San Diego Brain Injury Lawyer Near Me

Home \ San Diego Brain Injury Lawyer

Have you suffered a brain injury? If your injury was someone else’s fault, you may be entitled to compensation. At Mission Personal Injury Lawyers, we are committed to helping brain injury victims recover the full compensation they deserve. Contact our law office in San Diego at (619)777-5555 for a free consultation with a San Diego brain injury lawyer.

Mission Personal Injury Lawyers has represented accident victims for over 25 years. We will put our expertise to work for you!

Table of Contents

How Mission Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help After You Suffer a Brain Injury in San Diego

A brain injury can force you to undergo difficult physical therapy and painful, invasive medical treatment. You may have lifelong complications like cognitive impairment, speech problems, or paralysis. The last thing you should worry about is fighting an insurance company for the compensation you deserve.

The award-winning personal injury lawyer in San Diego at Mission Personal Injury Lawyers will fight on your behalf. We have earned numerous accolades for our successful case resolutions, including the San Diego Business Journal’s Best of the Bar award. We maintain a Superb 10.0 AVVO rating because we put our clients first.

When you choose Mission Personal Injury Lawyers to represent you, you can count on us to:

Conduct a thorough investigation into your accident to determine causation and liability
Fight back against claims you caused your accident
Work with experts to accurately value your damages and create expert testimony
Negotiate with the insurance company for a settlement that fairly compensates you
Present a persuasive argument to a jury to fight for a fair jury award if a settlement isn’t reached
Protect your legal rights at every stage

Contact our San Diego, California law office today to schedule a free case review with a San Diego brain injury lawyer. We will go up against the insurance company for the money you deserve.

How Common Are Brain Injuries?

According to the CDC, there are nearly 1.5 million traumatic brain injuries in the United States every year. Around 230,000 of these injuries result in hospitalization. In 2014 alone, traumatic brain injury (TBI) contributed to 56,800 deaths.

Among children and seniors, falls are the leading cause of brain injuries, followed by motor vehicle accidents. About 70% of TBI cases are mild.

Moderate to severe brain injury is the leading cause of injury-related death and disability in the United States.

Overview of Brain Injuries

A head injury that results in a brain injury can be traumatic and lead to serious and life-changing consequences. Almost any type of head injury may result in brain damage.

Brain injuries may be mild, with symptoms that are difficult to notice and go away over time. However, brain injuries can also be catastrophic and lead to permanent impairment.

Some brain injuries are the result of health complications, like a stroke. Many are the result of a traumatic accident or blow to the head.

Types of Brain Injuries

Traumatic brain injuries are a type of head injury.

Many different types of damage may classify these injuries, including:

Concussion. A concussion is a type of mild brain injury. It may cause a loss of awareness, confusion, and other symptoms. However, symptoms typically fade over time.
Focal or localized brain damage. This injury is confined to a small area of the brain. It may occur when a bullet or other object penetrates the brain in a head injury.
Closed head injuries. These injuries occur when there is a blow to the head or the brain hits the inside of the skull. Car accidents often cause closed brain injuries when the head is moved rapidly back and forth and shakes the brain inside the skull.
Diffuse brain damage. This is usually caused by a closed head injury, and it refers to damage to many areas of the brain.
Diffuse Axonal Injury (DAI). This trauma occurs if both sides of the brain are damaged. This happens when the brain’s axons are sheared or torn because the brain has been injured as it rotates within the skull.
A brain contusion or intracerebral hematoma. This injury is a bruise on the brain. This can happen with a skull fracture or when the brain strikes the inside of the skull with force.

Brain injuries can also be primary or secondary. A primary brain injury is a sudden, significant injury that may arise from an accident, fall, or gunshot. Secondary brain injury refers to changes that occur over time after a primary brain injury.

What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Brain Injuries?

Brain injuries can result in a wide array of symptoms depending on the severity of the injury.

A mild head injury or concussion may cause:

Headaches
Sensitivity to light and noise
Confusion
Dizziness or lightheadedness
Irritability
Balance problems
Nausea
Difficulty with concentration and memory
Blurred vision
Fatigue and sleep problems
Tinnitus or ringing of the ears

A moderate to severe head injury requires immediate medical attention and may have symptoms, such as:

Severe headaches that do not fade
Loss of consciousness
Weakness on one side of the body
Trouble walking
Slurred speech
Short-term memory loss
Vomiting and nausea
Sweating and pale skin
Changes in behavior
Seizures
One pupil that is dilated or larger than the other and will not constrict when exposed to bright light
Coma or vegetative state
Locked-in syndrome

The symptoms of a brain injury may be immediately apparent after trauma, but not always. In many cases, symptoms do not appear for hours or even days. The confusion and memory problems associated with a brain injury can make it difficult for a victim to even recognize that something is wrong.

What Are the Long-Term Consequences of Brain Injuries?

A brain injury can come with life-changing consequences. These consequences will depend on the type and severity of the injury, how soon treatment is received, and how the victim responds to care. Some brain injuries heal in a matter of days with no long-term problems. Others result in permanent impairment, paralysis, and other issues.

Potential long-term consequences of a brain injury may include:

Long-term or permanent physical impairment that may affect coordination, balance, fine motor skills, and strength
Long-term or permanent cognitive impairment that may affect information processing, communication, perception, concentration, and memory
Psychological issues, including depression and difficulty adjusting to impairment
Emotional and personality changes can increase impulsivity, reduce judgment, and lead to behavioral disorders
Post-concussion syndrome (PCS) which can significantly change personality and cognition
Coma, vegetative state, or a persistent vegetative state
Locked-in syndrome in which the patient can only move their eyes and is completely conscious
Brain death when all brain function ceases

A brain injury can lead to almost any type of emotional, physical, cognitive, and psychological impairment or dysfunction. These may be short-term, long-term, or permanent.

What Causes Brain Injuries?

A brain injury can be the result of any type of head injury or external force that injures the brain. It may happen if the head is jolted, hit, or shaken. It can also be the result of an object piercing the skull or a blow to the body that causes the brain to hit the inside of the skull with great force.

In young people, brain injuries, including concussions, are common sports-related injuries. Sometimes brain injury occurs spontaneously or due to a health condition. These non-traumatic brain injuries are called an acquired brain injury, and they may be due to a hemorrhage, stroke, a tumor, or a brain infection.

The following are the most common causes of traumatic brain injuries.

Car Accidents & Other Traffic Accidents

Traffic accidents are the second-leading cause of traumatic brain injuries and cause 20% of TBI hospitalization. Car accidents were the leading cause of TBI-related death for people 15 to 34 and people older than 75.

If you’ve been in a car wreck, call our car accident attorney in San Diego, CA for help today.

Assault

Violence is a common cause of brain injury in California. These injuries may be the result of domestic violence, a mugging, a fight, or a shooting. Among people 25 to 34, firearms were responsible for 12% of all traumatic brain injuries and 35% of TBI deaths.

Falls

While slip and fall accidents are usually minor, they can result in serious injury. Falls are the leading cause of traumatic brain injury and represent 48% of all TBI-related emergency room visits. Half of traumatic brain injuries in children under 18 are caused by falls compared to 81% of seniors’ brain injuries. Falls that cause brain injury can result in a premises liability claim or a nursing home negligence claim.

What Is My Brain Injury Case Worth?

All injury claims are unique.

The value of your claim will depend on many factors, including:

The circumstances of your accident
The type and severity of the brain injury
Long-term consequences you will suffer
Anticipated future medical treatment you will need
How your injury affects your quality of life and day-to-day activities
Whether your injury has left you permanently impaired or unable to work

It is not uncommon for serious brain injury claims to be worth more than six or seven figures. The best way to determine what your case may be worth is by contacting a personal injury lawyer in San Diego to discuss your claim.

What Compensation Can I Recover for My Brain Injury in San Diego, California?

If your brain injury was caused by someone else’s negligence or intentional wrongdoing, you may be entitled to damages for the economic and non-economic harm you suffered.

You may recover money for damages such as:

Medical bills, including the projected cost of future medical care
Lost wages while you were off work and recovering
Reduced earning capacity or disability
Pain and suffering
Mental anguish
Emotional distress
Disfigurement

If the at-fault party exhibited particularly shocking conduct or intentionally caused you harm, you may also be entitled to punitive damages. These damages punish someone for wrongdoing.

During your initial free consultation with Mission Personal Injury Lawyers, we will help you explore the types of compensation you may be entitled to.

How Long Do I Have to File a Brain Injury Lawsuit in California?

You have just two years to file a personal injury lawsuit in California related to a brain injury. This same statute of limitations also applies to wrongful death claims. If you do not file your claim before the deadline expires, you will lose your legal right to seek compensation from the negligent party.

Do not delay pursuing your claim. If you wait, crucial evidence may be lost, and the value of your claim may be diminished. Contact our San Diego brain injury lawyers to get started investigating your accident.

Contact a San Diego Brain Injury Lawyer for a Free Consultation

When you have suffered a serious brain injury due to someone else’s negligence or wrongdoing, you should not be left with an uncertain financial future. At Mission Personal Injury Lawyers, we will fight for the maximum compensation you deserve to help you move on with your life.

Contact our law office today to set up a free case review with an aggressive San Diego brain injury lawyer who will fight for you.

Our personal injury law firm in San Diego, CA also provides: