After suffering a brain injury in California, how do you prove your condition for an insurance claim or injury lawsuit? To secure compensation, you must demonstrate both that you sustained brain trauma and that another party’s negligence caused it. There are various methods to establish the harm you suffered through medical documents and expert testimonies that an experienced Sacramento brain injury lawyer can help you secure.
A violent jolt or shock frequently causes head injuries. A mild brain injury may have an impact on your behavior temporarily. More severe brain damage can arise from torn tissues, bruising, and bleeding in the brain, and these injuries can cause permanent physical, emotional, and psychological debilities. A traumatic brain injury (TBI) may also be deadly.
If you suffered brain or head trauma in California, contact the Law Offices of JG Winter to speak with a compassionate and effective brain injury lawyer who can help you understand your legal possibilities.
How Do You Prove a Brain Injury During Negotiations or in Court?
When proving a brain injury during negotiations with an insurance company or in court, California brain injury lawyers at the Law Offices of JG Winter start at the beginning. We demonstrate what took place during the accident and how and why the accident occurred. We will also confirm how the accident caused your injuries and how your life has since been adversely affected.
If you suffered a brain or head injury during a car accident in California, detailed documentation linked to it would be required. A police report contains essential information about how an accident occurred, including:
- The location of each vehicle
- How fast they were going
- Which direction they were traveling
At the Law Offices of JG Winter, we hire accident reconstruction experts to examine the finer details. These experts can also testify in court about the cause of the collision and how it affected you.
Medical Experts and Documents Can Demonstrate a Brain Injury
Medical professionals, such as your treating physician and neurologist, may testify as medical experts to prove your brain injury. Expert testimonies and medical documents together can demonstrate the full effect of your brain injury and how it influences your life.
Medical professionals diagnose the severity of a brain injury by utilizing the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS). This measures your functioning in three areas using a 15-point scale, including your ability to:
- Open your eyes
- Speak
- Move
This measurement considers your higher brain functions, such as your behavioral, linguistic, and cognitive abilities. A healthcare professional would assess your reactions and calculate a score based on the overall social skills and reliance on other people.
Medical Tests That Prove Brain Trauma
Imaging and medical tests can evaluate and display the extent of damage to your brain. The various types of medical and imaging tests that may prove your brain injury include:
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) uses radio waves and strong magnets to generate detailed images of your brain.
- Computerized tomography scan (CT scan) uses X-rays to produce a comprehensive picture of your brain, showing bruised tissue, bleeding, and other internal damage.
- Intracranial pressure (ICP) monitoring measures the pressure and swelling in your head by inserting a probe through the skull. If it swells too much, further brain damage may occur.
Rating the Level of a Brain Injury in California
If medical experts determine you have a TBI, they will then rate your brain injury level. While every brain injury is different, they are generally classified as:
- Mild (GCS 13–15): You were not unconscious and may have suffered memory loss for less than a day. If you were unconscious, it was less than 30 minutes.
- Moderate (GCS 9–12): You were unconscious between 30 minutes and 24 hours and may have suffered memory loss from one to seven days.
- Severe (GCS 8 or less): You were unconscious for longer than one day and may suffer memory loss that lasts longer than seven days.
Take the Next Step and Call California’s Trusted Brain Injury Lawyer
A brain injury can be life-altering. Lasting injuries can impact your ability to work and lower your income. Some brain injury victims may need permanent care with daily tasks for the rest of their lives. If you or a loved one is in this situation, you must take the matter seriously.
Get the legal help you need and contact a skilled and compassionate California brain injury attorney at the Law Offices of JG Winter. Led by Attorney Jeremy Winter, our firm has over thirty years of demonstrated legal experience helping injured victims receive fair and just compensation for their losses. To speak with Jeremy about your situation, schedule a free consultation today by completing a contact form or calling 844-734-2626.
