Houston Brain Injury Lawyers

Traumatic brain injury can happen to anyone no matter how old they are. Males between the ages of 15 and 24 years are more susceptible to suffer this type of injury due to their high-risk lifestyles. Children and the elderly, meanwhile, are also more vulnerable to brain injury. For example, slips and falls are considered to be a leading cause of traumatic brain injury for infants, toddlers, and elderly people. In motor vehicle accidents, adolescents and adults frequently sustain serious brain injuries.

Regardless of the cause, it is important for victims and their families to take traumatic brain injury cases seriously. A brain injury can affect virtually every aspect of your life, and can do so permanently. That’s one reason to consider hiring a team of qualified Houston personal injury attorneys who can help you obtain the compensation that will cover your medical costs and help you regain normalcy after a catastrophic injury.

Defining Traumatic Brain Injury

Traumatic brain injuries happen when external force causes brain dysfunction. Traumatic brain injury characteristically results from a violent blow to the head or body that causes the brain to be jarred. An object penetrating the skull, such as a bullet, bomb fragment or shattered piece of skull, also can cause traumatic brain injury.

Even mild to moderate traumatic brain injury may cause temporary dysfunction of brain cells. More serious traumatic brain injury can often result in bleeding, bruising, torn soft tissues, and other traumatic damage to the brain that can result in long-term complications or death.

Traumatic brain injury can typically be categorized into two main types:

• Severe TBI is a condition that results when the victim is left with severe cognitive or motor impairment or is left in a vegetative state. Round-the-clock nursing care is commonly required for these victims
• Moderate or mild TBI may ultimately result in a broad spectrum of physical, cognitive, mental and emotional harm or impairment. Victims may appear to function conventionally in some ways yet require assistance and supervision for many activities. Repercussions of TBI may surface as memory impairment, sleep disturbances, dizziness, difficulty concentrating, sensitivity to light and sounds, nausea, depression, mood swings, and severe anxiety.

Impairments as a Result of Traumatic Brain Injury

Identifying impairments resulting from a traumatic brain injury is a process that often depends on how severe the injury is, where the injury happened, and the age or condition of the individual before the accident occurred. Common impairments associated with TBI include:

• Thinking and memory, also known as cognition
• Sensory processing
• Communication
• Behavior or mental difficulties

When a brain injury is more severe, it may result in a stupor or an unresponsive state, but one from which a victim can be awakened briefly by a strong stimulus such as sharp pain. Victims with radically traumatic brain injuries may exist in a coma where they are unconscious, unresponsive, and completely unaware of his or her surroundings. A persistive vegetative state is when an individual stays in that condition longer than 30 days.

Treatment of Traumatic Brain Injuries in Houston

Traumatic brain injuries can cause victims to experience a host of negative or misunderstood physical, cognitive, social, emotional, and behavioral effects. Outcomes can vary greatly, ranging from complete recovery to permanent impairment or death. The latter part of the 20th century and the early years of this century bore witness to critical developments in diagnosis and treatment that decreased death rates and improved outcomes for many victims of traumatic brain injury.

Some of the current imaging techniques used for diagnosis and treatment of TBI include computerized tomography and magnetic resonance imaging, or MRI. Depending on the severity of the brain injury, treatment can range from minimal physical intervention to more drastic steps including medications, emergency surgery, or surgery years later. Other techniques may be employed for rehabilitation including physical therapy, speech therapy, recreational therapy, occupational therapy and vision therapy. Emotional and psychological support may also be offered by a variety of community support services, which may include counseling or supported employment.

How to Get the Resources to Help You Cope with TBI

Traumatic brain injuries are serious, life-changing events. This means that victims who have suffered a traumatic brain injury and their families must find ways to get the resources they need for recovery, rehabilitation, and reintegration back into daily life. In order to move on with their lives, victims with a TBI must recover not only medically but also financially and emotionally.

At The Krist Law Firm, P.C., we have handled numerous cases involving traumatic brain injuries over the course of four decades in practice. Our Houston personal injury lawyers are passionate about helping the victims of traumatic brain injuries get access to the resources they need to improve their quality of life.

Brain Injury FAQs

What rights do I have if I have suffered a traumatic brain injury in an accident?

If you or a loved one has suffered a traumatic brain injury due to the negligent or wrongful conduct of another, you have a right to fair compensation for your damages. This includes amounts to cover your medical care, long-term rehabilitation, and lost wages. You can also receive compensation for loss of future earning capacity, as well as your pain and suffering. Often, TBI sufferers require lifelong care. The experienced TBI lawyers at The Krist Law Firm will help you get the full recovery you need for your lifelong injuries.

How long do I have to make a TBI personal injury claim?

As a general rule, the statute of limitations to file a personal injury claim in Texas is two years from the date of the accident. However, in some cases — such as instances where a government entity is involved — the timeline to file a claim could be shorter. In certain circumstances, if you don’t discover you have a TBI until after the two-year time limit, you may still be able to make a claim. A personal injury attorney will be able to advise you on the time limits as they apply to your particular circumstances.

How much will it cost to hire a traumatic brain injury lawyer?

The personal injury lawyers at The Krist Law Firm accept traumatic brain injury clients on a contingency fee basis. What that means is we do not charge you anything unless and until we obtain financial compensation for your injuries. Only after we win your settlement or verdict will we charge you a legal fee in the form of a percentage of the amount of money we recover on your behalf.

Contact a Houston Brain Injury Attorney Today

We understand what type of compensation is needed for the long-term care and replacement of lost earnings over a lifetime due to a traumatic brain injury. We understand the personal toll an injury this severe may take not only on victims but also on family members. We understand the Texas legal landscape and we can work closely with you and your family to strategize ways to translate your need for resources into compensation for the past and future medical expenses, physical limitations, physical pain, mental anguish, and loss of earning capacity.