Closed Head Injuries

California Closed Head Injury Litigation

The term "closed head injury" refers to head trauma that does not include penetration or a fracture of the skull, and can cover a very wide range of symptoms of varying severity or duration. Closed head injury is often the result of a car accident, a sports or recreational injury, or an accident at work. For dependable advice about your legal options in the aftermath of a severe blow to the head from whatever cause, contact a knowledgeable personal injury lawyer at the San Jose law firm of Shea & Shea.

From the standpoint of personal injury litigation, closed head injury can present several challenges. First, especially in accident cases involving other traumatic injuries such as fractures or burns, the possibility of a blunt force impact to the head might be overlooked during emergency treatment. Failure to diagnose and test for brain injury is all the more likely if the patient recalls no loss of consciousness, or if witness reports of the victim's nonresponsiveness are either unavailable or ignored.

Another problem encountered in the recovery of compensation for closed head injury cases is the fact that the symptoms can be subtle or slow to appear. In many cases, personality change, memory loss, headaches, problems concentrating, or ringing in the ears might emerge months later as the most serious consequences of an otherwise relatively minor accident. Not only can these symptoms be difficult to document and present for compensation, but the defendants' insurers are not above accusing the plaintiff of faking symptoms for the sake of a damages award.

At Shea & Shea, our familiarity and experience with the investigation and presentation of damages claims for closed head injuries and post-concussion disorder can give your claim a distinct advantage in settlement negotiations or at trial. We make sure that you receive the diagnostic tests and treatment you need not only to demonstrate the reality of your symptoms, but to help you achieve a complete recovery.

Closed head injury should be recognized as a moderate or mild traumatic brain injury depending on the severity and duration of the symptoms, and should always be considered in any accident involving a blow to the head. For more information about your legal rights in a closed head injury case, contact a San Jose personal injury attorney at Shea & Shea.