Brain Injuries: Facts and Statistics
Brain injuries are catastrophic injuries that occur when some form of damage is caused to the cells in the brain. Whether a brain injury is caused at birth, caused by a sports incident, in a car accident, or in an attack, or in some other unfortunate circumstance, the injury can severely impact the victim's life. Brain injuries range from mild to severe, and can result in significant losses of motor, cognitive, sensory, and emotive functions in an individual. Approximately 2.6 million individuals sustain some form of brain damage every year, while another 5.3 million people live with long-term disabilities caused by brain injuries.
Brain Injuries Caused by Negligence
There are often times when a person's brain injury may be caused by another party's negligence, recklessness, or carelessness. In these cases, the injured individual may be able to seek legal action against the party responsible for causing his or her brain damage. For instance, the parents of a newborn child who suffered from oxygen deprivation during birth due to a doctor's mistake can take action against—and seek compensation from—that doctor. Similarly, an individual who suffers a brain injury after being attacked by an intruder in their home can sue the trespasser for damages.
Proving Liability for Brain Injuries
In any case where an injured individual wishes to pursue legal action against a party for a personal injury, he or she must be able to prove that party's negligence. In other words, the victim must show that the party in question either caused the injury directly, or did not take reasonable action to prevent the injury from occurring; in other words, the party may be held liable for its actions if another reasonable party would have acted differently (and thus prevented or not caused an injury) under the same circumstances. In some situations, the cause of a brain injury may not always be clear-cut, and it may be extremely difficult to prove that a party should be held liable for a victim's injuries. This is why it is a good idea for victims to speak with a professional Los Angeles brain injury attorney who are well-versed in injury law and who can help them collect necessary evidence and documentation.
Obtaining Compensation for Your Brain Injury
Once liability has been proven in a brain injury case, a victim may seek compensation for the difficulties, pain, and suffering the injury has caused in his or her life. In a personal injury case, a victim can seek damages for pain, medical expenses, emotional trauma, lost income, permanent disability or disfigurement, lost opportunities, a lowered quality of life, and even a loss of consortium. Furthermore, if the victim becomes disabled or loses significant mental abilities, the victim's family can sue on his or her behalf for the costs associated with caring for the victim on a long-term basis.
Contact a Los Angeles Brain Injury Attorney
Proving liability can be an extremely difficult process. In order to prove negligence, a victim may need proper evidence, documentation, witness testimonies, or even expert testimonies. Los Angeles brain injury attorneys can help victims obtain these items in order to build a strong case, and will use their expert knowledge of the law to argue on victims' behalf. Whether your brain injury was caused in an auto accident, a
slip and fall accident, a
falling object, a
medical malpractice incident, a
birth injury, or by a
defective product, you can benefit greatly from simply speaking with an attorney about your case. If you have suffered a brain injury and you think another party might be responsible, learn more about your rights by
contacting a Los Angeles personal injury attorney with
Pacific Attorney Group today.