A moderate to severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) is often catastrophic. Unlike mild concussions, these injuries frequently result in long-term cognitive impairment, physical disability, or permanent life changes.
If your injury resulted from a car crash, fall, or other preventable accident, speaking with an experienced Austin brain injury lawyer can help you understand your medical and legal options.
What Is a Traumatic Brain Injury?
A traumatic brain injury describes damage to any part of the brain, including its tissues or cells, due to an external source of trauma, such as a bump or blow to the head. TBIs can arise from traumatic car accidents, falls, sports or diving incidents, or physical assaults.
How Are TBIs Classified?
Traumatic brain injuries are categorized into three levels: mild, moderate and severe. Physicians typically use the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) to classify the severity of a TBI. This scale evaluates a patient’s motor response, opening of the eyes and verbal response to stimuli to determine the severity of the TBI and the patient’s level of consciousness.
Each response is assigned a number, with higher numbers representing more positive responses and a milder brain injury. If there is no response, incomprehensible responses or responses only to pain, these outcomes are assigned lower numbers. If the patient’s total score is between 13 and 15 on the GCS, it is classified as a mild brain injury. At 9 to 12, it is a moderate brain injury. A score of 3 to 8 indicates a severe brain injury.
Glasgow Coma Scale Breakdown
| GCS Score | Injury Classification |
|---|---|
| 13–15 | Mild TBI |
| 9–12 | Moderate TBI |
| 3–8 | Severe TBI |
What Is a Moderate to Severe Brain Injury?
A “moderate to severe” traumatic brain injury is a medical emergency. It means an individual has scored between 3 and 12 on the Glasgow Coma Scale, and has suffered a brain injury that is likely to result in long-term, significant, permanent or fatal health issues.
Moderate to severe TBIs are typically aligned with the following outcomes, according to the Glasgow Outcome Scale:
- Moderately disabled: no need for assistance in daily life; employment is possible but may require special accommodations
- Severely disabled: severe injury with a permanent need for help with everyday living
- Vegetative: severe damage with a prolonged state of unresponsiveness and a lack of higher mental functions
- Dead: severe injury or death without recovery of consciousness
The lower the GCS score, the higher the likelihood of long-term disability or impairment. Severe brain injuries are associated with the highest risk, while the prognoses for moderate brain injuries vary. Some individuals with moderate TBIs experience significant recovery, while others have lasting disabilities.
Types of Moderate to Severe TBIs
A potential brain injury needs to be immediately evaluated by an appropriate medical professional. A neurological exam will typically be done to evaluate the type and extent of the TBI, followed by imaging scans for a more detailed look at the brain.
Common types of moderate to severe traumatic brain injuries are:
- Concussion
- Contusion
- Edema (swelling)
- Hematoma (bruising)
- Hemorrhage (bleeding)
- Diffuse-axonal injury
- Coup-contrecoup injury
- Penetrating injury
- Open brain injury (skull fracture or penetration)
Identifying the type of brain injury is an important step, as it can determine the most appropriate treatment for the patient. The size, location and severity of the TBI will also inform the patient’s prognosis and treatment options.
How Does a Moderate to Severe TBI Affect the Brain?
A moderate to severe brain injury is often characterized by an initial loss of consciousness for at least 30 minutes, up to 24 hours or longer. If the individual regains consciousness, the following symptoms may be noted:
- Confusion or disorientation
- Memory loss (amnesia)
- Persistent headache
- Nausea or dizziness
- Lethargy
- Physical weakness
- Inability to open eyes
- Inability to follow commands
It’s important to note that every brain injury is unique. A multitude of factors can influence how a brain injury impacts a person and their overall prognosis. However, in general, an individual with a moderate to severe TBI will have more pronounced physical and cognitive impairments than someone with a milder brain injury.
Long-Term Effects
One way moderate to severe traumatic brain injuries differ from mild TBIs is the potential for long-term and permanent effects. Moderate to severe TBIs are much more likely to result in longer-lasting or irreversible impairments, such as:
- Motor function disability or disorders
- Physical impairments
- Weakness or paralysis
- Vision or sensory loss
- Cognitive impairments
- Trouble communicating or learning new things
- Memory and attention deficits
- Chronic pain or fatigue
- Seizure disorders
- Emotional changes or impairments
- Personality and behavioral changes
An individual with a moderate to severe brain injury may also experience a variety of secondary health problems and related complications, including infection, blood clots, mental health problems, and increased risk of neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s or dementia.
Treatments and Recovery for Moderate to Severe Brain Injuries
Moderate to severe brain injuries require immediate emergency medical care. Early intervention is critical and can contribute significantly to a TBI victim’s recovery. In the beginning, an assessment of the injury will be done, and emergency surgeries may be scheduled to repair the skull or relieve pressure on the brain.
After the initial medical intervention and treatments, ongoing care is likely required for a serious TBI. Rehabilitation and therapies are standard types of treatment for moderate to severe brain injuries. These medical interventions can encourage as much recovery as possible and optimize the quality of life for individuals living with long-term effects.
Your Legal Rights After a Moderate to Severe Brain Injury in Texas
If you have been diagnosed with a moderate to severe brain injury after any type of accident in Texas, consulting with an Austin personal injury lawyer can make a critical difference to your future. One or more parties may be responsible for causing your life-changing TBI. If so, it is important that you receive knowledgeable legal advice.
You may have the right to recover the costs of your TBI from an at-fault party, including:
- Present and future medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Lost capacity to earn in the future
- Permanent disability
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of consortium
The right attorney can investigate your accident to determine who may be liable, or financially responsible, for your serious brain injury. At FVF Law Firm – Injury & Wrongful Death Lawyers, we’re here to educate you on the legal aspects of your unique situation. Our brain injury attorneys have over 100 years of combined experience to put to use on your brain injury case. Contact us for a no-cost review of your case in Austin, Texas today.
