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Fresno Traumatic Brain Injury Attorney

The brain is one of the most important parts of the body. This organ controls our thoughts, memory, and other key cognitive functions necessary for daily life. Any damage to the brain can be catastrophic and result in lifelong impacts. However, traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are common in Fresno accidents. If you have sustained a severe injury due to another’s negligence, you may be eligible for financial compensation. The Fresno traumatic brain injury attorneys at Freedman Law can help you hold the at-fault party accountable and secure the settlement that you deserve.

Fresno Traumatic Brain Injury Resources

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Why Select Our Legal Team
What is a Traumatic Brain Injury?
Why Hire a Brain Injury Lawyer?
Common Causes of Brain Injuries
Types of Traumatic Brain Injuries
Filing an Injury Lawsuit in Fresno
Possible Compensation In an Injury Lawsuit
Long Term Costs of a Brain Injury

  • Our attorneys have represented over 10,000 clients in their injury claims, including cases involving traumatic brain injury. We understand the intricate workings of the Fresno court system and can guide you through each stage of your claim.
  • Our firm has successfully achieved over $1.25 billion in jury verdicts and settlements. In every case we take on, our legal team strives to obtain a maximum award. Throughout the legal process, we work closely with you to identify all avenues to compensation.
  • We are the highest-rated personal injury firm in the Central Valley. Our Fresno brain injury lawyers work with doctors, chiropractors, and physical therapists in order to provide our clients with the level of service that they deserve.

Fresno Brain Injury Attorney

What Is a Traumatic Brain Injury?

The brain is a vital organ and supports our ability to think, remember, process information, and perform important bodily functions. Any damage to the brain can lead to permanent disability, lifelong complications, and potentially life-threatening symptoms.

A traumatic brain injury occurs when you sustain any damage to the brain, whether it be bruising, bleeding, or a penetrating injury. TBIs range from mild to very severe. Without prompt treatment, a brain injury can easily be fatal.

Common symptoms of TBIs include, but are not limited to, the following.

  • Slurred speech
  • Convulsions or seizures
  • Vomiting or nausea
  • Sensitivity to light or sound
  • Loss of consciousness or inability to wake up
  • A persistent headache or a headache that worsens
  • Weakness or numbness in the extremities
  • Agitation, irritability, or other sudden mood changes
  • Clear fluids that drain from the nose or ears

If you sustain any type of head injury, seek medical attention as soon as you can so that you can rule out the possibility of a TBI. If you experience any of the above symptoms after harming your head, call 911 immediately and seek treatment.

Why Do You Need a Fresno Brain Injury Attorney?

The average lifetime costs of care for a TBI can reach millions. Securing the amount of compensation you and your family need for long-term financial stability is critical and will likely require the help of an attorney. A traumatic brain injury attorney will have the resources to investigate your accident, collect solid evidence of fault, accurately estimate your case’s worth, and skillfully negotiate a fair settlement. The at-fault party’s insurer will likely attempt to reduce their liability by shifting the blame onto you. Your attorney will ensure you are treated fairly so that you can focus on your recovery rather than the stress of legal issues.

Common Causes of Traumatic Brain Injury

TBIs usually occur when your head collides with an object or hard surface. This type of injury may also occur when an object penetrates your skull, such as a piece of metal or a bullet. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the most common causes of TBIs are falls, motor vehicle crashes, assaults, and firearm-related suicide.

At Freedman Law, our Fresno traumatic brain injury attorneys represent TBI victims who sustained their injuries due to another person’s actions. If someone else is responsible for your TBI, you may be eligible to file a personal injury lawsuit or insurance claim against him or her.

Our firm represents clients who have sustained a TBI during many types of accidents, including the following.

Types of Traumatic Brain Injuries

There are two categories of TBIs, open and closed. 

Open Head Injury

Also referred to as a penetrating brain injury, an open head injury occurs when a foreign object breaks the skull and penetrates the brain. This type of TBI is typically caused by violence, such as a gunshot or knife wound. However, a fractured skull can also lead to bone fragments entering the brain. 

Closed Head Injury

This type of TBI occurs when a rapid forward or backward movement shakes the brain, causing bruising or tearing. They are commonly associated with car accidents or falls. 

Common types of TBIs include: 

  • Concussion: A mild TBI that temporarily affects brain function. (Frequently occur in car accidents and falls)
  • Coup-contrecoup Injuries: The brain repeatedly hits the inside of the skull due to an external force, damaging multiple areas of the brain. 
  • Diffuse Axonal Injuries (DAI): One of the most severe types of TBI, which happens because the brain is shaken or twisted, causing connecting fibers (axons) to tear. The severity of symptoms often depends on the size of the tear. 
  • Intracranial Hematoma: Any kind of head trauma can cause blood vessels to rupture within the brain and lead to a collection of blood within the skull. There are three types of brain hematomas:
    • Epidural hematomas: Blood collection between the skull and brain
    • Subdural hematomas: Blood collection under the thin layer of protection surrounding the brain
    • Intracerebral hematoma: Collection of blood within the brain itself 

An intracranial hematoma causes pressure on the brain and can potentially be life-threatening. 

After an accident, it is not uncommon for brain injury victims to have a combination of wounds. 

Filing a Brain Injury Lawsuit in Fresno

By filing a lawsuit against the person responsible for your TBI, you can recover the compensation you need to support yourself and your treatment. However, you can only recover a settlement if you can prove that the at-fault party’s negligence caused your head injuries. To establish negligence, you will need to prove three key facts.

  • The at-fault party owed you a duty of care.
  • The at-fault party breached his or her duty of care.
  • The breach of duty caused your accident and injuries.

For example, say that you suffer a TBI after you slip and fall on a puddle of oil in a grocery store aisle. In this situation, the store owner and employees have a duty to identify potential fall hazards, clean them up, and warn patrons of danger by placing signs around the area.

However, surveillance footage shows that the spill occurred two hours before you came into the store. The footage also shows several store employees walking around the puddle without stopping to clean the spill or mark it off. These actions are a clear breach of the store’s duty of care.

If the puddle had been cleaned up and the store took appropriate action to respond to the hazard, your accident would not have occurred. You would have not sustained a TBI. However, if the store’s negligence caused your injury, then the company would be liable for your damages.

Potential Compensation Available in Brain Injury Lawsuits

Through a traumatic brain injury lawsuit, you can hold the at-fault party accountable for the financial, physical, and emotional damages that you sustained in the accident. Common types of compensation available in TBI claims include the following.

  • Past and Future Medical Expenses: You can hold the at-fault party accountable for all medical expenses associated with your TBI. Common medical expenses include hospitalizations, prescription medications, surgeries, and routine checkups. Medical treatment for a severe brain injury may last years.
  • Lost Wages and Loss of Earnings: You can recover compensation for the wages that you lost during your recovery and treatment time. If your TBI prevents you from returning to work, you can also collect damages for loss of future earnings and benefits.
  • Disability Accommodations: If you developed a permanent disability due to your TBI, you could recover compensation to pay for certain accommodations. Mobility equipment, live-in care, and home modifications are common types of disability accommodations.
  • Pain and Suffering: You can also hold the at-fault party accountable for the physical and emotional damages that you sustained in your accident. Common types of pain and suffering include chronic pain, emotional distress, depression, anxiety, and permanent disability.

A Fresno personal injury attorney from Freedman Law can help you identify which damages you may qualify for and calculate your potential award. Our law firm will fight diligently to secure the highest possible settlement in your claim.

The Long Term Cost of A Brain Injury

Depending on your TBI’s severity, the lifetime medical costs and living expenses can range anywhere from $85,000 up to $4 million. Additionally, these estimates do not include loss of income, employee benefits, and productivity. The most devastating financial costs typically occur within the first year. Even if the brain injury is mild, it will often cost $15,000 on average for medical care and ongoing rehabilitation to ensure a full recovery. For moderate to severe TBIs, the first-year averages $196,000. After hospitalization, the estimated medical and non-medical expenses in the first year are a little over $151,000 for insurance, vocational rehabilitation, mandatory home modifications, etc. 

Contact a Fresno Traumatic Brain Injury Lawyer Today

Have you sustained a brain injury in Fresno? If someone else is responsible for your TBI, you may be eligible for a lawsuit against him or her. In these situations, Freedman Law can help. You can easily contact us online or call 559-447-9000 to schedule a free consultation with a Fresno traumatic brain injury attorney and identify your optimal path to compensation.