Riverside Traumatic Brain
Injury Attorney (TBI)

You might be wondering how a Riverside Traumatic Brain Injury Attorney (TBI) can help you. If so, our Riverside TBI Attorneys have prepared the following information to answer the most commonly asked questions.

Traumatic brain injuries are more common than you might expect. Consider these statistics:

For Americans, the odds of being struck by lightning over the course of any given year are 1 in 700,000. In that same period, their chance of suffering a traumatic brain injury is 1 in 160. In fact, millions of Americans turn to emergency departments for treatment for traumatic brain injuries each year, and many are left dealing with lifelong issues as a result of their injury.

Traumatic brain injuries are sometimes referred to as invisible or silent injuries because they often aren’t readily apparent. That doesn’t mean that these injuries aren’t real or that they can’t have devastating consequences and life-changing implications for those who suffer from them.

If you or someone you love has suffered a traumatic brain injury because of the actions or negligence of a person, employer, company or some other organization, it’s crucial that you connect with an experienced Riverside, California, traumatic brain injury attorney for assistance in securing the compensation that you deserve and need.

Trauma and the Brain

Traumatic brain injuries, which include concussions, are defined as injuries resulting from bumps, jolts, blows, or penetrations that disrupt the brain’s normal function. They can be open, meaning that the skull’s integrity has been compromised by fractures, or closed, where the skull remains intact. While it may seem odd, closed injuries can be more serious because of the dangers posed by bruising, swelling, and hemorrhaging in a confined space. However, neither form of head injury should be ignored. Both can have devastating effects, including death, paralysis, cognitive and memory impairments, and changes to mental and emotional functioning. For some patients, these impacts may be temporary, but permanent aftereffects are distressingly common.

Traumatic Brain Injury Statistics

Traumatic brain injuries are a significant concern. They are a major cause of disability and death in the U.S., and they seem to be on the rise.

• According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the number of hospitalizations, emergency room visits, and deaths linked to traumatic brain injuries jumped by 53% between 2006 and 2014.
• Some 2.8 million people are treated for traumatic brain injuries in emergency departments every year.
• On average, more than 150 people die each day from health events involving traumatic brain injuries.
• Traumatic brain injury is a risk that spans multiple age groups. Those most at risk include children under the age of 5, teenagers between the ages of 15 and 19, and seniors age 65 and above.
• Some 13.5 million Americans are living with the disabling effects of acquired brain trauma, making it the country’s second most prevalent disability.
• When the economic impacts of lost productivity and the costs of medical care are tallied, brain trauma has an estimated cost of $76.5 billion annually.

Common Causes of Traumatic Brain Injuries

A traumatic brain injury can happen in the blink of an eye. Even seemingly minor events can produce serious harm, especially if the individual injured is taking anticoagulants or other medications that increase the risk of bleeding in the brain. Traumatic brain injuries can be the result of many common occurrences:

• Falls are the most frequent cause of traumatic brain injuries, accounting for 47% of treated cases in 2014. The vast majority of these falls didn’t involve great heights. Instead, ground-level falls were often the culprits.
• Striking the head or being struck in the head by an object is linked to 15% of these injuries. Many sports injuries are sorted into this category.
• Car crashes and other vehicular incidents are the source of 14% of traumatic brain injuries.
• Assaults or self-harm events account for 9% of these injuries.
• Other possible causes of traumatic brain injury include oxygen deprivation, electrical shock, or the inhalation of toxic chemicals.
• In 8% of cases, the exact cause of the injury is unknown.

Signs of Traumatic Brain Injuries

If even casual bumps to the head have the potential to cause significant harm to the brain, how do you know if there is a problem? The signs of a traumatic brain injury can vary widely depending on the individual’s overall health and the nature and severity of their head injury. However, there are certain red flags that suggest that there is reason for concern:

• Severe headache.
• Confusion.
• Loss of consciousness.
• Issues with memory, recall, or understanding.
• Unusual fatigue or sluggishness.
• Nausea or vomiting.
• Dizziness, unsteadiness, or clumsiness.
• Weakness or numbness on one side.
• Difficulty responding or unusually slow speech.
• Changes to mood, behavior, or personality.
• Sensitivity to lights or sounds.
• Complaints of visual disturbances.

How a Traumatic Brain Injury Lawyer Can Help

Any damage to the brain is worrisome, and proper medical care is a must. While some people mend from concussions and head injuries without lasting effects, others face a recovery that is measured in years and will require ongoing medical care and therapy. Assistance with daily living may be needed, and returning to work may be difficult. The challenge of adjusting to the physical, mental, and emotional changes caused by a traumatic brain injury and the stresses linked to medical bills and lost wages can lead to issues with depression and altered self-esteem.

If you’ve suffered a traumatic brain injury, securing the compensation that you deserve from the party responsible for your injury is vital. An experienced traumatic brain injury attorney can review your situation, help you gather the evidence to build a compelling case, determine the maximum compensation that you can expect, and offer invaluable advice as you pursue a settlement or face off against the responsible party in court.

When you need a skilled traumatic brain injury lawyer, who will serve as an aggressive advocate for you, turn to Rizio Lipinsky Heiting. As respected personal injury attorneys, we have secured millions of dollars in compensation for our injured clients. We’re ready to fight for you. Call our Riverside office today at 888-292-8888 to request a free consultation.  Or you may fill out our online form to get started.