A serious traumatic brain injury (TBI) can change more than your health. Your career may change, too. It can affect the work you are able to do, the hours you can maintain and the income your household depends on. Even if you return to work, lasting symptoms may make it harder to perform the same duties or continue in the same career.
TBI symptoms can make familiar work difficult
The effects of a TBI vary from person to person. Depending on the injury, you may experience problems that interfere with your job, including:
- Memory problems that make routine tasks harder to complete
- Fatigue that limits how long you can work
- Concentration problems that make detailed instructions harder to process
- Headaches or balance problems that affect job performance
These limitations can be especially significant if your work requires physical stamina, quick decisions, multitasking or close attention to detail.
A TBI can reduce your future earning capacity
Texas law distinguishes between lost wages and loss of earning capacity. Lost wages generally address income you have already missed. Loss of earning capacity focuses on whether the injury has reduced your ability to earn money in the future.
Your past earnings, work history and injury-related limitations can help show how the TBI has affected your ability to earn money. Medical professionals may explain your lasting limitations, while vocational experts may assess how those limitations affect the work you can perform.
Returning to work does not necessarily mean your earning capacity is unchanged, especially if you reduce your hours, accept different duties or move into lower-paying work.
Support may help you return to work
If your disability affects your employment, you may qualify for vocational rehabilitation services through the Texas Workforce Commission. Depending on your needs, services can include job training, vocational assessments, job placement or assistive technology.
Consider the long-term impact on your career
A serious traumatic brain injury can affect your income and career long after the initial recovery period. You do not have to sort through those financial and legal questions on your own. An attorney can help you understand how Texas law treats future earning losses and what information may matter when evaluating the full impact of your injury.