A traumatic brain injury can change everything. If you or a loved one suffered a head injury in San Francisco, talk to a team that knows the medical and legal playbook. GJEL Accident Attorneys has a 99% success rate and has recovered $980 million+ for injured clients.

Free consultation 24/7 at our Financial District office, 883 Sacramento St apt a, San Francisco, CA 94108. Call 415-986-4777.

Looking for a fast evaluation from a San Francisco brain injury attorney? Contact us now or keep reading for answers, local resources, and next steps.

Why hire our San Francisco brain injury lawyers

  • Proven results. 99% success rate in serious injury cases
  • Powerful track record. More than $980 million recovered for clients
  • Local presence. Downtown office for in person or virtual meetings
  • Medical network. Neurologists, neuroradiologists, neuropsychologists, and life care planners
  • No fee unless we win

TBI by the numbers

United States. Approximately 214,110 TBI related hospitalizations in 2020 and 69,473 TBI related deaths in 2021, about 190 per day. CDC

San Francisco. 43 people were killed in city traffic crashes in 2024, the highest annual total since 2005. SFMTA 2023 2024 Traffic Crashes Report

Types of brain injuries and how they are classified

Concussion and mild TBI. Often no abnormalities on CT. Symptoms can include headache, dizziness, sensitivity to light or noise, and cognitive changes.

Moderate to severe TBI. May involve loss of consciousness, post traumatic amnesia, and imaging findings such as contusions or hemorrhage.

Glasgow Coma Scale. Clinicians commonly classify acute TBI by GCS: 13 to 15 mild, 9 to 12 moderate, 3 to 8 severe. Cleveland Clinic

Diffuse axonal injury. A shearing injury from rapid acceleration or deceleration, common in high speed crashes. Often requires MRI for detection. Overview

Classification is evolving. Newer frameworks integrate clinical signs, imaging, and biomarkers to better stratify injuries beyond a single score. NINDS 2024 recommendations

Common causes of TBIs in San Francisco

TBIs often result from falls, motor vehicle crashes, bicycle crashes, motorcycle crashes, truck collisions, and scooter incidents. If your injury involved a bike crash, our San Francisco bicycle accident lawyers and our separate San Francisco bicycle accident lawyers page explain how we investigate. For riders, see our San Francisco motorcycle accidents guide. For trucking cases, review San Francisco truck accident lawyers and our San Francisco truck accident page. If an e scooter was involved, read San Francisco electric scooter accidents and San Francisco scooter accidents. If a loved one was lost, see San Francisco wrongful death attorney and San Francisco wrongful death settlements. To understand fatal crash patterns, see San Francisco fatal accidents.

You can also start with our main hub for local help: San Francisco personal injury attorneys.

How we prove concussion and TBI cases

  • Medical evidence. ER notes, neurological exams, imaging (CT, MRI), and when appropriate advanced imaging and vestibular or visual testing
  • Neuropsychology. Validated testing for attention, memory, processing speed, and executive function
  • Symptom timeline. Early documentation matters. We help you record cognitive, mood, and sleep changes that often unfold over days and weeks
  • Functional proof. Work restrictions, school accommodations, and activities of daily living compared to pre injury baseline
  • Life care planning. Future medical needs, therapies, and assistive technology projected with experts
  • Economics. Lost wages, reduced earning capacity, and household services calculated and supported

Symptoms after a head injury and when to seek care

  • Headache and pressure in head
  • Dizziness or balance problems
  • Sensitivity to light or noise
  • Vision problems
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Foggy or slowed thinking, memory or concentration issues
  • Irritability, anxiety, or changes in sleep

Some symptoms appear hours or days later. Get medical care promptly if symptoms worsen or new symptoms develop. CDC mild TBI and concussion symptoms

Local evaluation and treatment resources

Compensation our lawyers pursue

  • Emergency care, hospitalization, surgery, and rehabilitation
  • Future medical care and life care planning
  • Lost wages and reduced earning capacity
  • Household services
  • Pain and suffering
  • Punitive damages when supported by the facts

Note on caps. California does not cap pain and suffering in ordinary personal injury cases. If medical malpractice contributed to the harm, the noneconomic cap is higher than it used to be and increases annually under AB 35. Overview of current caps

Deadlines and special rules in California

  • Statute of limitations. Most personal injury lawsuits must be filed within two years of the injury. CCP 335.1
  • Public entity claims. If a public entity is involved, you typically must present a government claim within six months before you can sue. Gov. Code 911.2
  • Comparative negligence. California uses pure comparative negligence. Your recovery can be reduced by your percentage of fault, not barred. Li v. Yellow Cab

What to expect in a San Francisco TBI case

  • Investigation. Liability, medical records, witness interviews, expert input
  • Claim and negotiations. Demand package, evidence, and insurer talks
  • Filing suit. If needed, we file in San Francisco Superior Court and pursue discovery
  • Mediation or trial. We prepare every case for trial to maximize settlement value

What to do after a suspected brain injury

  • Call 911 for emergencies. Get evaluated even if you feel okay
  • Tell the doctor about all symptoms, including cognitive or mood changes
  • Follow discharge instructions and attend follow up visits
  • Save photos, helmet or damaged gear, and names of witnesses
  • Avoid recorded statements before you speak with counsel
  • Contact our San Francisco brain injury attorney team to protect your claim
  • For an overview, read our San Francisco what to do after accidents guide

Recent brain injury results

CT scan image used by San Francisco brain injury lawyer team
Example CT imaging in a TBI case

San Francisco brain injury FAQs

How do I know if I have a concussion or mild TBI? Headache, dizziness or balance issues, sensitivity to light or noise, nausea, vision problems, and foggy thinking are common. Some symptoms appear later, so get evaluated by a clinician. CDC

What are the leading causes of TBIs? Falls and motor vehicle crashes are among the most common causes of TBI related hospitalizations and deaths nationally. CDC

Where can I get treated for a serious head injury in San Francisco? ZSFG is the city’s only Level 1 Trauma Center and is home to UCSF’s Brain and Spinal Injury Center. UCSF also runs a Neurorecovery and Post Acute TBI Program in Mission Bay. UCSF BASIC | UCSF Neurorecovery

What if my injury involved a public entity like Muni? You usually must present a government claim within six months. If it is rejected, you may have six months from the rejection to file suit. Gov. Code 911.2

Do you handle wrongful death brain injury claims? Yes. See our San Francisco wrongful death attorney page and recent San Francisco wrongful death settlements.

Free case review

Call 415-986-4777 or contact our San Francisco brain injury attorney team for a free consultation. Prefer in person? Visit us at 883 Sacramento St apt a, San Francisco, CA 94108. We also meet virtually. Start with our San Francisco what to do after accidents guide.

Disclaimer. Results vary and past outcomes do not guarantee future results.

Written by Andrew R. Gillin, Attorney, State Bar #45226 | Reviewed by Luke Ellis, Attorney, State Bar #68863 | Last updated: September 2025

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