuries can result in motor impairment, paralysis, seizures, and loss of consciousness. Some victims require ongoing physical therapy and rehabilitation to regain mobility and function.
- Cognitive Effects – Many TBI victims experience memory loss, difficulty concentrating, impaired judgment, and slowed processing speed. These cognitive changes make it difficult to return to work. They make managing daily tasks and maintaining relationships harder. Some victims experience permanent cognitive deficits that require ongoing support and accommodation.
- Emotional and Behavioral Changes – TBI can cause depression, anxiety, irritability, mood swings, and personality changes. Victims may struggle with emotional regulation. They may experience increased aggression or social withdrawal. These psychological effects often require professional mental health treatment.
- Financial Burden – The financial impact of a TBI is substantial. Emergency medical care, hospitalization, surgery, rehabilitation, ongoing medical treatment, and assistive devices all carry significant costs. Many TBI victims cannot return to work immediately or at all. This results in lost wages and lost earning capacity. Long-term care needs, including in-home care, assisted living, or nursing home care, can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars over a lifetime.
Other long-term effects and complications of traumatic brain injuries include:
- Chronic pain and headaches
- Cognitive impairment and memory loss
- Depression and anxiety disorders
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Sleep disturbances
- Seizure disorders
- Increased risk of neurodegenerative diseases
- Reduced life expectancy in severe cases
Early legal action is important after a traumatic brain injury. Preserving evidence, medical records, witness statements, and accident scene information strengthens your case. California law provides a two-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims. You must file your lawsuit within two years of the injury date. Waiting too long can result in loss of evidence and weakened claims. Contact an experienced traumatic brain injury attorney immediately to protect your rights and maximize your compensation.
Compensation Available for Traumatic Brain Injury Victims
If your traumatic brain injury resulted from someone else’s negligence, you may recover compensation for your damages. California law allows injured victims to pursue both economic and non-economic damages.
- Economic Damages represent the quantifiable financial losses resulting from your injury. These include all medical expenses related to your TBI. Expenses range from emergency room treatment and hospitalization to surgery, rehabilitation, ongoing medical care, and prescription medications. We calculate lifetime medical costs, including future treatment and long-term care needs.
- Lost wages represent income you lost due to your injury and recovery. If your TBI prevents you from returning to work, we calculate lost earning capacity. This is the income you would have earned over your remaining working years. This calculation considers your age, education, work history, and earning potential.
- Out-of-pocket expenses are also recoverable. These include transportation to medical appointments, home modifications, assistive devices, and adaptive equipment.
- Non-Economic Damages compensate you for subjective losses that do not have a specific dollar amount. Pain and suffering damages account for physical pain, emotional distress, and reduced quality of life. Disfigurement and scarring, loss of enjoyment of life, and loss of consortium are also recoverable. Loss of consortium refers to the impact on your relationship with your spouse.
- Punitive Damages may be available in cases involving gross negligence, recklessness, or intentional misconduct. These damages punish the defendant and deter similar conduct in the future.
Other recoverable damages in traumatic brain injury cases can include:
- Emergency and hospitalization expenses
- Surgical and medical treatment costs
- Rehabilitation and therapy expenses
- Ongoing medical care and medications
- Home modifications and assistive devices
- Lost wages and lost earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress and mental anguish
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Punitive damages (in cases of gross negligence or intentional conduct)
Calculating damages in a TBI case requires careful analysis of medical records, expert testimony, and economic data. Dordick Law Corporation works with medical experts, vocational rehabilitation specialists, and economic experts. We build a comprehensive damages case that reflects the true cost of your injury. Our case results demonstrate our success in securing substantial settlements and verdicts for TBI victims.
Frequently Asked Questions About Traumatic Brain Injury Claims
How long do I have to file a traumatic brain injury lawsuit in California?
California law provides a two-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims. This includes traumatic brain injury cases. You must file your lawsuit within two years of the date of your injury. Limited exceptions exist to this rule. These include cases involving minors or the discovery rule. These exceptions may extend the deadline in certain circumstances. Contact an attorney as soon as possible after your injury. This ensures your claim is filed within the applicable deadline.
What is the average settlement for a traumatic brain injury case?
The value of a traumatic brain injury settlement varies widely. Numerous factors affect settlement value. These include the severity of your injury, the extent of your medical expenses, your lost wages, your age and earning capacity, the strength of liability evidence, and the jurisdiction where your case is filed.
Mild TBI cases may settle for thousands to millions of dollars. Settlement amounts depend on the severity of symptoms, documentation of ongoing impairment, and lost income. Severe cases involving permanent disability and significant medical costs can settle for millions of dollars. An experienced TBI attorney can evaluate your case and provide an estimate of its potential value.
Do I need to go to trial for my TBI case?
The majority of personal injury cases, including TBI cases, settle before trial. However, we prepare every case as if it will go to trial. This preparation strengthens our negotiating position with insurance companies and defendants. Often, this results in higher settlement offers. If a fair settlement cannot be reached, we are prepared to take your case to trial and present your case to a jury.
How much does it cost to hire a traumatic brain injury lawyer?
Dordick Law Corporation works on a contingency fee basis for traumatic brain injury cases. You pay no upfront fees, no hourly rates, and no costs unless we win your case. If we recover compensation for you through settlement or trial verdict, we recover a percentage of your award as our fee. This arrangement ensures that cost is never a barrier to obtaining legal representation.
What evidence do I need for a traumatic brain injury claim?
Strong evidence is important for a successful TBI claim. Key evidence includes medical records documenting your diagnosis and treatment. Imaging studies like CT scans and MRI scans show brain injury. Witness statements from people who saw the accident are valuable. Police reports, or accident report,s provide documentation. Employment records show lost wages. Expert testimony from medical professionals strengthens your case. Documentation of your ongoing medical care and expenses is important. An experienced attorney will help you gather and organize this evidence to build a strong case.
Can I recover damages for future medical care?
Yes, you can recover damages for future medical care and treatment related to your traumatic brain injury. We work with medical experts to calculate the cost of ongoing treatment, rehabilitation, medications, assistive devices, and long-term care needs over your lifetime. These future damages are included in your compensation claim. They can represent a substantial portion of your total recovery.
What makes a traumatic brain injury "catastrophic"?
A traumatic brain injury is considered catastrophic when it results in permanent disability. Significant cognitive or physical impairment also qualifies as catastrophic. The need for ongoing care and support indicates a catastrophic injury. Catastrophic injuries often prevent victims from returning to work. They require extensive medical treatment and rehabilitation. They necessitate modifications to the victim’s home and lifestyle. Catastrophic injuries typically result in higher compensation awards. The severity of the injury and its long-term impact on the victim’s life justify higher awards.
Contact Dordick Law Corporation Today
If you or a loved one has suffered a traumatic brain injury in Riverside, California, contact Dordick Law Corporation for a free consultation. Our experienced legal team is ready to discuss your case. We explain your legal options and fight for the compensation you deserve. We are available 24/7 to answer your questions and provide the representation you need.
Call (310) 341-7176 today or visit our website to schedule your free consultation. We serve clients throughout Riverside and the surrounding areas. Our firm is committed to helping traumatic brain injury victims rebuild their lives.
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