Brain Injury Settlements
Brain injuries caused by medical malpractice, accidents, negligence, or a deliberate crime can cause paralysis, coma, and death. Brain injuries commonly occur during sports activities, in traffic accidents, or at the workplace, No matter where the injury occurred, the results are still catastrophic for the patient and family members. Personal injury lawyers who specialize in brain injury cases are best suited to pursue a settlement for the injured patient.
Walkup Lawyers: $12,200,000 Settlement Awarded
Walkup, Melodia, Kelly & Schoenberger - Brain Injury Lawyers
In Liou v. State of California, CIV 460659, Douglas S. Saeltzer and Richard H. Schoenberger successfully argued that Caltrans needs to do a better job of paying attention to pedestrian safety.
On July 1, 2010 a San Mateo County awarded $12,200,000 verdict in favor of Emily Liou, a pedestrian injured in a crosswalk at an uncontrolled intersection on State Route 82 (El Camino Real).
Caltrans has known for years that marked crosswalks at intersections without any stop lights or stop signs give pedestrians a false sense of security. Studies dating back to the 1970s have shown that placing a marked crosswalk at uncontrolled intersections often increases the pedestrian accident rate. This is especially true on wide and busy roads such as State Route 82. Discovery revealed that a marked crosswalk was placed at the subject intersection in 1960s. As time passed, and traffic on the road increased, Caltrans never once reevaluated if the subject crosswalk should be removed.
Caltrans defended the case by arguing that 90 million cars had passed through this intersection over the past ten years with very few pedestrians being injured. It argued to the jury that under its TASAS system the accident rate at the subject intersection was below acceptable thresholds. Plaintiff, however, countered that Caltrans' accident monitoriing system ignores pedestrians.
In truth, Caltrans never counted the number of pedestrians that used this crosswalk and, consequently, never determined if the pedestrian accident rate was too high. Had it done so it would have discovered that the pedestrian accident rate exceeded recommended levels by a factor of twenty. In short, Caltrans defense proved plaintiff's point. Caltrans focuses on cars, not pedestrians. The jury agreed.
Further details of the verdict can be found at www.walkupblog.com
Effects of Traumatic Brain Injury
A traumatic brain injury (TBI) results in a disruption of the normal functions of the brain. Trauma to the head and brain can cause a wide range of changes in emotions, behavior, sensation perception, and cognitive and physical abilities. A TBI victim may experience both short and long-term effects that can range in degree from mild to severe:
- Short-term memory loss
- Difficulty concentrating or paying attention
- Disorientation and impaired judgment
- Headaches, migraines, seizures
- Slurred speech
- Fatigue, depression, anxiety, and impulsive behaviors
Are the effects of TBI immediate?
It is often difficult to judge the severity of a TBI because not all of the effects are immediately apparent. A patient may not lose consciousness following a head injury and may not even feel much pain. It can take hours or days after a TBI occurs for swelling in the brain to cause a loss of consciousness or any of the other possible consequences.
In the case of a baby or a small child, it can be even more difficult to recognize the extent of brain damage. Because the injury occurs to a developing brain, it can affect both previously learned abilities and the future development of skills.
Contact a skilled law firm for guidance
If you or a loved one suffers from a brain injury caused by negligence on the part of someone else, you may be eligible for compensation from the liable party. A brain injury attorney with experience in traumatic brain injury litigation can properly assess your case and calculate the damages you deserve to receive.
The personal injury law firm of Van Blois & Associates specializes in brain injury law. We have decades of experience handling the complex medical and legal issues surrounding TBI cases. If you seek skilled legal representation for your brain injury lawsuit, contact Van Blois & Associates today for a consultation. You can reach our Oakland, California offices at (510) 635-1284.
Long-Term Repercussions of Head and Brain Injuries
If you or a loved one suffers from a head or brain injury caused by negligence on the part of someone else, you may be eligible to sue for compensation from the liable party. An attorney experienced in traumatic brain injury litigation has the knowledge necessary to assess your injury and properly calculate the damages.
What is a traumatic brain injury?
A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is an injury that disrupts the normal functions of the brain. A blow or jolt to the head or a penetrating head injury can result in this type of damage to the brain. Hard falls, motor vehicle crashes, and sports accidents are among the leading causes of head and brain injuries. A victim of a TBI may experience both short and long-term symptoms.
Long-term consequences of head and brain injuries
Trauma to the head and brain can cause a wide range of changes in cognitive abilities, emotions, behavior, and sensation perception. Many people suffering from a head or brain injury have a long-term need for help with the following daily living activities:
- Improving memory and problem solving
- Managing emotional upsets
- Controlling temper outbursts
- Understanding spoken or written language
- Improving job skills
Nerve damage resulting from a head injury may cause facial paralysis, uncontrollable eye movements, or double vision. Sensory problems such as persistent ear ringing or difficulty recognizing objects can also occur. Many TBIs can cause epilepsy and may increase the risk for conditions such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease.
How can an experienced law firm help?
No matter what kind of repercussions you experience, the rehabilitation process is almost always slow and expensive. You and your family may soon owe thousands of dollars in medical bills for various specialists and treatments. To help avoid economic hardships, it is crucial that you consult a brain injury attorney to discuss your options.
The experienced personal injury attorneys at Van Blois & Associates specialize in serious TBI cases. We have successfully helped numerous clients obtain multimillion-dollar verdicts and settlements in their TBI lawsuits. Our skilled lawyers can help you secure the proper evaluation, treatment, and legal recovery you deserve
Head Injuries & Neurofeedback
When most people think about a head injuries it implores images of someone laying near some scene of terrible carnage-blood and debris running and scattered about- a ragged body being carted off by paramedics. While tragic scenarios like this certainly occur each day, hundreds of thousands of men, women and children suffer a head injuries that may appear to be little more than an innocent "bump on the noggin!"
Your skull is an incredibly effective protective casing for a gelatinous glob of goo that orchestrates everything that goes on in your life - your brain. The "hard shell around soft stuff" structure is adequate for many situations, however, one thing this design did not account for millions of years ago, was the rapid deceleration of a body that has been moving at 70 mph, that, in a few tenths of a second, comes to a complete STOP!
If you feel you have suffered a head injury at someone else's expense contact a medical professional first and then immediately seek a head injury lawyer. Even a slight fender bender should result in a medical check up.
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