Areas of Practice - Traumatic Brain Injuries

A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is defined by the Brain Injury Association of America as an alteration in brain function, or other evidence of brain pathology, caused by an external force. TBIs range from mild concussions — which can still produce chronic headaches, cognitive impairment, memory loss, and depression — to severe injuries leaving victims permanently disabled and requiring lifetime care.

TBIs are classified as open (penetrating) or closed (non-penetrating). Open TBIs occur when an object penetrates brain tissue, as in gunshot or stab wounds. Closed TBIs — far more common — include concussions, contusions, shaken brain syndrome, and hypoxic brain injuries. Common causes include car accidents, motorcycle crashes, pedestrian and bicycle accidents, truck accidents, rideshare incidents, slip and fall accidents, and bus accidents.

Symptoms span physical effects (dizziness, headaches, seizures, nausea, vomiting), sensory changes (altered smell or taste, tinnitus, blurry vision), and cognitive or behavioral changes (confusion, slurred speech, sleep disturbances, mood swings, depression, anxiety, and unusual behavior). Critically, symptoms may not be immediately apparent — they can develop or worsen over days, weeks, or months after the initial trauma.

Treatment may involve medication to manage symptoms, surgery to relieve pressure, rehabilitation for relearning basic skills, and ongoing therapy and counseling. At Culver Legal, we work with leading neurologists, neuropsychologists, and life care planners to document your injury and project its long-term consequences — countering insurance company tactics that minimize TBI claims and fighting for full compensation covering current and future medical needs.