Were You Injured in an Accident That Resulted in a Brain Injury?
If you or a loved one has suffered a severe head injury in San Diego due to someone else's negligence, a San Diego brain injury lawyer can help you recover financial compensation. At Harbor Accident Lawyers, we understand how difficult it is to cope with brain injuries. That is why we are dedicated to helping victims recover the maximum compensation.
Free Consultation for Brain Injury Victims
One of the benefits of hiring Harbor Accident Lawyers is that we work on a contingency fee basis. This means brain injury clients do not have to worry about paying out-of-pocket legal fees. We only get paid if we win your case and recover your compensation. The sooner you call us, the better we can protect you. Call us today or complete our online form to schedule a free consultation with our San Diego brain injury lawyer.
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Contact Our San Diego Brain Injury Attorney Today
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Why Hire Harbor Accident Lawyers to Handle Your Brain Injury Case?
After you seek medical attention for your injury, it is critical to speak with an experienced San Diego brain injury lawyer as soon as possible. Every 9 seconds, someone in the U.S. sustains a brain injury. A traumatic brain injury (TBI) from a motor vehicle collision or a fall is a severe injury that can lead to permanent brain damage. Brain injuries can result in long-term behavioral, cognitive, and emotional changes ranging from mild to severe.
Not only is there a statute of limitations for brain injury claims, but the longer you wait, the more likely the insurance company will deny your claim. Only an experienced lawyer can prove a complex brain injury case and determine the value of your losses.
The defendant's insurance company will likely try to settle with you as quickly as possible or get you to admit fault for your accident. Our brain injury lawyers will protect you from the insurance tactics so you recover as much as possible. An attorney will investigate your accident thoroughly, gather evidence, speak to witnesses, and demonstrate the severity of your injuries.
If a fair settlement cannot be reached through negotiations, our San Diego brain injury attorneys will file a brain injury lawsuit and represent you in court.
We are like family
You're not just a number but a family member with us. Expect courtesy calls and constant updates from our team. Our friendly staff is available to take your calls whenever you need anything.We strive for maximum recovery
We are your loyal advocate who understands your needs. You can expect honest advice and aggressive representation from us. We will decide on the best strategy to benefit you and your recovery.No money out-of-pocket
Because we work on a contingency basis, you only pay something up-front once your case is settled. We take pride in providing free legal advice whether or not you hire us."I was referred to Harbor Accident Lawyers by a friend. They always returned my calls and always reached out to me with updates, which I appreciated. They were honest with me about my case and laid out all my options. In the end, I got my settlement for more than what was initially presented and best of all, I never saw a single medical bill!"
Cases We Handle
We handle the following personal injury cases:
Work Injuries
An Experienced Team Fighting for Injured Victims
At Harbor Accident Lawyers, our experienced attorney is committed to fighting for the rights of brain injury victims in San Diego. Understanding the profound impact of traumatic brain injuries, we dedicate ourselves to securing the maximum compensation for our clients. Our law firm operates on a contingency fee basis, and our clients face no out-of-pocket legal fees, ensuring our commitment to your recovery and justice without financial stress.
San Diego Office
Did You Sustain a Serious Brain Injury?
Our San Diego Brain Injury Lawyers are ready to take your call.
Who Is Liable for Your Brain Injury?
The person or entity that was negligent and caused your brain injury is most likely liable. Negligence is the legal term for carelessness and is the basis for most personal injury claims.
Examples of negligence that can lead to brain injuries include:
- A motorist who is driving under the influence and hits another driver, motorcyclist, bicyclist, or pedestrian
- An employer who failed to provide a safe working environment
- A property owner who failed to ensure safe premises
- A manufacturer who sold a faulty or defective product
How Do You Prove Negligence in a Brain Injury Claim?
Once you have identified the negligent person or party, you must prove the legal elements of negligence as follows:
- The defendant owed you a duty of care.
- The defendant failed to meet the standard of care, acting negligently or recklessly.
- There is a direct link between the person's breach of duty and your head injury.
- You suffered actual damages, such as medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and reduced quality of life.
Proving negligence is far from simple. You will need an experienced brain injury attorney to collect all the evidence, determine liability, and calculate damages before reaching a final settlement.
Page Updated: 4/9/24
What to Do After a Brain Injury Accident in San Diego
The first steps after a serious brain injury are the most critical. Depending on the circumstances of your accident, you will need to follow your doctor’s orders and get a lot of rest. To preserve your right to file a San Diego brain injury case, follow these steps:
- Get immediate medical attention. This is the most important step after a brain injury. Even if you do not feel immediate symptoms, it is important to get thoroughly checked out by a doctor. Many people do not realize when they’ve suffered a concussion or other head injury.
- Obtain all copies of medical records. Keep all medical documents, including doctor’s notes, treatment plans, and medical bills related to your injury. These documents will serve as proof of your injury and form the basis of your compensation.
- Report the accident. If you sustained your injury after a motor vehicle accident, you must file a police report with the county. If you were injured at work, file a worker’s compensation claim with your employer. If you suffered an injury after a slip and fall, report the accident to the property owner or business manager.
- Do not admit fault. Insurance adjusters are notorious for pressuring injured victims to admit fault. They also tend to offer a lot less than what victims deserve. Be very careful when speaking to the other party’s insurance company.
- Seek advice from a brain injury lawyer. With the help of experienced traumatic brain injury attorneys, your legal rights are protected. You also have a much higher chance of obtaining financial compensation from the at-fault party.
As the name implies, sustaining a traumatic brain injury is traumatic. You will need to get as much rest as possible and refrain from strenuous activity. You should also seek the support of friends and family members. Our compassionate legal team will make sure everything else is taken care of.
What Is a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)?
A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a type of brain injury caused by a violent blow, bump, or jolt to the head or body that causes the brain to move rapidly back and forth. An object that penetrates through the brain tissue can also cause a TBI.
Traumatic brain injuries can be classified as mild, moderate, and severe. Mild traumatic brain injury can damage brain cells temporarily, while more serious brain injury can cause memory loss, bleeding, and coma. Symptoms can be short-term or cause long-term brain damage.
Traumatic Brain Injury Statistics
Brain injuries are one of the leading causes of disability and death in the U.S. According to the CDC, there were 214,000 TBI-related hospitalizations in 2020.
Signs and Symptoms of a Traumatic Brain Injury
A traumatic brain injury can result in a wide-range of physical and psychological symptoms. Some signs and symptoms may show up right away, while others may take days or weeks to appear. Common brain injury symptoms are:
- Headaches
- Nausea or vomiting
- Confusion
- Dizziness
- Blurry vision
- Fatigue
- Loss of consciousness
- Sensitivity to light and/or sound
- Difficulty focusing
- Memory loss
- Mood changes or mood swings
- Speech difficulties
- Changes in sleep patterns
- Depression
What Are the Common Causes of Traumatic Brain Injuries?
Brain injuries can stem from many different events, such as:
Motor Vehicle Accidents
Collisions involving cars, motorcycles, bicycles, and pedestrians are a common cause of traumatic brain injury.
Falls
Falls are the leading cause of TBIs in the U.S., according to the CDC. Older adults and children are at the highest risk of sustaining brain injuries after a fall.
Sports Injuries
Athletes in high-contact sports such as football, hockey, boxing, and soccer are more prone to brain injuries. Sports contribute about 21% of all TBIs among children and adolescents in the U.S.
Other Accidents
Serious brain injuries may also come from work-related accidents, an illness, combat injuries, or violence.
Types of Traumatic Brain Injuries
Traumatic brain injuries can be classified as minor, moderate, or severe, indicating the severity of the injury. Brain injuries can also be classified as open or closed to tell whether an object penetrated through the brain tissue, or whether it was a blunt force trauma.
- Concussion or Mild TBI: Concussions are the most common type of traumatic brain injury. Approximately 3 out of 4 TBIs are concussions. They are generally considered non life-threatening, and symptoms can include memory loss, fatigue, and nausea.
- Moderate TBI: A moderate TBI is classified by a loss of consciousness for up to 24 hours.
- Severe TBI: If a patient has a loss of consciousness for more than one day, they likely have a severe brain injury and brain damage.
- Skull fracture: A skull fracture is a break in the skull bone that can lead to bleeding, brain damage, infection, and seizure.
- Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE): CTE is a degenerative brain disease caused by repeated head injuries.
- Non-traumatic: Not all brain injuries are from trauma. Non-traumatic brain injuries are known as hypoxic/anoxic brain injury or an acquired brain injury. They can result from strokes, seizure, choking, or drowning.
Diagnosing brain injuries can be complex, especially if the victim did not experience a loss of consciousness. This can make an injury harder to detect. In cases where a victim is in a prolonged state of unconsciousness, it becomes pretty clear that they suffered a severe brain injury. It is always best to see a licensed medical professional or neurologist to determine what type of head trauma you may have suffered.
How Much Are Brain Injury Cases Worth?
Since no two brain injury cases are alike, there is no average brain injury settlement amount. The value of a claim will depend on several factors, such as the age and health of the victim, their earning capacity, the extent of their injury, and more. Generally speaking, the more severe the injuries, the higher the settlement will be.
Our traumatic brain injury lawyer will spend copious time calculating your damages to determine the true value of your claim. We will negotiate with the insurance company, and we will never settle less than what is rightfully yours.
Compensation for Your Brain Injury Claim
Compensation for brain injuries looks very similar to most personal injury claims. Victims are typically able to recover two types of damages: economic and non-economic. Economic damages reflect the victim’s actual financial losses, while non-economic damages are more subjective. Brain injury attorneys in San Diego may be able help you recover the following:
Medical Expenses
Your claim can compensate you for past and future medical expenses such as hospital and emergency room visits, medication, treatment, surgery, and more.
Ongoing Medical Care
If your injury requires you to receive ongoing medical care, such as physical therapy or rehabilitation, your claim can include compensation for future medical expenses.
Lost Wages
If your head injury causes you to miss time from work, you can be compensated for your lost income and loss of earning capacity if you are unable to return to work.
Physical Pain
Pain and suffering is a type of non-economic damage that encompasses physical and emotional pain, such as headaches, back or neck pain, and PTSD.
What Is the Statute of Limitations for a Brain Injury Accident in California?
The statute of limitations is the deadline for filing a lawsuit against the person or entity that caused your injury. If you miss the deadline, you lose your right to sue and recover any money for your losses.
For serious brain injury claims in California, the statute of limitations is two years from the date of the injury. However, there are some exceptions and extensions that may apply in certain situations.
For example, if the defendant is a government entity, you have to file a claim with them within six months before you can file a lawsuit. Or, if you did not discover your injury right away, the statute of limitations may start from the date you discovered it.
It is crucial to reach out to a San Diego brain injury attorney as soon as possible to ensure your legal right to compensation.
How Long Does a Brain Injury Claim Take to Settle?
Any experienced lawyer will tell you that there is no average time for a case to settle. This is because every case is unique to that person, their injuries, and other circumstances. If a case involves a head injury or other severe bodily injury, it will take longer to settle.
The time it takes to settle a brain injury lawsuit depends on the following:
- Negotiations: Settlement negotiations can take anywhere from weeks to months. Your lawyer will go back and forth with the insurance adjustor to reach a fair settlement.
- Filing a lawsuit: If the insurance company is playing hardball, your attorney may file a lawsuit to get a better outcome. The defendant has up to 45 days to respond.
- Mediation: To avoid a lengthy trial, many brain injury claims go into mediation. This can take anywhere from several months to over a year.
- Trial: If your case goes to trial, it can take anywhere from one to two years from the date of your accident. Trials are rare because they are lengthy and costly for both sides.
Contact an Experienced San Diego Brain Injury Lawyer Today
A brain injury can be a life-changing event. After you seek medical treatment, call our San Diego brain injury attorneys so we can help you recover compensation needed for your medical bills and more. You deserve compensation if a negligent driver, employer, or property owner caused your injury.
Harbor Accident Lawyers have extensive experience in personal injury and the laws surrounding California claims. We work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing upfront to obtain legal representation.
Visit our personal injury law firm, located off the I-5 freeway in Downtown San Diego, and call or email us. Let us help you find solace and peace after a severe injury.
How Can We Help?
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1901 First Ave. Suite 204
San Diego, CA 92101
858-757-8724