California Brain Injury Lawyers
Los Angeles medical malpractice attorneys helping brain injury victims
The team of experienced California medical malpractice lawyers at Heimberg Barr LLP focuses on medical negligence cases involving physicians, nurses, and other medical professionals and hospitals. If you or your loved one sustained permanent, life-altering injuries after undergoing a procedure or surgery, including brain surgery, or as a result of a medical error, contact the firm to schedule a consultation. Heimberg Barr LLP has secured hundreds of millions of dollars on behalf of its clients, including:
- $68 million verdict against a surgeon who prematurely left the OR after heart surgery which resulted in brain damage to the patient
- $17 million verdict in a birth injury case that resulted in brain damage
- $14 million verdict against LA Fitness for brain damage suffered by a patron due to improper CPR and lack of emergency response plan
- $9 million malpractice verdict for a woman with congenital brain problems, whose brain shunt became infected, leading to near-paralysis and additional brain damage
- $8.95 million malpractice settlement for failure to diagnose a developing hydrocephalus in a 16 year old with a history of brain tumor leading to permanent brain injury
What you should know about brain injuries
While there are many causes of brain injury, including accidents, falls and other trauma, negligence or other wrongdoing by a medical professional may also result in brain damage to a patient which can have devastating consequences. When a doctor makes a mistake in the course of treating a patient and that conduct falls below the accepted standard of care that causes brain injury, it may be medical malpractice.
Brain injuries caused by medical negligence in California
The brain needs a continuous supply of oxygen to survive. If the oxygen supply is interrupted, the functioning of the brain is disturbed immediately, and irreversible damage can quickly follow. While many catastrophic brain injuries are caused by outside factors – car accidents, falls, acts of violence, etc. – a patient can also suffer a brain injury by an act of medical malpractice. Some of these acts include:
- Missed or delayed diagnosis and treatment of stroke
- Oxygen deprivation
- Surgical errors
- Failure to treat an infection
- Failure to treat ongoing brain issues such as a seizure disorder
- Medication errors
Catastrophic brain injuries resulting from medical malpractice
How can a Los Angeles medical malpractice lawyer help my brain injury case?
One of the benefits of working with a Los Angeles medical malpractice firm such as Heimberg Barr LLP is that the firm is uniquely qualified to handle complex cases such as these. Dr. Steven Heimberg is a physician and attorney, and is a formidable litigator. They have dedicated their careers to helping people and fight exclusively on behalf of the injured.
Heimberg Barr LLP represents California brain injury victims who have suffered permanent brain damage as a result of medical malpractice. The firm knows that catastrophic injuries like these can cause undue burdens on the victims, their families, and their caretakers. The financial costs are staggering, and many people will need help every day for the rest of their lives.
Brain injuries also take an emotional and psychological toll on victims and their loved ones. This, added to ever-mounting medical bills and reduced household income, can make it difficult to go on. If this sounds familiar, then it is time to contact the Los Angeles neurology error attorneys of Heimberg Barr LLP.
Heimberg Barr LLP has delivered some of the largest verdicts and settlements for its clients in the history of the state as well as Los Angeles, Fresno, Riverside, San Bernardino, Santa Barbara, Ventura, Kern and other counties throughout the state. For their untiring dedication and unrivaled accomplishments, The National Law Journal selected Heimberg Barr LLP as the #1 Medical Malpractice firm in the country in 2019. Best Lawyers and US News and World Reports has honored the firm year after year as Top Tier (highest distinction) in both Medical Malpractice and Personal Injury fields.
Schedule a free consultation with a Los Angeles brain injury lawyer
If your loved one has suffered life-altering injuries or has sustained brain damage as a result of medical malpractice, Heimberg Barr LLP can help. As one of the leading medical malpractice law firms in California, Heimberg Barr LLP knows what it takes to build a successful case. Please call (310) 954-2000 or complete the contact form to schedule a free consultation with a catastrophic injury attorney.
Severe brain injuries caused by medical negligence sometimes prove fatal. When a patient dies from a preventable brain injury, the family may be able to bring both a survival action and a wrongful death claim against the responsible providers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I sue for a brain injury caused by a doctor?
Yes. If a doctor's negligent actions or failure to provide appropriate medical care contributed to a brain injury, you may be able to pursue a medical malpractice claim.
Depending on the circumstances, liability may extend beyond the individual doctor to a hospital or other medical provider involved in your care.
These cases often require detailed medical evidence to establish what went wrong, whether the doctor's conduct fell below the accepted standard of care, and whether that negligence caused the brain injury.
It is also important to determine whether California's MICRA rules and damage limits apply to the claim.
How is medical malpractice proven in brain injury cases?
You must establish three things - that care fell below the standard, that this failure caused the injury, and the extent of the injury - with causation the hardest, because the defense routinely blames a pre-existing condition.
Proof comes largely from investigation, since the records are typically “buffed” or altered and key documents are withheld or reclassified as “not medical records.”
Deep medical knowledge, sympathetic former staff, meticulous depositions, and effective cross-examination of the defense’s hired experts are what win these cases.
What compensation can I get for a brain injury case?
The compensation available in a brain injury case depends on the severity of the injury and how it affects the victim's life.
A claim may include the cost of ongoing medical care, rehabilitation, therapy, medications, and long-term support services, including in-home or specialized nursing care when necessary.
Compensation may also cover lost income and reduced future earning capacity.
Depending on the circumstances of the case and applicable MICRA limits, damages may also be available for the physical pain, emotional suffering, loss of independence, and diminished quality of life caused by the brain injury.
In some situations, family members may have separate legal claims arising from the injury.