If you or a loved one suffered a head or brain injury in Richmond, getting the right medical care and legal help quickly can change your outcome.

Our Richmond brain injury lawyers at GJEL Accident Attorneys help families throughout Contra Costa County secure treatment at facilities like Highland Hospital’s Level I trauma center or Kaiser Richmond Medical Center, protect critical evidence, and pursue full compensation for life-changing injuries.

With over 40 years serving Richmond residents from our local office at 653 S 31st St Suite 1, Richmond, CA 94804, we understand that brain injuries affect every aspect of your life—from medical bills and lost wages to ongoing care needs.

We handle everything from emergency room visits to complex litigation in Martinez’s Contra Costa County Superior Court, so you can focus on recovery.

Start with a free consultation: Call 510-231-0290 or visit us in Richmond.

We also meet clients at your work, home, Kaiser Richmond, or wherever is most convenient during your recovery.

Someone with a head injury that needs to hire a Richmond Brain Injury Lawyer

What to Do After a Head Injury in Richmond, CA

Time is critical after any head trauma. Follow these essential steps to protect your health and legal rights:

1. Call 911 for emergency symptoms

Seek immediate help if you experience loss of consciousness, severe confusion, repeated vomiting, seizures, worsening headache, or clear fluid from nose/ears. Richmond paramedics will likely transport serious trauma cases to Highland Hospital in Oakland (East Bay’s only adult Level I trauma center) or John Muir Medical Center Walnut Creek (Contra Costa County’s Level II trauma center).

Get the support of a trusted Richmond brain injury lawyer today at GJEL Accident Attorneys

2. Get medical evaluation even for “minor” symptoms

Visit Kaiser Richmond Medical Center (901 Nevin Ave) or your nearest ER within 24 hours. Brain injuries often have delayed symptoms—what seems minor today could worsen tomorrow. Document all symptoms with medical staff, including headaches, dizziness, memory issues, or mood changes.

3. Obtain the Richmond Police report

Request your report from Richmond Police Department at 401 27th St, Richmond, CA 94804 or call (510) 621-1708.

For California Highway Patrol accidents on I-80 or I-580, visit the CHP Golden Gate Division office or request online.

Reports typically take 10-14 days.

4. Document everything immediately

Photograph vehicle damage, the accident scene, and visible injuries

  • Photograph vehicle damage, the accident scene, and visible injuries
  • Save damaged helmets, clothing, or safety equipment
  • Screenshot weather/traffic conditions from that day
  • Get contact information from all witnesses
  • Keep a daily symptom journal as brain injury effects can evolve over weeks

5. Preserve critical evidence before it disappears Many Richmond intersections and businesses have surveillance cameras that overwrite footage within 7-30 days. Acting quickly helps us secure video from nearby stores, traffic cameras, or dash cams that could prove fault.

6. Be cautious with insurance companies Don’t give recorded statements or sign releases without legal advice. Insurance adjusters often minimize brain injuries as “just concussions” before you know the full extent of your condition.

Contacting a richmond brain injury lawyer can make a significant difference.

7. Contact a Richmond brain injury lawyer promptly California’s 2-year statute of limitations seems long, but building a strong TBI case takes time. If a government vehicle was involved (AC Transit, city vehicle), you have only 6 months to file a government claim.

8. Follow up with specialists Request referrals to neurology at Kaiser Richmond or UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland for pediatric cases. Document all appointments, therapy sessions, and work/school limitations.

Need immediate help?

Call our Richmond office at 510-231-0290.

We can start preserving evidence while you focus on recovery. Free consultations available at our office at 653 S 31st St Suite 1, or we’ll come to you.

Common Brain and Head Injuries We Handle in Richmond

Our Richmond traumatic brain injury attorneys represent clients throughout Contra Costa County suffering from all severity levels of head trauma. Each type requires specialized medical documentation and legal strategies:

Concussion and Mild TBI: Often dismissed by insurance companies as “minor,” these injuries can cause lasting cognitive problems, chronic headaches, and emotional changes. Learn about common myths surrounding brain injuries that adjusters use to minimize claims.

Ensure your rights are protected with a skilled richmond brain injury lawyer.

Post-Concussion Syndrome (PCS): When concussion symptoms persist beyond three months, affecting work performance and daily life. Richmond residents often struggle getting insurers to recognize these invisible but debilitating effects.

Diffuse Axonal Injury (DAI): Severe rotational forces common in Richmond freeway crashes on I-80 or I-580 cause widespread brain damage. These cases often require comprehensive life care planning for long-term support.

Coup-Contrecoup Injuries: Brain damage on both impact and opposite sides, frequently seen in T-bone collisions at busy Richmond intersections like San Pablo and Macdonald Avenue. Understanding types of brain injuries from vehicle accidents helps build stronger cases.

Intracranial Hematomas: Blood accumulation requiring emergency surgery at trauma centers like Highland Hospital. Time-sensitive cases demanding immediate legal action to preserve evidence.

Skull Fractures: Direct impact injuries often accompanied by brain trauma, requiring extensive reconstruction and ongoing monitoring. Recognizing warning signs of serious head injuries can be life-saving.

Getting the Right Medical Care Near Richmond

Quick access to specialized brain injury treatment in the East Bay can significantly impact recovery outcomes and case values:

For Emergency Trauma: Highland Hospital in Oakland serves as the regional Level I trauma center where Richmond’s most severe brain injuries are treated. Their comprehensive trauma team handles complex cases requiring neurosurgery.

Contra Costa County Trauma Care: John Muir Medical Center Walnut Creek operates the county’s designated Level II trauma center, providing advanced neurological care for Richmond area residents with moderate to severe TBI.

Local Follow-Up Care: Kaiser Richmond Medical Center at 901 Nevin Avenue offers neurology services, imaging, and rehabilitation programs essential for ongoing brain injury treatment. Their integrated system helps coordinate the complex care TBI patients need.

Pediatric Specialists: Children with head injuries may be referred to UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland for specialized pediatric neurology unavailable at local facilities.

Important Note: Doctors Medical Center in San Pablo closed in 2015. Richmond residents should not delay treatment trying to reach this former facility. Current emergency options include Kaiser Richmond or the trauma centers mentioned above.

How GJEL Proves Your Richmond Brain Injury Case

Building a compelling TBI case requires thorough evidence gathering and expert testimony. Our Richmond brain injury lawyers utilize comprehensive proof strategies:

Medical Imaging Documentation: We obtain all CT scans, MRIs, and specialized imaging like DTI (Diffusion Tensor Imaging) from your treatment at Kaiser Richmond or Highland Hospital, working with radiologists to identify subtle brain changes insurers might overlook.

Neuropsychological Testing: Comprehensive cognitive assessments document memory loss, processing speed changes, and executive function problems affecting Richmond residents’ ability to work or attend Contra Costa College. These objective tests counter insurance claims that symptoms are “subjective.”

Life Care Planning: For moderate to severe injuries, we engage certified planners who calculate lifetime costs for medical care, therapy, medications, and home modifications. Professional life care planning after brain injuries ensures full compensation for future needs.

Economic Loss Analysis: Working with vocational experts to document lost earning capacity, whether you worked at Chevron Richmond Refinery, the Port of Richmond, or local businesses. We calculate both past and future wage losses.

Biomechanical Evidence: Accident reconstruction specialists analyze crash dynamics from Richmond intersection collisions or freeway accidents, proving forces sufficient to cause brain trauma even without visible head wounds.

Witness Testimony: Statements from family, coworkers, and friends documenting personality changes and daily struggles. Understanding typical symptoms of traumatic brain injury helps witnesses provide relevant observations.

Prior Medical Records: Comparing pre and post-accident functioning to demonstrate the injury’s impact on your life.

Critical Deadlines and Court Venue for Richmond Brain Injury Cases

Missing filing deadlines eliminates your right to compensation, regardless of injury severity. Contra Costa County has specific requirements:

Standard Personal Injury Deadline: You have 2 years from the accident date to file a brain injury lawsuit in California. This deadline applies to most Richmond car accidents, falls, and private property incidents.

Government Claims Act Requirements: If your brain injury involved a government entity (Richmond city vehicle, AC Transit bus, BART property, or dangerous road conditions), you must file an administrative claim within 6 months. This shortened deadline catches many victims unaware, eliminating their rights before they realize the injury’s severity.

Where Richmond Cases Are Filed: Brain injury lawsuits for Richmond residents are filed at Contra Costa County Superior Court in Martinez (725 Court Street, Martinez, CA 94553). Despite Richmond having a courthouse, civil cases proceed through Martinez for trials and major hearings.

Discovery and Deposition Locations: While the case is filed in Martinez, depositions and mediations often occur in Richmond or Walnut Creek for convenience. Our Richmond office at 653 S 31st St frequently hosts these proceedings.

Special Circumstances: Minor children injured in Richmond have extended deadlines (typically until age 20), but immediate action preserves evidence. Delayed discovery rules may apply if brain injury symptoms appeared later, though proving this requires careful documentation.

Why Timing Matters: Beyond legal deadlines, early action allows us to preserve surveillance footage from Richmond businesses, obtain witness statements while memories remain fresh, and document your condition before insurance companies argue you’ve recovered.

Don’t risk missing critical deadlines. Contact our Richmond brain injury attorneys at 510-231-0290 for a free case evaluation. We’ll ensure all deadlines are protected while you focus on recovery.

Get Your Free Richmond Brain Injury Case Review Today

Don’t wait for symptoms to worsen or evidence to disappear. Every day matters when building a strong brain injury claim. Our Richmond traumatic brain injury lawyers have recovered millions for Contra Costa County families and understand exactly what it takes to prove these complex cases.

You pay nothing unless we win. We advance all case costs and work on contingency, so you can focus entirely on healing while we handle the insurance companies, medical records, and legal deadlines.

Call Now: (510) 231-0290

Available 24/7 • Hablamos Español • Home & Hospital Visits Available

Or visit us at 653 S 31st St Suite 1, Richmond, CA 94804

Related Legal Resources for Richmond Injury Victims

Brain injuries often occur alongside other serious trauma requiring comprehensive legal support. Our Richmond office handles the full scope of injury cases throughout Contra Costa County:

Each case type requires specific expertise in proving liability, calculating damages, and navigating insurance complexities. Contact our Richmond brain injury team at 510-231-0290 to discuss your specific situation.

Getting to Our Richmond Office

GJEL Accident Attorneys Richmond Office
653 S 31st St Suite 1, Richmond, CA 94804
Call: 510‑231‑0290

Easy Directions from Richmond Landmarks:

From Kaiser Richmond Medical Center: Head south on Macdonald Ave for 0.5 miles, turn right onto S 31st St. Our office is on the right, just past Bissell Ave. (3-minute drive)

From Richmond BART Station: Exit onto Macdonald Ave heading west. Continue for 0.8 miles, then turn left onto S 31st St. Look for our office on the right side after Bissell Ave. (5-minute drive, 15-minute walk)

From Hilltop Mall/Hilltop Area: Take Hilltop Dr south to I-80 East. Exit at Macdonald Ave, turn right (west) and continue for 1.5 miles. Turn left onto S 31st St. We’re on the right. (8-minute drive)

From Point Richmond/Marina Bay: Head north on Garrard Blvd, which becomes Harbour Way. Turn right onto Macdonald Ave, continue for 1.2 miles, then turn right onto S 31st St. (7-minute drive)

From Richmond City Hall/Civic Center: Head west on Macdonald Ave for approximately 0.4 miles. Turn left onto S 31st St. Our office is on the right after Bissell Ave. (2-minute drive)

From Contra Costa College: Take San Pablo Ave south for 1.5 miles, turn right onto Macdonald Ave. Continue for 0.7 miles, then turn left onto S 31st St. (6-minute drive)

Parking: Free street parking is available on S 31st St and nearby Bissell Ave. The office is wheelchair accessible with ground-floor entry.

Can’t travel due to your injuries? We regularly meet clients at Kaiser Richmond, at home, or via video consultation. Call 510-231-0290 to arrange a convenient meeting location.Retry

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