A severe head injury caused by a collision impact can lead to life-threatening complications, including prolonged unconsciousness, brain hemorrhages, and permanent cognitive or physical disabilities.
Receiving immediate medical care following a severe motor vehicle accident that resulted in a brain injury is always the top priority, and seeking trusted legal representation is the next necessity. Having a Bakersfield personal injury attorney on your side who understands the complexities of traumatic brain injury, the resources required for recovery, and access to experts who can represent your medical needs can help you receive maximum damages and hold liable parties accountable.
“The amount of experience that Rodriguez & Associates has with brain injury is vast. More than half of our cases involve some kind of brain injury. Because we have that experience, we know what doctors we need to prove a case.”
-Chantal Trujillo, Senior Partner, Rodriguez & Associates
The Bakersfield motor vehicle accident attorneys at Rodriguez & Associates have over 100 years of combined experience helping individuals and families navigate life and recovery following a catastrophic car accident. The firm has recovered over $1 billion on behalf of its clients, including the top three highest personal injury verdicts in Kern County history and the largest motor vehicle accident verdict in Iowa history. It has more multi-million dollar verdicts than any other Southern San Joaquin Valley law firm.
Understanding the Impact
Motor vehicle accidents are the third leading cause of traumatic brain injury, accounting for 14.3% of all diagnosed brain injuries with an average rate of 4.6 per 100,000 population.
The CDC estimates that 210,000 brain injuries every year result from motor vehicle accidents, including those involving pedestrians, trains, and bike accidents.
According to the Brain Injury Alliance, motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of TBI-related deaths of children and young adults ages 5-24.
TBI-related injuries cause more long-term related disabilities in children and adults than any other medical condition.
What is a Traumatic Brain Injury?
A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a type of injury to the brain caused by an external force. It can result from a substantial bump, blow, or jolt to the head or body or an object penetrating the brain. Both open-head and closed-head injuries can have catastrophic results, including immediate as well as delayed symptoms. This is why it’s so important to contact an experienced Bakersfield traumatic brain injury attorney if you were injured in an accident.
Even in low-speed collisions, the multiplied forces can cause serious injury when the soft brain tissue hits the inside of the skull. Studies have found that TBI can result from a car crash even if the victim has not experienced a direct impact on the head due to other external forces from the effects traveling through the brain.
Common Brain Injuries Associated with Car Accidents
Car and truck accidents in Bakersfield can cause some of the most debilitating traumatic head injuries. While symptoms and classification can vary greatly, it is important to understand some of the common brain injuries associated with car accidents.
- Diffuse axonal injury is one of the most common and damaging types of brain injuries. It occurs when the soft tissue and nerves (axons) are damaged when the brain moves inside of the skull.
- Intracranial hematoma is the bleeding in and around the brain, often caused by a burst blood vessel or head trauma. This injury can take
- Penetrating trauma occurs when the brain is pierced or punctured by an external object.
- Skull fractures are common when the head experiences a direct impact, such as hitting a windshield, or steering wheel, or when ejected from a car.
- Concussions and their symptoms vary greatly but can have severe and lasting effects for the victim. The most common concussions are caused by a sudden blow or jolt to the head.
Why do Car Accidents Cause So Many Brain Injuries?
A variety of factors can contribute to the number of traumatic brain injuries associated with car accidents. While safety measures such as seat belts and airbags offer some protection, each car accident is unique and presents numerous variables that impact the safety of car occupants. Working with an experienced team of attorneys who have access to medical and legal experts in both motor vehicle accidents and traumatic brain injuries is essential to your case.
- Total force: The force generated by the collision of two vehicles creates violent and uncontrolled movements, leading to whiplash, blunt force, or jolt to the brain and spinal column. Depending on the size of the vehicles involved in the crash, the total force can vary greatly and catastrophically. For example, a collision involving a car and a truck will create a much greater force than a collision involving two passenger vehicles. Head-on collisions, rear collisions, and underride accidents can potentially cause the most forceful crashes and the greatest likelihood of traumatic brain injury.
- Lack of restraint: Wearing a seatbelt and using proper child safety seats are safety measures that can protect occupants from serious car accidents, including roll-over accidents that commonly result in ejection. Utilizing these devices decreases, but does not eliminate, the risk of life-threatening brain injury in the event of a crash.
- Speed: Basic physics teaches us that the higher the rate of speed of a moving object, the greater the force it will create on impacts. High-speed collisions have an increased likelihood of catastrophic brain injuries and fatalities.
Long-Term Impacts of Car Accident-Related Brain Injury
Extensive studies have shown that traumatic brain injuries that result from the forces of a motor vehicle accident can lead to catastrophic changes in physical, psychological, and social health, including permanent disabilities that increase the risk of long-term health conditions and can lower life expectancy.
- Memory loss
- Difficulty with problem-solving, following instructions, learning new information, or grasping abstract ideas
- Impaired judgment
- Partial or total loss of reading, writing, and communication skills
- Loss of motor coordination, including issues with swallowing
- Sleep disturbances
- Seizures
- Severe mood swings and emotional disturbances
- Increased risk of depression
Compensation Associated with Motor Vehicle Accident TBI
Living with a traumatic brain injury is often financially overwhelming and emotionally taxing for not only the victim but also their surrounding family and caretakers. Filing a personal injury lawsuit against negligent parties is often the only way to recover compensation for economic and non-economic damages and begin a new chapter in life.
Rodriguez & Associates has worked with many individuals and families recovering from motor vehicle accidents that caused life-changing injuries. The firm’s highly experienced team of attorneys in conjunction with a network of legal and medical experts, has led to some truly exceptional recoveries for our clients.
A personal injury lawsuit can potentially help you recover both economic and non-economic damages, including:
- Current and anticipated future medical expenses, including hospital bills, surgeries, medication, physical therapy, medical support, and specialized care.
- Lost wages and future earnings
- Pain and suffering, which includes emotional damages such as loss of enjoyment of life, mental anguish, and emotional distress caused by permanent disability, depression, anxiety, and loss of quality of life
Bakersfield TBI Attorneys You Can Trust
In 2024, Rodriguez & Associates obtained a record motor vehicle accident verdict in Iowa on behalf of a young woman who was left disfigured, brain damaged, and with permanent injuries following a horrific and preventable truck crash that nearly took her life. The jury unanimously awarded the plaintiff, a 22-year-old woman, a record $35,793,475 to cover damages that included a life care plan, loss of earning capacity, pain and suffering, loss of function, and permanent scarring and disfigurement.
Underride accidents, such as the one the firm’s plaintiff experienced, are catastrophic and often fatal. As a result of the crash, the young woman suffered a severe traumatic brain injury, resulting in deficits that affect her daily functioning and judgment and permanent injuries that she is forced to carry with her for the rest of her life.
Personal injury cases involving brain injuries are often complex, involving both medical and legal challenges, as it can be difficult to establish fault in catastrophic motor vehicle accidents that lead to brain injuries. Our firm is widely recognized across California and beyond for successfully handling some of the most complex motor vehicle accidents that result in brain injury. When we take on your case, you can count on our unwavering commitment, empathy, and clear communication every step of the way.
Rodriguez & Associates is conveniently located in downtown Bakersfield, California. We are available for weekend and evening appointments, charge no fee for consultations, and speak both English and Spanish. Contact us online, or call (661) 777-7575 or 800-585-9262 Toll Free to schedule a free consultation with one of our Bakersfield motor vehicle traumatic brain injury attorneys today.