San Bernardino Brain Injury Attorney
Don’t attempt to take on a brain injury claim in San Bernardino by yourself. Brain injuries are very serious and demand attention from award-winning San Bernardino brain injury attorneys. You deserve representation from San Bernardino brain injury lawyers with experience in your practice area. Bentley & More LLP can help you by taking care of the claims process, reviewing your rights, and fighting for full compensation for your injury-related damages. We’re the hard-hitting, successful, and compassionate Southern California law firm you’ve been seeking. Contact us today to discuss your case.
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San Bernardino Brain Injury Guide
Types of Brain Injuries: Traumatic vs. Acquired
Brain injuries happen due to various causes, such as traumatic events and internal factors, and may be categorized into two primary types: traumatic and acquired.
- Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI): Traumatic brain injuries result from external forces, such as blows or impacts to the head. Common causes include car accidents, sports injuries, and falls. TBIs vary widely in severity and can cause long-term effects, such as memory loss, impaired motor skills, and cognitive challenges.
- Acquired Brain Injuries (ABI): Unlike TBIs, acquired brain injuries are not caused by external impacts. They occur due to internal factors like oxygen deprivation (hypoxia), strokes, tumors, or infections. ABIs can lead to significant brain damage, affecting the victim’s ability to speak, eat, or perform everyday tasks.
Common Types of Brain Injuries
Brain injuries can vary significantly in severity and cause, but all have the potential to disrupt a person’s life. Understanding these types of injuries can help brain injury victims and their families better comprehend the medical and legal steps needed for recovery. Below are some of the most common types of brain injuries:
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Concussion
Concussions are the most common type of traumatic brain injury, often resulting from falls, car accidents, or sports injuries. A concussion occurs when a blow to the head causes the brain to jolt inside the skull. Symptoms of concussions can include confusion, dizziness, mood changes, and even loss of consciousness. Despite being common, concussions are serious injuries that may lead to long-term complications if not treated promptly. If you believe you have suffered a concussion, never ignore it. Seek medical attention immediately.
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Brain Hypoxia
Brain hypoxia occurs when the brain does not receive enough oxygen, which can happen during near-drowning incidents, strokes, or medical complications. Oxygen deprivation damages brain cells and can lead to irreversible brain damage or death. Immediate medical attention is crucial in brain hypoxia cases to help prevent severe outcomes.
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Contusion
A brain contusion is a bruise on the brain tissue, often resulting from direct impact to the head. Contusions may cause swelling and bleeding, potentially leading to further complications if untreated. Severe brain contusions can impair motor function, memory, or other vital cognitive abilities.
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Hematoma
A hematoma occurs when blood collects outside of blood vessels in the brain, typically due to head trauma. Hematomas can be life-threatening, as the buildup of blood may increase pressure on the brain. Surgery is often required to remove the hematoma and relieve pressure. Hematomas are common in severe brain injury cases resulting from car crashes, falls, or physical assault.
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Diffuse Axonal Injury
Diffuse axonal injuries (DAIs) occur when the brain’s nerve fibers (axons) are damaged, often from rapid rotational forces in vehicle accidents or sports injuries. This type of injury is one of the most severe, as it disrupts communication between different parts of the brain. DAIs frequently result in coma or long-term disability, requiring extensive medical treatment and rehabilitation.
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Coup-Contrecoup Injury
In a coup-contrecoup injury, damage occurs at the site of impact and directly opposite the impact area. This type of injury is common in high-impact accidents, such as car crashes or falls, where the brain experiences two points of trauma. Coup-contrecoup injuries can lead to extensive brain damage, affecting memory, cognition, and physical abilities.
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Penetrating Head Injury
Penetration injuries occur when an object pierces the skull, damaging brain tissue directly. This type of injury is often caused by acts of violence, accidents involving sharp objects, or severe workplace incidents. Penetrating injuries are life-threatening and often require immediate surgery to prevent further brain damage or infection.
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Causes of Traumatic Brain Injuries in San Bernardino
Traumatic brain injuries can result from various incidents in a bustling city like San Bernardino, where individuals face many risks daily. Traumatic brain injuries occur when an external force impacts the head, causing damage to the brain. Some of the most common causes of brain injuries in San Bernardino are:
Motor Vehicle Accidents
Car crashes, motorcycle accidents, and truck collisions are leading causes of traumatic brain injuries. Sudden impact in vehicle accidents often results in head trauma, leading to mild to severe forms of brain damage. If you suffered a traumatic brain injury in a motor vehicle accident caused by someone else, You may hold the at-fault driver could liable. An experienced San Bernadino brain injury attorney can help you seek fair compensation to help you recover.
Slip and Fall Accidents
Falls can happen anywhere, from homes to workplaces, and are especially dangerous for the elderly. A fall accident that results in a head injury can lead to serious brain trauma, especially if immediate medical attention is not sought. Falls are a major cause of brain injuries, often due to unsafe conditions on someone else’s property.
Sports Injuries
Contact sports like football, soccer, and boxing pose significant risks for head injuries. Both youth and adults are vulnerable to concussions and brain trauma from high-impact sports. Repeated sports-related injuries can lead to chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) and other serious conditions.
Physical Assault and Acts of Violence
Physical assaults, including domestic violence or random attacks, can cause penetrating head injuries and other forms of trauma. These violent incidents are a major source of severe brain injuries, often resulting in lasting damage.
Construction and Workplace Accidents
Construction sites and high-risk workplaces present multiple hazards, such as falling objects or equipment-related incidents, that can cause head injuries. Workers often face severe head trauma from unsafe working conditions, which can lead to serious brain injuries.
Bicycle Accidents
Bicycle accidents frequently result in severe head injuries, especially in collisions with motor vehicles. Bicyclists lack the protective barriers of vehicles, leaving them vulnerable to traumatic brain injuries that may require extensive medical care and long-term rehabilitation.
Pedestrian Accidents
Pedestrians are also at high risk of brain injuries when struck by vehicles. In San Bernardino, busy streets can lead to accidents where individuals on foot suffer head trauma, often resulting in serious injuries that demand immediate and ongoing medical treatment.
Swimming and Drowning Incidents
Lack of oxygen due to near-drowning can lead to severe brain injuries. Even brief oxygen deprivation can cause brain damage, underscoring the importance of immediate medical care in swimming-related incidents.
Industrial Accidents and Explosions
Industrial environments with exposure to hazardous materials or risk of explosions pose severe risks. Workers can suffer brain injuries from falls, equipment malfunctions, or blast impacts, often leading to long-term disability.
Each of these situations represents a potential cause of serious brain injuries. If you or a loved one suffered a brain injury due to another’s negligence—whether in a car accident, fall accident, workplace incident, or something else—consulting an experienced San Bernardino brain injury lawyer to discuss your legal options is one of the most important things you can do to protect your future.
Who Is Liable for your San Bernardino Brain Injury?
To show that someone else is liable for your brain injury accident, you will need to prove that the individual:
- Owed you a duty of care,
- Breached this duty,
- Caused your accident, and
- You suffered damages as a result
Our team, such as our San Bernardino truck accident attorneys can help you with this burden of proof, returning to the scene of the accident to collect possible evidence of negligence or intent to harm. We can hire experts, interview witnesses, and create a strong legal case in your favor. Leave liability laws to us while you focus on medical treatment and healing from your serious injury.
What Damages Can a Brain Injury Victim Recover in San Bernardino?
Traumatic brain injuries often result in lifelong costs. Extensive medical bills from rehabilitation and live-in care can pile up, as well as lost wages and lost earning capacity from temporary or permanent brain damage. Brain injuries can also give rise to significant physical pain and emotional suffering. Victims can seek recovery for psychological harm and mental anguish connected to a TBI. Family members may also be eligible for loss of consortium damages or funeral/burial costs if a brain injury results in the wrongful death of a loved one. Don’t hesitate to contact our wrongful death attorneys in San Bernadino if this is the case.
Contact Our San Bernardino Brain Injury Lawyers to Recover Compensation
Experienced injury lawyers in San Bernardino can make an enormous difference in the outcome of your brain injury claim. Bentley & More LLP is different from the competition. Our experienced TBI attorneys truly care about what happens to each client we assist. From timely claims filing to checking up on families after the conclusion of a case, our skilled legal team goes the extra mile for our clients. Call (949) 870-3800 to set up a free consultation at our Orange County law firm. We’ll also answer online appointment requests.