A traumatic brain injury (TBI) can result in much more than just immediate symptoms and medical costs. Severe brain injuries can have lasting impacts on survivors, including the need for extensive future medical care and a loss of independence. At FVF Law Firm, our Austin personal injury lawyers understand the impacts of traumatic brain injuries and how they affect our clients. We are committed to helping TBI survivors become whole again.
How Does a Brain Injury Impact a Victim?
Since the brain is responsible for controlling thoughts, emotions, communication, movements and a plethora of other critical abilities, an accident that injures the brain can have a wide range of significant effects. An accident such as a car crash or slip and fall can injure the brain enough to result in a variety of noticeable symptoms.
Acute TBI Symptoms
Harm to the brain in the form of blunt-force trauma, impact injuries or penetrating injuries can cause immediately noticeable (acute) symptoms for the accident victim. While every patient is unique, common acute symptoms include:
- Persistent headache
- Dizziness or trouble balancing
- Nausea or vomiting
- Blurred vision
- Fatigue or trouble sleeping
- Mental confusion
- Memory loss
- Loss of consciousness
Some of these symptoms may go away within one or two weeks, while others may linger for months or even years after the accident. Chronic symptoms may remain with a victim for the rest of his or her life.
Chronic TBI Symptoms
When an accident is serious enough to cause a moderate to severe traumatic brain injury, the victim may experience long-lasting or chronic effects. A TBI can affect a victim physically, cognitively, emotionally and behaviorally. Effects can include trouble communicating with others and learning new things, mood swings, sleep disorders, physical disabilities, and long-term risks associated with neurodegenerative diseases.
The Personal Costs of a Traumatic Brain Injury
In addition, severe traumatic brain injuries can come with significant personal costs. A survivor may experience distressing mental health problems such as depression or anxiety, along with reduced self-esteem, lost quality of life, loss of independence, lost relationships, loss of consortium, and other forms of pain and suffering.
Ongoing Medical Care for TBI Victims in Texas
Finally, long-term TBIs have a substantial financial cost. Calculating a fair value for a traumatic brain injury case in Texas is only possible if you fully grasp everything that goes into treating and caring for a serious brain injury.
You may need to work with doctors, specialists or a personal injury attorney to create a comprehensive list of all related medical expenses:
- Emergency intervention and ICU care
- Hospitalization
- Diagnostic testing and scans
- Surgeries and recovery
- Neuro specialist consultations
- Physical therapy
- Occupational therapy
- Speech therapy
- Cognitive or physical rehabilitation
- Prescription medications
- Medical devices
- Home and vehicle modifications for a disability
- Transportation to and from doctor’s appointments
- Mental health care or counseling
- Live-in or around-the-clock care
- Long-term medical care and support
Lifelong impairment or disability from a TBI may require careful medical cost projections that account for the ongoing and evolving needs of the victim over the span of decades. A Certified Life Care Planner is a hired professional who has special training in creating a medical and rehabilitative analysis of an injured person’s care needs over his or her lifetime.
TBI Recovery Resources in Texas
There are many resources and services available to help TBI victims in Texas learn how to live with their injuries. If you or someone in your family is currently living with a traumatic brain injury, below are several resources that may help:
- 2-1-1 Texas. This free resource offers help in a broad scope for a variety of needs, from public food benefits to mental health care for Veterans.
- The Office of Acquired Brain Injury. The Texas Department of Health and Human Services has this special office available to connect individuals with the help they need for TBIs, including support groups and educational materials.
- Texas Brain Injury Alliance. A community of individuals in Texas with brain injuries or loved ones with TBIs has come together to provide this resource encouraging public awareness and education.
- Brain Injury Association of America – Texas Division. An organization that is dedicated to improving the quality of life of people affected by TBIs.Comprehensive Rehabilitation Services. Financial assistance for eligible TBI victims in Texas to help them live more independently by paying for certain rehabilitation services.
Visit this statewide resource guide for more local opportunities for aid, information and guidance for TBI victims and their families.
What Is the Average Settlement for a Brain Injury Case in Texas?
In Texas, the average cost of a severe traumatic brain injury with long-term effects typically ranges from $250,000 to over $3 million for medical care alone. This includes initial medical treatment as well as ongoing care. The exact amount an individual will have to spend in lifetime medical costs will depend on the severity and extent of their TBI.
Added to a victim’s medical costs are losses such as lost wages, ability to earn in the future and lost productivity. This can result in hundreds of thousands of dollars in additional financial losses. For this reason, the average brain injury settlement in Texas can span from about $85,000 or less to multiple millions, depending on the severity of the TBI.
Settlements for brain injuries can vary significantly based on the individual case. In general, catastrophic injuries with permanent brain damage result in greater settlements than minor injuries due to the degree of harm suffered by the victim and the exorbitant costs of related treatments.
How a Traumatic Brain Injury Lawyer in Texas Can Help
If a long-term traumatic brain injury was caused by negligence, or someone’s failure to act with the appropriate amount of care, the victim may have legal options to recover compensation from the at-fault party. The brain injury attorneys at FVF Law Firm are committed to helping deserving accident victims pursue the financial justice that makes them whole again.
Our lawyers can get to work right away to provide you with the full extent of our legal resources, personnel and attention to achieve optimal case results. We have more than 100 years of combined experience in personal injury law, and have collected millions of dollars in compensation for accident victims. This includes many victims living with TBIs.
We understand all of the short-term and long-term costs of traumatic brain injuries and are here to help you protect your rights as you seek justice. Contact our law firm today to learn more about your legal options and how we can help you during a no-cost, no-pressure initial consultation in Austin.