A traumatic brain injury can change how a person thinks, works, and relates to the people they love, sometimes permanently. These are among the most serious cases we handle, and they are also among the most contested, because insurance companies know how expensive a lifetime of care can be.
Valley Accident Law represents Arizonans with brain injuries from crashes and falls across the Phoenix metro. Founder Charles Paglialunga has 29 years of Arizona accident experience, and every case is handled by Charles personally.
Request your free consultation or call 1-602-584-8054.
Brain injuries range widely in how they present and how they are proven:
Symptoms can appear hours or days after the injury, which is one reason a prompt medical evaluation matters so much.
The largest category in a serious brain injury case is usually future care: ongoing treatment, therapy, attendant care, lost earning capacity, and home modifications. We work with medical and life-care professionals to document the full lifetime cost, rather than accepting an offer that only covers the bills paid so far.
Many of our brain injury clients were hurt in car accidents, motorcycle crashes, truck collisions, pedestrian accidents, and bicycle accidents. When the injury is catastrophic or fatal, we also handle the related wrongful death claim.
Most Arizona injury claims must be filed within two years, with a much shorter 180-day notice window for claims involving a government entity. Early documentation is especially important in brain injury cases.
Charles handles every brain injury case personally. The first consultation is free, and there is no fee unless we recover for you. We have secured verdicts and settlements up to $6.1 million.
Request your free consultation or call 1-602-584-8054.
Arizona uses a comparative fault system, so the amount you recover can be reduced by the percentage of fault assigned to you, but you are not barred from recovering just because you share some blame for the crash. Fault is generally established through the police report, witness statements, photos from the scene, and in some cases accident reconstruction. Because a traumatic brain injury is not always visible in an X-ray or an early CT scan, medical evidence carries even more weight than in an ordinary injury case: neurological exams, neuropsychological testing, and a treating physician’s notes over time. Insurance adjusters know this, and they will often push for a quick, low settlement before the full extent of a brain injury is understood. Expect the claims process to move slowly while your treatment continues, and expect the insurer to ask for records, statements, and sometimes an independent medical exam.
If you or someone you love is showing signs of a brain injury after a crash or fall, seeing a doctor should come before anything else, even if the emergency room already cleared you. Symptoms like confusion, headaches, memory trouble, or mood changes can surface later, and a documented evaluation close to the date of injury strengthens your claim. Once you are safe and under care, reach out to us. As a brain injury attorney in Scottsdale, our firm will review the police report, gather your medical records, and start building the file the insurance company will eventually have to answer to. There is no cost to talk with us, and no obligation to move forward. We are simply here to answer your questions and help you understand where you stand.
Possibly. Concussions and milder brain injuries can have real, lasting effects that standard imaging does not show. A proper evaluation matters.
Because the future cost of care, therapy, and lost earning capacity is often far larger than the bills paid so far. We document the full lifetime cost.
Generally two years in Arizona, and only 180 days to notice a claim against a government entity.
Nothing upfront. We work on contingency, paid only if we recover for you.
You can generally still recover under Arizona’s comparative fault rules, though your recovery may be reduced by your share of fault. Fault is often disputed in brain injury cases, so a thorough investigation matters. We can help sort out what the evidence actually shows.
Many Arizona drivers carry only minimal insurance, which can fall short of covering a serious brain injury. Your own policy may include underinsured motorist coverage that can help fill the gap. We review every available source of coverage as part of the case.
As soon as you are able to, ideally before you give a recorded statement to any insurance company. Early involvement helps make sure evidence is preserved and that your symptoms are properly documented from the start. Waiting can make some evidence harder to obtain later.
Most personal injury claims in Arizona resolve through negotiation rather than trial, though we prepare every case as if it may need to go before a jury. Being ready to try a case can put pressure on the insurer to negotiate fairly under most circumstances. We will walk you through what to expect at each stage.
In many cases yes, though a brain injury can affect concentration, memory, or stamina in ways that make work harder than before. Document any changes in your ability to work, since lost earning capacity is often part of the claim. We can talk through how your specific situation may affect your case.