Traumatic Brain Injury LAWYERYour Trusted Brain Injury Attorney
Traumatic brain injuries are a "silent epidemic” symptoms are often invisible, delayed, and dismissed by insurance adjusters. Our Redding TBI attorneys document the full cognitive, emotional, and financial impact and fight for the lifetime compensation you deserve.
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The Legal FoundationWhy Brain Injury Claims are Different
A broken arm shows on an X-ray. A spinal fracture shows on an MRI. But a traumatic brain injury, even a serious one, may produce no visible damage on standard imaging. The evidence of a TBI is often behavioral, cognitive, and emotional: memory loss, personality changes, difficulty concentrating, chronic headaches, depression, and the inability to do things that came easily before the accident.
This invisibility is exactly what insurance companies exploit. Without neuropsychological testing, expert testimony, and detailed cognitive documentation, a TBI claim can be dismissed as subjective complaints, leaving victims severely under compensated for injuries that may affect them for life.
Our attorneys work with neurologists, neuropsychologists, and cognitive rehabilitation specialists from the start of your case, building an objective, medically grounded record of your brain injury that cannot be easily disputed by an insurance adjuster.
69K+
TBI-related deaths per year: Approximately 190 Americans die from a TBI every single day, making it a leading cause of injury death in the U.S. Source: CDC, 2021 data
214K
TBI-related hospitalizations per year: Over 586 hospitalizations every day (not including TBIs treated only in emergency departments or never at all. Source: CDC, 2020 data
5.3M
Americans Living with TBI-related disability: Over 5 million U.S. residents live with permanent TBI-related cognitive or psychological impairments. Source: NCBI
75%
Of TBIs are classified as mild: Most TBIs, including concussions, are labeled mild, yet they can cause lasting cognitive and emotional harm. Source: CDC
Understanding TBITraumatic Brain Injuries We Handle
Brain injuries range from concussions with full recovery to catastrophic damage requiring permanent care. Our TBI Attorneys handle claims across the full severity spectrum and we know that "mild" on paper often means anything but mild in a person's daily life.
| Mild TBI | Moderate TBI | Severe TBI |
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Concussion & Mild TBI The most common form. Often dismissed as "just a concussion" — but even mild TBI can cause lasting cognitive disruption, chronic headaches, and emotional changes. Post-concussion syndrome can persist for months or years.
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Moderate Traumatic Brain Injury More significant neurological disruption with documented loss of consciousness. Imaging may show structural damage. Cognitive rehabilitation is typically required, and long-term deficits are common.
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Severe & Catastrophic TBI The most devastating classification. Extended unconsciousness or coma, widespread brain damage, and permanent neurological deficits are common. These cases require lifetime care planning and maximum damage recovery.
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Common Causes of Brain Injuries
Most traumatic brain injuries are preventable and occur because someone failed to maintain safe conditions, follow safety rules, or exercise reasonable care. When negligence causes a brain injury, victims may pursue compensation under California personal injury law.
Sports & Recreation Accidents
Contact sports, recreational boating, ATV accidents, and activities on trails and waterways can cause significant TBI. Negligent supervision, unsafe equipment, or inadequate safety protocols may create liability.
Slip, Trip & Falls
Falls are one of the leading causes of TBIs and the leading cause among adults 75 and older. Striking the head on the ground, stairs, or a hard surface can cause injuries ranging from concussion to fatal hemorrhage.
Medical Negligence
Surgical errors, anesthesia complications, failure to diagnose or treat a brain bleed, and medication errors can all produce or worsen TBI. Medical malpractice claims require specialized litigation strategy.
Pedestrian & Bicycle Accidents
Pedestrians and cyclists struck by vehicles have virtually no head protection. Even helmeted cyclists can sustain significant TBI in high-force crashes. These cases often involve severe injury and clear liability.
Workplace Accidents
Construction falls, being struck by falling objects, and machinery accidents are common causes of occupational TBI. Third-party liability claims beyond workers’ comp may be available.
What to do after an InjurySteps That Protect Your Claim
The actions you take in the hours and days after a brain injury accident can significantly affect what you recover. Follow these steps to protect your health and preserve your claim.
01
Call 911
Call police and medical services immediately. Brain injuries are not always visible, and medical records are critical evidence in your claim.
02
Seek Medical Care
See a doctor even if symptoms seem minor. Brain injury symptoms often appear later and delayed treatment weakens your claim.
03
Document Everything
Photograph the accident scene, hazard, vehicles, or location where the injury occurred. Keep records of medical visits, and missed work.
04
Contact an attorney
Before speaking to any insurance company, consult with an attorney. Insurance adjusters often try to minimize brain injury claims.
Never give a recorded statement to an insurance company without legal counsel. Insurance adjusters are trained to ask questions that can reduce or eliminate your compensation. Contact Landsem Law Office first, at no cost to you.
Your CompensationTypes of Compensation in Brain Injury Cases
California law allows brain injury victims to recover a broad range of economic and non-economic damages from the at-fault party.
Emergency care, hospitalization and neurosurgery
Neurological and neuropsychological evaluation
Cognitive rehabilitation therapy
Speech, occupational and physical therapy
Future medical care and ongoing treatment
Psychiatric care and mental health treatment
In-home care and personal assistance
Home modifications for disability accommodations
Lost wages during recovery
Lifetime lost earning capacity
Vocational retraining costs
Non-economic damages are often the largest component of a TBI claim
A brain injury doesn't just affect what you can do, it changes who you are. Personality changes, emotional dysregulation, the inability to experience joy, damaged relationships, and the loss of cognitive capabilities you spent a lifetime building are all compensable under California law as non-economic damages.
California does not cap these damages in most personal injury cases. For a 40-year-old with permanent cognitive impairment, the combined value of pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment, and emotional distress, calculated over decades, can represent the largest single component of total recovery.
In cases involving grossly reckless defendants, a drunk driver, a company that concealed known product dangers, punitive damages under Civil Code § 3294 may also be awarded, significantly increasing total case value.
Frequently Asked QuestionsBrain Injury Questions
This FAQ provides general guidance under California law and is not legal advice for your specific situation. Before speaking with insurance companies or signing anything, speak with a brain injury lawyer who can protect your rights and pursue full compensation.
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Absolutely not. This is one of the most dangerous misconceptions about brain injury claims. Standard CT scans and MRIs frequently appear normal even when a significant TBI has occurred. The CDC and the Brain Injury Association of America both note that imaging is often insufficient to detect mild to moderate TBI. Neuropsychological testing, a comprehensive battery of standardized cognitive assessments, is frequently the only way to objectively document the cognitive damage caused by a TBI. We work with neuropsychologists who specialize in this evaluation. A normal scan does not close your case.
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In California, you generally have two years from the date of the accident to file a personal injury claim for a traumatic brain injury. This deadline is called the statute of limitations. If you do not file a lawsuit within this time period, you may lose your right to recover compensation for your brain injury. However, if the brain injury was caused by a government agency, dangerous public property, or a government vehicle, you may be required to file a government claim within six months of the injury. Brain injury cases often require extensive medical documentation, neurologist evaluations, and expert testimony, so it is important to contact a brain injury lawyer in Redding as soon as possible to protect your claim and preserve evidence.
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A traumatic brain injury (TBI) occurs when a sudden impact, blow, jolt, or penetration to the head disrupts normal brain function. Traumatic brain injuries can range from mild concussions to severe brain damage that results in permanent disability, memory loss, cognitive impairment, or personality changes. Common causes of traumatic brain injuries include car accidents, slip and fall accidents, workplace accidents, bicycle accidents, and being struck by falling objects. Even injuries that do not involve loss of consciousness can still be considered traumatic brain injuries. A traumatic brain injury attorney can help determine whether your head injury qualifies as a brain injury claim under California personal injury law.
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After a head injury accident, the most important step is to seek medical attention immediately, even if you feel fine at the time. Brain injury symptoms often appear hours or days later, and medical documentation is critical for a brain injury claim. You should report the accident, document the scene, take photographs of hazards or vehicles, gather witness information, and keep records of all medical visits and symptoms. Avoid speaking with insurance adjusters before speaking with a brain injury lawyer, because insurance companies often try to minimize brain injury claims or argue that symptoms are unrelated to the accident. Taking the right steps early can significantly affect the outcome of your brain injury case.
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Many brain injury cases do settle before trial, but these cases often involve significant negotiation because brain injuries can cause long-term or permanent medical problems. Insurance companies often dispute brain injury claims because symptoms like memory problems, headaches, and cognitive impairment are not always visible on imaging scans. Brain injury cases often require medical experts, neurologists, and life care planners to calculate long-term medical costs and lost earning capacity. A brain injury lawyer can negotiate with insurance companies and pursue a settlement that reflects the full long-term impact of the injury.
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This is a standard insurance defense tactic in TBI cases. When objective imaging doesn't show visible damage, insurers claim that cognitive and emotional symptoms are pre-existing mental health conditions, anxiety, or malingering, not the result of the injury. We counter this by obtaining comprehensive neuropsychological testing that objectively documents cognitive deficits, establishing a before-and-after comparison through employment records, school records, witness testimony from family and colleagues, and working with neurological experts who can explain the physiological basis of your symptoms to a jury. The "psychological" argument fails against well-documented neuropsychological evidence.
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Post-concussion syndrome (PCS) is a condition in which the symptoms of a concussion persist for weeks, months, or even years beyond the initial injury. Symptoms include chronic headaches, cognitive difficulties, fatigue, sleep disorders, depression, anxiety, and light and noise sensitivity. PCS significantly affects a victim's ability to work and quality of life, and because symptoms persist long-term, future medical costs and ongoing non-economic damages must be fully accounted for. PCS is well-documented in the medical literature and, with proper neurological and neuropsychological evidence, supports a strong personal injury claim. We do not advise settling any concussion or head injury claim while PCS symptoms remain active.
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Brain injury symptoms often do not appear immediately after an accident. It is very common for symptoms like headaches, dizziness, confusion, memory problems, and sleep issues to appear hours or days after a head injury. This is why it is important to seek medical care as soon as possible after any head injury, even if you feel fine at the time. Delayed symptoms do not mean the injury is not serious. In fact, delayed symptoms are very common in concussion and traumatic brain injury cases. Medical records and symptom documentation are very important in delayed brain injury cases.
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The value of a brain injury case depends on many factors including the severity of the injury, medical expenses, future medical care, lost wages, reduced earning capacity, and whether the injury results in permanent disability or cognitive impairment. Brain injury cases are often high-value personal injury cases because they may involve long-term medical treatment, rehabilitation, and lifelong effects on a person’s ability to work and live independently. Compensation may include medical bills, future medical care, lost income, pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of quality of life. A brain injury lawyer can evaluate your case and estimate the potential value based on your injuries and long-term prognosis.
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Several organizations provide support, information, and services for TBI survivors and their families. The Brain Injury Association of America offers a national helpline (1-800-444-6443) and state affiliate resources. The CDC's TBI resource center provides educational materials on recovery and rehabilitation. Locally, Mercy Medical Center Redding is the primary regional hospital for acute TBI care, and the California Department of Rehabilitation provides vocational services for survivors whose injury affects employment. We can assist in connecting you with appropriate resources as part of our representation.