Our Hilliard Law attorneys have over 40 years of experience representing clients throughout Texas and the United States. We dedicate ourselves to our clients and their needs. By understanding that every accident and person is unique, we provide our clients with tailored legal advice and guidance.
Due to their size and weight, truck accidents can result in severe, debilitating injuries. One of the most common types of damage an individual may sustain in a truck accident is a traumatic brain injury (TBI). A traumatic brain injury usually occurs when the head or body experiences a sudden jolt or blow.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report that around 61,000 people die from TBI-related injuries annually in the United States, many resulting from truck accidents. Unfortunately, traumatic brain injuries have a wide range of symptoms and require extensive medical knowledge and equipment to determine the severity. It’s imperative to seek professional medical and legal advice as soon as possible if you or a loved one sustained a TBI following a truck accident.
What Types of Head Injuries Can a Person Suffer in a Truck Accident?
A large truck can weigh 20 to 30 times more than an average passenger vehicle, meaning if a truck crashes into a car, the force a truck can generate in an accident could easily result in someone suffering from a TBI.
For traumatic brain injuries, two types of injuries occur: closed and open. A closed-head injury happens when the brain comes into contact with the skull, but the head and brain do not experience any exterior or visible wound damage. However, an open-head injury is characterized by cracks in the skull or when an object pierces and exposes the brain tissue.
The following are a few examples of head injuries within these two categories:
- Concussion
- Anoxic brain injuries
- Subdural hematoma
- Toxic brain injuries
Even with bone, meninges, and cerebrospinal fluid surrounding the brain, there is still very little protecting the brain from harm in a severe accident. Since our brain is the control center of our body, when it suffers severe damage, we may lose specific abilities like bodily function, mobility, and memory recollection.
What Are The Symptoms of a Traumatic Brain Injury?
Understanding the symptoms of a TBI may help you identify when you need to seek medical attention following a truck accident. However, traumatic brain injuries vary in severity depending on the location of the harm, the type of TBI, and how long before you identified the issue. Some common symptoms you may experience if you have a TBI include:
- Numbness or tingling of arms or legs
- Sensitivity to light or sound
- Loss of coordination
- Slurred speech
- Convulsions or seizures
- An inability to wake up from sleep
- Persistent headache
- Repeated vomiting or nausea
- Enlargement of the pupil in one or both eyes
- Increased confusion, restlessness, or agitation
- Loss of consciousness lasting a few minutes to an hour
Sometimes, individuals are unaware of their traumatic brain injury and will consider migraines and tingling in the arms as everyday aches and pains. It is essential for those to schedule an appointment with their primary care physician after an accident so that they can identify the TBI early on and start the recovery process.
Speak With Knowledgeable Texas Brain Injury Lawyers at Hilliard Law
Our Hilliard Law attorneys have over 40 years of experience representing clients throughout Texas and the United States. We dedicate ourselves to our clients and their needs. By understanding that every accident and person is unique, we provide tailored legal advice and guidance to our clients. Having professional lawyers devoted to your claim will provide you with the knowledge and resources you need for a smooth claim.
If we take your case, we will work on a contingent fee basis, meaning you don’t pay us unless we win. Complete our contact form or call (361) 882-1612 to schedule a consultation with our lawyers today. We will fight for you and your rights.