A traumatic brain injury (TBI) from a car accident can change every aspect of a person's life — memory, personality, earning capacity, and independence. If you or a family member suffered a head injury in a crash anywhere in Mobile County or Baldwin County, Alabama, you need an attorney who understands the medical complexity and the extraordinary long-term costs these injuries impose. At Simmons Law, Chris Simmons personally handles TBI cases and works with neurologists and life-care planners to build claims that reflect the full, lifetime impact of a brain injury.
Concussion vs. Traumatic Brain Injury: Understanding the Spectrum
TBI exists on a spectrum. A concussion is a mild TBI — caused by the brain shifting inside the skull during impact, even without a direct blow to the head. Airbag deployment, striking the headrest, or simple violent deceleration on I-10 at highway speed can cause a concussion. Moderate and severe TBIs involve prolonged loss of consciousness, post-traumatic amnesia, structural brain damage visible on CT or MRI, and long-term cognitive or physical disability. Do not assume 'mild' TBI means insignificant — post-concussion syndrome affects up to 30% of concussion victims for months or years after injury.
Recognizing TBI Symptoms After a Crash
TBI symptoms after a car accident include headache (often worsening over time), confusion, nausea, vomiting, light and noise sensitivity, memory gaps surrounding the crash, difficulty concentrating, mood changes, depression, anxiety, sleep disturbances, blurred vision, and ringing in the ears (tinnitus). In severe cases: prolonged unconsciousness, seizures, slurred speech, profound personality changes, and loss of motor function. Any of these symptoms following a crash warrants immediate evaluation at a hospital emergency department. The University of South Alabama Medical Center in Mobile has a neurology department equipped to diagnose and manage traumatic brain injuries.
Diagnosis and Medical Evidence in a TBI Claim
A CT scan at the ER detects bleeding, swelling, or skull fractures. MRI provides more detailed soft tissue imaging and can identify diffuse axonal injury not visible on CT. Neuropsychological testing documents cognitive deficits — memory, processing speed, executive function — in objective, measurable terms. These test results become powerful evidence in court and at the negotiating table. At Simmons Law, Chris Simmons works with board-certified neurologists and neuropsychologists who can testify about the nature and permanence of your brain injury and its impact on your ability to work and function independently.
Long-Term Care Costs and Damages
The lifetime costs of a severe TBI are staggering. Studies estimate that lifetime care for a severe TBI can exceed $3 million to $5 million when accounting for acute care, rehabilitation, long-term medical management, home modifications, in-home care, and lost lifetime earnings. Even moderate TBIs can produce six-figure lifetime medical costs. Simmons Law retains life-care planners who create detailed, court-defensible projections of all future costs — ensuring your settlement or verdict accounts for every dollar of care you will need over your lifetime, not just what you have already spent.
Alabama Law: Statute of Limitations and Wrongful Death
Alabama Code § 6-2-38 gives TBI victims two years from the crash date to file a personal injury lawsuit. If a TBI victim dies from their injuries, Alabama's wrongful death statute (§ 6-5-410) governs the family's claim, and the damages framework differs significantly from a personal injury claim — wrongful death damages in Alabama are punitive in nature rather than compensatory. If you have lost a family member to a TBI caused by a negligent driver, contact Simmons Law immediately to understand your rights.
Why Simmons Law for Your TBI Case
Traumatic brain injury cases require attorneys willing to invest in expert witnesses, life-care planners, and the preparation necessary to take a case to trial at Mobile County Circuit Court if the insurer refuses to pay full value. At Simmons Law, Chris Simmons personally reviews every TBI file and has the relationships with medical experts needed to prove both causation and long-term impact. The firm handles TBI cases on contingency — no fees unless you recover. Call (251) 306-8333 for a free, confidential consultation.
