Legally Reviewed by Phillip Younglove, Esq. on August 5, 2026
Newport Beach Traumatic Brain Injury Lawyer
Traumatic brain injuries are wounds that affect how the brain works, and they are far more common than most people realize. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there were approximately 214,110 TBI-related hospitalizations in the United States in 2020 and 68,663 TBI-related deaths in 2023, representing more than 586 hospitalizations and 190 deaths from TBI every single day. Whether a TBI happens in a collision on Pacific Coast Highway, a fall near the harbor, or a boating accident in Newport Harbor, the effects can alter memory, mood, speech, and the ability to work, often without showing up clearly on a first scan.
At Younglove Law Group, our Newport Beach personal injury attorneys have recovered over $60 million for injured clients throughout California, bringing more than 20 years of combined legal experience to catastrophic injury claims. We operate on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless we win.
⚠ Time-Sensitive — California Law Limits Your Window to File
California’s statute of limitations for traumatic brain injury claims is generally two years from the date of the injury.
Younglove Law Group has recovered over $60 million for injured Californians over more than 20 years of combined legal experience. We handle TBI cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless we win.
Call (949) 691-3660 for a Free Consultation
How to Recognize a Traumatic Brain Injury
Identifying and documenting a brain injury as early as possible matters both for your health and for your claim, but even a medical exam can miss the signs of a TBI at first. Symptoms to watch for include persistent headaches, dizziness, nausea or vomiting, memory loss, slurred speech, fatigue and sleep disturbances, loss of consciousness, loss of coordination or balance, sensitivity to light or sound, blurred vision, mood swings or personality changes, clear fluid draining from the nose or ears, pupil dilation, and weakness or numbness in the extremities. If you were involved in an accident and are experiencing any of these symptoms, seek medical evaluation right away, even if the symptoms seem to develop gradually over the following days.
How Traumatic Brain Injuries Are Diagnosed
Diagnosing a TBI and determining its severity often requires more than a single test. Understanding the tools your medical team may use can help you follow your treatment and understand your case.
Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS)
The Glasgow Coma Scale is a tool healthcare providers use to assess a patient’s ability to speak, move, and open their eyes. The combined score, out of a maximum of 15, helps establish severity: a score of 13 or higher generally indicates a mild TBI, 9 to 12 indicates a moderate TBI, and 8 or below indicates a severe TBI.
CT Scan
A CT scan uses X-rays taken from multiple angles to build a complete picture of the brain and can quickly reveal bleeding or bruising. It is often the first imaging test used in an emergency setting.
MRI Scan
An MRI uses magnets and radio waves to produce more detailed images than a CT scan. MRIs are more expensive and time-consuming, so they are typically ordered when a patient continues to experience symptoms after an initial CT scan appears normal.
EEG Test
During an electroencephalogram, electrodes attached to the scalp measure electrical activity in the brain over time, helping identify abnormalities that other imaging may miss.
ERP Test
An Event-Related Potential test works similarly to an EEG, but records brain activity in response to a specific external stimulus, such as a sound or image, providing another data point for diagnosis.
Common Causes of Traumatic Brain Injuries in Newport Beach
Newport Beach’s mix of coastal roads, harbor activity, and beach recreation creates several distinct paths to a serious head injury. Collisions on Pacific Coast Highway near Crystal Cove and the congested intersections around Fashion Island are a leading cause, particularly when a driver’s head strikes a window, headrest, or steering wheel even in a crash that looks minor from the outside. Newport Harbor’s heavy boating activity also creates real risk, since a fall on a dock, a collision between vessels, or a passenger thrown by a wake can each cause a head injury. Falls on the Balboa Peninsula’s narrow, congested streets, particularly where pedestrians, cyclists, and golf carts share the road, are another common cause. Bicycle and pedestrian collisions along the coast and construction or workplace accidents in the city’s active commercial districts round out the leading causes our attorneys see.
What Damages Are Available After a Newport Beach Traumatic Brain Injury
California law allows TBI victims to pursue full compensation for both the financial and personal impact of their injury. Recoverable damages typically include emergency and ongoing medical treatment, including hospitalization, neurosurgery, imaging, and medication, lost wages and reduced earning capacity when the injury affects your ability to work, rehabilitation and therapy costs including cognitive, physical, occupational, and speech therapy, home and vehicle modifications needed to accommodate lasting limitations, attendant or caregiver care, pain and suffering, and loss of consortium for the effect on a spouse or family relationship. In cases involving particularly reckless conduct, punitive damages may also be available.
What to Do After a Suspected TBI in Newport Beach
- Seek medical attention immediately, even if symptoms seem mild. Concussions and other mild TBIs can worsen or reveal themselves over the following days. Same-day evaluation creates the medical record your claim will depend on.
- Follow every recommendation from your medical team. Missed appointments or ignored treatment plans are routinely used by insurers to argue your injury was not serious.
- Document your symptoms as they develop. Memory issues, headaches, mood changes, and sleep problems are easy to forget or minimize over time. Keep a written log from the first day.
- Avoid social media and discussing the incident publicly. Insurers regularly review claimants’ public posts looking for anything that can be used to dispute the severity of an injury.
- Do not accept a settlement offer before speaking with an attorney. Early offers are almost always calculated before the full cost of a brain injury is known.
- Contact Younglove Law Group as soon as possible. Early involvement allows us to preserve evidence, coordinate with your medical providers, and begin building an accurate picture of your claim’s true value.
Statute of Limitations for Newport Beach TBI Claims
Under California Code of Civil Procedure Section 335.1, most personal injury claims involving a traumatic brain injury must be filed within two years of the date of the injury. If a government entity, such as the City of Newport Beach or Caltrans, bears any responsibility, a government tort claim must be filed within six months of the incident before a lawsuit can proceed.
Missing either deadline typically bars your claim permanently, regardless of how severe the injury turns out to be. Contact Younglove Law Group as soon as possible to protect your rights.
Frequently Asked Questions About Newport Beach TBI Claims
My CT scan came back normal but I still have symptoms. Do I have a claim?
Yes. A normal CT scan does not rule out a traumatic brain injury, particularly a mild TBI or concussion. Additional testing such as an MRI, EEG, or neuropsychological evaluation, combined with a detailed record of your symptoms, can establish the injury even when a single scan looks clear. Insurers often rely on a clean scan to dispute a claim, and our attorneys are prepared to counter that argument with the full medical picture.
How much is a traumatic brain injury claim worth?
There is no fixed value for a TBI claim. The amount depends on the severity of the injury, current and future medical costs, lost earning capacity, and the degree of negligence involved. Moderate to severe TBIs involving lifetime care needs typically carry significantly higher value than a single concussion with a full recovery.
What if my TBI happened in a boating accident on Newport Harbor?
Boating-related TBI claims can involve additional parties beyond a standard vehicle accident, including the vessel operator, the vessel owner, or a rental company if the boat was chartered. Our attorneys evaluate all potential sources of liability specific to harbor and boating incidents.
What if I had a prior head injury before this accident?
California law allows you to recover compensation for the aggravation of a pre-existing condition, even if you had a prior head injury. The at-fault party is responsible for the additional harm their negligence caused. Our attorneys work with medical experts to distinguish your baseline condition from the new injury caused by this incident.
How long does a traumatic brain injury case typically take?
TBI cases often take longer to resolve than other personal injury claims because the full extent of the injury may not be clear for months, particularly for moderate to severe cases. Settling too early risks leaving future medical and care costs uncompensated.
How much does it cost to hire a Newport Beach TBI lawyer?
Younglove Law Group handles all traumatic brain injury cases on a contingency fee basis. You pay no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you, and we advance all costs of investigating and litigating your claim, including medical experts. If your case does not resolve in your favor, you owe us nothing.
Call (949) 691-3660 for a Free Consultation
We are available 24/7. We care about your situation and want you to understand your legal options.
Younglove Law Group also handles Newport Beach car accident claims, motorcycle accident claims, bicycle accident claims, and wrongful death claims throughout the city.
- Client satisfaction is our top priority.
- We pride ourselves on responsiveness and always get back to you the same day you contact us.
- We are a real law firm, not a referral service.
- Your case will be handled by experienced legal professionals.
- Your case will not be passed around with repeated changes to your primary contact.
Contact Younglove Law Group’s Newport Beach TBI Attorneys
Attorney Phillip Younglove earned his J.D. from USC Gould School of Law and his B.A. from UCLA. Before founding Younglove Law Group, he spent years as an insurance defense attorney representing carriers, giving our clients firsthand insight into how insurers evaluate and attempt to minimize brain injury claims. That background, combined with over $60 million recovered for injured clients and recognition from Super Lawyers, Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch, The National Trial Lawyers Top 40 Under 40, and the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, means your traumatic brain injury claim is handled by attorneys who understand exactly how the other side will try to undervalue it.
If you or a family member suffered a traumatic brain injury anywhere in Newport Beach, contact Younglove Law Group for a free consultation. Our attorneys will evaluate your case, explain your options, and begin building the strongest possible claim on your behalf.