Westwood Brain Injury Lawyer

Were you affected by a brain injury in Westwood?

We are experienced brain injury attorneys committed to pursuing full compensation for injured clients and their families.

If you or a family member has suffered a traumatic brain injury in Westwood due to another party’s negligence, an attorney can help you pursue compensation for your medical treatment, lost income, and long-term care needs. Our Westwood, CA brain injury lawyer at Cohen Injury Law Group handles brain injury claims on a contingency fee basis, so you pay nothing unless we recover compensation on your behalf. Founding attorney Wayne R. Cohen has represented personal injury clients since 1991. Contact our office for a free consultation.

Brain Injury Lawyer Westwood, CA

A brain injury case is a personal injury claim filed by someone who sustained a traumatic brain injury due to the negligent or reckless conduct of another person, company, or entity. Brain injuries range from mild concussions that resolve within weeks to severe traumatic injuries that permanently alter cognitive function, motor skills, and personality.

The CDC reports that traumatic brain injuries account for more than 190 deaths per day in the United States. These injuries occur in car crashes, falls, construction site incidents, and many other circumstances where a blow or jolt to the head disrupts normal brain function. The legal and medical complexity of a brain injury case requires an attorney who understands how to document the full scope of the harm and connect it to the responsible party’s conduct. A brain injury attorney in Westwood, CA can investigate the cause of the injury, retain the necessary medical and financial professionals, and pursue compensation that accounts for both current and future needs.

Types of Brain Injury Cases We Handle in Westwood

Brain injuries result from a wide range of incidents. The circumstances that caused the injury determine who may be held liable and what type of claim applies. We handle brain injury cases throughout Westwood, including those caused by:

• Car accidents. Vehicle collisions are one of the leading causes of traumatic brain injuries in adults. The force of a crash can cause the brain to strike the inside of the skull even when there is no direct blow to the head, resulting in concussions, contusions, or diffuse axonal injuries.
• Motorcycle accidents. Riders have no structural protection around them, and even helmeted riders can sustain severe brain injuries in a collision. The exposed position of a motorcyclist means that head impacts against the pavement, other vehicles, or fixed objects carry a high risk of traumatic brain injury.
• Truck accidents. The weight and speed of a commercial truck makes any collision with a passenger vehicle potentially fatal. Occupants of the smaller vehicle are at significant risk for brain injuries caused by the force of impact, ejection from the vehicle, or contact with the vehicle’s interior.
• Pedestrian accidents. A pedestrian struck by a vehicle frequently hits their head on the pavement or the vehicle itself. Because there is no barrier between the person and the impact, pedestrian brain injuries tend to be severe.
• Slip and fall accidents. Falls are the leading cause of traumatic brain injury across all age groups. A person who slips on a wet floor, trips on a broken sidewalk, or falls down a defective staircase can sustain a concussion or worse, depending on how they land.
• Bicycle accidents. Cyclists who are struck by a vehicle or thrown from their bike after hitting a road hazard are at high risk for head injuries, even when wearing a helmet. The impact of a rider’s head against pavement or a vehicle at even moderate speed can cause lasting damage to the brain.
• Sports and recreation injuries. Contact sports, falls during recreational activities, and equipment failures can all cause brain injuries. When a facility operator, coach, or equipment manufacturer’s negligence contributed to the injury, a personal injury claim may be available.
• Assaults and violent crimes. A brain injury caused by an intentional act of violence may support both a criminal prosecution against the attacker and a civil claim for damages filed by the victim.

Why Choose Cohen Injury Law Group as My Brain Injury Lawyer in Westwood, CA?

Serious Injury Representation From a Plaintiff-Only Firm

Cohen Injury Law Group was founded by attorney Wayne R. Cohen, who has represented personal injury clients since 1991. Wayne graduated with distinction from the University of Michigan and cum laude from the University of Miami School of Law. He serves as a Professorial Lecturer at GWU Law School and has been cited by the LA Times, CNBC, USA Today, and the ABA Journal for his legal analysis. With more than 35 years of plaintiff-side practice, attorney Wayne Cohen has recovered millions of dollars for clients with serious injuries.

Nicholas E. Cohen is the firm’s Managing Partner, responsible for case strategy and day-to-day operations. He earned his undergraduate degree from USC and his law degree from Loyola Law School Los Angeles.

If you need a personal injury lawyer in Westwood, CA, Cohen Injury Law Group handles brain injury cases exclusively on the plaintiff side. We do not represent defendants, insurance companies, or the parties responsible for causing the injury. Every case is handled on a contingency basis.

What Is Important to Understand About a Brain Injury Case?

Damages, Liability, and Compensation for Brain Injury Cases

Brain injuries produce some of the largest damage awards in personal injury law for a reason. The medical costs are enormous, and the effects on the injured person’s life are often permanent. Emergency treatment, neurosurgery, ICU stays, inpatient rehabilitation, cognitive therapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy, and prescription medication are all common components of a brain injury treatment plan. Many patients require ongoing care for years or for the remainder of their lives.

Economic damages in a brain injury case cover all of those medical costs, plus lost wages during recovery and, frequently, the loss of future earning capacity when the injury prevents the person from returning to their previous occupation. Noneconomic damages account for pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and the fundamental changes the injury has imposed on the person’s relationships, independence, and daily functioning. In cases where the brain injury results from what a victim can recover, the full scope of both current and projected future losses must be documented and presented.

What Are Important Aspects of a Brain Injury Case?

Brain injury claims involve medical and legal complexity that distinguishes them from other personal injury cases. Several factors deserve attention from the beginning.

• The full extent of a brain injury is not always apparent right away. Cognitive deficits, personality changes, memory problems, and mood disorders may take weeks or months to manifest. Settling a case before a thorough neuropsychological evaluation has been completed risks undervaluing the claim significantly.
• Proving the connection between the accident and the brain injury requires medical testimony. Neurologists, neuropsychologists, and neuroradiologists may all be needed to explain the nature and permanence of the damage to a jury or an insurance adjuster.
• Future care costs must be projected accurately. A life care planner can estimate the ongoing medical, rehabilitative, and custodial care the injured person will need over the remainder of their expected lifetime. This projection is one of the most valuable components of a brain injury claim.
• Insurance companies will often dispute the severity of a brain injury, particularly when imaging studies like CT scans and MRIs appear normal. Many brain injuries, especially diffuse axonal injuries and mild TBIs, do not show up on standard imaging but produce significant functional impairments.

What Is the Brain Injury Case Timeline?

Brain injury cases take longer to resolve than most personal injury claims because the medical treatment is extended and the damages calculation is more involved. A general outline of the process follows.

• Medical treatment and stabilization are the first priority. Brain injuries often require emergency intervention, followed by weeks or months of inpatient rehabilitation. The injured person may not reach maximum medical improvement for a year or more.
• Your attorney gathers medical records, retains neurological and neuropsychological specialists, and works with a life care planner and an economist to calculate the total value of the claim.
• Once the full scope of the injury and its long-term effects are documented, your attorney prepares a demand and sends it to the responsible party’s insurance carrier.
• If settlement negotiations do not produce a fair result, your attorney files a civil lawsuit. Discovery, depositions, and trial preparation follow.
• California provides a two-year statute of limitations under CCP 335.1 for personal injury claims, including brain injury cases.

What Should You Bring to Your Brain Injury Consultation?

Providing your documentation at the first meeting helps your attorney evaluate the viability and potential value of the claim.

• Medical records from emergency treatment, hospitalization, and any follow-up care, including neurological evaluations
• Imaging studies such as CT scans, MRIs, and any neuropsychological test results
• Documentation of cognitive, behavioral, or personality changes observed since the injury
• Records of lost wages or changes in employment status
• The police report, incident report, or any documentation of the event that caused the injury

Your attorney will review what you have, explain how California personal injury law applies to your situation, and discuss the next steps in pursuing your claim.

What Are Important California Legal Resources for Brain Injury Cases?

California statutes on the statute of limitations, negligence, and damages apply to brain injury claims. The following resources provide a starting point for locating the applicable law and understanding the scope of traumatic brain injury.

• CCP 335.1 establishes a two-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims in California, including brain injury cases.
• California Civil Code 1714 defines the general duty of care that all persons owe to others, forming the legal basis for negligence claims in brain injury cases.
• The California Courts Self-Help Center provides information on filing a personal injury lawsuit and what to expect during the civil litigation process.
• The CDC’s TBI data page publishes national statistics on traumatic brain injury hospitalizations and deaths across the United States.
• The CDC’s TBI facts page provides an overview of traumatic brain injury causes, risk groups, and the long-term effects of TBI on individuals and families.

Reach Out to Cohen Injury Law Group to Schedule a Consultation

If you or a family member has suffered a brain injury in Westwood, CA due to another party’s negligence, Cohen Injury Law Group can help you evaluate your legal options. We handle brain injury cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning you owe no attorney fees unless we recover compensation. Your first consultation is free. Contact us to schedule a case review.