Impact to the head can have lasting consequences, including causing consciousness disorders, diminished cognitive ability, altered personality, and impaired motor function. When someone else’s negligence is responsible for this type of injury in Silsbee, TX, the brain injury victim has the right to pursue monetary compensation.
At Fisher Firm, our Silsbee brain injury lawyers are dedicated to helping brain injury victims and their families receive the justice and accountability they deserve. With over 150 years of combined experience, you can count on us to know how to navigate this complex process. We are also board-certified in personal injury law, a rare accolade for a Texas attorney who has gone the extra step to prove competence in a particular area of law, which only belongs to a small percentage of all licensed Texas attorneys.
If you or a loved one suffered a brain injury in Silsbee, Texas, contact Fisher Firm for a free case review. A Silsbee brain injury attorney can evaluate, advocate, and litigate your case. Call today at (409) 207-9672 to get started.
How Fisher Firm Can Help After a Brain Injury in Silsbee
Brain injuries have a profound impact on victims and their families in Silsbee, TX. The injury may make it impossible for the victim to return to work, and they may require round-the-clock care. If a brain injury has impacted your family, a Silsbee personal injury lawyer can handle the legal claims process while you focus on healing and taking much-needed time to rest.
An experienced Silsbee personal injury attorney can prepare a brain injury claim by:
- Investigating the accident to determine how it happened and all at-fault parties
- Gathering evidence to establish liability
- Compiling documentation to demonstrate the full extent of your injuries
- Handling your insurance claims and negotiations with insurance companies
- Fighting for full compensation
Let us safeguard while you focus on the important things in life. Contact our law firm today for a free consultation with a Silsbee brain injury attorney.
Notable Brain Injury Statistics
Brain injuries have a devastating effect on families and communities. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 214,110 people were hospitalized in 2020, and 69,473 were killed in 2021 due to traumatic brain injuries. These numbers represent 586 traumatic brain injury-related hospitalizations and 190 TBI-related deaths daily.
The International Brain Injury Association reports that brain injuries are the most likely to result in death or permanent disability of all injuries and that brain injuries are the leading cause of death and disability worldwide. One million Americans are treated in hospital emergency departments every year due to traumatic brain injuries.
Common Causes of Brain Injuries
Personal injury is a leading cause of brain injury. When the brain impacts a hard surface or even collides with the skull due to a sudden force, lasting damage can result.
Leading causes of brain injuries include:
- Motor vehicle accidents – Negligent motorists, truck drivers, or motorcyclists may cause a crash that results in a brain injury when the victim hits their head on the dashboard, steering wheel, seat in front of them, or door.
- Slips and falls – When property owners neglect maintenance, visitors can slip and fall, hitting their heads in the process.
- Defective products – Explosive blasts from defective products can also cause traumatic brain injuries.
- Violent attacks – Gunshot and stabbing wounds can also cause traumatic brain injuries.
If someone else’s negligence or intentional misconduct caused you to suffer a traumatic brain injury, reach out to our law firm for assistance.
Types of Brain Injuries
Closed head injuries occur when there is no break in the skull. Rapid movement and shaking of the brain inside the skull bruises and tears brain tissue and blood vessels. Penetrating injuries occur when an object, such as a bullet, piece of glass, or even a shattered piece of skull, penetrates the brain.
Medical professionals classify brain injuries as mild, moderate, or severe.
According to the Mayo Clinic, symptoms of mild TBIs include:
- Headache
- Nausea or vomiting
- Loss of balance
- Speech problems
- Fatigue
- Blurred vision
- Ringing in the ears
- Changes in smell
- Sensitivity to light or sound
- Loss of consciousness for a few seconds or minutes
- Feeling dazed and confused
- Depression or anxiety
- Changes in sleep
- Mood changes or swings
Individuals with moderate or severe traumatic brain injuries can experience these symptoms, too, as well as more profound symptoms, such as:
- Loss of consciousness from several minutes to hours
- Persistent or worsening headache
- Convulsions or seizures
- Loss of coordination
- Weakness or numbness in the extremities
- Dilation of the pupils
- Repeated vomiting or nausea
- Clear fluid drainage from the ears or nose
- Inability to wake up after sleep
- Profound confusion
- Changed behavior
Children are particularly susceptible to brain injuries. If your child suffered a blow to the head, watch for any changes in their eating, sleeping, or playing behaviors and take any complaints seriously.
Long-Term Complications of Brain Injuries
The brain is a complex organ that is responsible for many bodily functions.
A traumatic brain injury can lead to complications and adverse health outcomes, such as:
- Consciousness disorders, such as coma or brain death
- Seizures, vertigo, fluid buildup, and other physical complications
- Cognitive and memory issues
- Cranial nerve damage resulting in facial paralysis, difficulty swallowing, and sensory changes
- Impulse control problems, increased risk-taking, emotional outbursts, and other behavioral problems
- Difficulty communicating
- Depression, anxiety, and other emotional changes
- Altered relationships with loved ones and colleagues
Suffering a brain injury also makes it more likely that a person will develop a degenerative brain disease such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, or CTE.
Medical Treatment for Brain Injuries
Brain injuries can result in long-term complications or death, so it’s important that you seek immediate medical attention if you suffer any blow to the head. It’s critical that you receive adequate oxygen to your brain following an injury to it to avoid long-term complications. Emergency care may be necessary to protect your health.
Your doctor may use various diagnostic tests to determine whether you have a brain injury and its severity. Doctors may prescribe various types of medication, such as anti-seizure drugs, coma-inducing drugs to put you to sleep, or diuretics to reduce fluid in tissues and reduce pressure inside the brain.
In some cases, doctors must perform surgery to remove blood clots, reduce bleeding in the brain, or repair skull fractures. Many brain injury victims must undergo extensive rehabilitation so they can relearn basic skills and perform activities of daily living. Mental health counseling may be necessary to help a person process the trauma and adapt to their new normal.
The costs to treat a brain injury can be significant and negatively impact the finances of brain injury victims and their families. You can seek compensation for your medical expenses and other losses through a personal injury claim.
Can I Recover Compensation if I’m Partly to Blame for the Brain Injury?
Texas is a modified comparative negligence state that allows you to recover compensation if you’re less than 51% at fault for your brain injury. However, your compensation is reduced in proportion to your share of the blame. If you are more than 50% to blame, you are barred from recovering damages entirely.
What Compensation Can I Recover From a Brain Injury Claim?
If you suffered a brain injury, you may be able to seek financial compensation for the economic and non-economic damages you have incurred as a result.
This includes payment for current and future:
- Medical expenses and rehabilitation costs
- Lost wages and reduced earning capacity
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Disabilities and impairments
- Lost quality of life
Let our skilled personal injury attorneys fight for the maximum compensation you are due.
What Is My Brain Injury Case Worth?
Just as every person is different, every brain injury case is different. Brain injuries may impact people in different ways. Some brain injuries may be relatively minor, allowing the victim to quickly reclaim their life. In other cases, brain injuries can cause long-term damage, and the victim’s life may never be the same.
Generally, the more severe the brain injury and its profoundness on the victim’s life, the more monetary compensation the victim may be able to recover. However, other factors can affect the potential value of the claim, such as the identity and conduct of the defendant, the insurance coverage available, and whether the victim contributed to the accident. An experienced brain injury lawyer can evaluate your case and give you a better idea about the potential value of your claim.
What Is the Deadline To File a Brain Injury Lawsuit?
Texas has a two-year statute of limitations by which a personal injury victim must file a lawsuit to preserve their right to compensation. However, there are times when this deadline may be shorter or longer, so it’s best to consult with a knowledgeable brain injury attorney to find out the deadline that applies to your case.
Contact a Silsbee Brain Injury Lawyer for a Free Consultation
If you or a loved one suffered a serious brain injury, a Silsbee brain injury lawyer from Fisher Firm can help. We can evaluate your claim to determine who is responsible and advocate to protect your interests. Our goal is to obtain the full compensation available for your claim inside or outside the courtroom. Contact us today to get started on your path to recovery in Silsbee, TX.