Mani Ellis & Layne Accident & Injury Lawyers | August 24, 2026 | Brain Injuries
Suffering a brain injury can carry significant health risks, even with “mild” injuries like concussions. One of the most severe types of harm that a loved one can develop as a result of repeated head trauma is chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). It’s a life-altering condition that typically requires ongoing care if it is suspected. Here’s what you should know about CTE.
Understanding Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy
Chronic traumatic encephalopathy is a brain condition that is presumed to occur after suffering many brain injuries. Repeated brain trauma can lead to the buildup of an abnormal protein called tau, which kills brain cells over time.
This condition is perhaps most common among sports players and military service members. However, those who have been victims of physical abuse can develop it, too.
Currently, there is no diagnostic test that can state without a doubt if someone has CTE. Only an autopsy can reveal whether the diagnosis was correct. Many symptoms are connected to this catastrophic injury, however.
Symptoms of CTE include:
- Short-term memory loss
- Mood swings
- Personality changes
- Depression
- Trouble planning
- Confusion
- Aggression
- Irritability
- Impulsivity
As the condition gets worse, speech problems can develop. Tremors can make movement very difficult, and dementia could make managing daily tasks impossible.
Treating CTE
There is not yet a definitive cure for CTE. One of the challenges that this condition creates is that the symptoms don’t tend to make themselves obvious very early in the process. This can mean the person can unknowingly continue to put themselves at risk of suffering further head trauma.
Once the symptoms do begin, it’s helpful for the person to receive occupational therapy to learn how to manage daily tasks. If your loved one suffers from seizures, likely because of CTE, medications may be needed to manage these symptoms.
Obtaining Compensation for a Loved One With a Traumatic Brain Injury in Ohio
If a loved one suffered head trauma because of another party’s misconduct, filing a personal injury claim could help them recover their losses. A personal injury claim is a civil process that requires proving that the other party owed your loved one a duty of care that they breached.
In Ohio, if your loved one suffered compensable losses as a direct result of that breach, you could be eligible to file a claim. Because of the severity of these injuries, however, it’s important to file with the assistance of an attorney. With a lawyer by your side, you can clearly present the facts of the case, prove liability, and fight for compensation.
An essential aspect of what your attorney does is calculating the economic and non-economic damages your loved one needs. For example, the settlement or award must cover the medical care the person will need for the rest of their life, as well as the financial support that can compensate them for not being able to work as the condition progresses.
Your loved one’s pain and suffering, as well as their loss of enjoyment of life, should be addressed, too. An attorney can help you put a number on those losses.
Contact the Ohio Personal Injury Lawyers at Mani Ellis & Layne Accident & Injury Lawyers for a Free Consultation
As you begin the process of fighting for your loved one’s rights, it’s crucial to act quickly to hire an attorney with experience in CTE cases. Getting an official diagnosis of CTE for your loved one can be a challenge, and going through the process alone can mean walking away with a smaller settlement.
An experienced lawyer can help you put together a stronger claim to demonstrate that negligence or wrongful conduct caused your loved one’s injury and subsequent death. For more information, please contact an experienced lawyer at Mani Ellis & Layne Accident & Injury Lawyers to schedule a free initial consultation today.
We proudly serve clients throughout Franklin County from our Columbus, OH, office and throughout Kanawha County from our Charleston, WV, office.
Mani Ellis & Layne Accident & Injury Lawyers – Columbus, OH Office
20 E Broad St Suite 1000, Columbus, OH 43215
(614) 587-8423
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Mani Ellis & Layne Accident & Injury Lawyers – Charleston, WV Office
10 Hale St Suite 501, Charleston, WV 25301
(304) 720-1000
Find us with our GeoCoordinates: 38.348382927211865, -81.635109451865
About the Author
Jon Mani is a founding partner and personal injury attorney at Mani Ellis & Layne Accident & Injury Lawyers. With over 20 years of experience representing injured individuals in West Virginia and Ohio, Jon focuses on complex cases involving car accidents, truck accidents, nursing home abuse, catastrophic injuries, medical malpractice, and wrongful death. He is known for his strategic, hands-on approach to litigation and has held leadership roles within the legal community, including serving as President of the West Virginia Association for Justice. Click here to see some of the firm’s most notable case results.
Locations: Charleston, WV, and Columbus, OH
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