Automobile collisions are one of the leading causes of traumatic brain injuries. Experiencing brain damage can lead to severe and long-term health issues, even when you have seemingly recovered from the initial injury.
If you or your loved one have suffered a TBI from a car accident in Rancho Cordova, you could have a valid legal claim to recover compensation. Call Hackard Law today to speak with a determined traumatic brain injury attorney because it is never just an accident.
Traumatic brain injuries occur when you receive a forceful blow to the head. This type of brain damage is typically categorized into two types: penetrating traumatic impact injuries and nonpenetrating or closed brain injuries.
A penetrating injury occurs when an object enters the skull, such as a bullet. Closed brain injuries are usually caused by blunt force impact to the head that causes your brain to move inside the skull.
Some examples of traumatic brain injuries include the following:
Injuries like concussions are generally considered mild to moderate, allowing you to recover fully. However, severe TBIs can cause you to have permanent health consequences.
The initial TBI injury you suffer in a Rancho Cordova car crash is called the primary injury. It is considered a secondary injury if this leads to long-term adverse health conditions. Secondary injuries from TBIs can include seizures, motor skill impairment, paralysis, and other debilitating conditions.
Medical treatment for a traumatic brain injury can require extensive time in the hospital, which can lead to exorbitant medical expenses for you or your loved ones. Even after treating your TBI, you could still have to spend extensive time in physical therapy.
Filing a lawsuit for a TBI caused by a car collision can allow you to recoup economic damages such as lost wages from work or medical costs in Rancho Cordova. You can also pursue noneconomic damages for losses that are harder to quantify, like emotional distress, mental anguish, or lost quality of life.
To prove negligence, you must establish that a defendant breached their duty of care. Motor vehicle drivers, for example, have a duty to obey traffic laws and drive in a reasonable manner.
If you show that a motorist caused a TBI by driving negligently, this can help prove a breach of care. However, you must also show that the breach was the proximate cause of your injuries.
If your loved one was in a Rancho Cordova car wreck that caused a fatal TBI, the wrongful death statute allows surviving family members to pursue a claim.
According to California Civ. Procedure Code § 377.60, the following parties can assert a claim on the deceased’s behalf:
If there are no surviving descendants, any individual who stands to inherit the deceased’s estate through intestate succession can also bring a claim.
If you have suffered a TBI from a car accident in Rancho Cordova, speak with a lawyer from Hackard Law. We want to hear your story so we can better help you with your case. We can also provide guidance in diagnosing and treating TBIs.
We are here for you when you do not know where to turn. Call today to learn more.