Orange County Traumatic Brain Injury Lawyer

Traumatic brain injuries can cause a range of physical and psychological damages that may result in financial, emotional, and physical hardships. Sometimes the injuries are easy to spot, but as is often the case when it comes to our brains, these types of injuries can be difficult to understand, pinpoint, and diagnose.

So, if you suspect that you or a loved one has suffered a traumatic brain injury resulting from another party's negligence, it is important to know your rights and receive the proper instruction and care to document your injury. Having an experienced Orange County traumatic brain injury lawyer by your side is important to navigate the legal process so you can recover damages.

Why Hire One of Our Orange County Traumatic Brain Injury Attorneys For Your Accident?

There are several levels of severity when it comes to brain injuries. Whether you have had a severe skull fracture (following a car accident, for instance) or have suffered a sports injury, concussion, or, the most common cause, you fell and knocked your head, any level of head injury can result in severe and lasting brain injury. It can be very complicated to document and prove that a brain injury victim suffered the negligence of another. If you need help proving the negligence of another party or would like initial advice on whether you have a case, reach out to the team at MKP Law Group at 310-285-5353 to schedule your 100% free consultation.

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 personal injury team works closely with a team of medical experts throughout Orange County, Los Angeles, and Southern California to ensure that you or your loved one receives top-notch medical care for a speedy and healthy recovery while we deal with the legal process and negotiate with the insurance companies.

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 is often unaware they have a TBI or 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 head injury or open; open means there is a skull fracture.

A compassionate Orange County brain injury lawyer works with clients who struggle from brain trauma following a head injury they sustained without any fault of their own. Third-party negligence may have resulted from a motorcycle accident, sports acquired brain injuries, a fall in a store, or a work-related injury. And while the term brain injury adequately conveys the organ that was damaged, there is a lot more to these injuries than meets the eye.

Types of Brain Injuries

• Contusion. At this trauma level, physicians note a bruise is forming on the brain tissue. It is the result of blood vessel breakage and blood leakage. While a bruise on the leg is annoying, a bruise on the brain could result in deadly pressure buildup. For example, when a patient sustains a contusion following a car accident, it is typically because the head hit a solid object, such as the steering wheel or side window.
• Axonal. An axonal injury happens when the brain moves back and forth quickly inside the skull as a result of acceleration and deceleration and often happens in auto accidents, falls, sports accidents, and sometimes child abuse (shaken baby syndrome). Severity ranges from potential death or a vegetative state to moderate cases where rehabilitation is possible. A common form is a concussion, for instance when caused by whiplash or the collision of a head with an object.
• Penetrating injury. As the name implies, there is an object that goes through the skull and makes contact with the brain. The severity of the trauma varies. It happens in slip and fall cases and also in bike accidents.
• Anoxic brain injury. Anoxic brain injuries are systemic. The brain is deprived of oxygen, which results in gradual cell death. A brain injury is a result. These types of injuries can happen because of carbon monoxide poisoning or another serious trauma.

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, spinal cord injury
• Difficulty speaking and comprehending
• Permanent brain damage
• Sensitivity to light and noise

Many of the symptoms listed above are easily recognizable, particularly for severe brain injury. However, many symptoms are not easily detectable following head injuries. 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")

Facts and Stats: Traumatic Brain Injury Cases

When patients and victims file a personal injury claim, they frequently think they are alone. However, in 2015 the EpiCenter statisticians found that there were 32,627 cases state-wide. This figure includes patients of all ages with traumatic brain injury as a principal or secondary diagnosis.

Moreover, there is a lot more at stake than simply healing the brain's physical aspects. The Journal of Neuropsychology connects traumatic brain injuries with the onset of psychiatric disorders. The Brain Injury Association highlights that, unlike physical healing, some areas of the brain do not rebuild, and nerve regrowth likely will not allow for a full recovery. In fact, one interesting point we uncovered was that 46% of jail or prison inmates have a history of TBI. 

Northwestern University estimates that lifetime care for patients with traumatic brain injuries may cost between $85,000 and $3 million. Of course, an important aspect is finding the right level of care in Orange County. With about three million residents, the county has limited bed space. For example, patients may go to the Rehabilitation Services at St. Jude Medical Center or Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital.

Fortunately, the County of Orange Health Care Agency points out that care has dramatically improved. In the 1970s, two-thirds of brain injury patients in the OC died. Accidents, which can be the cause of traumatic brain injuries, were the sixth leading cause of death in 2016. Experts credit the creation of a trauma system and the development of treatment protocols with the improvement in care.

For more information, check out our collection of statistics here: Traumatic Brain Injury Statistics and Brain Injury Facts.

What is the real cost of TBI injuries?

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

Some professionals who may need to be consulted in researching your brain injury case may include:

• Neurologists – neurologists are medical doctors who evaluate, diagnose, and treat TBI victims.
• Neuropsychologists – are experts who combine 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
• Economists – 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.

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.

Did your loved one sustain a traumatic brain injury?

Typically, one of our trusted Orange County brain injury lawyers will offer a helping hand not only through the legal process but also lead you to the proper medical treatment centers to provide your loved one with the highest level of care. For example, the attorney may help you put together a FAQ to guide you when speaking with the doctors.

Possible questions might include:

• What is the current severity of my loved one's brain injury?
• When will my loved one be ready to leave hospital care for rehabilitation?
• What kind of care and support will need to be provided when they return home?

Or, if there is a language barrier, a lawyer can help you find a suitable translator or interpreter who will be there when you communicate with doctors and caregivers.

In some cases, discussing your loved one's case with an attorney can help you better understand case-related questions. For example, who will pay for the vehicle, if your loved one was in a car accident, or who will file the paperwork necessary at work (for job-related cases)? In extreme cases, loved ones are suffering emotional distress following these types of accidents and need the appropriate representation for their injuries.

Contact MKP Law Group, LLP Today

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 bear 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 Orange County, 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 Riverside County and San Bernardino County as well.