An Oklahoma City police officer, who is also a successful UFC featherweight fighter, suffered severe brain injuries in a Pottawatomie County car crash. According to a News9 report, the car crash occurred near Shawnee. Officials say he was off duty and waiting at a red light when another vehicle crashed into the back of his vehicle. He was rushed to the hospital in critical condition and underwent brain surgery the next night. A September 18 report in MMAFighting.com states that he is now off sedation medication and responding to verbal cues.
Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are tragically common in the United States. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), at least 1.7 million TBIs occur each year nationwide. TBIs are a contributing factor in nearly a third of all injury- related deaths. In the year 2006, there were 3,416 traumatic brain injury hospitalizations and 883 TBI-related fatalities in Oklahoma.
Surviving victims of TBI may experience a number of life-changing symptoms. Short- or long-term symptoms of TBI include, but are not limited to:
- Emotional issues: It is common for victims to experience depression, aggressiveness, personality changes and anxiety.
- Cognitive functions: Many victims of TBI have issues with focus and memory.
- Sensory abilities: A brain injury can affect the victim’s hearing, perception and vision.
- Motor functions: Some victims of TBI experience weakness in their extremities as well as impaired coordination and balance.
Head injuries can be sustained through serious car accidents. They often result in expensive medical bills, costly rehabilitation services, lost wages, loss of earning potential and considerable pain and suffering. Compensation may be available for all of these losses if the injuries resulted from the negligence of someone other than the victim.
The experienced Oklahoma auto accident attorneys at the Maples Law Firm have a long history of handling Oklahoma car accident claims. We provide no-cost consultations at (405) 705-5050 to anyone who has sustained a head injury in an Oklahoma car crash.
