Encino Brain Injury Lawyer

If you were injured in an accident that caused a brain injury or would like to help a loved one who suffered an injury of this nature, contact the Encino brain injury lawyers with Younglove Law Firm for a complimentary confidential consultation to discuss your claim. Call us today at (602) 737-3333 to get started.

Why Choose Us for Your Brain Injury Attorneys in Encino?

The attorneys at Younglove Law Firm have been dedicated to helping injury victims in California for decades, with a focus on obtaining prompt action and favorable outcomes even in complex cases like brain injury claims. Attorney Douglas Younglove has extensive courtroom experience as well as strong negotiation skills. Your attorney from Younglove Law Firm is ready to work toward a resolution through a settlement or to argue aggressively for your compensation in court. The Encino personal injury lawyers at Younglove offer the following legal advantages to your claim:

  • Diligent attention to detail so prompt action is never stalled due to paperwork errors
  • Skilled investigation to document clear evidence of liability and carefully calculated damages
  • Powerful negotiation skills to maximize the amount of your settlement
  • Open and honest communication and availability throughout the process of your claim
  • Knowledgable legal counsel and representation to guide you through the process
  • A streamlined strategy to produce the best possible outcome in your case

A brain injury sends the victim and their family’s lives spinning off-course in a moment. Expenses mount at the same time the injury victim is unable to return to work in their previous capacity, with a long recovery ahead. Brain injury victims should not have to focus on untangling a complex legal claim for compensation when they need all of their energy and concentration to reach the greatest possible physical and cognitive recovery.

Compensation for Brain Injury Claims

If you were injured in an accident that resulted in a brain injury, you may be able to recover compensation for the harm you suffered, which may provide for the following:

  • Medical expenses, including payment for emergency treatment, hospitalization, surgical costs, ambulance charges, follow-up care, rehabilitation, speech, occupational, and physical therapy, in-home care, medical devices, medication, and future medical costs
  • Lost income, benefits, and reductions in long-term earning capacity
  • Costs to repair or replace your damaged property
  • Physical pain and suffering
  • Mental anguish
  • Emotional distress
  • Reduced quality of life
  • Loss of consortium

If you are considering taking legal action to recover compensation for your brain injury, reach out to our dedicated team today.

Startling Brain Injury Statistics

Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) are one of the most common injuries with long-term impacts on the victim’s life. According to data collected by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), these injuries are a leading cause of accident-related disability.

  • There are around 586 TBI-related hospitalizations daily in the United States, and 190 deaths each day due to TBI
  • Individuals over the age of 75 have the highest rates of hospitalizations and deaths due to TBI at 32 percent of hospitalizations and 28 percent of deaths
  • About half of TBIs are caused by falls, while car accidents, contact sports, assaults, and suicide by firearms are also leading causes of TBI
  • Repeated mild concussions can lead to dementia and Alzheimer’s-like symptoms later in life
  • Childhood TBIs impact later learning ability, personality, and behavior
  • Males make up about 79 percent of TBI injuries
  • About 5.3 million Americans are living with brain injury-related disability today

The brain is the center of bodily function, reasoning, memory, and personality. It’s also a sensitive organ without the ability to regenerate damaged cells. When the brain suffers a blow, shake, jolt, or penetrating wound, the millions of message-sending neurons within the brain cells may become dysfunctional with physical, emotional, and cognitive impacts on the victim.

Common Causes of Brain Injuries

Brain injuries are often the result of trauma that victims experience in accidents such as:

If you’ve been in an accident resulting in a brain injury, seeking counsel from a specialized Encino car accident lawyer is essential. A seasoned attorney can assess the specifics of your case and navigate the complexities related to brain injuries.

Other causes such as a fall due to someone else’s negligence can result in a brain injury, it is imperative to seek the expertise of an Encino slip and fall attorney. Such legal professionals can assess liability and advocate on your behalf to secure compensation for  damages associated with the traumatic brain injury sustained during the accident.

Brain picture

Symptoms of Traumatic Brain Injuries

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 1.5 million Americans suffer a new traumatic brain injury each year. Of these, about 230,000 people are hospitalized, 50,000 people die, and up to 90,000 people experience the onset of long-term disability, on average. Today, approximately 5.3 million people are living with a permanent TBI-related disability in the United States.

A variety of symptoms can follow a traumatic brain injury. Victims and their families should carefully monitor for symptoms that appear after a trauma to the head, such as:

Consciousness Disorders

Victims may lose consciousness for a few minutes or longer. More serious TBI injuries can cause coma and other consciousness disorders.

Cognitive Deficits

TBI injury victims may suffer from various cognitive deficits, such as:

  • Problems remembering
  • Issues with problem-solving
  • Difficulty understanding directions
  • Confusion
  • Difficulty understanding language and the meaning of words
  • Attention problems

Physical Symptoms

TBI victims may experience physical symptoms including:

  • Headaches
  • Dizziness
  • Fatigue
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Drainage from the ears or nose
  • Changes in sleep patterns
  • Change in eating habits
  • Loss of bowel and bladder function

Motor Deficits

TBI victims may experience various motor deficits, which can cause:

  • Paralysis
  • Tremors
  • Seizures
  • Muscle spasticity
  • Weakness
  • Difficulty maintaining balance

Sensory Problems

TBI victims can experience problems with their senses, such as:

  • Tinnitus
  • Sensitivity to light or noise
  • Changes in the sense of touch
  • Blurry vision

Personality Changes

TBIs can affect a person’s personality, potentially causing:

  • Aggression, anger, or irritability
  • Personality changes
  • Inappropriate sexual behavior
  • Spontaneous cursing
  • Depression and anxiety
  • Sadness
  • Problems with social and intimate relationships
  • Difficulty getting along with others at work

Proving Liability in Brain Injury Claims

As the plaintiff in a brain injury claim, you or your loved one have the burden of proving the at-fault party’s negligence through a preponderance of the evidence. You must meet this burden to show that the at-fault party is liable for your damages, like medical bills, lost wages, and disability. An experienced brain injury attorney investigates the accident, identifies the at-fault party and appropriate insurance company, and then documents evidence demonstrating the following:

  • The at-fault party owed a duty of care to take reasonable measures to prevent causing injuries to others such as a driver’s duty to follow traffic laws or a manufacturer’s duty to produce safe products
  • The at-fault party breached their duty of care through an act of negligence, recklessness, or wrongdoing
  • The breach of duty directly caused the injury
  • The injury victim suffered damages from the injury

“Damages” in a brain injury claim refers to the economic and non-economic consequences of the injury to the victim.

Common At-Fault Parties in Brain Injury Claims

Brain injuries occur in many ways, but the most common causes of traumatic brain injuries are car accidents, falls, and sports injuries. Common defendants in brain injury claims include the following:

  • Negligent, reckless, or intoxicated drivers
  • Negligent property owners, business managers, or employers
  • Manufacturers of defective products
  • Perpetrators of criminal acts of violence

When a person or business fails to act in the way another reasonable person or business would in the same circumstances, they are liable for the damages to the victim. Compensation in these cases typically comes from the appropriate insurance policy, such as an at-fault driver’s auto insurance or a store owner’s property liability insurance. If the victim’s damages far exceed the amount of insurance coverage available, the victim may pursue a lawsuit against the defendant to seek further compensation.

Common Tactics Insurance Companies Use to Delay, Deny, or Undervalue Brain Injury Claims

Insurers rarely pay out on large claims like those in brain injury cases without attempting to minimize the amount they have to pay. After a brain injury, it’s best to hire an attorney and direct all communication with the insurance company to your lawyer. Be wary of the following common tactics used by insurers to minimize the amount of a settlement or to deny the claim completely:

  • Offering a low settlement in exchange for the signing away of your right to a lawsuit soon after the accident—often before you know the true extent of the damages you’re facing
  • Using the state’s comparative negligence laws against you by assigning you an undue level of fault for the accident to minimize the amount they have to pay by your percentage of alleged fault in the accident
  • Calling on a recorded line and using your words out of context against you as an admission of fault or as “evidence” that the injury isn’t as severe as you claim
  • Asking for medical authorization to review the injury records and then combing through your medical history to find a previous accident or medical condition they can claim is the true cause of your symptoms
  • Denying that your doctor’s treatment and rehabilitation recommendations are necessary for your injury
  • Delaying the claim process as long as possible in the hopes that you’ll accept a lowball offer when they make one

After a serious injury like a brain injury, it’s critical to have experienced legal counsel handling your claim so insurers don’t take advantage in order to protect company profits.

Contact Our Compassionate Encino Brain Injury Attorneys for Help Today

If you or a loved one suffered a brain injury, contact the Younglove Law Firm today. We provide free and confidential case consultations to all new prospective clients where you can learn about your legal rights and options. Contact us today at (602) 737-3333 to schedule your free case review.