Los Angeles Brain Injury Lawyers

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A brain injury is a catastrophic injury from which victims literally can never fully recover. Unlike most body tissues, the brain can’t regenerate its cells. Once cells are damaged or connections between them are broken, the functions they perform are simply lost unless the brain can learn to perform them in new ways. Victims may have permanent problems with their movement, senses, emotions or cognitive abilities, or even changes in personality. If a person’s or business entity’s negligence caused your accident resulting in a brain injury, our Los Angeles brain injury lawyers can help you with your injury claim.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 1.4 million Americans sustain some kind of traumatic brain injury every year, with about 235,000 requiring hospitalization and 50,000 more dying. Falls and car accidents are the most common causes of brain injuries, but these injuries can be caused by any blow to the head, including sports injuries and gunshot wounds. Thousands more sustain non-traumatic brain injuries because of disease, stroke or oxygen deprivation, sometimes due to medical malpractice. About 5.3 million people in the United States — two percent of our population — need permanent, daily help with everyday tasks because of a brain injury.

Navigate This Page:

Why Choose Our Law Firm?
Brain Injury Verdicts & Settlements
What Compensation Can I Recover for a TBI?
Types of Accidents Most Likely To Cause a Serious Head or Brain Injury
Typical Symptoms of a Serious Brain Injury
Brain Injury Frequently Asked Questions

Why Choose Our Law Firm?

Panish | Shea | Ravipudi LLP has extensive experience with the complicated and lengthy lawsuits that often spring up after a brain injury. Our Los Angeles brain injury lawyers have landed record verdicts in complex, national litigation over medical and scientific issues, including two record verdicts involving defective automotive parts that left clients permanently disabled. Our brain injury successes include recent settlements of $48.5 million and $30 million on behalf of survivors of automobile collisions that resulted in severe traumatic brain injuries. Panish | Shea | Ravipudi LLP has tried numerous jury trials in brain injury cases across the state resulting in several 8-figure verdicts

Our personal injury attorneys have been repeatedly recognized for excellence by other consumer and trial attorneys. Honors to our partners include recognition as Most Influential Attorneys, Best Lawyers in America, and nominations and awards for Trial Lawyer of the Year. All of our partners write and speak regularly to other attorneys and are active in professional organizations. Our brain injury attorneys represent clients in Los Angeles, Orange County, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Francisco, Alameda, Sacramento, and across California.

Brain Injury Verdicts & Settlements

John Doe v. Roe Company $160,500,000: Jury verdict for a man who suffered a traumatic brain injury as a result of a vicious beating by security personnel for a nightclub
Freeman v. Doe Realty Company $48,500,000: Settlement on behalf of a young man struck in a crosswalk by a real estate broker.
Freeman v. Board of the Trustees of the California State University $39,500,000: Settlement for college student Marissa Freeman who was catastrophically injured after suffering heatstroke during an outdoor class at California State University San Bernardino. This is believed to be the largest settlement ever for an injury case involving the California State University system.
JG v. County of Tulare $32,500,000 Settlement for a child who suffered permanent brain damage as a result of Tulare County Child Welfare Services’ failure to respond to reports of child abuse.
Doe v. Truck Staffing Company $30,000,000: Settlement on behalf of a man involved in a collision with a commercial truck.
Rivas v. JB Hunt $20,000,000: Verdict for a woman who suffered catastrophic injuries after her vehicle was struck by a big-rig.
Nelsen v. Hillyard, Inc., et al. $21,067,093: Verdict for a 29-year-old Iraq War veteran after he was involved in an auto collision with a speeding Hillyard, Inc. van.
Tilton v. Southern California Gas Co. (Sempra Energy) $15,000,000
Doe v. Express Delivery Com. $9,600,000: Settlement for injuries sustained when a delivery truck’s tow dolly, weighing approximately 1,000 pounds, became detached while traveling on the highway, flew through the air, and landed directly in front of the plaintiffs’ vehicle, causing a violent collision. Injuries included a mild to moderate traumatic brain injury, post-concussive syndrome, and an aortic tear.
Sims v. Mountain Area Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) $7,000,000; Settlement for severe traumatic brain injury sustained by plaintiff who was struck by a bus while crossing a street in Big Bear and struck her head on the pavement when she fell to the ground.
Watkins v. MTA $6,000,000: Settlement for a woman who suffered a traumatic brain injury after her vehicle was rear-ended on the freeway by a Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority bus.
Doe v. Cruise Ship $5,600,000: Settlement of $5.6 million for severe traumatic brain injury sustained by a 13-year old boy who fell through an opening when a glass panel became detached from a stairway system on a cruise ship, and landed several decks below.
Janovici v. Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) $5,000,000
Wilbur v. Does $3,500,000
Pesso v. Meyers $2,600,000
Davin v. Skyline Limousine Service $1,300,000
Williams v. S.C.E. $1,200,000

What Compensation Can I Recover for a TBI?

Although no amount of money can ever fully make up for an injury as catastrophic as a traumatic brain injury, a successful settlement or jury verdict from the defendant could help you and your family move forward with greater peace of mind and financial stability. An award from an insurance company could pay for both economic (special) and noneconomic (general) damages. The at-fault party may be financially responsible for all losses related to your TBI, including:

Medical bills. The amount of money your family has and will foreseeably spend on medical bills, including hospital stays, x-rays, surgeries, intensive or emergency care, treatments, medications, specialists, rehabilitation, physical therapy, and medical devices.
Disability costs. Any expenses related to permanent brain damage and related cognitive or physical disabilities, including home or vehicle modifications, live-in care, assistive devices, and long-term medical treatments.
Lost wages. An award for the wages, earnings and employment benefits lost due to the victim’s inability to go back to work during recovery. If the TBI leads to a permanent disability, this could lead to payment for lost capacity to earn.
Pain and suffering. An award for the general or intangible losses suffered by the TBI victim, such as physical pain, emotional suffering, mental anguish, psychological distress, anger, depression, sexual dysfunction, lost quality of life, lost enjoyment and loss of consortium.
Out-of-pocket costs. Any out-of-pocket expenses the family or victim incurred due to the TBI. This may include travel costs, property damage repairs from the accident, legal fees and attorney fees.
Punitive damages. An added amount of compensation that may be available if the defendant caused the brain injury through gross negligence, wanton recklessness or malicious intent to harm.

The types of financial damages that may be available in your brain injury case will depend on the losses suffered and the specifics of the TBI. Your brain injury attorney in Los Angeles can help you create a comprehensive list of you and your family’s past and future losses, as well as provide an accurate evaluation of their worth. That way, you can rest assured you are not missing any opportunities for financial recovery during the insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit process.

Types of Accidents Most Likely to Cause a Serious Head or Brain Injury

Motor vehicle accidents
Falling from three or more feet off the ground
Falling down five or more stairs
Falling off a bicycle without a helmet

Typical Symptoms of a Serious Brain Injury

Loss of consciousness
Persistent headaches
Memory problems
Concentration difficulties
Multi-tasking challenges
Dizziness or loss of balance
Vision problems such as double or blurry vision, light sensitivity
Emotional struggles such as irritability, crying easily, anger outbursts

For those patients and their loved ones, a brain injury changes every aspect about their lives. Victims who lose important physical or mental abilities may need to abandon or radically change future plans, give up some part of their independence, or they may simply be cut off from simple pleasures. In addition to being devastating, this can also be very expensive. Victims may need multiple surgeries, ongoing therapy or even round-the-clock care. Families victimized by a sudden accident or a violent crime may not have the financial resources to provide these things for their loved ones. If you face this burden because of someone else’s careless or illegal behavior, you may need a Los Angeles brain injury attorney as you have the right to hold that person responsible in a court of law.

Los Angeles Brain Injury Frequently Asked Questions

What Are the Factors That Affect a Traumatic Brain Injury Settlement?

It is normal to be curious about the amount you or your family can recover from a defendant during a brain injury case. Your family is likely struggling with enormous medical bills and other debts related to the accident and injury, as well as worry over how to pay for future related expenses. Every brain injury lawsuit is unique. The amount recoverable in your case will depend on its individual features. Many factors could affect the total compensation amount:

Recovery time
Necessary medical treatments
Future medical needs
Level of impairment
Stress-related to the brain injury
Emotional or psychological anguish
Financial duress due to medical bills and lost wages
Number of defendants
Amount of insurance available
Your comparative negligence
Whether you mitigated your losses
The defendant’s actions or conduct in causing the TBI
Funeral and burial expenses (in a wrongful death case)
Your age, medical history, health, income and other characteristics
Where the case is tried

The list of issues that could affect how much your brain injury case is worth is long. The best way to properly prepare your claim and demand the full and fair amount of your losses is by working with an attorney. A TBI attorney in Los Angeles can carefully evaluate your claim to determine its full value. Then, your lawyer can help you negotiate with an insurance company in California for the best possible case outcome.

How Do Courts Calculate a TBI Settlement?

The courts divide financial damages in an injury claim into two categories: special and general. The calculation methods for each category vary significantly. To determine a fair award in special (economic) damages, the courts will look at hard evidence. This may include medical bills, receipts, invoices, treatment plans, pay stubs, and letters from doctors and employers. The court will add up the existing economic losses, then use experts and accountants to accurately estimate a victim’s future damages with a long-term or permanent brain injury.

Calculating general damages is different. There is no physical proof or hard evidence of general, or noneconomic, losses. These are losses the victim suffers on an intangible level from the accident and injury: physically, mentally and emotionally. A jury will award pain and suffering damages based on evidence such as:

Medical expert testimony
Medical records
Testimony from a psychiatrist
Photographs of the injuries
The victim’s injury journal
Testimony from the victim
Accounts from friends and family members
Jury instructions from the judge

When it comes time to calculate a pain and suffering award, a jury can use one of multiple calculation methods or no method at all. This type of award amount is entirely up to the jury’s discretion. A jury will often analyze how significantly a TBI has and will affect the victim to determine a fair noneconomic damage award. If the jury does decide to use an equation, it may choose the Multiplier or Per Diem Method.

How Are Pain and Suffering Damages Calculated?

The Multiplier Method is more common for permanent injuries and disabilities. This method takes the victim’s total amount of economic damages and multiplies it by a number that matches the severity of the victim’s injury. For example, if the victim was awarded $200,000 in economic damages and the jury assigned a multiplier of 4 for a severe brain injury, the victim could receive $800,000 in pain and suffering.

If the TBI did not inflict permanent damage, the jury may choose the Per Diem calculation method instead. With this method, the jury multiplies a daily pain and suffering amount (often equivalent to the victim’s previous daily wage) by the number of days he or she will presumably deal with the effects of the injury. Both methods will require an analysis of related facts and evidence, such as the victim’s medical records and expert testimony.

What Are the Long-Term Effects of Traumatic Brain Injuries?

Traumatic brain injuries are some of the most catastrophic injuries possible in accidents such as car crashes and falls. Many TBI victims can never fully get back what they lost due to the injury. Aside from temporary symptoms of a brain injury, a victim could also endure many long-term or permanent effects:

Financial effects. From emergency care and weeks spent in an ICU to ongoing medical treatments and required equipment to accommodate a disability, the financial effects of a traumatic brain injury can be immense. Estimates of a patient’s lifetime TBI treatment costs place the amount around $85,000 to $3 million.
Physical effects. An injury to the brain can cause permanent physical disability. A victim may experience the loss of many physical skills and functions, such as eating, talking, walking and fine motor function. Motor deficits, chronic pain, paralysis, seizures, spasms, vision problems, loss of bowel and bladder control, and difficulty carrying objects are common examples of long-term physical effects from a TBI.
Psychological or cognitive effects. A serious brain injury could affect the victim’s cognitive abilities, leading to changes in personality, mood and behavior, as well as impacts to memory, communication, concentration, attention, processing social constructs and many other cognitive functions. Furthermore, a TBI could result in mental and emotional effects, including depression and anxiety.

Although it is possible for a patient with a traumatic brain injury to make a full recovery, this is not always the case after a major injury. Many victims live with the long-term effects of a TBI for life, even with physical therapy and rehabilitation making moderate improvements. If you or a loved one has a long-term or permanent brain injury, it is even more important to consult with an attorney. A personal injury lawyer in Los Angeles can help you demand the financial compensation you will need in the future for a life-changing injury.

How Will a TBI Attorney Help?

A Los Angeles brain injury attorney can connect you to many resources you and your family need during this difficult time. From lawyers with years of on-the-job experience to connections with brain injury experts in the area, the right law firm will have everything you need to build a strong case against the at-fault party or parties.

Hiring a brain injury attorney for your case can come with many benefits. Your lawyer can help you with the challenges of building a strong brain injury claim, including gathering key evidence. Your lawyer can also help you negotiate with an insurance company when there is a lot at stake for your family financially. Your legal team can take steps to prove liability and your damages, all while you focus on more important matters, such as healing.

Contact a Brain Injury Lawyer in Los Angeles, California Today

A lawyer can look out for you and protect your best interests while you seek treatments for your TBI. For more information about how an attorney can help you and your family with an insurance claim or injury lawsuit, contact Panish Shea Ravipudi LLP for a free consultation. Call (310) 477-1700 today.

Client Testimonial

“Our lives were turned upside down when my wife was rear ended while stopped at a red light. She was left with a traumatic brain injury and plagued by severe migraines as a result. After some deliberation, we decided to sue the driver (I say “we” because I also sued for loss of consortium). Fortunately, a good family friend (who just happens to be an attorney) advised that we ask Panish | Shea | Ravipudi if they’d represent us. After reviewing our case, they agreed to take it (we were specifically represented by attorneys Spencer Lucas and Marguerite Sanvictores, as well as a host of others that support them), and the end result was nothing short of amazing!

If you are in need of representation, you should not hesitate to call on these professionals to represent you.” -Christian Stewart

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