Brain Injury Lawyers in Encino
We Fight for Justice in Brain Injury Claims
Brain injuries can be catastrophic, causing severe physical, emotional, and cognitive impairments. Even the top medical professionals who specialize in brain injury cases hesitate to provide a prognosis—one individual may recover fully, while others may be permanently disabled. If you or a loved one has suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI), our brain injury lawyer in Encino, CA, should speak with you immediately.
Common Causes of Brain Injuries
Brain injuries can occur in various types of accidents. Whether caused by a blow to the head, a lack of oxygen, or a violent impact, these injuries can lead to life-altering consequences. Some of the most common causes include:
- Car Accidents – Even with vehicles now equipped with advanced safety features, car crashes are a leading cause of traumatic brain injuries. High-speed collisions, rollovers, or impacts in which the airbags fail to deploy can leave an innocent driver or passenger with a brain injury that may require months, years, or a lifetime of care.
- Truck Accidents – Collisions involving large commercial trucks pose a significant danger to other drivers who share the road due to the size and weight difference. Victims in smaller vehicles are at high risk of an impact that causes a TBI.
- Motorcycle Accidents – Riders can sustain serious head injuries, even with a helmet. A motorcycle crash can easily cause a concussion or severe head and brain trauma when the rider is thrown onto the roadway with a violent impact.
- Pedestrian Accidents – Pedestrians hit by a vehicle can suffer grave physical consequences, including a brain injury. The pedestrian may be thrown to the roadway, hitting the head with force, damaging the skull and brain, with serious or fatal injuries.
- Bicycle Accidents – Cyclists involved in crashes with vehicles may suffer very serious brain injuries that may leave the injured party requiring months of medical care, rehabilitation, or a lifetime of care.
- Slip and Fall Accidents – Falls on wet, uneven, or poorly maintained walking surfaces can lead to a slip and fall with a direct blow to the head. These accidents are a common cause of brain injuries, often affecting older adults.
- Workplace Accidents – Head injuries can occur on hazardous job sites like construction zones, factories, or warehouses due to falling objects, tools, heavy machinery, or being caught in or between.
- Sports Injuries – High-contact sports such as football, hockey, or boxing can lead to severe head trauma, which may lead to long-term cognitive or neurological damage.
- Assaults – Brain injuries may also result from physical attacks occurring in commercial environments, such as malls, stores, parking lots, bars, restaurants, or other venues.
- Medical Malpractice – Mistakes during surgery, such as a failure to monitor oxygen levels or delaying treating infections, causing severe brain damage due to oxygen deprivation or an infection that damages brain tissues.
- Defective Products – Any commercial product that causes an injury can make it possible to file a claim against the manufacturer or seller. The most common products that have led to a TBI include children’s furniture, motor vehicles that fail, chairs, tables, or other products.
- Slip and Fall Accidents – Falls are a major source of brain injuries, particularly among older adults and in locations with unsafe walking surfaces, such as wet floors or uneven walkways.
- Workplace Accidents – Construction sites, warehouses, and industrial settings pose high risks for head injuries due to falling objects, equipment malfunctions, or falls from heights.
- Sports Injuries – Contact sports like football, boxing, or soccer can result in concussions or repeated head trauma, leading to long-term damage.
Brain injuries can affect every part of a person’s life—physically, mentally, and emotionally. Understanding how they happen is the first step toward seeking accountability and justice.
At V&A Law Firm, our California personal injury lawyers vigorously pursue the best possible outcome for clients who need help filing brain injury claims and lawsuits. Whether you sustained trauma that led to missing work and undergoing medical and rehabilitation treatments or a loved one who was so seriously harmed that they are in a coma or vegetative state, our lawyers offer experienced legal counsel. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation. An Encino traumatic brain injury attorney from our firm can help you learn what can be done to pursue fair and full compensation for all damages.
What Are The Types of Brain Injuries?
Brain injuries vary in severity, and each type can have a different impact on recovery, daily life, and the ability to function or enjoy life. The main categories of a TBI are as follows:
Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
Often called a concussion, a mild TBI may result in headaches, dizziness, confusion, or short-term memory issues. Most will recover fully within a few weeks to a few months, but some experience lingering troubling symptoms called post-concussion syndrome.
Moderate Traumatic Brain Injury
A moderate TBI is a more prolonged loss of consciousness that leads to noticeable changes in cognitive and physical abilities. Recovery can take several months or longer and may require physical, occupational, or speech therapy.
Severe Traumatic Brain Injury
A severe TBI will involve an extended period of unconsciousness or coma. These injuries often lead to permanent physical or cognitive impairments. Recovery is usually a long process, and the victim may never again enjoy the quality of life they had before the injury and could require ongoing care to survive.
Catastrophic Brain Injury
These are life-altering brain injuries that result in profound neurological damage, including permanent loss of mobility, speech, or independent function. Recovery from the injuries is limited and may involve 24-hour care for the rest of their life.
Acquired Brain Injury (ABI)
Not all brain injuries are the result of an impact. An acquired brain injury can result from medical events such as stroke, oxygen deprivation, or an infection. The extent of recovery depends on the cause, the area of the brain affected, and how quickly treatment is administered.
What Types of Damages Can Be Paid for a Brain Injury?
Brain injury victims and their families may be entitled to various damages under California law. These can include:
- Medical expenses – Hospital bills, surgeries, rehabilitation, and long-term care.
- Lost income – Past and future wages lost due to the injury.
- Reduced earning capacity – If the victim is unable to return to their previous line of work.
- Pain and suffering – Physical and emotional trauma resulting from the injury.
- Loss of enjoyment of life – The impact on daily function, independence, and quality of life.
- Home or vehicle modifications – For those who now need mobility aids or accessible living arrangements.
Every brain injury case is different. At V&A Law Firm, we assess the full impact of the injury and fight for every form of compensation the law allows.
Who is Liable?
Four key elements must be proven to hold another party legally responsible for a brain injury. These four elements are the foundation of any personal injury claim:
- Duty of Care: The defendant must have owed a legal duty to the injured person. For example, drivers have a duty to operate their vehicles safely, and property owners must maintain reasonably safe premises.
- Breach of Duty: It must be shown that the defendant failed to meet that duty—by acting carelessly, recklessly, or failing to act when they should have. This could include running a red light, leaving a spill unattended, or failing to secure heavy equipment.
- Causation: There must be a direct link between the breach of duty and the brain injury. In other words, the injury would not have occurred if not for the defendant’s actions (or inaction).
- Damages: Finally, the injury must have caused real-world, measurable harm—such as leading to medical expenses, lost income, reduced quality of life, or ongoing care needs.
Establishing liability in a brain injury case often requires a detailed investigation, expert input, and powerful legal support. Our firm builds cases that connect the dots clearly and effectively.
Settlement or Lawsuit?
These four elements are typically required in a lawsuit and will play a critical role in settlement negotiations. When our Encino brain injury attorney successfully resolves your brain injury claim outside of court, strong evidence will be required to inspire an insurance company to offer a fair settlement. These companies commonly offer a lowball settlement first, in the hopes that the victim or the family will accept it. At V&A Law Firm, we believe our clients deserve every form of compensation to which they are entitled under California law—and we fight hard.
Brain Injuries Caused by Medical Malpractice
Medical malpractice can result in brain injuries when a healthcare provider fails to meet the accepted standard of care. This may involve errors during surgery, incorrect use of anesthesia, delayed diagnosis, or a failure to monitor oxygen levels during critical procedures. In newborns, brain injuries can result from birth-related negligence, such as failing to address fetal distress or using excessive force during delivery.
These cases are complex and require medical expertise, strong legal strategy, and detailed evidence. At V&A Law Firm, we work with specialists to identify what went wrong—and we hold negligent providers accountable.
Brain Injuries and Vehicle Accidents
Car, truck, and motorcycle crashes are among the most common causes of traumatic brain injuries. A violent jolt, blow to the head, or sudden deceleration can cause the brain to strike the inside of the skull, even without a direct impact. In many collisions, a helmet, seatbelt, or airbag may not be enough to prevent a serious or life-altering TBI.
A closed head injury may result in a brain bleed that is not immediately obvious, with symptoms that develop over time and can lead to death. Whether the crash involved a negligent driver, a commercial vehicle, or a defective auto part, our team investigates every angle and pursues full compensation.
Brain Injuries from Slip and Fall Accidents
Slip and fall accidents are a leading cause of brain injuries, especially among older adults or individuals with mobility challenges—but anyone can be a victim when unsafe walking surfaces are present. A sudden fall on a hard surface—such as concrete, tile, or stairs—can result in a traumatic brain injury that causes long-term consequences.
These incidents often occur on poorly maintained property, at unsafe workplaces where stringent state and federal safety regulations have not been followed, or in businesses that fail to address hazards. If the property owner knew or should have known about the issue and failed to handle it or warn visitors, they could be held legally responsible.
Construction-Related Brain Injuries
Construction sites are among the most dangerous workplaces, and sadly, head injuries are among the most common. Falling objects, heavy machinery, electrical hazards, and falls from scaffolding, ladders, or falling tools can cause serious brain trauma. Even with safety protocols in place, a single act of negligence by another worker can cause a life-altering injury.
Depending on the circumstances, injured workers may be entitled to both workers’ compensation and a separate personal injury claim when a third party (such as a subcontractor, utility provider, or equipment manufacturer) is responsible.
Long-Term Impacts of Traumatic Brain Injuries
A traumatic brain injury can have a long-term impact on part of life. In more serious cases, victims may experience permanent cognitive impairment, memory loss, speech difficulties, loss of mobility, or emotional and behavioral changes. Even a “mild” TBI can result in months of headaches, dizziness, or trouble concentrating.
These long-term symptoms can limit a person’s ability to work, care for themselves, or maintain healthy relationships. At V&A Law Firm, we work to understand the full scope of your losses—and fight to ensure compensation reflects the changes in your life experience.
Why Choose Us?
At V&A Law Firm, we understand the devastating toll a brain injury can take—on the victim and the entire family. We take resolving these personally—our clients genuinely matter to us.
- Focused, Experienced Representation – We have a proven track record of handling serious injury claims, including brain injury cases involving car accidents, medical malpractice, and workplace negligence.
- Aggressive with Insurers and Compassionate with Clients – We know how insurance companies operate, and we don’t settle for less than the compensation our clients deserve. We will never pressure a client to accept a lowball offer—and we will fight for full and fair compensation.
- Hands-On Approach – Founder Ghazal Amy Vahdat and Senior Partner Kevin M. Davis are directly involved in every case. You get real legal guidance—not just a case manager.
- No Fees Unless We Win – We handle brain injury claims on a contingency fee basis. That means no upfront costs, and you owe us no legal fees unless we recover compensation for you.
- Straight Answers, Clear Communication – From your first consultation to the resolution of your case, we keep you informed and involved at every step.
We fight hard because we know what is at stake. If your life has been changed by a brain injury, V&A Law Firm is here to help you move forward.
Our brain injury lawyers in Encino are ready to assist you. Call us at 818-369-3270 for a free 15-minute case evaluation. We offer legal representation for brain injury claims and lawsuits in English, Spanish, and Farsi.
FAQ: Brain Injury Cases in Encino, CA
How long does it take to resolve a brain injury claim?
The timeline depends on the severity of the injury, the complexity of the case, and whether the other party is willing to negotiate a fair settlement. Some claims settle in a matter of months, while others—especially those involving litigation—may take a year or more. At V&A Law Firm, we move cases forward efficiently while ensuring we do not rush or overlook any critical issues.
Will my case require a lawsuit or be settled out of court?
Many brain injury claims are resolved through out-of-court settlements. However, if the insurance company refuses to make a fair offer, we are fully prepared to file a lawsuit and take your case to trial. Our goal is to maximize your compensation—whether that’s through negotiation or litigation.
How much is my brain injury case worth?
The value of a brain injury claim depends on several factors, including medical costs, lost wages, the long-term impact of the injury, and how your life has been affected. We conduct a thorough evaluation to determine what full and fair compensation looks like in your case.
What if my symptoms didn’t appear right away?
Delayed symptoms are fairly common in brain injury cases. Headaches, memory problems, or cognitive changes may not appear until days or even weeks after an accident. You can still pursue a claim, but it’s important to get medical care as soon as you experience symptoms, follow all medical advice, and speak to our brain injury lawyer to ensure no evidence to support your case is lost or destroyed.
What evidence will I need to prove my case?
Medical records, diagnostic imaging, expert evaluations, accident reports, and witness statements can be key to building a successful claim. At V&A Law Firm, we gather and organize all necessary evidence to establish liability and document the full extent of your injury.
Can I file a claim on behalf of a loved one with a severe brain injury?
Yes. If your loved one is unable to act on their own due to the severity of the injury, you may be able to file a claim on their behalf as a legal representative. Our attorneys can walk you through the process and help establish the legal authority needed.
How much does it cost to hire your firm?
We take brain injury cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing upfront and no legal fees at all unless we win your case. Your case evaluation is free, and we’re here to answer your questions with no obligation.