There’s no injury quite like a traumatic brain injury (TBI). A TBI can change an individual’s life in a fraction of a second, and it doesn’t require a substantial physical impact.
Unlike other injuries like broken bones, which can be repaired over time, the brain won’t always heal.
A TBI happens when the brain is damaged by a sudden external force, such as a blow to the head. While it ranges in severity from mild to severe, any TBI is a serious and potentially life-threatening condition that can cause a range of physical, cognitive, and emotional symptoms.
There are many potential causes of traumatic brain injuries in Texas, ranging from auto collisions like car accidents and truck accidents to slips and falls or workplace injuries.
Whatever the nature of your accident, if it was caused by the reckless or negligent actions of another individual or organization, you have the right to hold them accountable.
For a free consultation, visit us at 1802 N 10th St, McAllen, TX 78501, or Alamo Towers, 901 NE 410 Loop #700, San Antonio, TX 78209, call us at 855-LAW-NINJA, or send a message. If you can’t get to one of our Texas offices, let us know — we can come to you.
Doctor, attorney, veteran, and the founder of Patino Law Firm, Louis “Doc” Patino is a top Texas brain injury lawyer dedicated to helping victims recover compensation for accidents that weren’t their fault.
We represent victims who have sustained TBIs in a range of accidents, including car accidents, trucking accidents, premises liability, slips and falls, work injuries, and more.
Reach out and call us today at 855-LAW-NINJA, send us a confidential message on our contact page, pop into our office, or let us know where you are and we’ll come to you for your free, no-obligation case review.
Traumatic brain injuries are caused by an external force that impacts the head or brain. This differentiates them from non-traumatic brain injuries, which, as the name suggests, are not caused by trauma.
Non-traumatic brain injuries can occur as a result of many conditions or events, including a stroke, brain aneurysm, infection, brain tumor, overdose, drowning, cardiac arrest, and inhalation or ingestion of toxic fumes or substances.
Let’s look at some of the common causes of traumatic brain injuries.
Falls are a common cause of TBI that can affect anyone. A slip while walking down the street can cause catastrophic injury to young children or older adults, but head injuries can be equally devastating to someone who suffers a work injury by falling from a height, such as a ladder, staircase, or raised platform.
Motor vehicle accidents are a leading cause of TBI. They can occur when a vehicle collides with another vehicle, pedestrian, or object, such as in:
People who play certain sports, such as football and boxing, are more at risk of sustaining a TBI due to the physical nature of the sport, where it’s not uncommon to sustain head trauma.
While certain types of accidents are more likely to cause TBIs, a traumatic brain injury can occur in any event resulting in a blow to the head, whether from a punch, explosion, shunt, or fall onto a hard surface.
If you or a loved one has suffered a brain injury due to the actions of someone else, our San Antonio and McAllen-based brain injury lawyer can explore whether you have a claim and help you get the compensation you deserve.
When a TBI victim visits a doctor, their brain injury will usually be classified into one of three categories: mild, moderate, or severe.
We need to emphasize that if a brain injury is classified as mild, that doesn’t mean that it’s not a serious injury. On the contrary, mild brain injuries — such as concussion, which is when a blow to the head causes the brain to move and sometimes hit the skull — can still be life-changing and affect an individual for the rest of their life.
Victims of a traumatic brain injury in an accident in Texas can suffer cognitive, mobility, and emotional impairment, which can result in:
These are just some of the ways traumatic brain injuries can impact victims, whether they sustain a “minor” or “severe” injury. Our traumatic brain injury lawyer knows there’s no such thing as a minor TBI and is prepared to fight to get you the compensation you deserve, regardless of how your injury is medically classified.
Many parties can be liable if you suffer a TBI in an accident in Texas. Depending on how your accident happened, a single person may be at fault, or you may be able to recover compensation from multiple parties that all played a role in causing the accident.
For example, if you sustain your brain injury in a truck accident caused by a driver who was not qualified to operate the semi-truck, you may be able to claim from the driver as well as the trucking company that employed them. Other parties that can be liable in auto accidents include a manufacturer, contractor, or other organization.
If you have a TBI because of a condition or accident resulting from medical malpractice, you may be able to hold the doctor or medical professional liable. This can happen if a doctor prescribes the wrong medication and it causes you to collapse and hit your head or if a consultant fails to diagnose a medical condition that leads to you having a stroke.
If you slip while at a restaurant or on someone else’s property because it wasn’t maintained or hazards weren’t signposted — such as wet floor signs near a spillage — the owner of the business or property may be held liable.
Or, if a defective product causes a TBI, several parties may be responsible, including the manufacturer and the company that sold it.
Determining who’s at fault for your TBI is always one of the first steps in seeing if you have a personal injury claim. Our brain injury lawyer can help you understand your rights and options, as well as advocate on your behalf to get you the maximum compensation possible.
If your personal injury claim is successful, you will receive compensation for your injuries. There are various types of compensation you may receive, including:
Medical expenses: After a traumatic brain injury in San Antonio, McAllen, or elsewhere in the Lone Star State, you’ll likely need significant medical treatment. You’re entitled to recover past and future medical costs, including emergency room fees, hospital stays, surgeries, medications, therapy, rehabilitation, and travel to and from the hospital. If your TBI requires you to modify your home to make it easier to complete tasks independently, you will also be able to recover the cost.
Lost wages: Even if your brain injury heals and you can live a normal life without any long-term difficulty, you will still need time off work to recover immediately after your injury. You can claim the wages you would have received had you not been injured, along with any future losses you’ll incur if you’re unable to work again.
Pain and suffering: Your TBI will also likely cause physical pain, emotional distress, and prevent you from doing certain activities you used to enjoy. This type of compensation is tricky to calculate as you can’t easily put a price on the pain you’ve suffered, but it can be significant.
Property damage: As traumatic brain injuries are serious injuries, they often occur in catastrophic accidents that cause significant damage. If you sustained property damage in your accident, such as damage to your vehicle in a car or truck accident, you can recover the cost of repairing or replacing it in your claim.
It’s vital to note that the amount of compensation you may be able to recover after your accident will depend on several factors, including the severity of your injury, the damages you’ve suffered, the strength of the evidence supporting your claim, and the insurance company representing the liable party. Our brain injury lawyer works closely with our clients to understand the unique elements of each case and gets them the compensation they deserve.
To give yourself the best chance of recovering the compensation you deserve, get in touch with a lawyer as soon as possible after sustaining a traumatic brain injury. At Patino Law Firm, we will make the process as easy and stress-free as possible.
For a free, no-obligation consultation, call the Patino Law Firm at 855-LAW-NINJA, contact us online, or visit one of our Texas offices. You can find us at:
Dr. Louis Patino’s background as a U.S. Army Combat Medic and chiropractor gives him a unique perspective and experience — one that not many other attorneys can boast. This helps him explain the realities of living with a brain injury to his clients as well as secure the compensation that will support them financially.
While he knows that no amount of money will likely ever fully compensate them for the pain and suffering they’ve endured and the symptoms they might continue to experience for the rest of their lives, it can give them the support they need as they adapt to life with their injury.
If you’ve suffered a brain injury, you may be entitled to significant compensation that can help you rebuild your life. To book a free, no-obligation appointment with our team of Texas brain injury law specialists, call 855-LAW-NINJA, contact us online, or pop into one of our offices.
It takes less than a minute to get in touch, and you can reach us 24/7.
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