Brain Injury Information Center
Brain Injury Signs & Symptoms
More than 1.7 million people suffer a traumatic brain injury (TBI) every year in the United States. Whether caused by falling objects, vehicle accidents, falls, or other forms of blunt force trauma, victims of closed-head injuries or skull fractures face life-changing repercussions. Additionally, infections, illnesses, near-drowning incidents, or other traumatic events resulting in neurological injuries can have long-term effects on brain function. Tragically, many catastrophic injuries stem from preventable accidents.
Even if you think your injuries are not serious, it can take days or even weeks for them to fully manifest. Perhaps you've played sports and have been conditioned to view injuries such as concussions as normal (they are not). Any amount of head trauma requires immediate medical attention from a professional.
Do not ignore symptoms of brain injury such as:
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Nausea or vomiting
- Slurred speech
- Seizures
- Loss of consciousness or coma
Brain injuries can also cause neurological issues, which can appear as cognitive disorders such as:
- Insomnia
- Amnesia
- Impaired speech
- Impaired motor skills
- Agitation or panic disorders
- Lethargy
Whatever the accident, ensure you receive medical care to address any possible internal injuries. Especially if you notice any of the above symptoms, seek a medical professional as soon as possible for diagnosis and treatment. The sooner you receive care and therapy, the more likely and quicker the recovery may be.
Common Causes of Brain Injuries in Midland, Texas
The Midland-Odessa area is the epicenter of high-stakes industries where hard hats are a must and danger lurks in every rig and roadway. Here are the local accident scenarios that most often lead to traumatic brain injuries:
Oilfield Accidents & Rig Falls
When drilling platforms, derricks, or well sites malfunction, workers can suffer devastating TBIs and skull fractures. Falls from height are a significant risk in the Permian Basin, often due to unguarded platforms or faulty scaffolding.
Oilfield Trucking & Transportation Incidents
Crews traverse winding rural routes and busy highways like I-20, where rollover and multi-vehicle collisions can result in brain injuries, spinal damage, and other serious trauma.
Construction & Industrial Site Hazards
Carrying heavy machinery or dealing with malfunctioning blowout preventers and high-pressure lines without proper equipment or training can lead to explosive impact and blunt trauma TBIs.
Vehicle Collisions
Traumatic brain injuries from car accidents, truck accidents, and motorcycle crashes on regional roads are among the top causes of brain injury in West Texas.
Understanding these local risk zones—oilfields, construction sites, agricultural zones, and highways—is a key part of Arnold & Itkin’s unique Midland-area expertise. We know how these accidents unfold and exactly what evidence to collect to fight for your full compensation.
Texas Laws That Apply to Midland Brain Injury Lawsuits
To fight brain injury cases in Midland or Odessa, you need a legal team fluent in Texas-specific law. This includes the two-year statute of limitations that applies to most personal injury cases, meaning you have two years from the date of injury—or the date you discover the injury—to file a lawsuit, per Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.003. The same two-year deadline applies to wrongful death actions for fatal brain injuries. If a brain injury case is against a city, county, or other government entity, however, you may have as little as 6 months to file under the Texas Tort Claims Act. Missing this window can end your case before it begins.
If the injury wasn’t immediately detectable—common with TBIs—the clock begins when you reasonably should have known about it. That exception often applies in head trauma cases.
Navigating these rules is essential—but a mishandled deadline or a miscalculated fault assessment can derail your recovery. That’s why Midland families trust Arnold & Itkin to honor every legal detail while they heal and rebuild.
Why Brain Injury Cases Need Skilled Legal Counsel
Brain injury cases are complex, and Midland-area victims deserve more than a generalist attorney. When everything is on the line, it takes a legal team that has the know-how and resources to build a strong case that represents the full extent of your injuries and the ongoing (often permanent) impact they will have on your life.
In taking on cases for brain injury survivors and families, we consider:
- The unpredictable, long-term effects. Unlike visible injuries, TBI symptoms can appear slowly: memory lapses, mood swings, concentration issues—some only surface weeks or months later.
- Rising future-care costs. Full recovery often requires long-term therapy—physical therapy, neuropsych evaluations, speech pathologists, home care—costs that can snowball dramatically.
- Attempts to downplay the severity of brain injuries. Without experts, insurers may argue that cognitive symptoms are “minor” or unrelated. You need neurologists, vocational experts, and economists on your side.
Bottom line: TBI cases take preparation, patience, and unwavering advocacy. At Arnold & Itkin, we back your claim with medical expertise, demand full liability, and fight for the full justice and recovery you deserve.
How We've Helped Brain Injury Survivors
In representing brain injury survivors across the United States, our attorneys have secured record results that have helped our clients receive the lifelong care and support they deserve. One of our biggest brain injury cases was filed against Union Pacific on behalf of a young woman who was struck by a train. Our client suffered catastrophic injuries, including the loss of her leg and multiple fingers, as well as severe brain damage. We fought hard to prove that the train operators could have avoided hitting her if they had taken the proper steps.
Our team was able to secure a massive $557 million jury verdict for our client.
Our other brain injury case results include:
- $117 million for a pregnant woman who suffered catastrophic brain and spinal injuries while she was being transported by an ambulance that crashed into the back of a sugar cane truck.
- $12.4 million jury verdict for a worker who was knocked unconscious and suffered a traumatic brain injury after he was struck by a UPS truck that was making a delivery to his job site.
- $9.5 million for an injured oilfield crew member who was working in West Texas. He suffered traumatic brain injuries after a pipe blew off a compressor unit and struck him in the head.
- $8.2 million for a man from Texas who experienced traumatic brain injuries and brachial plexus injuries after driving his ATV into a hole at a construction site. We overcame claims that he was drunk and trespassing at the time.
“The future from here on out looks a lot better. Arnold & Itkin means there's someone out there that will fight for you when something goes wrong. They won't ever say that there's nothing you can do.”
- Josh Langley, work accident survivor
Pursuing Compensation for Head Trauma & Traumatic Brain Injuries
At Arnold & Itkin, we ensure brain injury victims receive the full medical care they need. This goes beyond covering immediate hospital care and medications. It involves helping victims and their families get compensation for future, ongoing costs, such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, and other specialized needs, such as neuropsychologists, social workers, and rehabilitation nurses. Our local TBI attorneys in Midland work to ensure you can obtain the expert care you need without worrying about the cost.
Our Midland brain injury lawyers assist clients nationwide and have won more than $20 billion on their behalf. We know how to achieve results that set up our clients for better lives. We're ready to hear your story.
Call (888) 493-1629 today to request your free consultation. There's no upfront cost to hire our brain injury lawyers. We only get paid if you do!
