A traumatic brain injury (TBI) has the potential to alter every part of your life. According to the Falling Forward Foundation, an estimated 425,000 people sustain a TBI each year—many of which result from an accident caused by a negligent party. Any person who suffers from a TBI may endure severe difficulties that they’ve never experienced before, such as losing focus, difficulty controlling their emotions, and waning mental capacity.
If another party’s negligence caused you to suffer a traumatic brain injury in California, contact an experienced brain injury lawyer immediately. Although an injury claim against the party liable for your injuries won’t make up for everything you’ve lost, it can supply you with the financial resources necessary for adequate and long-term treatment so you can be on the road to recovery.
The brain injury lawyer you choose is a critical decision, as they can significantly impact the outcome of your claim. To help in your selection, follow these steps below before choosing a brain injury lawyer to represent you in California.
Step 1: Identify the Type of Accident That Caused Your Brain Injury
Begin your search by identifying the type of accident that caused your brain injury. If it was a car accident, you’d search for a California car accident lawyer. Or, if a motorcycle accident led to your brain injury, you need an injury lawyer who has a positive track record of successfully resolving motorcycle accident cases.
There are endless resources available online to gather general information relevant to your accident and find an experienced lawyer. Generally, it’s helpful to search by combining your state with the type of lawyer you’re seeking to find quality brain injury attorneys near you.
Step 2: Understand Your Particular Type of Brain Injury & Symptoms
While you research the best brain injury lawyer to handle your case, it’s helpful to know your specific type of brain injury and symptoms. Try searching online with keywords like:
- Vertigo
- Mild traumatic brain injury
- Post-traumatic headaches
While your doctor will explain the complexities and symptoms you may expect from your injury, conducting additional research can provide further insight on how to best manage symptoms and difficulties that you may experience as a consequence of your injury.
Step 3: Research Potential Brain Injury Lawyers to Handle Your Claim
After researching the type of brain injury and case you have, you can begin narrowing your search down to an attorney who’s qualified and experienced in handling accident cases that cause brain injuries. Look for lawyers skilled in handling your specific type of accident and particular types of injuries involving your symptoms.
After you’ve compiled a list of potential attorneys, research further by analyzing their websites. Are they involved in any organizations that champion victims who have survived and thrived after traumatic brain injuries? What are their past case results and settlements on brain injuries like? Do they have positive client reviews? These factors will help you narrow down the top brain injury lawyer who wants to represent your case.
Step 4: Request Resources Relevant to Your Case from Potential Lawyers
You’ll want a brain injury lawyer who demonstrates excellent client service from the start before you’ve signed on to hire them. An effective strategy to learn how your potential lawyer will treat your case is to call and request resources relevant to your type of brain injury and case. By reviewing an attorney’s published articles online together with the information they provide upon request, you can decide whether a specific attorney or law firm is the right choice to represent your injury claim.
Take into account that lawyers must abide by a set of rules and ethics that prohibit them from directly contacting you by phone, email, or in-person unless you contact them first. You should report any lawyer who contacts you without your request to the State Bar of California for misconduct.
Step 5: Schedule a Consultation with Your Prospective Attorney & Ask Questions
The final step to take before choosing a brain injury lawyer for your case is scheduling a consultation in person or virtually with your prospective attorney. That is your best opportunity to ask detailed questions and better understand whether they are a good fit for your case. Compile a list of questions ahead of time so you are prepared. A competent and skilled attorney should respect your inquiries and answer each one directly and honestly.
Questions to Ask a Brain Injury Lawyer During a Consultation
- Will you be the one managing my case from start to end? (If not, you should keep searching for a lawyer who will handle your case through each step.)
- What are the processes and steps you go through for handling my case?
- How long will it take to reach a settlement or resolve my case? (If they promise you a fast recovery, they may be saying what they think you want to hear rather than the truth.)
- How have you individually handled cases comparable to mine in the past?
- Have you ever represented clients with traumatic brain injury before, and what were the results?
- Do you belong to an organization for brain injury trial lawyers?
- Are you a member of any national legal associations related to brain injuries?
- What is your ranking on AVVO or Super Lawyers?
Retain a Skilled California Brain Injury Lawyer
Having an experienced brain injury lawyer will allow you to secure maximum compensation for your injuries and losses. If you’ve suffered a traumatic brain injury from an accident caused by the negligence of another party, you deserve just and favorable compensation to help in your recovery.
At the Law Office of JG Winter, we provide key representation and advice to our clients across California through every step of their brain injury claims. To speak with an accomplished brain injury attorney about your claim, schedule a free consultation by completing a contact form or call 844-734-2626. Our Personal Injury Lawyers will help you get the claim in and around California, including Sacramento, Folsom.
