San Diego Brain Injury Attorney

Brain Injury Lawyer – Serving All of San Diego

 

Brain Injuries


San Diego Serious Personal Injuries from Accidents Lawyer

In many cases, catastrophic accidents can result in debilitating brain injuries. Brain injuries result from a blow or jolt to the head and can disrupt the normal functioning of the brain. According to the International Brain Injury Association, brain injuries are the most likely personal injuries to result in death or permanent disability. Accidents such as truck, automobile and motorcycle accidents, account for 50% of all cases of brain injuries in victims under the age of 75 years old. Brain injuries can be slight or severe, ranging from a concussion to a compressed skull fracture. Symptoms of a brain injury can include constant headaches, neck pain, blurred vision, dizziness and even paralysis. Disabilities resulting from brain injuries depend on several factors, including the severity of the brain injury, the location of the brain injury, and the age and general health of the brain injury victim. Common disabilities that result from brain injuries are problems with cognition (reason and memory), communication, behavior and sensory processing (sight, smell, hearing, touch and taste). Additionally, victims of brain injuries may develop long-term problems such as Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease. While victims of minor brain injuries frequently make a full recovery, those who suffer a severe brain injury often face permanent disabilities and even death. Many brain injury victims face a long rehabilitation process and may not be able to return to work, causing a serious financial and emotional strain on both the brain injury victim and his or her family.

If you or a loved one has suffered a brain injury due to an accident, contact Susan Handel. She will treat you with compassionate respect and will obtain for you the superior compensation you deserve.

Types of Head Injuries


Traumatic brain injuries can be caused by either closed or open head injuries. Closed head injuries occur when a blunt object or abrupt movement causes the brain to hit the inside of your skull. These types of injuries often can cause conditions such as swelling and hemorrhaging that the victim may not be aware of at first but, if left untreated, can lead to severe brain damage.

Open brain injuries occur when an object penetrates through the skull bone or when the skull is fractured. The brain can be damaged from the foreign object or from a piece of the skull bone. Individuals who suffer open brain injuries are at an additional risk of the area being infected. Both open and closed head injuries can cause traumatic brain injuries that, in severe cases, result in debilitating and life altering conditions. If you or a loved one has suffered a head or traumatic brain injury, Susan Handel is committed to providing compassionate counsel and aggressive legal representation. Although no amount of money can cover the pain and grief caused by these accidents, Susan Handel will work to secure maximum financial compensation to help to pay the costs of medical care, lost wages, and other damages. Contact San Diego serious personal injuries from accidents Lawyer Susan Handel for a review of your case.

Spinal Cord Injuries


Although spinal cord injuries can be the result of disease, trauma is a much more common cause. Spinal cord injuries are often caused by car, truck, motorcycle, and other types of vehicular accidents. When a traumatic injury damages vertebrae in the spinal column, the spinal cord itself may be injured. Spinal cord injuries result in impaired sensation and movement because the spinal cord injury inhibits the ability of the brain and nerves to work together. As a result, permanent or temporary paralysis below the injury site is common. Spinal cord injuries can therefore have a dramatic effect on a victim’s life. Sustaining a spinal cord injury can severely affect a person’s quality of life, physically, emotionally, and financially. A spinal cord injury often requires rehabilitative therapy, medication, surgery, prosthetics, and the use of a wheelchair or a computer device to assist with daily routines. The costs of these treatments and technologies can be exorbitant, which is why it is so important to seek damages for any and all medical expenses which will arise throughout the victim’s lifetime.

A spinal cord injury or myelopathy is defined as a disturbance to the spinal cord that affects a person’s sensation and ability to move. The typical spinal cord injury results in permanent disability or paralysis below the area of injury. A spinal cord injury can result in paralysis of arms and legs, which is called quadriplegia or tetraplegia, or the lower body only, which is called paraplegia.

Individuals who have suffered personal injuries of the spinal cord may be entitled to receive financial compensation if another party’s recklessness or negligence is to blame. Spinal cord injury attorney Susan Handel has the experience, resources and skills to prove another party’s guilt and to secure the maximum possible settlement for your medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages you are entitled to.

Back Injuries


A back injury involves damage not to the actual spinal cord, but rather to the vertebrae and nerve tissue. Back injuries can be caused by a number of factors and events and can range from mild to severe in their effects. Ruptured or herniated discs, spinal spondoloysis, and pinched nerves are all common causes of back pain.

Accidents can all too often cause chronic and debilitating back pain that can last anywhere from a few days to indefinitely.

Personal injuries on your back are often very painful and can require individuals to miss time from work or seek expensive medical care. If your back injury was caused by the negligence of another, Susan Handel will work to ensure that your rights are protected and that you receive superior compensation for your pain and suffering.

Burn Injuries from Accidents


Burn injuries can be caused by gas fires and explosions, electrical accidents, exposure to corrosive chemicals and many other hazardous situations. Truck, motorcycle, and other types of automobile accidents can result in dangerous fires that can quickly engulf vehicles. In other instances, fires can erupt in homes or businesses that can cause individuals to suffer severe burn injuries. If property owners fail to ensure that their building has functioning fire detectors, exit signs, and fire extinguishers, then they can be held liable under premises liability law. If employees suffer burn injuries while on the job, they may be entitled to receive financial compensation from their employers.

Injuries associated with a serious burns can be painful, damaging, and may require long term medical care. Due to the debilitating nature of serious burn injuries, the financial, physical, and mental costs of recovering from them can be overwhelming and very difficult to handle alone. Susan Handel has extensive experience in handling burn injury claims and knows how to deal with insurance companies. Susan Handel can help you cope with the many issues that often accompany a burn injury. The consequences of a burn injury can include months, and even years of doctors fees, hospitalization, surgical grafts, physical therapy, and in many cases counseling. The psychological distress often suffered after a burn injury is traumatizing.

Long Term Results of a Burn Injury


In order to avoid paying for the full treatment of a burn injury, insurance companies often try to settle quickly after an accident, before the full extent of the burn injuries are apparent. It is important to determine the long term consequences of a burn injury in order to determine how much financial compensation a burn victim will need. When determining how much compensation is fair, Susan Handel takes into consideration that you may require lifelong treatment and extensive reconstructive surgery. Scars that can result from a burn injury often require multiple surgeries, and can remain indefinitely.

Types of burn injuries


Burn injuries are classified as either first, second or third degree burns.  The most extensive types of burn injuries are third degree burns.  Burn injury attorney Susan Handel will work to ensure that victims receive superior compensation to cover the full physical and emotional costs of their injuries, including reconstructive surgery, skin grafts, and emotional counseling.

The type of burn injuries that are typically involved in a personal injury claim fall into four major categories:

  1. Electrical burns: These burns typically occur as the result of contact with strong electrical currents, often due to defective or otherwise unsafe electrical outlets and wiring.  Victims of construction accidents frequently sustain electrical burns.
  2. Thermal burns: These burns injuries are generally caused by exposure to flame, heated metals, steam, or contact with scalding liquids such as boiling water or hot beverages, such as coffee or tea.
  3. Chemical burns: Chemical burn injuries typically result from contact with abrasive chemicals containing strong acid or base components such as paint removers, detergents, solvents, bleach or concrete mix. These types of burn injuries frequently lead to product liability lawsuits.
  4. Radiation burns: These burns are caused by excessive exposure to damaging radiation such as medical x-rays, as well as ultra violet rays which are used in tanning beds.

Burn Injury Classifications


Burn injuries which are typically involved in burn injury cases are classified into three categories based upon the severity of the burns:

  • First Degree burns: Affecting only the epidermal skin layer and involves minimal tissue damage. First degree burns generally heal with no need for medical assistance and rarely cause scarring.
  • Second Degree burns: Typically affect both the epidermis and the dermis and often cause blistering.  Treatment of second-degree burns typically involves careful dressing of the injured area and avoidance of infection; however, some injuries may require skin grafts if the injury is severe enough.
  • Third Degree burns: Extend through the first two layers of the skin and they also affect underlying nerves, muscles, tendons, and even bones.  Skin grafts are commonly required in treatment of third degree burns.