At Simmons and Fletcher, P.C., our attorneys have seen up close how devastating traumatic brain injuries can be. You could be looking at life-long medical expenses and long-term care needs for injured loved ones. You need a Houston traumatic brain injury lawyer who is experienced in helping clients get to the right medical experts to determine the exact extent of brain function loss and prepare a future life-care plan. Our TBI attorneys have helped many clients seek compensation who sustained brain injuries in accidents ranging from falls in construction accidents to motor vehicle accidents across the United States. Let us put our experience to work for you.
Contact our Houston office at (713) 932-0777 to schedule your free case review.
What is a Traumatic Brain Injury?
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is an injury to the brain caused by a physical force or traumatic event, such as a blow to the head, a fall, or from deprivation of oxygen to the brain due to medical malpractice. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), approximately 1.7 million people suffer traumatic brain injuries annually, with over 70% classified as mild.
Victims of brain injuries report varying symptoms and though TBI is considered the most severe brain injury, mild head injuries including concussions can still significantly hinder a person’s ability to function and carry out daily activities. Though the list is not exhaustive, some of the immediate symptoms as reported by brain injury victims that can result in long-term complications include:
- Blurred vision;
- Slurred speech;
- Nausea or vomiting;
- Seizures;
- Loss of balance.
What Disorders are Associated with Traumatic Brain Injury?
Traumatic brain injury can lead to severe long-term issues such as memory loss, reasoning difficulties, problems with communication, sudden changes in behavior, etc. It can also cause epilepsy and increase the risk for conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, Cerebral Palsy, Parkinson’s disease, Wernicke-Korsokoff Syndrome, and other brain disorders. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can also follow a TBI, causing depression, anxiety, or other emotional disturbances that require psychiatric counseling to treat.
If you have suffered a brain injury as a result of someone else’s negligence, you need a skilled Houston brain injury lawyer to help establish liability and hold the responsible party accountable for their actions so you recover what is deserved to you.
We have been serving Houston and its surrounding areas since 1979 and we know how important it is to depend on knowledgeable and compassionate personal injury lawyers who have the resources and skills to obtain a fair settlement.
In your time of need, we are here for you. Call us now for a free consultation with one of our Houston brain injury lawyers to learn your rights: (713) 932-0777.
What are the Common Causes of TBI?
Here are some common causes of traumatic brain injury our Houston TBI lawyers come across:
- Car accidents, truck accidents, and motorcycle accidents can cause concussions and diffuse axonal injury from the brain violently hitting the inside of the skull due to whiplash;
- Pedestrian accidents and bicycle accidents can result in head injuries form the impact.
- Sports injuries from contact sports like football, rugby, and soccer are a common cause of TBI.
- Slips and falls, where the victim’s head hits the ground may cause brain injuries.
- Workplace accidents are a common cause of concussions and severe traumatic brain injury.
- Medical Malpractice ranging from misdiagnosis of vitamin B1 deficiency in adults down to babies suffering a birth injury can cause permanent brain injuries.
If you or a loved one has suffered a TBI due to a car accident — no matter the type and severity — please contact our brain injury lawyers in Houston, TX. We’re only one phone call away to discuss your options for maximum compensation: (713) 932-0777.
TBI In Children Due to Oxygen Deprivation
Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy is a form of brain damage caused by oxygen deprivation. It occurs when the oxygen supply to the whole brain is completely cut off — often due to medical negligence — resulting in serious consequences. This can occur in a number of scenarios, including:
- Injuries during childbirth. Doctors attempting to force natural childbirths when the baby is too large for the canal can result in an improper use of the forceps and/or vacuum systems resulting in skull compression and/or oxygen deprivation.
- Failure to monitor patients following surgery. When patients are sedated and their breathing slows or stops due to failure to monitor.
If your loved one has suffered from either of the above circumstances, you may be entitled to compensation. A Houston, TX brain injury lawyer could help you explore your legal options and assist you in filing a personal injury claim.
How Can a Houston Brain Injury Lawyer Help?
A Houston brain injury lawyer can help review your case and get you the best treatment possible. And, if you go to trial, your accident attorney can build a strong personal injury case, supported by medical evidence to illustrate the full extent of your injury to the jury. This will help ensure that you are even better compensated for your long-term medical needs.
Get a free case evaluation from Simmons and Fletcher, P.C., Injury and Accident Lawyers today.
What Damages Can a Houston Brain Injury Law Firm Seek for Me?
If you or a loved one suffered a traumatic brain injury in Houston due to another person’s negligence, a TBI lawyer can help you fight for any compensation you may be due. A Houston brain injury law firm like Simmons and Fletcher, P.C. may help you seek damages for:
- Physical pain and suffering;
- Loss in quality of life;
- Mental anguish and emotional distress;
- Medical expenses;
- Permanent disability;
- Scarring and disfigurement;
- Lost wages and loss of earnings capacity.
If you are a wrongful death beneficiary family member and your loved one suffered a fatal traumatic brain injury, you may have additional damages available including:
- Loss of companionship;
- Loss of society;
- Loss of consortium;
- Loss of household services;
- Lost income.
Get the help you need from a Houston brain injury law firm. For each client we accompany, we take the time to understand their situation. Talk to our team of Houston, Texas personal injury attorneys about your brain injury accident to determine which damage claims are available to you. Call us at (713) 932-0777 today.
What Does a Houston Traumatic Brain Injury Lawyer Cost?
Hiring a traumatic brain injury attorney in Houston should run the same as hiring a Houston personal injury lawyer. Brain injury attorneys in Houston typically work on a contingency fee basis and only get paid if they win your case. Our firm charges 1/3rd if no lawsuit is required, 40% if you file a lawsuit, and 45% on appeal.
How Long Do I Have to File a Texas Brain Injury Claim?
The statute of limitations for personal injury cases in Texas is 2 years from the date of the accident for adults. There are exceptions for certain claims of minors and medical malpractice, but the general rule is to get your injury case filed as soon as possible, within the two-year statute of limitations. There is no exception for serious brain injuries.
If you or someone you know has sustained a brain injury following a hit and run, a truck accident, a bicycle accident, medical malpractice, a slip and fall, or a faulty product, you deserve knowledgeable legal representation so you can focus on your recovery. We have spent years handling brain injury cases and we have the results to support this.
To talk with an experienced Houston brain injury lawyer you can trust, contact us today: (713) 932-0777.
Frequently Asked Questions Regarding TBI
If you or someone you know has suffered a traumatic brain injury, the following FAQ may be of help. However, for proper treatment and support, seek immediate medical attention from a qualified neurologist, and legal advice from a Houston brain injury lawyer.
What is a Mild Traumatic Brain (MTBI) Injury?
A mild traumatic brain injury is defined as a traumatically induced physiological disruption of brain function. It can be characterized by loss of consciousness (less than 30 minutes), loss of memory, altered mental state (e.g. feeling dazed, confused), and/or focal neurological deficit(s).
Reference: Mild Traumatic Brain & Concussion by the Centers For Disease Control And Prevention
While all head and brain injuries should be taken seriously, most TBI cases are mild (See Ruff, Ronald M. Mild traumatic brain injury and neural recovery: Rethinking the Debate, NeuroRehabilitation Vol 28, pages 167-180, 2011.)
Can Mild Traumatic Brain Injury be Treated?
Only a qualified neuropsychologist can truly answer this question for any particular brain injury case. Often, however, the treatment is simply teaching a patient to learn to do things differently than they did them before. For example, one with memory issues can learn to keep notes and make lists as reminders. Therapeutic strategies and lifestyle changes have proven successful for many brain injury patients, enabling them to return to a functional way of life.
A Concussion Vs TBI
A concussion is a mild form of TBI. Medical professionals may also use terms like “minor head injury”, “minor head trauma”, “closed head injury”, or “mild TBI” interchangeably when diagnosing these injuries. 15% of people with a concussion continue to have brain injury symptoms over a year later. For these people, the symptoms may never go away.
What is Post-Traumatic Brain Injury?
Post-traumatic brain injury typically refers to a brain injury that begins as the result of a specific traumatic event. Rather than a single event, some doctors view post-traumatic brain injury as a worsening condition triggered by trauma. Once incurred, it behaves like a disease, influenced by external factors, evolving over time.
What is Post-Concussion Syndrome?
Post-concussion syndrome (PCS) is a range of physical, cognitive, and emotional symptoms that may develop after a person is diagnosed with a concussion. Types of signs and symptoms can include persistent headaches, dizziness, light and noise sensitivity, blurred visions, nausea and vomiting, mood swings, anxiety, and depression. These are commonly thought of as the hidden symptoms of a concussion becuase many people ignore them initially thinking it will just pass. PCS can also be associated with post-traumatic hypopituitarism, though this is much more likely to be found in people with moderate or severe TBI.
What is a Cognitive Deficit?
A cognitive deficit is an impairment of a person’s ability to acquire and process knowledge and use it to understand the world. Cognitive deficits are common with TBI, ranging from mild to severe. They can significantly impact a person’s ability to work, participate in leisure activities, and maintain interpersonal relationships. These are usually diagnosed via clinical questioning and tests such as the General Diagnostic Battery and Neuropsychological Evaluation and Brain Injury Functional Evaluation Program.
What is a General Diagnostic Battery and Neuropsychological Evaluation?
A General Diagnostic Battery and Neuropsychological Evaluation is a series of tests performed by a neuropsychologist to evaluate a patient’s cognitive and psychological condition. It generally takes about 4 hours to complete and is entirely noninvasive. The test measures:
- Intellectual capacity, tested using standard IQ tests like WAIS-IV. These measure verbal skills, reasoning, memory, and processing speed.
- Higher cortical functions, evaluated through tasks testing memory, processing, problem-solving, and reasoning.
- Learning and memory, measured by short and long-term recall and image recognition abilities.
- Language, including reading, writing, repetition, and academic skills.
- Perceptual and motor functions, including visual-spatial skills, hearing, tactile function, balance and coordination.
- Personality and mental health, identifying any emotional distress.
What is a Brain Injury Functional Evaluation Program?
A Brain Injury Functional Evaluation Program uses detailed patient history and functional assessments to measure the impact of a cognitive deficit on an individual’s daily life — from daily functional abilities to long-term effects such as reduced education and future job prospects.
What is a Cognitive Rehabilitation Program?
A cognitive rehabilitation program is designed to help a person with TBI to acquire new skills or retrain existing skills to compensate for cognitive deficits caused by the injury. It usually starts with a functional capacity evaluation, based on which medical professionals set rehabilitation goals.
Suffered a brain injury? Our Houston brain injury lawyers understand the physical, emotional, and financial toll this can take on your life. We provide free consultations to explain your legal rights and options. Call our Houston office at (713) 932-0777 today.
What Tests Are There for Traumatic Brain Injury?
Cognitive deficit testing is often used to assess and understand the long-term effects of a TBI. Medical professionals may use an MRI technique called Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) to examine the brain’s structure. This imaging technique is costly (especially without health insurance) but critical in understanding the effects of traumatic brain injury on an individual.
Are There Treatment Centers in Texas for Traumatic Brain Injury?
Immediately following a TBI, you’ll want to contact 911 and be taken to a trauma center for medical attention. After release, explore these Texas TBI treatment centers for follow-up medical care:
- Treatment Centers in Austin;
- Treatment Centers in Dallas;
- Treatment Centers in Houston;
- Treatment Centers in San Antonio.
Should I Hire a TBI Lawyer Near Me?
The most important thing you can do is to select a lawyer who understands the complexity of these cases no matter what the distance is. In this day and age, a lawyer near you is not as critical since lawyers like Simmons and Fletcher, P.C., can conduct consultations via phone and zoom with all necessary documents being delivered and executed via electronic signing software. Hire the attorney you believe is the most experienced for the job. Call Simmons and Fletcher, P.C., today.
Free Consultation
At Simmons and Fletcher, P.C., our legal team can help you get to the right kind of medical, psychiatric, and psychological experts to evaluate and treat your brain injury. If you or a loved one has suffered a head or brain injury due to someone else’s negligence — let us help you. Our Houston brain injury attorneys understand that brain injuries can be catastrophic. We have helped numerous families and victims since 1979 and we would be honored if you allow us to represent you.
Speak to an experienced brain injury lawyer in Houston today! The initial consultation is always free — we are happy to answer your questions — and you don’t pay us unless we make a recovery on your behalf. Call us now at 1-800-298-0111.
At Simmons & Fletcher, P.C., our attorneys handle a wide range of practice areas in Houston. Whether you’re looking for a bus accident lawyer, car accident lawyer, motorcycle accident lawyer, wrongful death lawyer, construction accident lawyer, or have a case involving worker’s compensation, product liability or burn injuries, and more — our reputable team of experienced lawyers can help you seek the compensation you deserve.
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