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How long do you have to file a traumatic brain injury claim in Lancaster?
You generally have two years to file a lawsuit after suffering a traumatic brain injury in Lancaster. This deadline applies to most personal injury and wrongful death claims under California Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1. If your injury involves a city, county, or other public agency, you have much less time.
You must present a written claim to the public entity within six months of the injury under California Government Code § 911.2. Missing this shorter deadline usually means losing your right to sue the public agency. Determining whether a public entity is involved can be complicated, so confirm the deadline for your specific situation.
What kinds of traumatic brain injury claims does Casa Legal Los Angeles handle in Lancaster?
We help people in Lancaster and the Antelope Valley who have suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI) due to someone else's carelessness. A TBI can range from a mild concussion to a severe injury that causes lasting cognitive, physical, and emotional changes. Our firm focuses on claims arising from incidents like car crashes, motorcycle collisions, slip and falls, pedestrian accidents, and bicycle accidents. We also represent families in wrongful death claims when a TBI leads to a fatality. For more information on general injury claims, you can visit our Lancaster personal injury page.
What should you do after a traumatic brain injury in Lancaster?
When you or a loved one sustains a traumatic brain injury, taking the right steps afterward protects your health and your legal rights.
Seek immediate medical attention: Even if you feel fine, get checked by a doctor right away. Brain injuries, especially concussions, might not show symptoms until hours or days later. Medical records created immediately after the injury are also critical evidence.
Follow all medical advice: Go to all follow-up appointments, complete recommended therapies, and take prescribed medications. Not following doctor's orders can slow your recovery and harm your claim.
Document everything: Keep detailed records of your medical care, including doctor visits, hospital stays, medication costs, and therapy sessions. Also, keep track of any lost wages from time off work and how your injury affects your daily life.
Do not speak to insurance adjusters without legal advice: Insurers often try to get you to make statements that could hurt your claim. Direct all communication through your attorney.
Contact a Lancaster brain injury attorney: A lawyer can explain your rights, investigate your claim, and handle communications with insurance companies.
Where does a brain injury lawsuit get filed from Lancaster?
If you file a personal injury lawsuit related to a traumatic brain injury in Lancaster, it will be heard in the Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles. Specifically, the case is filed in the judicial district where the incident occurred. For Lancaster, this means your case will be assigned to the North District and heard at the Michael D. Antonovich Antelope Valley Courthouse. The courthouse is located at 42011 4th St West, Lancaster, CA 93534.
This filing rule is based on Los Angeles Superior Court Local Rule 2.3 and the General Order regarding Assignment and Transfer of Personal Injury Cases, effective May 17, 2024. Your case will be handled by that district's Personal Injury Hub department.
What deadlines apply to traumatic brain injury claims, and what can you recover?
Most traumatic brain injury claims in California must be filed within two years from the date of the injury under California Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1. This two-year period applies to claims against private individuals or companies. However, if your injury involves a public entity like the City of Lancaster or Los Angeles County, you must file a formal claim with that agency within six months of the incident under Government Code § 911.2. A lawyer helps you meet the correct deadlines. While an injured person's deadline is generally paused if they are a minor under CCP § 352, this pause does not apply to claims against public entities.
California law allows you to recover various types of losses after a TBI. These include economic damages such as medical expenses (past and future), lost wages, and loss of earning capacity. You can also claim non-economic damages for pain, suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life. In wrongful death cases, surviving family members can claim financial support, lost household services, and loss of companionship. You can learn more about general personal injury law on our main personal injury page.
What does working with Casa Legal Los Angeles involve?
Working with Casa Legal Los Angeles means you have an advocate dedicated to your recovery and legal claim. Our process begins with a free case review where we discuss your traumatic brain injury, answer your questions, and explain your options. We then handle all aspects of your claim, from gathering evidence and communicating with insurance adjusters to negotiating settlements or representing you in court. Our goal is to secure the compensation you deserve so you can focus on healing.
We understand the specific challenges TBI claims present and build a strong case based on medical evidence and expert testimony. You do not pay attorney's fees unless we win your case. You also pay no case costs if there is no recovery.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a traumatic brain injury?
A traumatic brain injury (TBI) happens when an outside force harms the brain. This can be a jolt or blow to the head, or a penetrating injury. TBIs can range from mild, such as a concussion, to severe, causing long-term disability or death. These injuries often have complex, far-reaching effects on a person's cognitive abilities, physical functions, and emotional well-being.
How does a TBI claim differ from other personal injury claims in Lancaster?
Traumatic brain injury claims are often more complex than other personal injury claims due to the nature of the injury itself. The symptoms of a TBI might not be immediately obvious, and their long-term effects can be difficult to predict. This requires extensive medical evidence, expert testimony, and a thorough understanding of how a TBI impacts a person's life, especially when pursuing a claim in the Los Angeles Superior Court system.
Can you recover damages for a minor TBI like a concussion?
Yes, you can recover damages for a minor TBI, including concussions. Even a concussion can cause significant symptoms like headaches, dizziness, memory problems, and emotional changes that affect your ability to work and live your life normally. The value of the claim depends on the severity of your symptoms, the extent of your medical treatment, and how the injury has affected your daily life and work.
How long does a brain injury lawsuit take in Los Angeles County?
The length of a brain injury lawsuit in Los Angeles County varies significantly depending on several factors. These include the complexity of your injuries, how clear liability is, and whether the other party is willing to negotiate a fair settlement. Some cases settle quickly, while others may require filing a lawsuit at the Michael D. Antonovich Antelope Valley Courthouse and proceeding through litigation, which can take a year or more.
If you or a loved one has suffered a traumatic brain injury in Lancaster, speak with a lawyer as soon as possible. Call Casa Legal Los Angeles today for a free consultation at 888-585-2529. No attorney's fees unless we win — and no case costs either.
Serving Lancaster
Our attorneys represent clients throughout Lancaster and the greater Los Angeles area.
Where a Lancaster claim is filed
A personal injury claim arising in Lancaster is filed in Michael D. Antonovich Antelope Valley Courthouse, North District of the Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles.
In Los Angeles County a personal injury case is filed in the judicial district where the incident occurred and is assigned to that district's Personal Injury Hub department (LASC Local Rule 2.3; General Order re Assignment and Transfer of Personal Injury Cases, effective May 17, 2024).
Catchment boundaries change. Confirm the filing courthouse on the court's official locator before relying on it.
Source: Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles — Local Rules, Chapter 2 (verified August 23, 2026).
Deadlines that apply in Lancaster
The California filing deadlines that apply to an incident in Lancaster (Los Angeles County) come from state statute, not a local rule. These are the deadlines cited most often.
2 years — personal injury lawsuit
Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 335.1 — two years from the date of injury for most personal injury and wrongful death claims.
6 months — claim against a public entity
Cal. Gov. Code § 911.2 — a written claim must be presented to the public entity within six months for claims involving death or injury to person or personal property, before a lawsuit may be filed.
Injured minors
Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 352 — the limitations period is generally tolled while the injured person is a minor, but the six-month government claim deadline is not tolled the same way.
This is general information about California law, not legal advice, and reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Deadlines change with the facts and with who the defendant is — a claim against a city, county, transit agency, or the state triggers a much shorter deadline, and delayed discovery, tolling, and other exceptions apply. Casa Legal Los Angeles is licensed to practice in California. Confirm any deadline with an attorney.
Sources: California Code of Civil Procedure § 335.1; California Government Code § 911.2 (verified August 23, 2026).