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Common Causes of Traumatic Brain Injury in Texas

Written by AskTheLawyers.com™

Common Causes of Traumatic Brain Injury in Texas

Written by AskTheLawyers.com™

AskTheLawyers™

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According to the Texas Brain Injury Alliance, 144,000 Texans sustain a traumatic brain injury (TBI) every year and over 5,700 Texans are permanently disabled by TBIs. TBIs are the leading causes of death in children and young adults. These injuries are severe and often life-altering. Not only do TBIs present extremely costly medical bills and rehabilitation, but also many non-economic damages that involve the quality of one’s daily life, and changes that must be made to accommodate the victim of a TBI.

The leading cause of TBIs in Texas is falls, but falls are not the leading cause of death due to TBI.

Common causes of falls include wet or uneven floors, environmental conditions, unsafe ladders and stairs, and improper safety practices at work. Slip-and-falls are one of the most common types of falls, and are responsible for the majority of traumatic brain injuries.

The second most common cause of TBIs in Texas is motor vehicle accidents, and these account for the majority of deaths due to TBI.

Over 50% of traumatic brain injuries incurred in a motor vehicle accident involved alcohol-impaired drivers. According to the Texas Brain Injury Advisory Council, other causes of TBIs include sports injuries, explosive blasts, gunshot wounds, objects falling on the head, and sharp objects penetrating the skull. However, these causes are less frequent.

TBIs are the fourth leading cause of death overall.

Physical, cognitive/communication, perceptual, and behavioral/emotional impairments are common results of a traumatic brain injury when the injury does not result in death. Unfortunately, on average 50,000 people die per year in the United States due traumatic brain injuries. The brain is a vital part of the human body and controls every other function, so it’s not surprising that the consequences of damage to the brain tend to be severe.

Texas is the only state that requires insurance companies to provide coverage for the spectrum of rehabilitation services needed after a brain injury.

Texas is credited with offering greater access to acute and post-acute brain injury rehabilitation than any other state. In addition, Texas provides Comprehensive Rehabilitation Services (CRS) to individuals with traumatic brain injuries who may not have adequate insurance to cover the costs on their own. This is great news for Texans who are struggling to cover the costs of a traumatic brain injury for themselves or their loved ones. However, Texas does not lead the way in long-term resources for TBI survivors.

Unfortunately, Texas does not offer programs to help meet the long-term needs of individuals living with a TBI.

While Texas may offer a variety of beneficial insurance requirements designed to help survivors of traumatic brain injury, it does not offer the residential programs other states offer in order to help pay for long-term care needs, including vocational rehabilitation programs and day activity programs. These long-term care options are designed to help TBI survivors return to work and reduce disability and medical complications. Traumatic brain injuries tend to have long-reaching and long-lasting effects on a person’s life, so it makes sense that the systems designed to help TBI survivors would be created with long-term care and support in mind. In Texas, another way to try and recoup future losses in the form of long-term vocational rehabilitation or day activity programs is to file a personal injury claim.

Depending on the circumstances surrounding your injury, you may be eligible to file a personal injury claim.

If you or a loved one suffered a traumatic brain injury, seek legal counsel to find out what your rights are and whether you are eligible to file a personal injury claim. If so, this could produce a revenue stream to help pay for future expenses which may occur during TBI recovery. Physical and financial damages are only part of the damages to a person’s life by a traumatic brain injury. The intangible damages to a person’s life after a traumatic brain injury can be just as harmful as the injury itself.

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