What Is CTE?
You may have heard the term “CTE” talked about in relation to sports injuries, but what does it really mean, and what does “CTE” stand for?
CTE is the abbreviation for chronic traumatic encephalopathy, which is a devastating condition that involves irreversible damage to the brain. Learn more about this serious disease and whether there is any legal recourse if your loved one has developed it.
Understanding CTE
People who experience repeated brain injuries can develop CTE. It is a progressive and degenerative condition, which means that it tends to get worse over time.
CTE causes the death of brain nerve cells, although researchers don’t fully understand why this occurs in some people and not others. However, they do know that athletes who play contact sports are at higher risk of developing CTE.
What Are Common Symptoms of CTE?
CTE is difficult to diagnose. That’s because the symptoms start slowly and are similar to those of many other diseases. Often, it takes an autopsy to find out whether someone suffered from CTE.
Symptoms of CTE can include:
- Difficulty with thinking clearly
- Aggression
- Impulsivity
- Memory loss
- Difficulty with planning and carrying out tasks
- Apathy
- Depression
- Substance misuse
- Emotional instability
- Trouble walking
- Balance problems
- Gradual loss of movement control
- Suicidal thoughts
With CTE, these symptoms don’t develop right after a single head injury. Instead, someone who has sustained multiple brain injuries may begin to experience these symptoms years later. That’s why CTE is so hard to diagnose.
CTE Brain Injury and Your Legal Options
If your loved one suffered catastrophic injuries to their head that led to the development of CTE, it may be possible to file a personal injury claim. To succeed in this claim, you will need to demonstrate that another party owed your loved one a duty of care that they failed to uphold, resulting in the brain injuries that then caused CTE.
Because CTE is degenerative and often develops slowly, it’s very difficult to prove that another party’s actions were to blame for the condition. You will need assistance from an experienced attorney who knows how to connect the defendant’s conduct to what your loved one has suffered.
If your loved one has passed away because of CTE, you may be able to seek justice and support your family financially with a wrongful death claim. In Alabama, the deceased’s personal representative is the only person allowed to begin this action, but they will do so on behalf of the family.
Available Damages in CTE Claims
Filing a CTE lawsuit involves asking for damages. This is money that addresses the medical expenses that the injured person incurred, including any future care they will need.
The damages can include lost wages, too, as well as the injured person’s loss of earning potential as the condition progresses and they’re no longer able to remain employed. In the event of their death, funeral expenses can be included in the damages.
Non-economic damages are available, as well. These compensate an injured person and their family for their pain, suffering, and inability to live their lives as they used to.
Contact Our Birmingham Brain Injury Attorneys at Belt, Bruner & Barnett Personal Injury Lawyers for Help Today
Although CTE is not curable, specialized care can make a difference in the quality of an injured person’s life. If a loved one has developed CTE as a result of the negligent or wrongful conduct of a business or person, filing a personal injury claim may be the best way to protect their future.
The Birmingham brain injury lawyers at Belt, Bruner & Barnett Personal Injury Lawyers understand the complexity of traumatic brain injury cases and the challenges families face when pursuing compensation for CTE. Call our office today to schedule a free consultation and learn how we can help protect your family’s rights.
Contact an experienced brain injury lawyer at Belt, Bruner & Barnett Personal Injury Lawyers to schedule a free initial consultation today.
We serve Shelby County, Madison County, Montgomery County in Alabama, and its surrounding areas. We are located in Birmingham, Huntsville & Montgomery.
Belt, Bruner & Barnett Personal Injury Lawyers – Birmingham Office
880 Montclair Road, Ste 300,
Birmingham, AL 35213
(205) 973-6417
Belt, Bruner & Barnett Personal Injury Lawyers – Huntsville Office
116 Jefferson St. Suite 207
Huntsville, AL, 35801
(256) 781-9242
Or find us with our GeoCoordinates: 34.73159361945047, -86.58690898412395
Belt, Bruner & Barnett Personal Injury Lawyers – Montgomery Office
7 Clayton St, Suite 200,
Montgomery, AL 36104
(334) 518-6098
Or find us with our GeoCoordinates: 32.373594220209505, -86.3092041262694