A brain hemorrhage in a California personal injury case is one of the most severe types of injuries and can justify significant compensation under the law. Because brain bleeds are potentially life-threatening and may lead to long-term disability, courts and insurance companies treat these claims very seriously—if you can prove liability and damages clearly.
🧠 What Is a Brain Hemorrhage?
A brain hemorrhage refers to bleeding in or around the brain, usually caused by a violent blow to the head or extreme trauma. Types include:
- Intracerebral hemorrhage – bleeding within the brain tissue
- Subarachnoid hemorrhage – bleeding in the space between the brain and skull
- Subdural hematoma – bleeding under the dura (outer brain membrane)
- Epidural hematoma – bleeding between the skull and dura
These are often medical emergencies and may lead to:
- Loss of consciousness
- Paralysis
- Memory or cognitive impairment
- Seizures
- Death
⚖️ Brain Hemorrhage in California Personal Injury Law
You may have a personal injury case if your hemorrhage was caused by:
- Car or motorcycle accidents
- Slip and fall incidents
- Blunt-force trauma (assault)
- Sports injuries (especially in schools or youth leagues)
- Defective products (e.g., helmets, airbags)
If another person or entity’s negligence caused or contributed to the injury, you can sue for damages.
📋 What You Must Prove
To succeed in a brain hemorrhage injury claim, you generally need to prove:
- Duty of care – The at-fault party had a responsibility to act safely or reasonably.
- Breach – They failed to uphold that duty.
- Causation – Their actions directly caused the hemorrhage.
- Damages – You suffered measurable harm—medical, financial, emotional.
💰 Potential Compensation
Because a brain hemorrhage often causes catastrophic, long-term consequences, you may be entitled to significant compensation:
🔹 Economic Damages
- Emergency surgery, ICU stay, long-term hospitalization
- Rehab (speech therapy, physical therapy, etc.)
- Future medical care
- Lost wages & reduced earning capacity
- Home modifications or live-in care
🔹 Non-Economic Damages
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Cognitive and personality changes
- Loss of companionship (in wrongful death cases)
- Loss of enjoyment of life
🔹 Punitive Damages
If the cause was gross negligence or intentional harm (e.g., DUI crash or violent assault), California courts may also award punitive damages to punish the wrongdoer.
⏳ Statute of Limitations in California
- [Generally] 2 years from the date of injury to file most personal injury lawsuits
- 6 months to file a government claim if a public entity (e.g., school, city) is involved
- The “delayed discovery rule” may apply if symptoms weren’t immediately noticeable
🧾 Proving a Brain Hemorrhage Case
Medical evidence is essential, and might include:
- ER reports & hospital records
- CT or MRI scans showing bleeding
- Neurologist reports
- Neuropsychological testing
- Caregiver or witness statements
- Documentation of changes in mental state or physical ability
🧑⚖️ Should You Hire an Attorney?
Absolutely. Brain hemorrhage cases are high-stakes and involve:
- Deep medical knowledge
- High potential settlements
- Expert witnesses (neurologists, economists)
- Aggressive insurance company tactics
A skilled California personal injury lawyer can handle all that and fight for the maximum compensation you deserve.
Law Offices of James R. Dickinson – 909-848-8448
How To Schedule A Consultation:
Please call us at 909-848-8448 to schedule a free consultation/case evaluation or complete the form immediately below. [Please note certain formalities must be completed to retain the Law Offices of James R. Dickinson, such as the signing of a legal fee agreement [see “Disclaimers”]].