A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is one of the most serious injuries an individual can sustain, and it is unfortunately more common than most people realize. Statistics show that TBI affects about 2 million U.S. residents every year, 50,000 of whom do not survive and 275,000 of whom require hospitalization.
Traumatic brain injuries occur when a violent jolt or blow causes the brain to slam against the skull, thus impairing its function. Brain injuries can either be open or closed. Open brain injuries (also known as penetrating brain injuries) occur when an object strikes and breaks through a person’s skull, penetrating the brain. In a closed brain injury – such as a concussion – the skull does not break.
Contrary to the common belief that TBI occurs only when a person sustains a blow to the head, TBI can also occur when the brain is forcefully jarred in different directions, as in the case of abrupt deceleration or a whiplash.
Common causes of TBI relevant to the personal injury space include:
One of the most common misconceptions surrounding TBI’s is that the victim must be struck on the head or knocked unconscious in order to have suffered an injury to the brain. According to a study done by Ezriel Kornel, M.D., F.A.C.S., and Michael Freeman, Ph.D., whiplash (which often occurs in motorcycle and automobile accidents) caused TBI in over 23% of cases. Whiplash can even result in a cerebral hernia, known as Chiari Malformation, in which the bottom part of the brain (the cerebellum) protrudes through the base of the skull.
Doctors classify brain injuries as mild, moderate, or severe depending on such symptoms. As fragile as the brain is, even mild cases can turn out to be life-threatening, so learning to recognize the symptoms of TBI is essential.
Those who suspect they may have sustained a brain injury should seek medical care immediately, as early treatment may help improve the long-term prognosis. Unfortunately, brain injury symptoms can be difficult to identify. Medical professionals may even have difficulty diagnosing brain injuries upon examination and testing. It is common that early characteristics of a TBI are missed or not yet fully developed. It is vital to keep a close watch for these signs of TBI after an accident:
We provide traumatic brain injury victims with dedicated and tenacious legal representation, ensuring that you get fair value for your claim. Our Dallas accident injury lawyers will build a strong case with supporting evidence so that you recover the money that you deserve.
TBI injuries are devastating and can impact the ability to live a normal life. TBI symptoms vary by individual, and it is difficult to predict whether they will improve or worsen over time. Some of the long-term effects and symptoms include:
Not only do TBI victims potentially face long-term and life-altering effects of their injury, but they are often saddled with tremendous medical costs that can last a lifetime. Although it is impossible to put a price on the emotional turmoil a brain injury causes, the following summarizes recent statistics on the financial impact of TBIs:
If you or a loved one has suffered a traumatic brain injury due to someone’s negligence, then you may be entitled to compensation. A traumatic brain injury attorney at Thompson Law will help establish the following factors in your case:
An example of a valid cause of action in an accident-related TBI is that of a drunk driver who runs a red light and t-bones another car, causing a traumatic brain injury for the other driver. (The drunk driver had a duty of care for other drivers on the road. His decision to drive drunk and run a red light breached that duty of care. The fact that the other driver was injured and that the injury resulted from the crash satisfies the elements of the cause of action for negligence against the drunk driver.)
Thompson Law has handled countless cases in which we have successfully represented clients with a wide array of accident-related personal injuries, including TBIs. Our goal is always to secure for our clients the best settlement amounts that the law will allow. Some of the factors that add into a settlement for a TBI are:
Brain injury cases often require rigorous investigation and research due to their complex nature. Thompson Law has an experienced legal team that will walk you through various legal options and ensures that your personal injury case is correctly valued. Having handled numerous TBI cases, we know how TBI can affect your life as well as that of those you love. Thus, we will fight to get you the best settlement the law will allow. Contact us today for a free case evaluation.
Thompson Law offers free case reviews to every potential client so we can help you determine the best legal approach to pursue. We receive no attorney fees and you pay no legal expenses unless you get compensated for your accident.
Thompson Law’s personal injury lawyers and their legal teams treat every client with respect, empathy, and compassion. We understand that there is no one-size-fits-all approach, as every case is unique and different. Our firm won 15 of the top 50 settlements in Texas in 2021, as well as the 2nd and 3rd largest personal injury settlements in the State in 2020. We can help you, too.
State law limits the time to file a claim following a personal injury accident. If you have been injured, call now for the help you need.
