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San Diego Traumatic Brain Injury Attorney

Vaage Law gets traumatic brain injury survivors financial support to rebuild their lives.

Vaage Law > Practice Areas > San Diego Traumatic Brain Injury Attorney

Accidents and collisions can cause serious injuries, but one of the worst among them are traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). If you or a loved one is dealing with a TBI, a San Diego traumatic brain injury lawyer will hold those responsible accountable and get you the compensation you need.

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A brain injury can quickly alter the course of a person’s life. Careers, hobbies, and relationships can all be affected, jeopardizing your income, happiness, and family stability. A traumatic brain injury lawsuit can help recover the funds you need to heal, secure dignified care, and provide for your family’s future.

A San Diego traumatic brain injury attorney from Vaage Law can help you. For over 30 years, our firm has handled a wide range of traumatic brain injuries, obtaining over $175 million for our clients.

Reach out to Vaage Law online or by calling (619) 338-0505 for a free, no-obligation, confidential case evaluation so we can discuss how we can get your life back on track and help you move toward a better future.

What Traumatic Brain Injury Accidents Can a San Diego TBI Lawyer Help Me With?

Accidents can happen unexpectedly and in the blink of an eye. Unfortunately, all it takes is a simple blow to the head to change your life forever. Regardless of the type of accident, the impact of a traumatic brain injury can be dramatic and severe.

  • Car, Motorcycle, Bicycle, or Truck Accidents: Collisions or sudden stops can jolt your head, leading to injuries like concussions or more severe brain damage.
  • Slips, Trips, and Falls: Falling from a height or slipping can result in a hard hit to the head, which can cause traumatic brain injuries.
  • Sports Injuries: Contact sports like football or hockey often involve impacts that can lead to traumatic brain injuries, even with protective gear.
  • Workplace Accidents: Heavy equipment or falls at work can harm your head and result in traumatic brain injuries.
  • Assaults: Physical attacks or violent encounters can result in blows to the head, causing serious traumatic brain injuries.

Listen to Our TBI Client Share Their Experience With Vaage Law

Our San Diego TBI Law Firm has decades of experience taking care of those who developed traumatic brain injuries from various accidents. We understand that tragedy can strike anytime, that’s why our team is on standby for you and your loved ones.

San Diego Traumatic Brain Injury Statistics

As the second-largest city in California and the eighth-largest city in the U.S., San Diego is a bustling city teeming with all walks of life, and unfortunately, many San Diegans are at risk of traumatic brain injuries. Below are just a few facts about the prevalence of TBIs in San Diego:

  • Every year, more than 11,000 people in San Diego County are affected by a traumatic brain injury.
  • Rates of TBI deaths and hospitalizations are greatest among Californian older adults (aged 55 years and older).
  • Among the estimated 11.2 million older adults living in California in 2020, TBI contributed to 2,912 deaths, 17,528 hospitalizations, and 15,708 emergency department visits.

TBI graph

Different Types of TBIs Our San Diego Traumatic Brain Injury Law Firm Handles

When we talk about traumatic brain injuries, it’s important to know that this term covers several types of injuries. At our firm, we recognize that every traumatic brain injury is unique and requires specialized attention:

  • Concussions are injuries that occur when the brain is damaged but the skull is not, as in whiplash car accident injuries when the brain is shaken inside the head.
  • Skull fractures involve a break in the cranial bone, which can happen during slip-and-fall accidents when a person’s head hits the ground after falling.
  • Penetrating injuries happen when the skull is pierced by an object that also damages the underlying brain, as can occur during a violent assault.
  • Contusions consist of bruising or bleeding of the brain tissue and are often associated with a direct impact to the head.
  • Diffuse axonal injuries occur when brain structures tear under rotational force and are most common in car accidents due to the high speeds and momentum involved.

Research from Harvard Medical School shows that clinical decisions made in the first few weeks after a traumatic brain injury have a long-lasting effect on a patient’s recovery prospects.

A delay in treatment, as can happen with arrest and jail injuries while a person is in police custody, could mean the difference between recovering to enjoy an independent life or requiring at-home or residential care.

In the United States, your access to care depends on your ability to afford treatment. A San Diego traumatic brain injury attorney can be a helpful option to provide for those needs.

The longer you wait to get treatment for your traumatic brain injury, the harder it can be to recover, or your condition might even get worse. Don’t let uncertainty and delays stand in your way. If you’re feeling lost about your next steps, a lawyer can make a world of difference.

Take action now to protect your health and future by contacting Vaage Law online or calling (619) 338-0505.

What Brain Injury Symptoms Can a TBI Lawyer Handle?

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), a traumatic brain injury is diagnosed by symptoms such as:

  • Headaches, nausea or vomiting, and seizures.
  • Concentration difficulties, memory loss, and speech problems.
  • Cognitive changes in sensory perception (touch, sound, and visuals).
  • Coordination loss, problems with balance, numbness in toes or fingers.
  • Mood and behavior changes like increased aggression, an inability to control impulses, or attempts at self-harm.

It is extremely important to seek medical attention after a head injury, regardless of symptoms. Many brain injuries have delayed symptoms, meaning your treatable injury could worsen without a professional medical evaluation.

Getting a medical diagnosis right away also benefits a potential lawsuit, as it provides clear evidence of the injury directly after the accident that caused you harm.

“Many of our clients describe feeling like a shadow of their former selves after a traumatic brain injury. This isn’t just a physical setback; it’s a huge disruption to who they are and how they live their lives. Those responsible must face justice, and our clients deserve every bit of compensation that acknowledges everything this injury has taken from them.”

  • Founding Attorney, Robert Vaage

When Should I Contact a Traumatic Brain Injury Attorney in San Diego?

Generally speaking, the sooner you get in touch with a lawyer following your accident, the better. When you get legal help early on, a lawyer can get straight to work building a strong case for you and supporting you in the following ways:

  • Gather Evidence Quickly: Partnering with a lawyer early can help you collect and preserve crucial evidence, such as medical records, police reports, and witness statements, that will be important for your case down the line.
  • Clear and Reliable Advice: A lawyer will have your back and guide you through the confusing legal and medical processes, so you fully understand your options and rights.
  • Timely Treatment: As we mentioned above, getting proper medical attention immediately can save you a lot of pain and anguish later on. A lawyer will help you get the medical treatment you need without unnecessary holdups.
  • Maximized Compensation: The sooner you get legal help, the sooner your lawyer can start improving your chances of getting fair compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and other damages.

Will a San Diego TBI Attorney Really Make a Difference In My Case?

Managing your daily life after a traumatic brain injury can feel nearly impossible. Simple tasks that used to be second nature may now seem daunting, let alone trying to take on your own legal case.

A lawyer can make a huge difference by shouldering the legal burdens for you while you focus on your recovery and health. Not only do they take care of every step of your claim, but they do it well.

A 2016 Martindale-Nolo study that surveyed personal injury survivors revealed that having a lawyer does positively impact outcomes in legal cases. The survey found that:

  • 9 out of 10 people with a lawyer got a settlement or jury award, while only about half of those who handled their own claims did.
  • People who hired a lawyer walked away with, on average, $77,600, but those who represented themselves typically only received $17,600 on average.
  • Those who negotiated and held out for a better deal got settlements that were, on average, $30,700 more than those who took the insurance company’s first offer.

Hear San Diego Traumatic Brain Injury Lawyer Bob Vaage Talk About His Dedicated Approach to Each Case Our Firm Takes On

What Kind of Settlement Can a Traumatic Brain Injury Lawyer in San Diego Help Me Secure?

The settlement you may take home from a traumatic brain injury lawsuit depends on two important factors:

  • The severity of your injuries.
  • How skilled your attorney is at negotiating for the full value of your losses.

A San Diego Traumatic Brain Injury lawyer from Vaage Law can strategically negotiate a settlement based on:

  • Economic damages that are often represented in documents like receipts for items like:
    • Medical bills for emergency transport, surgery, hospitalization, and follow-up care.
    • Pay stubs detailing the amount of wages lost if you were out of work after the accident.
    • Other costs, like vehicle repairs after a car accident or home modifications if you now need mobility aids like a wheelchair.
  • Non-economic damages for often invisible costs such as:
    • Physical pain and suffering caused by your injuries.
    • Psychological conditions like depression, anxiety, or PTSD.
    • Marital or family strife that affects your spouse or children.

An experienced San Diego brain injury lawyer from Vaage Law can hire expert witnesses to testify on how one person’s TBI can impact their job, their family connections, and their quality of life.

Our network of professionals includes medical professionals, economic accountants, and psychiatric authorities who can paint a full picture of all you have suffered, and what can be done through a settlement to help realistically alleviate those issues.

Can a San Diego TBI Lawyer Help Me If My Loved One Passed Due to a TBI?

Losing a loved one to a traumatic brain injury is incredibly hard, and no amount of money can ever replace them. However, a wrongful death claim can help ease some of the burdens you’re facing.

For the surviving family members of someone who lost their life due to a traumatic brain injury or resulting complications, wrongful death damages may be available.

This type of claim can cover the costs of things like funeral expenses and lost income, as well as the deep, personal losses of the special companionship and guidance that your loved one provided.

Settlements and Verdicts Vaage Law Has Won for San Diego TBI Clients

The settlement or verdict you take home should cover the full duration of your injury recovery and aftercare, especially if that care is needed for the rest of your natural life. Given the seriousness of a TBI, settling for anything less than what you truly deserve isn’t an option.

Vaage Law knows how TBIs disrupt victims’ lives, so we won’t stop fighting until you get the full financial support needed, as shown by the case results we have achieved for clients:

  • $25,300,000 for the family of an infant who developed a traumatic brain injury after force feedings at a San Diego Kaiser hospital led to bowel perforations.
  • $12,617,674 to a 32-year-old Encinitas man who suffered a traumatic brain injury while detained.
  • $4,950,527 for a 17-year-old who developed a TBI after San Diego Kaiser healthcare providers failed to recognize a dislodged endotracheal tube.
  • $4,043,728 for a client after an anesthesia resident overdosed a patient with 1000 units of insulin, resulting in a traumatic brain injury.

An Experienced San Diego Traumatic Brain Injury Law Firm Can Get Your Life Back on Track

Traumatic brain injuries require consistent, long-term professional care. The losses experienced by one person often impact their colleagues, friends, and family.

The financial support a TBI lawsuit may afford you can directly improve your recovery chances and the quality of the rest of your life.

You deserve an attorney who understands the gravity of your situation and has the proven ability to secure significant results.

Why Hire Vaage Law

At Vaage Law, every single person in the firm works on your case. With almost 150 years of combined legal experience and more than $175 million recovered for our clients, you can rest easy knowing your case is in good hands.

Our firm’s small size allows us to give you and your case the individualized and quality care you deserve. Take the first step towards justice by calling our San Diego offices at (619) 338-0505 or contacting us online.

San Diego Traumatic Brain Injury Lawsuit FAQs

What is the common cause of a traumatic brain injury?

The previously linked CDC article states that the most common causes of TBIs are falls, followed by struck by/against events, and then motor vehicle crashes. Falls lead to nearly half of TBI-related hospitalizations each year. Slips and falls are also the leading cause of TBIs for children and elders over the age of 75.

What does it cost to hire a TBI lawyer?

While some attorneys or firms may require a consultation fee or retainer before considering your case, at Vaage Law, we work on a contingency fee basis. That means that you don’t pay us a dime unless we win your case. We invest our work and hire experts upfront, and we only recoup our fees if we secure a settlement or verdict on your behalf.

This arrangement directly benefits our clients. We know that individuals and families are likely experiencing difficult financial situations after a traumatic brain injury — we do not charge upfront because at Vaage Law, we seek to relieve your burdens, not add to them.

What resources does Vaage Law have to help my brain injury case?

Depending on the nature and extent of the trauma, head injuries can cause very subtle changes to the brain. Proving the cause of a brain injury or the nature and extent of the impact of the brain injury on the victim requires highly specialized experts.

Expert witness Vaage Law may use neuroradiologists to determine the location and extent of the injury; neuropsychologists to correlate the brain injury to loss of function; physiatrists to determine future care needs; life care planners to calculate the cost of future care; rehabilitation experts to determine if the injured victim can return to work; and then an economist to calculate the full amount of economic damages. 

An experienced traumatic brain injury attorney will know what experts will be required and who are renowned in their field.

How long do I have to file a brain injury lawsuit in San Diego?

Each state has what is known as a “statute of limitations” that limits the window in which you can file a personal injury case related to TBIs.

The traumatic brain injury lawyers at Vaage Law are headquartered in San Diego, where the deadline to file a brain injury lawsuit can be as little as 2 years from the accident or injury in California. Some rare exceptions exist for this timeframe, such as in cases involving minor children, medical malpractice, delayed diagnosis, or if the original cause of the injury was covered up. 

Reach out to us online or by calling (619) 338-0505 for your free consultation. Our team at Vaage Law can meet case deadlines on your behalf so you do not miss out on your opportunity for justice.

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To learn about your options and rights as an injured victim, please contact our office as soon as possible.

 

 

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Medical Malpractice/Negligence

$25,300,000 - Force Feeds Cause Bowel Perforation

In utero, J.V. was diagnosed with a congenital twisting of his bowels called atresia. A few days after birth, he had surgical repair at Kaiser Sunset.

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