Los Angeles Traumatic Brain Injury Lawyers

At MKP Law Group, LLP our attorneys exclusively represent injury victims. For years we have fought on behalf of clients who have suffered brain injuries due to the negligence of another party. We realize that it can be difficult to afford quality and experienced injury lawyers so we always work on what is known as a contingency fee basis, meaning WE DON’T GET PAID UNLESS WE WIN.

There are no upfront, out-of-pocket costs to our clients. Our experienced traumatic brain injury attorneys have recovered millions on behalf of our clients and will fight hard on your behalf to ensure you get maximum compensation for your injuries. We want to help you recover and manage the significant financial, physical, and emotional challenges that accompany these types of injuries. Our traumatic brain injury attorneys work with a team of specialized medical experts throughout Los Angeles and California to ensure that you or a loved one receives top-notch medical care for a speedy and healthy recovery while we deal with the insurance companies.

Our skilled team of injury attorneys represents brain and head injury victims throughout the State of California. MKP Law Group, LLP’s team strives to make the process as easy and quick as possible for you. The team at MKP Law Group, LLP is experienced, attentive, dependable, and tenacious so call us today at 310-285-5353 to schedule your 100% free consultation.

Why Hire a Los Angeles Traumatic Brain Injury Attorney?

Brain injuries are one of the most severe catastrophic types of injuries someone can endure. Many victims never fully recover from their injury.

The brain plays a vital part in almost every major bodily function like breathing, movement, and speech. So when brain injuries occur they are often catastrophic and lifelong. This makes comprehensive knowledge of brain injuries, and the science behind them, paramount when selecting a personal injury attorney.

The attorneys at MKP Law Group, LLP have years of experience providing legal representation for brain injury victims and know how to handle the insurance injury claims to get top dollar.

What You Need To Know: Traumatic Brain Injuries

Traumatic brain injuries (or “TBIs”) are among the most catastrophic injuries that one can suffer. Because the brain controls nearly every bodily function, even minor brain injuries can have severe and lasting side-effects.

Some side-effects are immediate, like loss of consciousness, disorientation, and memory loss. Others, such as migraines and cognitive disabilities, can manifest themselves over time.

Unfortunately, many TBIs require around-the-clock medical care for the rest of the victim’s life. MKP Law Group, LLP’s attorneys have successfully handled numerous TBI cases, and have a network of neurologists and other medical specialists to provide the best medical care possible.

What is a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)?

TBI’s are often called the “invisible injury” because a victim cannot physically see the damage to the brain tissue and oftentimes is unaware they have a TBI or of how a TBI has affected them. Outwardly, the victims appear normal and fine.

A TBI is an acquired injury to the brain. The injury is caused by an external force resulting in total or partial functional disability or impairment that adversely affects cognitive performance and ability such as speech, memory, attention, reasoning, judgment, perceptual and motor abilities, and oftentimes psychosocial behavior.

Conversely, an acquired brain injury or “ABI” is a brain injury that is not caused by physical force or trauma. An ABI is usually the result of stroke, lack of oxygen, an aneurysm, or other medical phenomena.

Furthermore, TBI’s can be classified as closed or open, open meaning there is a skull fracture.

Minor/Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (MTBI)

Even minor or mild TBIs still can have lasting side-effects. On the outside, victims of mild TBI appear to talk and act normally, just as they had prior to suffering the injury. However, the internal processes of the brain are not functioning normally and victims may experience emotional or behavioral changes, memory loss, or other cognitive impairments.

Victims of minor or mild TBI may experience light and noise sensitivity, anxiety, mood swings and persistent sleepiness or wakefulness.

Common Causes of Traumatic Brain Injuries or Head Injuries

There are numerous causes of TBI’s including car accidents, slip and fall accidents, and medical malpractice amongst others. The most common causes of Traumatic Brain Injuries include:

• Car accidents
• Slip and fall accidents
• Bicycle Accidents
• Assault and Battery
• Medical Malpractice
• Toxic Exposure

There are other, less-common causes of head trauma aside from those listed above. Some of the less common causes of TBI include infectious diseases and blast injuries (similar to injuries suffered by military personnel from bomb explosions).

In a report from the CDC analyzing TBI data from 2013, they found that 75% of TBI-related hospitalizations were caused by falls (50.4%) and motor-vehicle crashes (21.5%). Motor vehicle accidents were the leading cause of death for persons aged 15-34, and older adults over the age of 75.

In some cases, TBI can be caused without direct trauma to the head and brain. In the case of medical malpractice, botched surgery can deprive the brain of oxygen for extended periods of time and lead to brain damage.

Warning Signs of Traumatic Brain Injuries to Look Out For

Sometimes it can be unclear whether or not TBI has occurred. In the most common types of situations that cause brain injuries such as slip and falls or vehicle accidents, it can be hard to know what to look for. The most common symptoms and warning signs victims of TBI experience and should look out for are:

• Memory loss
• Loss of consciousness
• Dizziness and vomiting
• Headaches
• Slurred speech
• Blurred vision
• Ringing in the ears
• Paralysis
• Difficulty speaking and comprehending
• Permanent brain damage
• Sensitivity to light and noise

Many of the symptoms listed above are easily recognizable, however, there are many symptoms that are not easily detectable. Other symptoms many TBI victims endure are neuropsychiatric in nature and include:

• Personality changes
• Loss of sexual drive
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Mood swings
• Impaired judgment
• Inability to focus
• Confusion
• Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (“PTSD”)

Lasting and Permanent Damage Caused by TBI

TBI can cause a host of severe and permanent complications and disabilities that can affect not only one’s cognitive capabilities, memory, and motor skills but also one’s behavior, temperament, sexual drive, and overall quality of life. Immediate medical attention is required for TBI’s.

In severe cases, TBI’s can lead to increased susceptibility to cognitive diseases like Alzheimer’s. Depending on the severity of the TBI, victims can suffer from ongoing symptoms that include:

Cognitive

• Memory loss
• Difficulty comprehending information
• Problems speaking
• Inability to focus

Physical

• Paralysis
• Sensitivity to noise and light
• Blurred vision
• Headaches
• Numbness in limbs

Behavioral

• Change of temperament
• Depression
• Emotional instability
• Anxiety

Oftentimes, TBIs require lifelong or prolonged medical treatment, care, and supervision. Rehabilitation depends on the severity of the TBI. Sometimes victims take years to fully recover and their quality of life is never the same as it was prior to the accident. Victims often require medical monitoring to determine if the TBI has worsened and ongoing, in-home nursing care in particularly severe cases.

Head Injuries and Traumatic Brain Injuries: How To Know If You’ve Had One

There are several common symptoms that indicate someone has suffered a TBI. Almost always, there is an immediate loss of consciousness, which can be very brief or very extended (i.e., a coma), as well as memory loss or amnesia. Sometimes, the victim does not even know they have suffered a TBI because they do not experience the symptoms immediately. This is often the case in situations where the TBI is from a closed-head injury.

Behavioral symptoms discussed above like changes in temperament, emotional instability, and increased anxiety may be difficult for the victim to recognize. Many times it takes friends and family to notice the subtle changes in a victim’s personality or cognitive abilities.

Due to the subtle nature of some TBI symptoms, the potential for misdiagnosis is present. Thankfully, MKP Law Group, LLP works with a trusted network of neurologists and physicians to help put you in contact with the right providers to ensure you receive the best medical care possible.

Difficulties and Complications with Measuring Severity of TBIs

The Glasgow Coma Scale, or “GCS,” provides a practical assessment of the level of impairment to a person’s consciousness. It is based on a scale of 1 to 15, with a score of 15 meaning the person is fully conscious with almost no impairment or head injury. To determine a person’s GCS score, a series of verbal, motor, and eye tests are performed to gauge the severity of a TBI.

Common Types of TBI You Might Encounter

Typically, types of brain injuries are classified as either mild, moderate, or severe, though the term “mild” is a misnomer since even “mild” TBI’s or concussions can have lasting and serious side-effects.

Mild TBI’s

Mild TBI’s are characterized by GCS scores of 13-15 with very little or almost no loss of consciousness. Typically mild TBI’s are simply classified as concussions and do not produce any abnormal MRI or CT scan findings. Most victims of mild TBIs are able to fully recover.

Moderate TBI’s

Moderate TBIs are characterized by GCS scores of 9-12 and typically produce abnormal MRI or CT scan findings. Moderate brain injuries often produce serious side-effects that can become lifelong in duration.

Severe TBI’s

Severe TBIs are the most serious type of brain injuries a person can suffer and are characterized by a GCS score of 9 or less. Severe TBIs almost always produce serious, lifelong injuries and can result in death.

Traumatic Brain Injuries Can Have Long-Lasting Consequences

All brain injuries are significant injuries. Even with mild TBI’s, victims can still suffer from catastrophic injuries that last a lifetime. If you or a loved one has suffered a concussion or TBI, it is necessary to seek immediate medical treatment.

Oftentimes, victims of TBI need continuing medical care for years after the incident, especially in cases where the victim suffers permanent brain damage. Because TBI’s are complex injuries, it is imperative you hire an experienced injury attorney who understands the science behind TBI’s and knows how to obtain full compensation from the insurance companies.

Often, Even Mild Traumatic Brain Injuries Are a Major Concern

As stated above, even mild TBIs are significant injuries. A new study reveals that approximately 1 in 5 people may experience mental health symptoms for up to six (6) months after a mild TBI.

Victims of mild TBI are at risk of worsening their injuries should they fail to seek medical attention and treatment. Oftentimes, victims of mild TBIs believe their symptoms will go away over time with rest and relaxation but, due to the complex nature of TBIs, rest and relaxation alone are often insufficient remedies.

Brain Injuries are Common and Costly

The Center for Disease Control states that TBI’s are a common cause of death and disability in the United States. In 2014 alone there were over 2.87 million TBI-related ER visits, hospitalizations, and deaths. What’s even worse, is the data concluded that 155 people in the US die each day from injuries including TBI.

TBI cases can be quite costly to litigate due to the fact that numerous experts are often required to fully establish a victim’s losses and damages. Due to the severe injuries and extensive damages, victims of TBI suffer, insurance companies rarely make fair settlement offers, and thus lawsuits must be filed and litigated.

Lawsuits must be filed within two years of the injury-causing incident, and within one year if the TBI is the result of medical malpractice. Once a lawsuit is filed and served upon the defendant or at-fault party, the process known as discovery begins where both sides share documentation and information. In order to properly and fully compensate a TBI victim’s losses and damages, retaining numerous expert witnesses is often required.

The most common experts that are retained in TBI cases include:

• Neurologists - neurologists are medical doctors who evaluate, diagnose, and treat TBI victims.
• Neuropsychologists - is an expert that combines neuroscience and psychiatry to speak to the effect a TBI has on the victim’s personality and behavior.
• Occupational Therapist - experts who treat injured or disabled patients in order to help them recover and return to work
• Economist - these experts quantify a person’s past and future damages, as well less their loss of earnings or earning capacity.
• Life-Care Planner - these experts are typically registered nurses or other medical professionals who formulate the estimated future medical care and treatment TBI victims will require in the future.

What Is The Real Cost to LA Brain Injury Victims?

Because each TBI victim is different, the medical care they require, and in turn the medical bills they will incur, vary person to person. It is difficult to put an exact dollar amount on the complications and injuries a TBI victim will suffer.

The experts we’ve listed above help TBI attorneys present the strongest case possible to the insurance companies. For this reason, it is crucial that the right experts are retained from the outset to ensure that the best medical care is being rendered to TBI victims. Fortunately, the injury attorneys at MKP Law Group, LLP work with some of the best experts in California and have a network of experts readily available.

Claiming Damages After Sustaining A Brain Injury

The experienced attorneys at MKP Law Group, LLP can help determine what types of damages you or a loved one are entitled to after suffering a TBI or head injury. The most common types of damages victims are entitled to are:

Medical bills and expenses: Victims are entitled to be reimbursed for all medical bills and expenses stemming from treatment of the TBI including ER bills, prescription drug costs, physical therapy, speech therapy and continuing nursing care.

Lost Earnings or Diminished Earning Capacity: Compensation for past lost earnings for the time actually missed from work in order to recover and receive medical treatment, and also compensation for future lost earnings resulting from diminished earning capacity.

Pain & Suffering: These damages are not quantifiable with an exact dollar amount. Instead, the measure stems from a loss of enjoyment of life, physical pain, suffering, difficulty performing necessary household tasks or activities of daily living, embarrassment, and loss of dignity.

Punitive Damages: Punitive damages are awarded in cases where the at-fault party acted with extreme recklessness, malice, or intent to harm in order to punish and deter future, similar conduct.

Loss of Consortium: If the victim is married, they are entitled to loss of companionship or loss of love for the deprivation to the spousal relationship (including loss of sexual relations).

Contact MKP Law Group, LLP Today for Your Own Experienced Brain Injury and Head Injury Lawyer in Los Angeles

The brain and its various components are vital to cognitive functions. Things that were simple prior to the TBI become difficult for the victim after sustaining the TBI, complicating even the most basic of daily tasks. Families and loved ones often have to pick up the slack and bare a heavy burden caring for a TBI victim. For many victims, a TBI means that their life will never be the same. In addition to bills piling up and numerous doctor appointments, TBI victims have to face the prospect that their life will never be the same again.

MKP Law Group, LLP is here to get TBI victims the compensation they deserve.

While there are a lot of attorneys out there to choose from, MKP Law Group, LLP has helped many TBI victims and their families get their lives back on track. We know how to aggressively deal with insurance companies in order to obtain optimal settlements. When the at-fault party is not willing to accept responsibility for their negligence, MKP Law Group, LLP has a team of experienced trial attorneys who will hold the at-fault party responsible in a court of law. If you or someone you know is suffering from a traumatic brain injury, call MKP Law Group, LLP today at 310-285-5353 to schedule your free consultation.

We proudly service clients in the city of Los Angeles and other cities in Los Angeles County including Santa Monica, Westwood, West Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, Long Beach, Pasadena, Glendale, and more. We also represent clients in Orange County, Riverside County, and San Bernardino County as well.