Lakewood Brain Injury Lawyers
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Our Lakewood Brain Injury Lawyers Are Experienced Advocates For California’s Injured
In the wake of a traumatic brain injury, victims often face an overwhelming combination of medical, emotional, and financial challenges. Fortunately, for those in Lakewood, California, Arash Law is ready to help. Our Lakewood brain injury lawyers have decades of experience representing injury victims, and we want to help you, too. Contact us at (888) 488-1391 for a free initial consultation.
Lakewood is a city located in Los Angeles County, with an estimated population of 79,063 according to the 2022 United States census. Several cities surround Lakewood, including Hawaiian Gardens, Cypress, Cerritos, Bellflower, and Long Beach. The city has several well-known streets and thoroughfares, including the San Gabriel River Freeway (I-605), Carson and South Streets, and Del Amo Boulevard, as well as Bellflower and Lakewood (SR 19).
Brain injuries are among the most serious consequences of an accident caused by another person’s or entity’s negligence. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, millions of Americans suffer brain injuries annually.
Any physical injury can leave a victim with long-lasting consequences, but brain injuries can be especially challenging. They require a long and expensive recovery process. If you want to learn about your legal rights to compensation, our Lakewood brain injury lawyers can walk you through your options.
Even if your injuries are not fully diagnosed or their long-term effects are uncertain, Arash Law can help you understand your options and pursue potential compensation. We can also connect you with medical professionals who can assess the extent of your injuries and provide documentation that can support your case.
Contact us via call or chat to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation to learn more about your legal rights after an accident that caused your brain injury.
Verdict in a mild traumatic brain injury case involving a motor vehicle collision– JUDD ROSS ALLEN
What Is A Brain Injury?
A brain injury is damage to the brain. It happens because of various external forces, including a sudden blow to the head or body, a bump or jolt, or an object penetrating the skull or brain, like a bullet.
Brain injuries should always be taken seriously. If you suspect you have suffered a brain injury, it is important to seek medical attention as soon as possible. A trained medical professional can assess your condition and provide necessary treatment.
The effects of brain injuries may be temporary or permanent. The damaged brain cells may regenerate and heal, or the damage you suffer after an accident can have long-term effects, including severe disability or death.
Types Of Brain Injuries
Brain injuries generally fall into two main categories: acquired or traumatic. An acquired brain injury results from medical malpractice or a medical condition. A traumatic brain injury happens because of an external force or impact.
Some brain injuries are catastrophic. Legally, an injury is considered catastrophic when its impact is likely to have a significant and lasting effect on the victim. Catastrophic injuries often involve higher medical costs and longer recovery periods.
Serious brain injuries can have the following consequences:
- Infection
- Cerebral Palsy
- Stroke
- Edema
- Hemorrhage
- Hematoma
- Coup-Contrecoup Injury
- Diffuse-Axonal Injury
- Confusion
- Concussion
- Closed Head Injury
- Penetrating (Open) Head Injury
- Skull Fracture
Causes Of Brain Injuries
Brain injuries are typically caused by a medical condition, trauma, or an external force.
These are some of the most common accidents and reasons leading to brain injury lawsuits in Lakewood:
Exposure To Toxic Substances
Exposure to or ingesting toxic substances can lead to brain injury and damage. Childhood accidents are common. Children may ingest toxic chemicals like bleach, floor cleaners, and furniture polish. These chemicals are caustic and can lead to severe brain damage. If the product manufacturer placed a product in the marketplace and the lid was defective, consequently exposing someone to unsafe substances, you may have a claim against the product manufacturer.
Military Injuries
Military personnel are at risk for head injuries while deployed or in active combat. Despite using appropriate protective gear, the intense environment can lead to injury.
Explosions
Explosions, also called blast injuries, are invisible injuries because there is generally no physical evidence of an accident upon a physical examination of the patient. An explosion can lead to a brain injury because of the intense sound. Sound waves can damage brain tissue, leading to brain injury.
Workplace Accidents
While some workplaces are more prone to head injuries, an accident can happen to anyone while on the job. Examples of more dangerous workplaces can include construction sites, transportation, roofing, waste and recyclable material collection, healthcare, and other professions. Consult a Lakewood workers’ compensation attorney if you have suffered a workplace injury.
Defective Products
Manufacturers have a legal obligation to design products that are reasonably safe for consumers. If a manufacturer fails to follow reasonable safety standards for its products and someone is harmed, the manufacturer may face civil legal liability for damages and losses. A consumer may suffer a brain injury after using a defective product. For example, if a car has defective brakes, a traffic accident can happen, leading to the victim suffering a brain injury.
Pedestrian Accidents
A pedestrian accident can happen when someone shares the road with motorists or if the pedestrian encounters negligence in some other way while outside. The impact of traffic accidents or falling objects can cause a pedestrian to suffer a severe brain injury.
Bicycle Accidents
Bicyclists share the road with cars, trucks, semi-trucks, and oversized vehicles. They do not have the protective covering that other vehicles have, and they are more vulnerable to other vehicles and the elements in a traffic crash. Bicyclists should wear helmets to reduce the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Truck Accidents
Truck accidents are a common occurrence nationwide. Commercial trucks are large vehicles that have restricted movements. The large size of these trucks can also lead to multi-car accidents. A truck collision victim can easily hit their head and suffer from a brain injury.
Violence
If you are the victim of a violent crime, you may also suffer from a brain injury. Physical assaults and weapons-related crimes can result in head injuries for the victim. Brain injuries that happen because of violent crime can be impact-related or penetrating, depending on the type of crime or physical abuse.
Struck-By-Object Accidents
Accidents involving falling objects place people in the surrounding area at risk of injury. For example, pedestrians walking by a construction site may get struck by improperly secured scaffolding or falling debris.
Slip-And-Falls
Slip-and-fall accidents can occur anywhere, whether on poorly maintained private or public property. Slip-and-fall cases may seem simple, but the injuries resulting from a sudden fall can be severe.
Sports
Contact sports can lead to severe brain injuries. Sports like football can lead to concussions from player-to-player contact. Sports that involve flying objects, such as baseball, hockey, or basketball, may increase the risk of head injuries for players. Even sports like swimming and diving can lead to brain damage in cases of oxygen deprivation or accidental trauma.
Motor Vehicle Accidents
Traffic crashes can potentially harm a driver or passenger. Car accidents can cause brain injuries through collisions, impact with the interior of the vehicle, or forces generated by spinning or sudden deceleration.
With the right safety precautions, a lot of these accidents can be prevented. Every person and business must exercise reasonable care, meaning everyone is expected to act carefully when interacting with others. Negligence occurs when the defendant fails to exercise reasonable care. You may have a legal claim against the defendant when someone is negligent.
If someone else’s carelessness caused your brain injury, a Lakewood brain injury attorney can evaluate your situation and discuss possible legal options.
Symptoms Of Brain Injuries
You may not immediately realize that you have suffered a brain injury after an accident. Some symptoms of brain injury may not manifest until hours or days later. Even if you do not think you were seriously hurt, you should seek immediate medical care if you hit your head. A doctor can diagnose you with a brain injury even if you are not yet experiencing symptoms. Common issues people with brain injuries experience include the following:
- Mood Swings
- Sensory Changes
- Blurred Vision
- Trouble Sleeping
- Drowsiness
- Vomiting
- Memory Loss
- Disorientation
- Confusion
- Severe Headache
Impact Of Brain Injuries
Brain injuries can have long-term impacts. Of course, a head injury can affect your life in many aspects.
Emotional Symptoms
A person suffering from a brain injury may experience emotional symptoms, ranging from irritability to mood swings. An injured person may also struggle with angry outbursts.
Cognitive Symptoms
A person suffering from a brain injury may experience cognitive symptoms, including difficulty thinking clearly and remembering.
Physical Symptoms
A person suffering from a brain injury may also experience physical symptoms. Some symptoms include fatigue, headaches, dizziness, blurred vision, and balance problems.
Depending on the severity of your injuries, your symptoms may be temporary and minor or long-term and permanent. You may experience the above symptoms for weeks, months, or years after the impact. Sometimes, long-term care is necessary to treat injuries fully. Brain injuries that are left untreated can lead to death.
What Is My Brain Injury Level?
Brain injuries fall into different categories depending on the severity of the harm. Doctors typically divide brain injuries into three levels. More severe brain injuries usually have worse symptoms and fewer favorable prognoses. Your doctor may perform various tests, including a brain scan, to determine the extent of your injury.
Brain injuries fall into one of these categories: mild, moderate, and severe.
Mild Brain Injury
Mild brain injuries are the least severe type. A concussion is an example of a mild brain injury. Sufferers may experience brief unconsciousness and up to an hour of amnesia. People who suffer a mild brain injury may receive a routine brain scan.
Moderate Brain Injury
Moderate brain injuries are slightly more severe than mild brain injuries. Sufferers may experience up to 24 hours of lost consciousness and amnesia. Patients with a moderate brain injury may receive an abnormal brain scan. Moderate brain injuries can lead to emotional and physical problems. Some victims must relearn how to walk, talk, and perform other motor functions.
Severe Brain Injuries
Severe brain injuries are the most serious and have the highest potential for long-term or permanent effects. These injuries can cause significant complications and often require prolonged medical treatment and rehabilitation. Recovery times tend to be longer, and medical costs may be substantial.
Prompt medical attention is crucial not only for your health but also for establishing documentation that connects your injuries to the accident. Early diagnosis and treatment can help improve outcomes and provide important evidence for any potential legal claim.
How Are Brain Injuries Treated?
Treatment for brain injuries varies depending on the severity and nature of the damage. Without timely medical intervention, many brain injuries can worsen and lead to additional complications. For instance, brain swelling requires immediate care to relieve pressure within the skull.
While some people recover fully, others may need long-term medical care or rehabilitation to manage ongoing symptoms. Common treatment approaches include:
- Rest and over-the-counter pain relievers for mild brain injuries.
- Surgery and other emergency procedures.
- Medications.
- Occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, and vocational therapy.
- Experimental clinical trials.
- Rehabilitation and physical therapy.
Any medical treatment or medication to relieve your brain injury symptoms can be expensive. Lakewood brain injury lawyers can help you pursue fair compensation, whether through settlement negotiations or filing a lawsuit.
What Damages Can I Pursue In A Brain Injury Case?
If you pursue a civil lawsuit or settlement, you may be eligible for compensatory damages, which cover the losses you suffered due to the injury. Brain injuries often lead to medical bills, lost income, and reduced quality of life. While results vary by case, potential compensation may include:
- Current and future medical bills.
- Cost of rehabilitation, physical therapy, and occupational therapy.
- Cost of medical equipment.
- Cost of surgeries.
- Repair costs for damaged property.
- Permanent disability or disfigurement.
- Mental and emotional trauma and the cost of seeking psychological counseling.
- Cost of hiring home care for help with domestic tasks.
- Current and future lost income.
- Loss of earning capacity.
- Travel costs for visits to specialists.
- Loss of consortium.
- Decreased quality of life.
- Punitive damages.
- Wrongful death damages.
- Spouse’s separate personal injury claim for the economic impact of leaving a job to become the injured spouse’s full-time caregiver.
How Do I Establish Liability In A Brain Injury Case?
You must demonstrate that the other party caused your injuries to file a civil lawsuit. Proving fault is also referred to as proving liability. In civil cases, the plaintiff (i.e., the accident victim) must prove by a preponderance of the evidence that the defendant caused their injuries. The preponderance of evidence in this context means that it is more likely than not that the defendant caused your injuries or caused the accident that resulted in the injuries.
A defendant may be found liable for an accident if their wrongful, careless, or reckless actions caused another person’s injuries. Without establishing liability, an accident victim generally cannot pursue a claim for compensation against the defendant.
Liability is often the most challenging yet essential part of your claim. There are circumstances under which an accident victim may be partly to blame for their injuries. For example, the accident that caused a brain injury happened on a poorly maintained road. While the city or state government may be liable for the accident due to failure to maintain the road, if the accident victim was speeding when the crash occurred, their damages may be reduced.
Under the doctrine of comparative negligence, the victim’s judgment or settlement award will be reduced based on the percentage of fault assigned to them by the judge or jury. For example, if the jury finds that the victim’s damages are valued at $100,000, but they were 50% at fault, the victim may only collect $50,000. In California, an injured party may recover even if they are 99% at fault for causing the accident. Keep in mind that this is a general example that may not reflect the specifics of your case.
Brain injury cases are complex, and it can be difficult to prove liability by yourself. Hiring Lakewood brain injury lawyers can assist you in building a case supported by medical records and other relevant evidence.
Do I Need A Brain Injury Attorney?
Many victims with brain injury find having a lawyer to be helpful. An attorney can assist you in understanding your rights and options for seeking compensation if you have suffered an injury or loss as a result of someone else’s carelessness. Cases involving brain injuries are much more complex than other injuries.
A brain injury is not like a broken arm or sprained wrist. A victim may face permanently impaired cognitive function. Loss of cognitive function can mean losing your job, loss of emotional regulation, and a host of other negative impacts. A severe brain injury may cause loss of consciousness, coma, or death. Hiring brain injury attorneys in Lakewood can help you and your family pursue compensation to address the financial challenges caused by the accident.
The at-fault party’s insurance company may offer a quick settlement that does not reflect the extent of your losses or deny your claim altogether, depending on the specifics of your case. Our legal team can help you navigate the complexities of dealing with insurance companies. We can handle correspondence with them on your behalf.
With an attorney on your side, you can avoid the pitfalls of the claims process. Your Lakewood brain injury attorneys can handle negotiations with insurance companies and help you evaluate whether any settlement offer is fair and commensurate with your losses. Hiring an attorney shows insurance companies that you are serious about seeking fair compensation.
Brain injury claims are often complex. That’s why it is often helpful to work with a lawyer. They can help you understand your rights, explore your legal options, and develop a strategy tailored to your situation. By managing the legal process and gathering evidence to support your case, your lawyer can help you focus on your recovery while protecting your long-term interests.
December 2016: $22M+ verdict in a mild traumatic brain injury case. The entire details of the case can be found in the public record filings by the defendant entity that sued its defense– BRIAN BEECHER
Why Choose Arash Law?
The legal team at Arash Law, founded by Arash Khorsandi, Esq., is committed to helping you seek compensation for your injuries. We work diligently and will stand by your side during each stage of the litigation process. Our team provides you with legal services and builds a case that is supported by evidence.
Arash Law is a California personal injury law firm with experience representing injured clients. Here are some of the services we offer to each of our clients:
- Contingency Fee Representation — We work on a contingency fee basis. This means attorney fees are only collected if we obtain compensation on your behalf, though clients may still be responsible for certain case-related costs. Our attorneys discuss all potential fees during your free case review.
- Case Investigation — Our team investigates each case thoroughly by reviewing evidence, consulting with medical providers, and evaluating your prognosis to build a well-supported claim.
- Personalized Legal Support — Every client receives individual attention. We take the time to understand your unique circumstances and develop a strategy tailored to your needs.
- Communication and Negotiation — Our attorneys can manage settlement negotiations and communications so you can focus on your recovery.
- Damage Assessment — We help identify and document all potential damages, including medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and other losses that may not be immediately apparent.
- Litigation Support — If a fair settlement cannot be reached, we can file a civil lawsuit and represent you throughout the litigation process.
- Consultation With Qualified Professionals — When needed, we work with medical providers, financial consultants, and accident reconstructionists to help explain the nature of your injuries and the full impact of your losses.
Our firm has represented injured clients in a wide range of personal injury cases. We are committed to providing each client with personalized attention and guiding them through the legal system with clarity and confidence.
Contact Arash Law’s Lakewood Brain Injury Lawyers
The legal team at Arash Law, under the leadership of Arash Khorsandi, Esq., has decades of experience providing legal support to brain injury victims in Lakewood and throughout California.
We understand that a brain injury can permanently alter your life. The healing process can take months or years, and there is no guarantee you will ever be the same. As such, we aim to help you focus on recuperating by handling the legal aspects of your case. Our team of attorneys can help you pursue compensation for your damages, including current and future losses.
Our Lakewood brain injury attorneys are here to walk you through your legal options. When you hire us, we can help you navigate any insurance issues, connect you to valuable resources in your area to help you get back on your feet, and build a well-documented case.
You don’t have to handle the legal process by yourself. Our Lakewood brain injury attorneys can advocate for you throughout each stage of the civil litigation process. Contact our office to learn more about your legal options after an accident that causes a brain injury.
Call us at (888) 488-1391 or via chat to schedule a free, no-obligation case evaluation. We don’t get paid unless compensation is obtained. However, case-related costs may still apply. We look forward to hearing from you!
