Traumatic Brain Injury Lawyers in Killeen

Suffered a Brain Injury Caused by Negligence in Killeen, TX?

A traumatic brain injury can affect how a person thinks, communicates, sleeps, works, and manages daily responsibilities. Symptoms may appear immediately after an accident, emerge days later, or change during recovery. If symptoms are new or worsening, seek prompt medical attention, especially when emergency warning signs are present.

When another party’s negligence causes the injury, we develop the claim by connecting the accident to the medical findings and documenting its financial and personal effects. At Law Offices Of Vic Feazell, P.C., we help injured people and their families address medical records, lost income, future care needs, and insurance issues as part of a personal injury claim.

What Is a Traumatic Brain Injury?

A traumatic brain injury (TBI) occurs when the brain sustains damage due to a sudden impact or force, disrupting its normal function. TBIs can range in severity from mild concussions to severe brain damage that leads to permanent disability. The effects of a TBI can vary depending on the severity of the injury, but even an injury initially described as mild can cause significant symptoms.

A concussion may affect memory, mood, vision, balance, sleep, and physical comfort without an obvious external injury. The following descriptions provide general medical information and aren’t a substitute for evaluation by a qualified medical provider.

The most common types of TBIs include:

• Concussion: A concussion is a common form of TBI, typically caused by a blow to the head or violent shaking. Symptoms may include headaches, dizziness, nausea, confusion, and temporary loss of consciousness. Symptoms can remain significant even when the injury is classified as mild.
• Contusion: A contusion refers to bruising of the brain tissue caused by a direct impact to the head. This can lead to localized bleeding and swelling in the brain, which may require urgent treatment.
• Penetrating Injury: A penetrating TBI occurs when an object pierces the skull and damages brain tissue. These injuries are often life-threatening and require immediate medical attention. Penetrating injuries can result in severe disabilities or death.
• Diffuse Axonal Injury: A diffuse axonal injury occurs when rapid movement within the skull damages the brain’s connecting nerve fibers. It often results from severe shaking or rotational forces, such as those generated in car accidents or falls, and can cause substantial neurological impairment.
• Coup-Contrecoup Injury: In this injury, the brain is damaged at the site of impact (coup) as well as on the opposite side (contrecoup) due to movement inside the skull. The extent and treatment needs depend on the areas affected and the severity of the trauma.

Common Causes of Brain Injuries

Potential causes of brain injuries include:

• Motor Vehicle Accidents: Car, truck, and motorcycle accidents can cause TBIs. The sudden impact of a collision can cause the brain to hit the inside of the skull, leading to concussions, contusions, or more severe injuries.
• Slip and Falls: Falls on unsafe property can cause traumatic brain injuries. Wet floors, uneven surfaces, or a lack of proper safety equipment can result in severe head injuries.
• Workplace Accidents: Falls from heights, being struck by falling objects, and equipment malfunctions can result in serious brain injuries, particularly in construction and other high-risk professions.
• Sports and Recreational Activities: Contact sports, such as football or boxing, as well as high-impact activities like skiing or biking, can result in TBIs. Repeated head trauma in sports can also lead to long-term brain damage.
• Acts of Violence: Assaults, gunshot wounds, and domestic violence can cause TBIs. These injuries are often life-threatening and require immediate medical care.

The existence of a brain injury doesn’t establish negligence on its own. The legal analysis depends on how the event occurred, who had a duty to act safely, what evidence remains available, and whether the medical information connects the event to the diagnosed injury.

Long-Term Effects of a Traumatic Brain Injury

The long-term effects of a traumatic brain injury can affect both the injured person and the family members who provide support. Depending on the location and severity of the injury, a person may experience physical, emotional, cognitive, behavioral, communication, or sensory limitations.

Possible long-term effects of TBI include:

• Cognitive Impairment: A TBI may cause problems with memory, attention, and problem-solving. These cognitive difficulties can make it difficult to return to work or perform daily tasks independently.
• Emotional and Behavioral Changes: Mood swings, irritability, depression, and anxiety can occur after a TBI. Some people also experience impulsive or aggressive behavior that affects personal and professional relationships.
• Physical Disabilities: Depending on the severity of the injury, TBI victims may experience difficulty with coordination, balance, and motor skills. Headaches, chronic pain, weakness, and paralysis are also possible.
• Speech and Communication Problems: TBI can affect the areas of the brain responsible for language and communication. Victims may struggle with speaking, understanding, or processing information.
• Sensory Issues: TBIs can cause changes involving vision, hearing, taste, and smell. These effects may complicate driving, working, household tasks, and other everyday activities.

Moderate or severe injuries may require rehabilitation, household assistance, future medical care, or long-term supervision. A claim may also need to account for interrupted employment, lost earning capacity, reduced independence, and changes in family responsibilities or quality of life.

Building a TBI Claim in Killeen

A brain injury claim requires evidence of more than the initial accident. We examine how the incident occurred, identify potentially responsible parties, and assemble the records needed to show how the injury has affected the client over time.

Depending on the circumstances, claim development may include:

• Accident Evidence: Reports, photographs, video, witness accounts, vehicle information, property records, or workplace documentation may help establish what happened.
• Medical Documentation: Emergency records, diagnostic testing, physician notes, therapy records, and rehabilitation plans may connect the trauma to symptoms and treatment needs.
• Functional Evidence: Statements from family members, coworkers, and others may document changes in memory, communication, behavior, work performance, and daily activities.
• Financial Records: Medical bills, employment records, and care projections may support claims involving treatment costs, lost wages, reduced earning capacity, and future care.

We handle negotiations with insurance companies, medical providers, and opposing counsel. We also coordinate medical bills and legal expenses, prepare evidence-based demands, manage administrative tasks, and explain timelines and case developments throughout the matter. If negotiations don’t resolve the claim, we prepare the litigation position based on the available evidence.

Texas Filing Deadlines

Under the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code, personal injury lawsuits generally must be filed within two years, usually measured from the date of the incident. Exceptions, shorter notice requirements, the identity of the defendant, and other claim-specific rules can change the applicable deadline. Prompt legal review can help determine which dates govern a particular claim and preserve evidence before it becomes unavailable.

Why Hire Our Firm for a Brain Injury Claim?

Our record includes multimillion-dollar verdicts and settlements in catastrophic injury and wrongful death matters. Vic Feazell’s background includes serving as a district attorney in McLennan County, conducting major investigations, trying capital cases, and pursuing a record-setting libel judgment. We bring that investigative follow-through to the preparation of serious personal injury claims.

We maintain regular communication, provide updates about case status and strategy, and return calls promptly. When an injury makes travel or paperwork difficult, we can use remote communication and document handling to keep the matter moving without repeated office visits.

Insurance companies may dispute causation, point to gaps in treatment, or minimize symptoms that aren’t visible. We address those tactics with medical documentation, functional evidence, and a detailed analysis of the losses supported by the record. We handle personal injury cases on a contingency-fee basis, meaning you won’t pay legal fees unless we obtain a recovery for you.

Discuss Your Brain Injury Claim with Our Team

A free preliminary consultation gives you an opportunity to discuss the accident, medical treatment, insurance communications, available evidence, and possible filing deadlines. We can then explain the potential next steps based on the specific facts without assuming that every head injury claim follows the same path.

Contact our office at (254) 938-6885 for a free preliminary consultation with our brain injury lawyer in Killeen.