Texas resources for life-altering health issues
A brain injury can occur after any type of accident. As a personal injury attorney, I have seen some of the very worst.
It might have happened because of a car accident, motorcycle crash, a slip and fall, or even an incident with a defective product. Whatever the case, traumatic brain injuries are exactly that: traumatic. For everyone involved.
What is a traumatic brain injury (TBI)?
A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is the result of a sudden impact, which can cause your brain to ricochet against the inside of your skull. These can be both open and closed, which refers to whether the skull itself is “open” and the brain directly affected.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, TBIs contribute to approximately 30% of injury deaths. Falls are listed as the number-one incident that causes this type of injury, followed by a direct blow or being struck by an object, with motor vehicle crashes coming in third.
It might take days, weeks or even months for symptoms to arise, and the effects of an injury can last a lifetime. It might be difficult for those around you to know that you are even injured, if the TBI was a closed head injury. However, you might have very noticeable symptoms, such as:
- Mood swings
- Poor balance or coordination
- Loss of memory
- Changes in behavior
- Impulsive behavior
- Changes in vision or taste
- Aggressive behavior
- Depression
- Hearing loss
- Inability to focus
After a TBI - when to see your doctor
While nobody wants to admit that they have suffered an injury, speaking with your doctor is imperative. Head injuries are dangerous, and they are made all the more dangerous by those refusing to concede they need help.
If you see any of the following signs in someone who has suffered a TBI, get them to a doctor immediately:
- A headache that worsens or does not recede
- Repeated vomiting or nausea
- Slurred speech
- Weakness
- Numbness
- Decreased coordination
- Too drowsy to wake
- Pupils different sizes
- Convulsions or seizures
- Inability to recognize people or places
- Unusual behavior, restlessness, agitation
- Loss of consciousness
Children can be trickier to diagnose. Any of the above signs can also present themselves in kids, though they also have a few telling signs:
- Cannot be consoled, will not stop crying
- Will not nurse
- Will not eat
Texas resources for traumatic brain injuries
Here are some local organizations that can help you after a TBI:
- Navigate Life Texas: This features a comprehensive page dedicated to helping parents whose children have experienced a TBI. There are rehabilitation options, tips for living with a TBI, and even advice for transitioning your child back to a normal life.
- Texas Brain Injury Alliance: This nonprofit offers important resources and information for patients with TBIs. They also offer listings for local organizations in Houston, Lubbock, Humble, Texarkana and Victoria.
- Brain Injury Association of America: This is the seminal group with endless helpful information.
- Brain injury support groups: This list provides groups by location and types of injuries, as well as online groups for those who are housebound.
- The Enjuris Texas Guide to Head and Brain Injuries: This is our comprehensive article on this subject, which provides an overview of head injuries and how to approach a legal case.
Traumatic brain injuries and the legal system
If your accident was caused by someone else’s negligence, you should absolutely speak to an attorney.
TBIs are complicated injuries that can last for years. Its effects will touch upon your whole life, your whole family. By passing the legal burden on to a lawyer who has dealt with these cases before, you can focus on your health.
TBIs often lead to greater awards from juries, collecting both special and general damages. Special damages are economic in nature, and they include monetary losses or expenses like medical bills, lost time from work, property damage, or funeral costs in the case of wrongful death. General damages are intangible and refer to non-economic losses, like pain and suffering, emotional trauma and the like.
If you were hurt on the job, you can also look into a worker’s compensation case. A good attorney can help you sift out the issues in your fact pattern and decide which type of approach is best.
If your medical bills are piling up, you should think about pursuing a claim. Texas gives you two years to file an accident for personal injury, but that does not mean you should procrastinate. Contact us today if you need a Texas attorney to help you with your TBI claim.