After a traumatic brain injury (TBI), you can look fine to everyone around you and still feel off. You might forget a conversation you had this morning, come home from a normal workday completely drained, or find that paying bills or cooking dinner takes far more effort than it used to.
These problems are real, and they are common after a head injury. Below, we cover how a TBI can affect memory, work, and everyday life, and what Massachusetts law says when someone else’s carelessness caused the injury. To learn more about how we help, visit our traumatic brain injury page.
⚡ Quick Answer: What Can a Traumatic Brain Injury Affect?
A traumatic brain injury can affect your memory, focus, mood, sleep, and energy. That can make it harder to do your job and handle everyday tasks. Even a mild TBI, often called a concussion, can cause these problems. Symptoms are different for everyone, and they don’t always show up right away.
What Is a Traumatic Brain Injury?
A TBI is an injury to the brain caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head, or by something that penetrates the skull. Car crashes, falls, and workplace accidents are common causes. If you were hurt on the job, the state’s Injured Worker’s Guide to Workers’ Compensation explains the benefits available to you. TBIs range from mild (a concussion) to severe, and the effects depend a lot on how serious the injury is.
Can a Traumatic Brain Injury Affect Your Memory?
Yes. Trouble with memory is one of the most common effects of a TBI, even a mild one. According to the CDC, a concussion can cause problems with short-term or long-term memory, along with trouble paying attention, thinking clearly, and sleeping, and changes in mood.
Memory problems tend to show up in small moments, like:
- Forgetting an appointment
- Losing track of instructions
- Asking the same question twice
- Struggling to remember what was said in a meeting
Focus and processing speed often suffer too. Someone who used to juggle five things at once may find that one interruption makes it tough to finish a single task. That can shake your confidence, especially when coworkers and family can’t see anything wrong.
What Other Symptoms Can a TBI Cause?
Memory problems often come with other symptoms. Depending on the injury, people may also deal with:
- Headaches
- Constant tiredness (fatigue)
- Trouble sleeping
- Mood changes, like irritability, anxiety, or feeling down
- Trouble concentrating or thinking clearly
Moderate or severe injuries can bring bigger, longer-lasting changes to learning, communication, behavior, and independence. See the CDC’s page on the potential effects of moderate or severe TBI.
Can You Go Back to Work After a Brain Injury?
📓 Bottom Line
Many people do return to work after a TBI, sometimes on a lighter schedule or with changes to their duties. The right timing depends on your symptoms and your doctor’s advice. If the injury limits what you can do, Massachusetts and federal law may require your employer to provide reasonable accommodations.
Often, yes, but it depends on your symptoms and what your doctor says. Some people ease back in with a lighter schedule or extra support. If your injury limits what you can do on the job, you may have a right to reasonable accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act and Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 151B, § 4(16). Others, especially those with lasting disability, can’t return to their old job. If you can’t work at all, you may qualify for Social Security disability benefits. The CDC advises that return-to-work decisions should be guided by your symptoms and a clinician’s assessment.
Many people first notice the effects of a brain injury at work, because most jobs depend on skills a TBI can weaken:
- Staying focused for long stretches
- Making quick decisions
- Remembering details and instructions
- Communicating clearly with coworkers and customers
- Handling a loud or busy workplace
Headaches, poor sleep, and fatigue make a full schedule even harder, including for people who are eager to get back. Talk to your doctor before you return to work.
How Can a TBI Affect Everyday Life?
A TBI can also make ordinary tasks at home harder, such as:
- Keeping track of bills and appointments
- Shopping and cooking
- Driving
- Helping your kids with homework
- Making and keeping plans with friends
Changes in sleep and mood can also strain your relationships. You may need reminders, rest breaks, treatment, or help from family to get through the day. Massachusetts also offers community-based services and family support through its Statewide Head Injury Program.
Needing this kind of help early in recovery is not a sign that the changes are permanent. Keep up with follow-up care so your doctors can track your progress.
Does a TBI Get Better?
Many people improve, but recovery is different for everyone. According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, most people recover fully from a first concussion within a few weeks, but recovery tends to be slower after repeat concussions, and older adults are more likely to have lasting symptoms.
What Does Massachusetts Law Say If Someone Else Caused Your TBI?
📌 Key Rules
If someone else’s negligence caused your TBI, you may be able to recover medical costs, future care, lost income, and pain and suffering. Massachusetts reduces your compensation if you were partly at fault, but you can’t recover if you were more at fault than the other side. Most claims must be filed within three years.
If your TBI happened because of someone else’s negligence, you may be able to bring a personal-injury claim. What you can recover depends on the evidence, but it can include:
- Medical expenses
- Future care you’re reasonably expected to need
- Lost income or lost earning ability
- Pain and suffering
Even if you have gone back to work, the injury may still have affected your daily life and your ability to earn. Two other Massachusetts rules also matter:
- Shared fault. Being partly at fault doesn’t automatically end your claim in Massachusetts. Your compensation is reduced by your share of the blame, but you can’t recover if you were more at fault than the people you’re making the claim against. See Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 231, § 85. To learn how fault is proven, read our guide to establishing negligence in Boston personal injury cases.
- Filing deadline. The general deadline for a Massachusetts personal-injury case is three years after the claim accrues. See Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 260, § 2A. Exceptions can apply, so confirm your deadline early.
How Can You Show What a TBI Has Done to Your Life?
Because a TBI is hard to see from the outside, good documentation is important. Useful records include:
- Medical records and your doctor’s treatment recommendations
- Your work or education history, plus any changes in your duties or hours
- A simple daily journal of memory slips, headaches, and things you can’t do like you used to
- Observations from family, friends, and coworkers who knew you before and after the injury
Your doctors can also help identify which problems come from the injury and which have other causes. Under Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 233, § 79G, properly certified medical bills and records can be used as evidence of your treatment and its cost. If your case goes to court, the other side can also ask the judge to order a physical or mental examination under Mass. R. Civ. P. 35.
When Should You Talk to a Massachusetts TBI Lawyer?
Consider speaking with a lawyer if:
- Your injury came from a car crash, a pedestrian accident, a motorcycle or bike crash, a fall, or another accident that wasn’t your fault
- You’re having trouble with memory, focus, or work
- You’ve missed work or lost income
- An insurance company is asking for a recorded statement or offering a quick settlement (see our car accident FAQ)
- You’re not sure who is responsible or how long you have to file
A Massachusetts personal injury attorney can review your medical records, gather evidence, deal with the insurance company, and document every way the injury has affected your work and home life.
Next Steps After a Brain Injury
A brain scan or diagnosis rarely shows the full effect of a TBI. What matters is how the injury has changed what you can do at work, at home, and with the people close to you. Writing those changes down helps your doctors plan treatment and helps show the full impact of the injury in a legal claim.
If you or someone you love has a brain injury, get medical care, follow your treatment plan, keep good records, and know your rights.
Disclaimer: This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. The outcome of any bicycle accident claim depends on the specific facts of your case, available insurance coverage, applicable defenses, and the quality of evidence. Please consult a qualified Massachusetts personal injury attorney for advice specific to your situation.
