A TBI is one of the most severe injuries you can suffer in a car wreck
Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are among the most likely car accident injuries to cause severe, lifelong disabilities like paralysis, diminished thinking and reasoning skills, personality shifts, and loss of bodily functions. Treatment is often long-term and expensive, and the road to recovery isn't easy.
That's why if you suffered a concussion or some other form of traumatic brain injury in a car crash, it's in your interest to know your rights and options under Texas law. A car accident attorney can help you find your way forward and fight for the compensation you're entitled to.
What is a TBI?
The term TBI covers many different injuries. In general, it refers to brain damage caused by an outside physical force. They are typically caused by car accidents, falls, blunt force trauma, or assault, according to Northeastern University's TBI Resource for Survivors and Caregivers.
There are two types of TBIs: open and closed. Open TBIs, also known as penetrating TBIs, result when the skull is fractured by an outside object that damages the brain. Closed TBIs are those where the brain is damaged but the skull stays intact.
Common types of brain injuries
TBIs cause two types of damage - primary and secondary. The damage is often both localized and diffuse (over a widespread area). Primary TBI damage is the initial injury. Secondary damage develops over time and may include things like swelling or blood clots.
Common types of TBIs include:
- Skull fracture
- Coup-contrecoup injury - This is when the force of a physical blow knocks the brain against one side of the skull and then the other, causing damage in at least two locations.
- Contusion or bruising
- Hematoma - Swelling due to blood pooling under the skin
- Blood clots
- Laceration
- Nerve damage
- Swelling
Physical, emotional, and cognitive damage
All head and brain injuries are serious, though some can be more severe than others. TBIs are often classified as mild, moderate, or severe. At their most devastating, TBIs can leave someone in a coma, vegetative state, or minimally responsive.
However, even a so-called "mild" TBI can cause lasting and painful damage to communicative, physical, and emotional skills.
Common TBI side effects include:
- Difficulty concentrating
- Loss of body function
- Depression
- Slower operating speed
- Decreased awareness and insight
- Headaches
- Paralysis
- Fatigue
- Chronic pain
- Dizziness
- Blurred vision
- Mood swings
- Nausea
- Memory loss
- Behavioral changes
- Trouble with balance
How to treat a TBI
TBI treatment varies depending on the specific injury but may include things like physical and emotional therapy, medication, monitoring, and surgery. Home-based health and daily care may also be required. Because TBI damage can permanently change a person, rehab focuses on maximizing independence, quality of life, and community participation.
Local TBI treatment resources include:
- Baylor Scott & White hospital rehabilitation institutes in Dallas, Fort Worth, Frisco, and Flower Mound
- UT Southwestern Medical Center's Texas Institute for Brain Injury and Repair with multiple treatment locations in Dallas
- Brain Injury Network of Dallas in Plano
- Centre for Neuro Skills (CNS) in Irving
- Advantage Healthcare Systems (AdvantageHCS) in multiple locations including Waxahachie
Don't take chances with your future. Take control.
If you or someone you love suffered a traumatic brain injury due to negligence, our law firm can review the details of your case for free and give you a clear understanding of your legal rights and options.
Traumatic brain injuries are sometimes difficult to identify in the course of an injury case and even more difficult to litigate. With over 30 years of experience, our law firm has proven success with these types of cases and understands what it takes to win.
Find out what Coby L. Wooten, Attorney At Law, P.C. can do for you. We offer legal representation on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay nothing in advance and there are no fees unless we win your case. To learn more about how we can help you, contact us today for a free consultation.