What is a traumatic brain injury?

Traumatic Brain Injury, or TBI, is a term that relates to a broad variety of conditions, disabilities and symptoms. It can have a devastating effect on those affected and their loved ones. In general, it occurs through accidents or actions that cause damage to the head and by extension, the brain. However, there are serious differences between an ordinary injury and a brain injury. Understanding these differences is important in the victim’s recovery and return to life.

When a person suffers a traumatic brain injury, they can completely change overnight. Whether it’s from tremors, difficulty speaking or reasoning, or sudden and serious personality changes, the person suffering from TBI is completely different than they were even hours before the incident.

Injuries to the brain do not heal like other injuries. If, for example, you break your arm, you’ll be disabled for a few weeks, maybe a few months, but eventually will get functionality back. With a brain injury, you may never be the same. Since no two brain injuries are alike, it’s impossible to say how much of their previous function the victim may recover.

In mild cases, the patient may lose consciousness for a brief time (less than half an hour) and have cognitive issues, headaches, difficulty with memory and focus, mood swings and the like which are all too often overlooked as being related to the injury but can still devastate families and relationships.

In more severe cases where consciousness is lost for over 30 minutes, severe cognitive impairment and even coma can result. Loss of limb functionality may result, and severe issues with mental functions and emotions can present.

If you or a loved one has suffered an accident that resulted in traumatic brain injury in Texas, you may be entitled to compensation to help recover from the damages. A personal injury attorney may be able to provide more information.