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51 East Campbell Avenue Suite 120 Campbell, CA 95008
Caputo & Van Der Walde llp
Local Personal Injury and Accident Attorneys
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A traumatic brain injury can change the entire trajectory of your life. When you’re facing months or years of recovery, uncertainty about work, and overwhelming medical bills, the attorney you choose matters. At Caputo & Van Der Walde, our attorneys have the experience you need to secure your future. Contact us to speak with a San Jose brain injury lawyer today.
At Caputo & Van Der Walde, we combine over 75 years of experience, courtroom strength, and a genuine commitment to helping severely injured clients rebuild their lives. We’re not a big PI mill, we don’t chase volume, and we don’t take every case. We take on cases where our deep experience and focused approach can make the greatest impact, including severe TBI and catastrophic head injury matters.
As a firm based in Northern California, we understand the local courts, local insurance defense strategies, and the expectations of local juries. When your future is on the line, having someone who knows this community inside and out is an advantage that should not be overlooked.
Choosing a lawyer to handle your case is one of the most critical decisions you can make after suffering a brain injury. Our team aims to ease the burden of injuries on victims and secure compensation that supports both their immediate needs and long-term recovery. As a local, Northern California-based firm, we offer:
TBIs can result from car crashes, assaults, falls, motorcycle collisions, or any high-impact event. Symptoms can evolve, worsen, or appear long after the initial trauma. Predicting long-term effects is medically complex, which is precisely why these cases require a lawyer experienced in catastrophic injury litigation.
Our team works with a network of respected experts, including:
This allows us to build a clear, compelling picture of what your future will look like, and what full compensation must cover.
A severe head injury often requires lifelong care and dramatically changes a person’s earning potential. With a local San Jose TBI attorney by your side, you may be able to recover compensation for:
We focus exclusively on serious injury and wrongful death cases. That allows us to bring a deeper level of strategy, attention, and expertise to each client — especially those facing life-altering brain injuries.
From the first conversation to the resolution of your case, you’ll always know what’s happening, who’s working on your case, and what to expect next.
If you or a loved one has suffered a traumatic brain injury, you deserve a legal team with the experience, compassion, and local insight to protect your future. Caputo & Van Der Walde is here to fight for you, every step of the way.
Contact us today for a free consultation with a San Jose brain injury lawyer who truly understands what you’re going through, and who will do whatever it takes to help you move forward.
When it comes to serious injuries like traumatic brain injuries, results matter. Families facing lifelong medical needs, lost income, and major disruptions depend on a law firm that knows how to secure the level of compensation these cases require.
Caputo & Van Der Walde has a long track record of recovering millions of dollars for clients with catastrophic brain injuries throughout Santa Clara County. Our team has successfully handled complex cases, both in negotiations and at trial, when insurance companies attempted to undervalue or deny legitimate claims.
Clients choose us not only for our proven results, but because they know we are committed to their well-being. We communicate clearly, advocate tirelessly, and put in the work needed to help families rebuild after life-changing injuries.
The legal process for pursuing a brain injury claim begins with a thorough investigation of the incident. This includes gathering evidence, consulting medical experts, and identifying the responsible parties. Once liability is established, the next step is to file a claim and negotiate with insurance companies or opposing counsel. If a fair settlement cannot be reached, the case may proceed to trial, where a judge or jury will determine the outcome. Throughout this process, having an experienced attorney by your side can make a significant difference in navigating the complexities of the legal system and ensuring your rights are protected.
At Caputo & Van Der Walde, we understand the profound impact a traumatic brain injury can have on victims and their families. Our team is dedicated to providing compassionate and effective legal representation to help clients secure the compensation they need.
From the initial consultation through the resolution of your case, we are committed to guiding you every step of the way. Your TBI lawyer will work closely with medical professionals, accident reconstruction experts, and other specialists to build a strong case on your behalf.
Unfortunately, insurance companies look for ways to minimize payouts by either denying claims or offering too little to those who have suffered injuries. Many victims understandably accept early offers without realizing how much the injury will affect their long-term finances, health, and overall quality of life.
A brain injury lawyer helps ensure that doesn’t happen. We understand the many factors that determine the true value of your claim and are prepared to pursue the full compensation you or your loved one may be entitled to. This can include coverage for medical expenses, out-of-pocket costs, lost income and benefits, diminished earning capacity, and loss of companionship or consortium. We work closely with medical experts to understand the level of care required now and in the future, ensuring that any need for ongoing treatment is fully accounted for.
Hiring the right attorney can make all the difference. An experienced lawyer brings not only legal knowledge, but also the resources needed to manage complex, catastrophic injury cases. With effective representation, your rights are protected at every stage, whether in settlement negotiations or in court.
Brain injuries can permanently alter patients’ lives, physically, mentally, and emotionally, since the brain is highly complex and an integral part of the body’s daily functioning. Although the brain may be able to form new neural connections to replace damaged ones, many brain injury victims will never regain their full brain function. You will want San Jose brain injury lawyers working for you to help you recover the full amount of compensation for brain damage and the other serious effects of this condition.
Despite the resilient architecture of the human skull, if a victim suffers a strong blow to the head, the impact can cause severe brain injuries that may lead to permanent damage to the brain. Sadly, even a minor accident can have serious and long-lasting consequences. Possible effects of a brain injury include:
In situations where another party’s negligence or carelessness caused an individual’s brain injury, obtaining the services of a San Jose brain injury lawyer is crucial. At Caputo & Van Der Walde, we provide free consultations to help you make an informed decision about your future and the best course of action moving forward with legal representation through our brain injury attorneys.
Unlike many other injuries, recovering from a traumatic brain injury can take months, years, or even a lifetime. TBIs caused by assaults, car accidents, or slip-and-fall incidents don’t come with quick solutions—and that uncertainty can understandably feel overwhelming.
The good news is that a wide range of proven treatment options are available. With the right medical team, consistent follow-up care, and a strong support system, many people are able to regain function, adapt to changes, and significantly improve their quality of life. Early intervention, ongoing therapy, and a personalized treatment plan can make a meaningful difference in recovery.
It is critical to get immediate medical attention after any type of accident that causes brain trauma. Early intervention allows doctors to quickly assess the severity of the injury, identify complications, and begin treatment before symptoms worsen. In the short term, care focuses on determining the full extent of your injuries and the best course of action.
After the initial evaluation and treatment, recovery from a traumatic brain injury often continues well beyond the early stages. Long-term care can take many forms and is tailored to each person’s unique needs. Depending on the injury, treatment may take place at home, through outpatient services, or in a dedicated care facility. Common long-term treatment options may include:
While every recovery journey is different, long-term treatment is designed to promote progress, support independence, and maximize quality of life.
Treatment for brain injuries often places an intense emotional and financial strain on injured individuals and family members. Not only can medical expenses add up quickly, but families are also likely to be without the income the injured individual typically brought home.
If you or a loved one is receiving treatment for a brain injury caused by someone else’s negligence, our San Jose brain injury attorneys may be able to help you pursue the compensation needed to support your recovery. Our team has extensive experience representing brain injury victims and is committed to advocating for those affected by serious head injuries.
Our team at Caputo & Van Der Walde offers free initial consultations. During this first meeting, you’ll have the opportunity to ask any questions you may have and learn more about your legal options. To help you get started, here are answers to some of the most common questions we're asked about TBIs.
The severity of traumatic brain injury can range from mild—with temporary symptoms such as headaches, balance problems, fatigue, and nausea—to moderate and severe, which can result in a coma, vegetative state, or locked-in syndrome. As they vary in severity, traumatic brain injuries also result from a variety of causes.
Those who suffer head injuries may have mild concussions, or it could leave them with permanent disability. If you or a loved one has sustained brain damage or other life-altering changes in a car accident or another catastrophic event due to the negligence of another person, contact a brain injury attorney from our San Jose personal injury law firm to get legal assistance. We will fight for full and fair compensation for these debilitating injuries.
Most brain injuries occur when something strikes a person in the head. Fists, bullets, and falling debris at the workplace all have the potential to cause brain injury. A person can also strike his or her head on a steering wheel, the road, or a hard floor during an auto accident, a motorcycle accident, or a slip and fall.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the leading causes of traumatic brain injury in the U.S. are:
Unfortunately, it can be challenging to treat a brain injury, especially when it’s severe. Tissue loss in the brain is permanent once it occurs. Therefore, the recovery period is typically lengthy, and some victims never regain the abilities they lost.
After any head trauma, it is imperative that the victim immediately receive medical care. Emergency personnel will determine the severity of the brain injury and choose the best course of treatment, which can result in a range of outcomes. Victims may be treated and released with temporary symptoms; they may be hospitalized, treated, rehabilitated, and released with partial loss of brain and/or body function; they may be hospitalized permanently due to almost complete loss of brain and body function; or, in very severe traumatic brain injury cases, they may die from their injuries.
If someone else’s negligence directly contributed to or caused a severe brain injury, the most important thing you can do is contact a personal injury attorney with experience in traumatic brain injury cases. They will evaluate the specifics of your case, decide whether it is worth pursuing in court, and help you determine the types of damages you should seek. They will then work diligently to help you obtain the compensation you need to help get your life back on track.
When someone you love has suffered a brain injury, even with medical care, they may never be the same. In these types of personal injury claims, injured victims may have lifelong impacts that cause financial strain. A brain injury lawyer experienced in this field of law will be able to help you calculate the full extent of the damages.
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Aneurysm | a blood-filled sac formed in an artery or blood vessel by the weakening of a vessel wall or serious disease. |
| Aphasia | the loss of the ability to understand and/or produce written or spoken language as the result of a disease or serious injury. |
| Brain death | an irreversible end to all brain function and activities. |
| Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) | the fluid that protects the spinal cord and brain, also called spinal fluid. |
| Closed head injury | an injury in which the head is fiercely shaken or strikes an object but is not punctured. |
| Coma | the unconscious state typically caused by a serious injury from which the victim cannot be aroused. |
| Concussion | minor injury to the brain which is caused by violent shaking of or a blow to the head. This injury may cause unexpected and temporary impairment of a variety of brain functions. |
| Contusion | swollen brain tissue (bruise) that is mixed with the blood from broken blood vessels. |
| Epidural hematoma | bleeding in between the skull and the dura. Also called extradural hemorrhage. |
| Fluent aphasia | a condition in which a patient can fluently speak but with no meaning and has difficulty understanding written words or spoken language. |
| Global aphasia | inability to produce or understand speech. This disability can be caused by damage to the parts of the brain that control speech and language skills. |
| Hematoma | damage of a major blood vessel in the head which causes heavy bleeding in or around the brain. |
| Hemorrhagic stroke | a stroke that is the result of bleeding in one of the major arteries that leads to the brain. |
| Intracerebral hematoma | bleeding in the brain that results from damage to a blood vessel. |
| Ischemic stroke | the most common type of stroke, which is caused by a clot that blocks blood flow to the brain. |
| Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) | a noninvasive technique used to detect subtle changes in the brain by means of magnetic fields. |
| Neuron | one of the cells that make up the spinal cord, nerves, and brain. |
| Neurotransmitters | the movement of chemicals which transmit nerve signals from one neuron to another. |
| Non-fluent aphasia | a disorder in which people have difficulty remembering words and talking in complete sentences. |
| Open head injury | a head injury in which the skull is penetrated or punctured by a foreign object. |
| Seizures | convulsions, emotional problems, muscle spasms, and/or unconsciousness caused by abnormal activity of nerve cells in the brain. |
| Subdural hematoma | bleeding located between the dura and the arachnoid membranes. |
| Thrombosis | a blood clot that forms in the same location the brain was injured. |
| Vegetative state | a condition in which patients are unconscious but continue to have a sleep/wake cycle and are sometimes alert. |
In addition to handling brain injury cases, we offer a wide range of personal injury services. These include representation for victims of car accidents, motorcycle accidents, slip and fall injuries, and other catastrophic events. Our team is equipped to handle cases involving wrongful death, spinal cord injuries, and other life-altering conditions. By offering comprehensive legal services, we aim to be a trusted resource for individuals and families facing the aftermath of serious accidents.
If you or someone you love has suffered a traumatic brain injury as a result of another party’s negligence, it is crucial to speak with a brain injury attorney in San Jose, CA as soon as you can. You may be able to seek damages for lost wages, pain and suffering, hospital bills, and the months or even years of therapy the victim may require. However, if you wait too long to pursue your brain injury claim against the at-fault party, you may unintentionally forfeit your right to compensation. Get started today with one of our experienced San Jose traumatic brain injury lawyers at Caputo & Van Der Walde.
As members of the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum® and the Million Dollar Advocates Forum®, we have proven our ability to negotiate and litigate on behalf of our clients successfully. Retain us to put our tactical strategies to work for you. These skills are what make our legal team such a formidable opponent in any courtroom or negotiation setting.