Proving a Traumatic Brain Injury With a Clean MRI | San Diego

A traumatic brain injury can be proven even when the CT, MRI, DTI, and functional MRI all come back clean, as long as the symptoms are documented early and consistently over time. Liam Perry, a former insurance-defense litigator and founder of Perry Personal Injury Lawyers in San Diego, walks McCartney through what a TBI is, how to prove it, what it is worth, and how insurers fight it. Questions answered in this episode: Is a concussion a traumatic brain injury? What accidents most often cause a TBI? Can you prove a brain injury if the MRI comes back clean? How do you prove a crash caused a brain injury? What is a life care plan in a TBI case? How long does a brain injury case take? When should you contact a lawyer after a brain injury? Topics covered: Coup-contrecoup injuries, Glasgow Coma Scale, diffuse axonal injury, subdural hematomas, post-concussion syndrome, CTE, DTI and functional MRI, San Diego trauma center network, neuropsychological testing, maximum medical improvement (MMI), proximate cause, loss of earning capacity, life care plans, policy limits, comparative fault, defense medical exams (DMEs), nurse observers, eggshell skull doctrine, six-month government claim deadline, and San Diego Superior Court procedures. Notable from the episode: Liam Perry on permanent symptoms: "Brain injuries can't be fixed with surgery. They can only be fixed with rest, and symptoms that remain ongoing for years are likely going to be permanent." Liam Perry on neuropsych testing: "Defense loves neuropsychs because they can use them to try to say that you're normal." Liam Perry on defense medical exams: "These are not independent, and the clients need to know they're not independent going in." Perry Personal Injury Lawyers works on contingency and does not get paid unless it recovers. Free consultation: perrypi.com Phone: (760) 633-2233 Office: 614 Fifth Ave, Suite H1, San Diego, CA 92101 Recorded: August 2026 #TraumaticBrainInjury #SanDiegoBrainInjury #PostConcussionSyndrome #LifeCarePlan #EggshellSkull #IndependentMedicalExam Recorded August 2026. This episode is general information, not legal advice. Laws change frequently and vary by state, so the discussion here may no longer be current when you view or listen to it and may not apply in your jurisdiction. Viewing or listening does not create an attorney-client relationship. For guidance on your specific situation, consult a licensed attorney in your state. Chapters 00:00:00 Welcome back to Personal Injury Law Uncovered with Liam Perry 00:00:59 What Is a Traumatic Brain Injury? Why a Concussion Counts as a TBI 00:02:55 What Accidents Most Often Cause a TBI in San Diego? 00:04:52 How Is Brain Injury Severity Graded? The Glasgow Coma Scale 00:07:01 How Does a TBI Change Daily Life? Post-Concussion Syndrome 00:10:09 How Does CTE or Future Cognitive Decline Affect a TBI Claim? 00:13:20 What If a San Diego ER Scan Is Clean? Documenting a Brain Injury 00:16:09 Can You Prove a San Diego TBI If the MRI and DTI Come Back Clean? 00:18:45 Why Does the Defense Use Neuropsychological Testing in a San Diego TBI Case? 00:20:05 What Role Does a Neurologist Play in a San Diego TBI Claim? 00:21:54 How Do You Prove a San Diego Crash Caused Your TBI? Proximate Cause 00:24:44 What Are Economic and Non-Economic Damages in a San Diego TBI Case? 00:27:45 How Is Loss of Earning Capacity Valued After a San Diego TBI? 00:28:48 How Do You Value the Emotional and Cognitive Losses From a TBI? 00:30:12 What Is a Life Care Plan in a TBI Case, and When Is It Built? 00:31:56 Why Does a San Diego Brain Injury Case Take at Least Two Years? 00:33:23 How Does Comparative Fault Shrink a San Diego Brain Injury Payout? 00:35:48 How Do Insurers Fight TBI Claims? Treatment Gaps and Clean Scans 00:38:12 How Should You Handle an Independent Medical Exam in San Diego? 00:41:05 Can a Prior Concussion Hurt Your TBI Claim? The Eggshell Skull Doctrine 00:43:46 When Should You Call a Lawyer After a Brain Injury in San Diego?