Traumatic Brain Injury Attorneys In Fresno, California

At Nunes Law, Inc., our brain injury attorneys in Fresno, California have great compassion for Traumatic Brain Injury victims and their journey to resume the quality of life they enjoyed before they were hurt by another’s negligence.

Our experienced Traumatic Brain Injury Lawyers in Fresno County, Kings County, Kern County, Madera County, Merced County, and Tulare County provide our clients with a clear outline of how their accident affects their livelihoods – now and in the future – so they can pursue the best financial outcome available for their unique injury needs.

Each of our attorney-client partnerships begins with a free consultation, so whether you have suffered an injury or are caring for someone who has, you can get the answers you need today at no cost.

What Is The Difference Between A Traumatic Brain Injury And A Head Injury?

An injury to the scalp, skull, brain, and underlying tissue and blood vessels can be referred to as a head injury.

Depending on the extent of the head trauma, head injuries may include a brain injury, or a Traumatic Brain Injury, also called TBI.

Traumatic brain injuries are described by the Centers for Disease Control as a disruption in the normal function of the brain, which can be caused by a jolt to the head, which can be suffered in varying capacities.

They include:

• Closed head injuries, where the brain is impacted from outside the skull, can lead to bruising, bleeding, fluid accumulation, tissue damage, and intracranial pressure
• Penetrating head injuries, where a foreign object fractures and penetrates the skull
• Anoxic brain injuries, where the lack of oxygen to the brain causes brain cells to expire
• Toxic brain injuries, where certain toxic chemicals damage or kill brain cells during exposure

Traumatic brain injuries can disrupt your quality of life from the moment the accident occurs, requiring extensive medical care, long-term treatment, therapy, and rehabilitation — none of which should come out of your pocket when your injury was caused by another’s negligence.

What Are The Most Common Causes Of Traumatic Brain Injuries In Fresno, California?

Nearly three million people visit emergency rooms each year for TBI-related injuries throughout the U.S., which are responsible for nearly 57,000 deaths over the same period.

The most common causes of Traumatic Brain Injuries include:

• Falls that account for almost half of all Traumatic Brain Injuries, which can occur during Premises Liability accidents

• Motor vehicle accidents, including Motorcycle Crashes, Car Accidents, Truck Collisions, or Pedestrian and Bicycle Accidents, account for 20% of all Traumatic Brain Injuries
• Struck by or against an object, which may also occur during traffic collisions, falls, or from using Dangerous and Defective Products, accounting for 17% of all Traumatic Brain Injuries

If you or someone you love has suffered a Traumatic Brain Injury caused by another person, party, or entity’s negligence, contact our experienced Fresno personal injury lawyers today to discuss your case and learn more about your rights to pursue the at-fault party for your complete financial compensation needs.

What Are The Most Common Signs Of Traumatic Brain Injuries?

Some symptoms of Traumatic Brain Injuries may take days or weeks to appear, which is why it is important to get medical care immediately after an accident, so you may be diagnosed with a TBI and begin treatment immediately.

Some of the most common signs of traumatic brain injuries may include:

• Dizziness
• Dilated eye pupils
• Headache
• Ringing in the ears
• Convulsions
• Slurred speech
• Tiredness
• Inability to awaken from sleep
• Nausea
• Neck pain
• Seizures
• Weakness or numbness in the arms and legs

It is not uncommon for people who suffer from a Traumatic Brain Injury to live with a TBI-related disability going forward, as some of these injuries may be permanent and require expensive long-term care.

That may include:

• Emergency, ongoing, and future medical costs
• Rehabilitation and therapy expenses
• Prescription and medical device costs
• Lost wages and diminished working capacity
• Temporary and permanent disability

If you have suffered a Traumatic Brain Injury, or are caring for someone who has, contact our experienced brain injury lawyers in Fresno, CA, today to learn how we can accurately calculate your current and future expenses, so you can get the care you need now and going forward.

What Happens When A Traumatic Brain Injury Becomes Wrongful Death?

Unfortunately, catastrophic accidents may cause Traumatic Brain Injuries so severe that the person hurt cannot recover.

Losing a family member to their injuries after an accident does not always happen immediately, and if he or she was hurt and lost their life to the injuries sustained in the collision with a negligent party, you may be eligible to file a wrongful death claim to pursue financial recovery for the medical bills incurred before their loss, funeral and burial expenses, and the loss of income and consortium they would have contributed to your household.

How a Brain Injury Lawsuit Works in Fresno, CA?

Navigating the legal process after a traumatic brain injury can be complicated and overwhelming. Understanding how a brain injury lawsuit works is crucial for victims who are pursuing compensation for their injuries. Below is an outline of the legal process for TBI claims:

1. Filing a Lawsuit

The first step in pursuing a traumatic brain injury case is to file a lawsuit against the at-fault party. This is typically done within two years of the accident, as California law provides a statute of limitations for personal injury claims. A Fresno traumatic brain injury attorney will file the appropriate legal documents on your behalf and initiate the lawsuit.

2. Gathering Evidence

Once the lawsuit is filed, the next step is to gather evidence to support your claim. This includes medical records, witness statements, accident reports, and testimony. A traumatic brain injury lawyer in Fresno knows how to collect the necessary evidence and build a strong case to prove the responsible party’s liability.

3. Negotiation and Settlement

After the evidence has been gathered, both parties will typically enter into negotiations to try to reach a settlement. Many TBI cases are settled out of court, allowing the victim to receive compensation more quickly and without a lengthy trial. Traumatic brain injury lawyers in Fresno are skilled negotiators and will ensure that any settlement offer is fair and adequately compensates the victim for their injuries.

4. Trial

If a fair settlement cannot be reached, the case will proceed to trial. At trial, both sides will present their arguments, and a judge or jury will determine the outcome of the case. Fresno traumatic brain injury lawyers are experienced trial attorneys who are prepared to fight for their clients in court and ensure justice is served.

Why Hire a Traumatic Brain Injury Attorney in Fresno, CA?

When dealing with a traumatic brain injury case, having the right attorney by your side is crucial. A skilled traumatic brain injury attorney in Fresno can make a significant difference in the outcome of your case. Here’s why hiring an experienced brain injury lawyer is essential:

1. Dealing with Insurance Companies

Insurance companies are notorious for trying to minimize the compensation they pay victims. After suffering a brain injury, you may face resistance from insurance adjusters who seek to reduce the value of your claim or even deny your case outright. A traumatic brain injury attorney in Fresno understands the tactics used by insurance companies and can advocate on your behalf to ensure that you are fairly compensated for your injury.

2. Gathering Testimony

TBI cases are highly complex and often require testimony to prove the extent of the injury and its long-term effects. Brain injury victims may need to call on medical professionals, neuropsychologists, and others to demonstrate the severity of the injury and its impact on the victim’s life. A skilled Fresno traumatic brain injury lawyer knows how to secure the necessary witnesses and present compelling evidence that strengthens your case.

3. Negotiating Settlements

In many cases, TBI claims can be resolved through negotiation rather than a lengthy trial. A seasoned traumatic brain injury lawyer in Fresno has experience negotiating settlements with insurance companies and opposing counsel to secure a fair settlement for their clients. However, when a fair settlement cannot be reached, a lawyer is prepared to take the case to court to ensure the victim’s rights are protected.

Why Frank Nunes Is Different: The Insurance Insider Advantage

Most personal injury attorneys go up against insurance companies with no firsthand knowledge of how they operate. Fresno brain injury lawyer Frank Nunes is different, and that difference matters in a TBI case.

Before founding Nunes Law, Inc. in 2007, Frank Nunes served as in-house counsel for a national insurance company. He sat on the other side of the table. He knows exactly how adjusters evaluate TBI claims, which arguments they use to minimize settlements, and where they look for weaknesses in a victim’s case.

That inside knowledge is now fully in your corner. When Frank Nunes reviews the insurer’s offer on your brain injury case, he is not guessing at their strategy; he has lived it. That is a level of insight that very few Fresno personal injury attorneys can offer.

Combined with his background as a former Tulare County Prosecutor, Frank Nunes brings courtroom credibility and negotiation experience that insurance companies take seriously. They know he will go to trial if the offer is not fair, and that changes how they deal with his clients.

California’s Statute of Limitations for Brain Injury Claims in Fresno

If you suffered a traumatic brain injury caused by someone else’s negligence in Fresno, California law places strict deadlines on your right to pursue compensation. Missing these deadlines, even by a single day, can permanently bar your claim.

The Two-Year Standard Deadline

Under California Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1, most personal injury claims, including TBI lawsuits, must be filed within two years of the date of the accident, as of June 2026. This clock begins running the moment the injury occurs, regardless of whether you have yet fully understood the extent of your injuries.

The Six-Month Government Claims Deadline

If your brain injury was caused by a government entity, such as a defective road managed by the City of Fresno or Caltrans, a public school, or a government vehicle, a far shorter deadline applies. Under the California Government Claims Act (Gov. Code § 911.2), you must file a written claim with the responsible agency within six months of the date of your injury.

Failing to file this government tort claim on time does not simply delay your case; it eliminates your right to sue entirely. If a government entity contributed to your TBI, contact Nunes Law, Inc. immediately.

The Discovery Rule Exception

Brain injuries are not always diagnosed immediately after an accident. Symptoms can be subtle at first, such as minor headaches, slight memory lapses, and mild mood changes, and may not be recognized as TBI-related for weeks or months. California’s discovery rule addresses this reality.

Under the discovery rule, the two-year statute of limitations may not begin until the date you knew or reasonably should have known that your symptoms were connected to the accident. This exception can be critical for TBI victims who were not diagnosed until long after their injury occurred.

However, the discovery rule is not automatic; it must be affirmatively argued and supported with medical evidence. Frank Nunes will evaluate your specific timeline and advise you on exactly how much time you have to act.

What Fresno Concussion and Mild TBI Victims Need to Know Before Settling

Insurance companies love the word “concussion.” They use it deliberately to suggest that your brain injury is minor, temporary, and worth little in a settlement. Do not accept that framing.

Medically, a concussion is classified as a mild traumatic brain injury, but “mild” refers only to the level of initial disruption to brain function, not to the severity or duration of the symptoms that follow. Many concussion victims in Fresno go on to develop Post-Concussion Syndrome (PCS), a recognized medical condition that can cause persistent, life-altering symptoms for months or even years.

Common Symptoms of Post-Concussion Syndrome

• Chronic headaches and migraines
• Cognitive fog and difficulty concentrating
• Memory problems and confusion
• Sleep disturbances and chronic fatigue
• Depression, anxiety, and emotional dysregulation
• Sensitivity to light and noise
• Dizziness and balance problems

These are not minor complaints. They can prevent you from working, caring for your family, and living the life you had before the accident. California law does not limit compensation based on a TBI’s medical classification; what matters legally is the real-world impact on your life.

Frank Nunes works with independent neurologists and neuropsychologists who understand how to document the full impact of mild TBI and present it in a way that insurance adjusters, mediators, and juries cannot dismiss. Whether your scan looked normal or your symptoms come and go, your claim deserves to be taken seriously, and Nunes Law, Inc. will make sure it is.

How Neuropsychological Testing Proves a Brain Injury the Scans Cannot

One of the most frustrating realities of traumatic brain injury litigation is that standard imaging, CT scans, and basic MRIs often appear normal even when a genuine brain injury exists. Insurance companies seize on this, arguing that a “clean scan” means there is nothing to compensate.

Neuropsychological testing directly counters this argument.

What Neuropsychological Testing Measures

Neuropsychological evaluations are comprehensive assessments administered by licensed neuropsychologists that measure how the brain is actually functioning across multiple cognitive domains, including:

• Memory — both short-term recall and long-term retention
• Attention and concentration span
• Processing speed and reaction time
• Executive function — planning, decision-making, and problem-solving
• Language and verbal reasoning
• Emotional and behavioral regulation

These tests reveal deficits that no imaging study can detect. A neuropsychologist can compare your current performance to pre-injury baselines, using demographic norms, educational background, and occupational history, to quantify exactly how much your cognitive function has declined since the accident.

How Neuropsychological Testing Strengthens Your TBI Claim in Fresno, CA

In a Fresno TBI lawsuit, neuropsychological test results serve as powerful, objective evidence. They give the jury something concrete to evaluate, not just a victim’s subjective account of feeling “off” or “foggy,” but a scientifically documented picture of measurable impairment.

Frank Nunes retains qualified neuropsychologists early in the case, before the defense can conduct their own evaluation, to establish a clear, documented record of your cognitive deficits. This evidence is often the deciding factor in the difference between a minimal settlement offer and a result that truly reflects the full impact of your injury.

Independent Medical Examinations (IMEs): What Every Fresno TBI Victim Needs to Know

If you file a brain injury claim in Fresno, the insurance company or opposing counsel will almost certainly request that you undergo an Independent Medical Examination, commonly called an IME. Understanding what this is, and what it is not, is critical to protecting your case.

What Is an IME?

Despite the word “independent,” an IME is conducted by a physician chosen and paid for by the insurance company or the defense. The examining doctor has a financial relationship with the insurer and is selected specifically because their evaluations tend to minimize injury severity and support lower settlement values.

An IME is not your treating physician’s opinion. It is the defense’s attempt to introduce medical testimony that contradicts your doctors and undermines your credibility.

Common IME Tactics in TBI Cases

• Conducting a brief examination, sometimes as short as 15–30 minutes, and concluding your TBI symptoms are exaggerated or resolved
• Dismissing ongoing symptoms as pre-existing anxiety, depression, or prior head injuries
• Arguing that a “normal” CT scan or MRI means no compensable injury exists
• Recommending that no further treatment is medically necessary

How Nunes Law, Inc, Prepares You for an IME

Frank Nunes prepares every Nunes Law, Inc. client thoroughly for the IME process. You will understand your rights, know what the examiner is likely to ask, and be aware of how to respond accurately and consistently. Frank Nunes also ensures that the findings of the IME physician are challenged with the contrary opinions of your own treating neurologists and independent neuropsychologists.

His background as both a former prosecutor and former insurance industry insider means he knows exactly how defense IME reports are constructed, and how to dismantle them in front of a jury.

Traumatic Brain Injuries in Fresno and the Central Valley: What the Data Shows

Fresno County’s unique geography, a dense urban core surrounded by high-speed agricultural corridors, rural county roads, and heavily trafficked Highway 99, creates conditions that contribute to above-average rates of serious accident injuries, including traumatic brain injuries.

According to data published by the California Highway Patrol (CHP) through the Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS), Fresno County consistently ranks among the highest counties in California for total traffic collision injuries and fatalities. High-speed collisions on Highway 99 and rural routes connecting agricultural communities throughout the San Joaquin Valley are among the most dangerous roadways in the state.

Falls, the leading cause of TBI nationally, are also disproportionately prevalent in Fresno’s agricultural workforce. Farmworkers who fall from ladders, scaffolding, or equipment on the county’s thousands of agricultural operations face some of the highest TBI risks of any occupational group in California.

The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) reports that traumatic brain injuries account for a significant proportion of hospitalized injury cases in the San Joaquin Valley region each year, with motor vehicle accidents, falls, and being struck by objects identified as the top three mechanisms.

These statistics matter for your case. Frank Nunes uses local and statewide injury data to contextualize your TBI claim for Fresno County juries, connecting your injury to the very real risks present in this community and reinforcing why full compensation is not just fair, but necessary.

What Compensation Can You Recover in Traumatic Brain Injury Cases in Fresno, CA?

In a traumatic brain injury (TBI) claim, the goal is to recover compensation for the victim’s losses. The compensation varies based on the case and the injury’s impact. Here are the damages that can be recovered:

1. Medical Costs: Victims often face high medical expenses, including emergency care, surgeries, rehabilitation, and long-term care. Fresno traumatic brain injury lawyers work to cover all current and future medical expenses.
2. Lost Wages: TBI victims may be unable to work, resulting in lost wages and potential career changes. Your Fresno traumatic brain injury attorney will fight to recover both lost wages and future earning potential.
3. Pain and Suffering: TBI victims often experience physical pain and emotional distress. Traumatic brain injury attorneys seek compensation for pain, suffering, and the psychological impact of the injury.
4. Long-Term Care Costs: Severe TBIs may require lifelong care, including in-home assistance and therapy. Fresno TBI lawyers will ensure compensation for the costs of ongoing care.

Contact Our Traumatic Brain Injury Lawyers In Fresno, California, To Schedule A Free Consultation

If you or a loved one has suffered a Traumatic Brain Injury in an accident caused by another’s negligence or have tragically lost a loved one to their injury circumstances, with our No Win, No Fee guarantee, you don’t pay unless we win your case. Contact our experienced brain injury attorneys in Fresno, CA, today by calling (559) 436-0850 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation.

Why Choose Us?

Aggressive Representation

We’ll Call You Back

We Will Go to Trial

We Will Fight for You

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Frequently Asked Questions for a Brain Injury Attorney in Fresno, California