Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are serious injuries that can significantly alter a person’s life. According to the CDC, there were over 64,000 TBI-related deaths in the U.S. in 2020.
Not only are these injuries serious and even fatal, but they can also be costly to pay for. In prior years, the lifetime economic cost of traumatic brain injury medical expenses was estimated to be around $76.5 billion. Furthermore, 90% of all medical costs yearly come from TBIs requiring hospitalization.
Because TBIs are so expensive, it is crucial that victims of these injuries work with experienced brain injury lawyers when filing a personal injury claim. Without the help of an attorney, you will likely struggle to get the full compensation you deserve to help you pay for your medical bills and other injury-related expenses.
At Sally Morin, our team of California traumatic brain injury lawyers is dedicated to winning high-value settlements for our clients. We have handled cases for both mild traumatic brain injury settlements and severe brain injury settlements. No matter your situation or how bad your traumatic brain injury is, we are here to help and will fight to get you the compensation you deserve.
What is a Traumatic Brain Injury?
Traumatic brain injury is a broad term that encompasses the many different kinds of injuries that can happen to the brain. But in any case, a TBI is what happens when a part of the brain is damaged.
This damage can be focalized or confined to one area of the brain, or it can be a diffuse injury, meaning it affects multiple areas of the brain. Traumatic brain injuries can also range from mild to severe, and in cases where damage is extensive, the injury can result in death.
Some of the most common types of traumatic brain injuries include:
- Concussions
- Edemas
- Diffuse axonal injuries
- Hematomas
Common Causes of Traumatic Brain Injury
A brain injury generally occurs when there is a sudden external blow to the head, which can happen in any number of situations. However, the CDC lists these three things as the most common causes of traumatic brain injuries:
- Falls
- Firearms (gunshot wounds)
- Motor vehicle collisions
At Sally Morin, our brain injury lawyers most often see clients with TBIs as the result of car accidents. The roads in California are some of the most deadly in the state due to high traffic congestion. So car accidents are prevalent, especially in major cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco.
Average Settlement for a Traumatic Brain Injury
We often get clients asking us what the average settlement for a traumatic brain injury is, but unfortunately, there is no straight answer. The fact is that brain injury compensation payouts can vary greatly depending on the individual circumstances of the case.
When insurance companies or the court are determining how much money to award, they will take various factors into consideration. Such factors that can affect the value of your traumatic brain injury settlement include:
- The severity of the injury
- What the recovery and prognosis are, or how the injury will affect the life of the victim and how long it will take them to recover
- Liability, or who was at fault for the accident that caused the injury
- If the victim’s ability to work and earn wages is affected by the injury
- If the victim’s relationships and their ability to care for their family are affected by the injury
For example, a TBI victim that has sustained a severe brain injury requiring long-term medical care and leaving them with a permanent impairment or disability will likely be awarded a higher payout than someone with a mild brain injury that is expected to recover in a month or two.
How to Maximize Your Brain Injury Compensation Payouts
The best way to maximize brain injury compensation payouts is to build a strong case and provide as much evidence as possible to help show how much your life has been affected by the injury. And to accomplish this, you will need to work with an experienced traumatic brain injury lawyer.
The first step in building a strong case is proving fault, which is not always easy. You will need to prove that:
- Another party owed you a duty of care
- That party breached their duty by acting negligently
- That party’s negligence was the direct cause of the accident
- You suffered damages (injuries and more) as a result of the accident and the other party’s negligence
Proving the above, as mentioned, can be challenging. This is why it’s important to work with an attorney. Not only will an experienced brain injury lawyer be able to help you prove fault, but they can help you gather evidence that shows the extent of your injuries and damages to ensure you are awarded the full and fair settlement you deserve.
We Handle Your Accident Claim So You Can Focus On Your Life
If you have suffered a traumatic brain injury after an accident in California, our team of brain injury lawyers can help. The average settlement for a traumatic brain injury can vary, but we are dedicated to fighting hard for our clients to ensure they get the full payout they deserve.
For help with your claim, reach out to our team of California brain injury lawyers at Sally Morin today. Call us at 877-380-8852 or contact us online for a free case evaluation.
