Costa Mesa Brain Injury Attorneys

There are certain medical diagnoses that can absolutely upend a person’s life. Finding out that you or a loved one has suffered a brain injury can be so tragic that it’s hard to comprehend. This is especially true if another person’s reckless or careless behavior was to blame. Our brain injury attorneys in Costa Mesa can help you fight for the compensation your family needs to pay for medical care, lost income, and any other costs arising from the accident. We have won more than $300,000,000 for clients, and our lawyers have a track record of success in brain injury claims of varying complexity. We handle these cases on a contingency fee basis, so you won’t have to pay anything upfront to hire us for representation, and no attorneys’ fees will be charged unless we win. For a free consultation, call us today at 1-800-GO-HARRIS.

How Much Is My Brain Injury Case Worth?

Because each personal injury case is unique, there’s no way to approximate the potential value of your claim until we have carefully reviewed the facts, performed an investigation, and evaluated the evidence. Below are a few factors that can influence the settlement calculations in a brain injury claim:

• The Severity and Permanence of the Injury: The total cost of recovering from a minor concussion could be dramatically lower than the cost of treating a serious contusion or diffuse axonal injury. The severity of your traumatic brain injury (TBI) and your prognosis could have a major impact on the potential value of your case. Depending on the circumstances, you may be able to recover compensation for past and future medical costs, lost income, loss of future earning capacity, and non-economic damages such as pain and suffering and loss of enjoyment in life. If you have a spouse who has suffered a loss of love, companionship, or intimacy as a result of the injury, he or she may be entitled to damages for loss of consortium.
• Whether the Claimant Was Partially Liable: Did your own negligence somehow contribute to your brain injury? If so, the opposing party will likely assert the comparative negligence defense and argue that your award of damages should be reduced by your own percentage of fault.
• Whether Punitive Damages Are Available: Punitive damages may be recoverable in the state of California if the defendant in a personal injury case acted with malice, oppression, or fraud. For example, if your brain injury occurred in a violent attack or a drunk driving accident, it may be possible to collect punitive damages from the liable party.
• Whether You Have Mitigated Your Damages: As a personal injury claimant, you have a duty to mitigate your damages, which means you must take reasonable steps to minimize your healthcare costs and other losses. If you fail to do this, you may be unable to obtain compensation for 100 percent of your damages. To protect your case, you should visit a doctor as soon as possible for an official diagnosis if you have not done so already. You should also follow your doctor’s orders and avoid any activities that might aggravate your condition.

What Does Maximum Medical Improvement Mean?

Maximum medical improvement (MMI) is a point in a patient’s medical recovery where doctors no longer expect his or her condition to improve any further. It is possible that your Costa Mesa brain injury lawyer will advise you to put off the settlement negotiations until you have reached maximum medical improvement. If you accept a settlement before having reached MMI, the calculations for medical bills, loss of future earnings, and other damages may be inaccurate. This is because it can be difficult to anticipate the degree to which a patient will recover from a TBI. Doctors might expect you to make a full recovery or at least return to work at some point, but if they turn out to be wrong, it’s important that your claim accounts for anticipated healthcare costs and loss of income. If you accept a settlement that does not include all the damages you have incurred and will incur in the future, you may end up in overwhelming debt. Our Costa Mesa brain injury attorneys can help you determine the most strategic time to begin the settlement negotiations. As tempting as it may be to accept an early settlement, doing so could put your financial future in jeopardy. Our lawyers will serve as a knowledgeable source of guidance to help you make informed decisions through every stage of the proceedings.

Contact Us Today at 1-800-GO-HARRIS to Speak with a Costa Mesa Brain Injury Lawyer

If you need legal advice after suffering a traumatic brain injury, contact Harris Personal Injury Lawyers. Call 1-800-GO-HARRIS or send us a message to set up a free, no-obligation consultation.