Traumatic brain injuries are relatively common in California. The California Department of Revenue created the Traumatic Brain Injury Program Sites subgroups to help address TBIs’ significant financial, personal, and social impacts on people throughout The Golden State. Understanding California brain injury statistics can help you become a more informed citizen, so you can take steps to protect yourself and others from suffering a TBI. If you suffer a traumatic brain injury because of someone else’s actions, you might be entitled to compensation under California law.
The lawyers at GJEL Accident Attorneys understand how important it is to get the treatment you need to address your brain injury. Damage to the brain or nervous system can result in serious complications, significantly impacting your quality of life. We fight for accident victims to help them secure the compensation they need to cover their medical expenses, lost wages, and other damages.
Important California Brain Injury Statistics
Many people suffer from brain injuries in California. According to the California Department of Public Health, 2,912 older adults died, and 17,528 were hospitalized in part because of a TBI in 2020. Approximately 15,708 older adults visited the emergency room to address a traumatic brain injury. According to the report, unintentional falls, motor vehicle accidents, and suicide by firearm were the top three causes of TBIs in older adults in California in 2020.
According to the Mayo Clinic, traffic accidents, falls, violence, and sports injuries are common causes of traumatic brain injuries. The California Department of Health reports that, in 2021, falls accounted for 743,173 emergency room visits across all age groups. Being struck by or against something resulted in 266,447 emergency department visits, and transportation accidents contributed to 327,159 emergency department visits. Assaults accounted for 112,661 trips to the emergency room. These incidents all have the potential to result in brain injuries.
Symptoms of a Brain Injury in California
The symptoms of a brain injury can vary significantly depending on the person’s unique reaction to the trauma, the event causing the damage, the severity of the condition, and how quickly a victim seeks treatment. Recognizing the signs of a brain injury can help you get the help you need early on to limit the potential for complications. According to the National Library of Medicine, symptoms of a brain injury can include the following:
- Headache,
- Nausea,
- Confusion,
- Dizziness,
- Lethargy,
- Behavioral changes,
- Mood changes,
- Sleep disturbances,
- Slurred speech, and
- Coordination difficulties.
If these symptoms develop after an accident or come on without warning, it may be beneficial to seek medical attention. A trained doctor can examine you to determine if you are experiencing a traumatic brain injury. They can also help you begin the appropriate treatment to address the symptoms and limit the potential for your condition to worsen.
Frequent Causes of Blunt Head Trauma
A host of activities can result in blunt head trauma or other types of brain injuries. Common causes include the following:
- Truck accidents,
- Motor vehicle accidents,
- Slip and falls,
- Trip and falls,
- Sports accidents,
- Assault,
- Domestic violence,
- Child abuse,
- Product defects, or
- Medical malpractice.
If someone else caused your traumatic brain injury or worsened an existing TBI, you may be able to pursue legal action against them. An attorney can help you by reviewing the case and submitting the legal paperwork. They can also negotiate with the opposing party to try and reach a fair settlement. While most cases settle out of court, if the negotiations fail, your attorney can argue the case before a judge or jury on your behalf.
Receiving Compensation for a Traumatic Brain Injury in California
If you acquired a TBI in a car accident or due to someone else’s negligence, you might be eligible for compensation under California’s personal injury laws. These laws empower injury victims to hold at-fault parties accountable for hurting others by acting recklessly, negligently, illegally, or in other ways that cause harm. An attorney can investigate your claim and advise you of your legal rights.
What Do I Need to Prove to Have a Claim?
To have a legal claim under California’s personal injury laws, you typically need to show that someone else owed you a duty to act a certain way and failed to do so. Further, you must also prove that their actions led to your injury (directly or indirectly) and that you suffered physical or financial damages because of it. Depending on the specific legal claim, you might need to prove additional elements to have a valid case against an individual or business.
How Long Do I Have to File a Lawsuit?
California law limits how long injury victims have to bring a lawsuit against the person who harmed them. This deadline is referred to as the statute of limitations. In most cases, an injury victim has two years to file their claim. But there are exceptions, and sometimes, the time limit may be longer or shorter than two years. Because of the nuances in determining these deadlines, injury victims would benefit from talking to a personal injury attorney about their circumstances.
What Compensation Can I Receive?
California law enables victims to seek compensation if they can prove another party harmed them. Compensation can include pain and suffering, reimbursement for medical expenses, and damages for lost wages or lost earning capacity. Further, injury victims may be able to recover damages to compensate them for property damage they incurred, such as a totaled vehicle because of a car accident.
GJEL Accident Attorneys: California Brain Injury Attorneys Who Can Help
Brain injuries can result in life-changing conditions, changing someone’s personality or ability to function as they could before an accident. At GJEL Accident Attorneys, we fight for the right of injury victims to hold at-fault parties accountable for their wrongful conduct. Our team works to uplift injury victims by helping them seek compensation for their losses. Our team includes Ralph Jacobson, who has practiced personal injury law for over 54 years. He has written and co-authored many journal articles and books on various legal topics, such as California Government Tort Liability Practice, published by the California Continuing Education of the Bar.
If you suffered a traumatic brain injury because of someone else, contact our team today to schedule your no-obligation consultation.
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