When a person suffers a blow to the head, they run the risk of suffering a traumatic brain injury (TBI). Since the brain is the body’s primary cognitive, emotional, and sensory processing center, any sort of damage to this organ can have devastating consequences. Depending on the severity, a TBI can have a lasting impact on a person’s ability to communicate, store and access memories, and perform basic daily tasks. Even mild brain injuries such as concussions can cause chronic headaches, sensitivity to lights and sounds, mood swings, confusion, and nausea.
A person can suffer a TBI in the following types of accidents:
- Car accidents
- Motorcycle collisions
- Pedestrian accidents
- Truck accidents
- Construction accidents
- Slip and falls
- Sports accidents
What is Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE)?
Repeated blows to the head over time can result in the development of a degenerative brain disease known as chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). While little is known about the nature of CTE and research is still being conducted, research has indicated that consistent head trauma results in the buildup of tau protein in the brain, causing a variety of debilitating symptoms that worsen over time. Currently, CTE has no cure and can only be definitively diagnosed by examining brain tissue under a microscope after a person’s death.
CTE causes the following symptoms:
- Advanced dementia
- Severe depression
- Suicidal thoughts
- Confusion
- Memory loss
- Aggressive behavior
- Poor judgment
- Erratic behavior
This disease has garnered considerable attention in the media recently, specifically due to the release of the 2015 film titled Concussion, starring Will Smith as Dr. Bennet Omalu, the pathologist credited with having originally discovered CTE. This condition is highly prevalent in former military service members and professional athletes with careers in contact sports such as football, hockey, and boxing. Several deceased former NFL players have been diagnosed with CTE after their deaths, including Ken Stabler, Junior Seau, and Mike Webster.
Contact an Albuquerque Brain Injury Attorney
If you have suffered a brain injury in a preventable accident or you believe you are exhibiting early signs of CTE, you may be entitled to recover compensation for your suffering by filing a personal injury claim with the help of a knowledgeable Albuquerque brain injury lawyer from James Wood Law, PC. Having recovered millions of dollars in verdicts and settlements on behalf of injured clients and won countless awards for our excellence, we have the skills and dedication to help ensure you maximize your chances of securing a fair settlement for your injuries.
To find out more about what our 30+ years of experience can do for you, call (505) 906-6774 or request a complimentary case evaluation today.