A traumatic brain injury can change the way a person thinks, remembers, communicates, works, and interacts with family. Some brain injuries are immediately obvious, while others develop gradually and may not appear on ordinary imaging.
A person may walk away from an accident believing they are fine, only to experience headaches, memory problems, dizziness, confusion, sleep disruption, mood changes, or difficulty concentrating hours or days later. The CDC explains that mild traumatic brain injury symptoms can affect how someone feels, thinks, behaves, and sleeps, and some symptoms may not appear immediately.
Royal Capital Law Group represents individuals and families affected by traumatic brain injuries throughout Los Angeles and across California. We investigate how the injury occurred, preserve critical evidence, document its physical and cognitive effects, and pursue compensation for both current and future losses.
Contact Royal Capital Law Group today for a free consultation. You pay no attorney's fees unless we recover compensation for you.
What Is a Traumatic Brain Injury?
A traumatic brain injury, often called a TBI, is an injury that disrupts normal brain function. A TBI may result from a blow to the head, a jolt to the body, rapid acceleration or deceleration, penetration of the skull, the brain striking or twisting inside the skull, or loss of oxygen following trauma.
Traumatic brain injuries are commonly described as mild, moderate, or severe. However, the word "mild" refers to the initial clinical classification and does not necessarily describe the effect the injury may have on the person's life.
Why Brain Injury Claims Are Different
Brain injury cases often present challenges that do not arise in ordinary injury claims. The injury may be invisible to others. Symptoms can fluctuate, develop gradually, or affect judgment and memory in ways that make it difficult for the injured person to explain what has changed. A brain injury claim may involve delayed symptoms, normal or inconclusive imaging, cognitive limitations, personality or behavioral changes, problems returning to work, long-term rehabilitation, future medical and personal-care needs, and disputes over whether symptoms are psychological or physical.
The National Academies has noted that traumatic brain injury can produce lasting physical, cognitive, and emotional effects extending far beyond the original event. A proper claim should evaluate the person's long-term prognosis rather than focusing only on the first emergency-room visit.
How Brain Injuries Occur
Injured in an Accident and Experiencing Brain Injury Symptoms?
Brain injuries may result from a direct impact to the head or from force that causes the head and brain to move rapidly back and forth. According to the CDC, this sudden movement can cause the brain to twist or move inside the skull, producing chemical changes and damage to brain cells.
Insurance companies may attempt to minimize a claim because the injured person did not lose consciousness, had a normal scan, or did not report every symptom immediately. Those facts do not automatically mean that no brain injury occurred.
- Car, truck, and motorcycle accidents
- Pedestrian and bicycle accidents
- Uber and Lyft collisions
- Slip-and-fall accidents
- Construction accidents
- Premises-liability incidents
- Assaults and negligent security
- Falling-object and defective-product incidents
Why Choose Us
Why Choose Royal Capital Law Group for a Brain Injury Case?
Brain injury cases require careful medical documentation and a detailed understanding of how the injury affects the individual's life. We build each case around the person — not merely the medical diagnosis.
- Investigate the accident and preserve video and electronic evidence
- Review emergency and neurological records
- Document changes in memory, behavior, and functioning
- Work with medical and rehabilitation professionals
- Evaluate future treatment and care needs
- Calculate lost income and reduced earning capacity
- Identify all responsible parties and insurance policies
- File a lawsuit and prepare the case for trial when necessary
Types of Injuries
Types of Brain and Head Injuries
Traumatic brain injuries vary significantly in type and severity. Each requires different medical evaluation, documentation, and a claim strategy tailored to the long-term effect on the injured person's life.
Concussions
A concussion is a mild traumatic brain injury caused by a blow or jolt to the head or body. A person does not need to lose consciousness to suffer a concussion.
- Headaches, dizziness, nausea
- Sensitivity to light or sound
- Memory problems and difficulty concentrating
- Feeling foggy, slowed, or irritable
- Anxiety and sleep changes
Contusions
A brain contusion is bruising of brain tissue. Contusions may involve bleeding and swelling and can result from the brain striking the inside of the skull during an impact. They may be associated with more serious neurological effects than concussions.
Coup-Contrecoup Injuries
A coup-contrecoup injury occurs when the brain is injured at both the site of impact and the opposite side of the skull. This can happen when a force causes the brain to move back and forth inside the skull — common in vehicle collisions and falls.
Diffuse Axonal Injuries
A diffuse axonal injury may occur when rapid rotation or movement causes nerve fibers within the brain to stretch or tear. These injuries can be severe and may affect multiple areas of brain function simultaneously.
Penetrating Brain Injuries
A penetrating injury occurs when an object enters the skull and damages brain tissue. These injuries may result from vehicle debris, falling objects, construction materials, or violent incidents and often require immediate surgical intervention.
Brain Hemorrhages and Hematomas
Trauma may cause bleeding inside or around the brain. Bleeding may increase pressure within the skull and require emergency treatment.
- Subdural hematomas
- Epidural hematomas
- Intracerebral hemorrhages
- Subarachnoid hemorrhages
Hypoxic and Anoxic Brain Injuries
A hypoxic injury occurs when the brain receives insufficient oxygen; an anoxic injury occurs when supply is completely interrupted. These may result from drowning, suffocation, cardiac arrest following trauma, smoke inhalation, severe blood loss, or electric shock.
Skull Fractures
A skull fracture may occur when the force of impact breaks one or more skull bones. A skull fracture may be associated with bleeding, brain damage, infection, or injury to surrounding structures depending on the location and severity of the fracture.
Post-Concussion Syndrome
Some people continue experiencing concussion symptoms beyond the expected initial recovery period. Repeated mild TBIs may also result in longer recovery times or more severe ongoing symptoms.
- Persistent headaches and dizziness
- Fatigue and concentration problems
- Memory difficulties and sleep disturbance
- Mood changes and sensitivity to light or noise
Recognizing Symptoms
Common Symptoms of a Brain Injury
Brain injury symptoms may affect physical health, thinking, memory, emotion, behavior, and sleep. The CDC recognizes that mild TBI symptoms may affect physical condition, thinking, emotions, and sleep — and may not appear immediately after the accident.
Physical Symptoms
- Headaches
- Dizziness and nausea
- Vomiting and fatigue
- Balance problems
- Blurred vision
- Sensitivity to light and sound
- Ringing in the ears
- Weakness or numbness
- Coordination problems
- Seizures
Cognitive Symptoms
- Memory loss
- Difficulty concentrating
- Confusion
- Slowed thinking
- Difficulty making decisions
- Trouble solving problems
- Difficulty following instructions
- Problems completing tasks
- Reduced attention span
Emotional & Behavioral
- Irritability and anxiety
- Depression and mood swings
- Anger and impulsiveness
- Reduced self-control
- Social withdrawal
- Personality changes
- Emotional sensitivity
Sleep Symptoms
- Sleeping more than usual
- Sleeping less than usual
- Difficulty falling asleep
- Interrupted sleep
- Excessive daytime tiredness
Emergency Brain Injury Warning Signs
Seek immediate emergency medical care after a head injury when a person experiences any of the following. The CDC identifies these as danger signs that may indicate a more serious brain injury or bleeding within the skull.
- A worsening headache
- Repeated vomiting
- Seizures
- Slurred speech
- Weakness or numbness
- Reduced coordination
- Increasing confusion
- Unusual behavior
- One pupil larger than the other
- Loss of consciousness
- Extreme drowsiness or difficulty waking up
- Inability to recognize people or places
This page is not a substitute for emergency medical care. Call 911 immediately for any of the above symptoms.
Common Causes
Common Causes of Traumatic Brain Injuries
Even an injury described as "mild" can be serious. The circumstances of the accident determine who may be responsible and what insurance coverage may be available.
Car Accidents
A driver or passenger may suffer a brain injury when the head strikes a window, steering wheel, dashboard, seat, airbag, or another object. A brain injury may also occur without direct head contact when rapid movement causes the brain to twist inside the skull.
Truck Accidents
Commercial-truck collisions may generate substantial force and cause severe head trauma, brain bleeding, diffuse injuries, and permanent neurological impairment. Potentially responsible parties may include the truck driver, trucking company, maintenance contractor, or cargo loader.
Motorcycle Accidents
Motorcyclists are exposed to direct contact with vehicles, pavement, barriers, and other objects. A helmet may reduce the risk or severity of certain injuries but cannot prevent every traumatic brain injury.
Pedestrian and Bicycle Accidents
Pedestrians and bicyclists may suffer brain injuries when struck by a vehicle or thrown onto the pavement. These cases often involve serious injuries because the person has little or no physical protection.
Uber and Lyft Accidents
Passengers, other motorists, pedestrians, cyclists, and rideshare drivers may suffer head injuries in Uber or Lyft collisions. The applicable insurance may depend on the rideshare driver's app status at the time of the accident.
Slip-and-Fall Accidents
A person who falls may strike their head on the floor, a shelf, a stair, a railing, or another surface. Falls are particularly dangerous for children and older adults, but anyone may suffer a serious brain injury from a ground-level fall.
Construction Accidents
Construction-related brain injuries may result from falling tools or materials, falls from heights, equipment accidents, structural failures, vehicle impacts, electrical incidents, or explosions. A worker may have both a workers' compensation claim and a separate claim against a negligent third party.
Falling Objects
Merchandise, tools, signs, ceiling materials, equipment, and other objects may cause brain injuries when they fall from shelves, buildings, construction areas, or storage locations. A business, property owner, or employer may be responsible.
Assaults and Defective Products
A person may suffer a brain injury during an assault when inadequate security contributed to a foreseeable attack. A defective helmet, airbag, seat belt, vehicle component, ladder, or other product may also cause or worsen a brain injury — exposing the manufacturer, distributor, or seller to liability.
Long-Term Impact
How a Brain Injury Can Affect Every Part of Life
Effects on Employment
A person may physically appear capable of returning to work but still struggle with concentration, memory, reading, decision-making, organization, multitasking, communication, stress tolerance, fatigue, and emotional control. They may need reduced hours, different duties, workplace accommodations, retraining, or a complete career change.
Effects on Family Life
Family members often notice changes before the injured person does. A spouse, parent, child, or caregiver may observe forgetfulness, mood swings, irritability, withdrawal, impulsive behavior, difficulty managing finances, reduced participation in family activities, changes in personality, and loss of independence. Statements from family members may help demonstrate the injury's real-world impact.
Long-Term Medical Effects
The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development explains that TBI may cause lasting problems involving cognition, senses, communication, emotions, behavior, and physical function. Some effects may not appear until days or months after the injury, while others may persist throughout the person's life.
- Persistent headaches and memory difficulties
- Mood disorders and seizures
- Balance problems and sensory changes
- Loss of independence and relationship problems
Accountability
Who May Be Liable for a Brain Injury?
The responsible parties depend on how the injury occurred. More than one party may share responsibility. Identifying every responsible party is especially important when the injury requires long-term treatment or lifetime care.
Negligent Drivers
A driver, vehicle owner, or employer may be responsible when negligent driving caused the collision that resulted in the brain injury.
Trucking Companies
A trucking company, maintenance contractor, cargo loader, or employer may share responsibility when a commercial-vehicle collision causes a TBI.
Rideshare Insurers
The applicable rideshare insurance policy may depend on the driver's app status at the time of the accident.
Property Owners
A property owner, landlord, or business may be responsible when a dangerous condition caused a fall or falling-object injury.
Construction Contractors
A general contractor, subcontractor, or site owner may be responsible when unsafe conditions on a construction site caused the injury.
Product Manufacturers
A manufacturer, distributor, or seller may be responsible when a defective helmet, airbag, seat belt, or other product caused or worsened the brain injury.
Security Companies
A business or security company may share responsibility when inadequate security at an apartment, hotel, nightclub, parking garage, or other property contributed to a foreseeable assault.
Government Entities
A city, county, state agency, transit authority, or other public entity may be responsible when a dangerous condition on government property caused the injury. Special procedures and shorter deadlines apply.
Step-by-Step Guide
What Should You Do After a Suspected Brain Injury?
Prompt action after a brain injury can protect your health, preserve critical evidence, and safeguard your legal rights before symptoms are fully understood or footage is overwritten.
Seek Medical Care
Obtain medical evaluation as soon as possible after a head impact or accident involving concerning symptoms. Tell the provider how the accident happened, whether your head struck anything, whether you lost consciousness, whether you felt confused or disoriented, every symptom you are experiencing, and whether you had any previous head injuries.
Follow Medical Instructions
Attend follow-up appointments and comply with treatment recommendations. Brain injury care may involve neurologists, neuropsychologists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, psychologists, rehabilitation specialists, and pain-management providers.
Ask Someone to Monitor You
A brain injury may affect your ability to recognize or explain symptoms. Ask a trusted family member or friend to monitor changes in behavior, speech, alertness, memory, and physical condition. Their observations may become important evidence in your claim.
Document Your Symptoms
Keep a daily journal recording headaches, memory problems, sleep difficulties, dizziness, mood changes, missed work, medical appointments, activity limitations, medication effects, and problems with daily tasks. A journal can help illustrate the injury's real-world impact that medical records alone may not capture.
Preserve Accident Evidence
Save photographs, video, damaged helmets, clothing, vehicle parts, witness information, police reports, insurance communications, and medical records. Do not discard any physical evidence that may be relevant to how the injury occurred.
Avoid Social Media
Do not post detailed medical updates, accident comments, travel, exercise, work activity, or photographs. An insurer may use public posts out of context to challenge the severity of cognitive or physical limitations.
Avoid a Quick Settlement
Do not accept a settlement before the full extent of the injury, future care, and work limitations are understood. An early offer may fail to account for future neurological care, cognitive rehabilitation, continued headaches, lost earning capacity, personal assistance, or permanent disability. Once a full release is signed, you generally cannot seek additional compensation later.
Contact a Brain Injury Attorney
An attorney can preserve evidence, identify responsible parties, communicate with insurers, and help document the long-term impact of the injury. Prompt legal action is especially important when surveillance footage may exist or government-entity deadlines may apply.
Your Recovery
What Compensation May Be Available?
A brain injury claim may include compensation for economic and non-economic losses. There is no standard settlement amount — a concussion that resolves within a relatively short period will be evaluated very differently from an injury involving permanent cognitive impairment, seizures, inability to work, or lifetime care.
Emergency & Medical Expenses
- Ambulance transportation
- Emergency-room care
- Hospitalization
- Brain imaging (CT, MRI)
- Neurological treatment and surgery
- Medication and follow-up appointments
- Mental health treatment
- Future medical care
Rehabilitation
- Physical therapy
- Occupational therapy
- Speech therapy
- Cognitive rehabilitation
- Behavioral therapy
- Psychological counseling
- Vocational rehabilitation
Lost Wages & Earning Capacity
- Salary, hourly wages, overtime
- Commissions, bonuses, and tips
- Other lost income during recovery
- Permanent inability to return to same occupation
- Reduced future earnings
- Expert evaluation of career limitations
In-Home Care & Assistance
- Bathing, dressing, and cooking
- Transportation and medication management
- Financial management assistance
- Appointments and household tasks
- Personal supervision
- Residential care costs
Pain, Suffering & Emotional Distress
- Physical pain and chronic headaches
- Dizziness, fatigue, and discomfort
- Anxiety, depression, and frustration
- Fear and emotional instability
- Loss of enjoyment of hobbies, sports, travel
- Interference with family and social life
Permanent Disability, Consortium & Wrongful Death
- Lasting cognitive, physical, and neurological limitations
- Loss of independence and quality of life
- Loss of consortium (spouse/domestic partner claim)
- Vehicle repairs and rental expenses
- Wrongful death for qualifying family members
- Life-care plan for lifetime future expenses
What Is a Life-Care Plan?
A life-care plan is a detailed assessment of the injured person's future medical, rehabilitation, equipment, personal-care, and support needs. In a severe brain injury case, the projected cost of future care may be one of the most important parts of the claim. A life-care plan may address future doctor visits, therapy, medication, medical equipment, home modifications, transportation, in-home care, residential care, case management, and vocational assistance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Brain Injury Questions
Free & Confidential
Speak With a Los Angeles Brain Injury Attorney
A traumatic brain injury can affect memory, concentration, behavior, communication, employment, independence, and family life.
Royal Capital Law Group represents individuals and families affected by concussions, brain bleeding, diffuse injuries, cognitive impairment, and other serious head injuries throughout Los Angeles and California. Our legal team can investigate the accident, preserve evidence, work with medical and rehabilitation professionals, document the long-term effect of the injury, and pursue the compensation you deserve.
Contact Royal Capital Law Group today for a free and confidential consultation. You pay no attorney's fees unless we win your case.