Tyler Gross | February 6, 2026 | Brain Injuries

What Is CTE?

Some of the most catastrophic injuries you can sustain in an accident are traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). These cause numerous complications, from cognitive function issues to the risk of death. One of the most severe traumatic brain conditions anyone can develop because of trauma is chronic traumatic encephalopathy. 

Keep reading to learn more about this serious injury, including what a CTE injury entails, how and why it develops, and potential legal options after one occurs. 

What Are Some Common Symptoms of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy?

Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is a brain disorder that occurs as a result of repeated head trauma. It causes degeneration of nerve cells in the brain, leading to their death. CTE is a progressive disease. A single brain injury does not typically trigger it; instead, it usually develops in people who have sustained multiple TBIs, like contact sport players. 

It’s not an easy condition to diagnose because the only way to truly know if someone has CTE is during an autopsy. The condition’s symptoms can also be difficult to spot. 

Symptoms of CTE can include:

  • Memory loss
  • Trouble thinking
  • Problems with planning or carrying out tasks
  • Depression
  • Substance misuse
  • Suicidal ideation
  • Emotional instability
  • Aggression
  • Impulsive behavior

Someone with CTE may also struggle to walk. They may lose their balance and display shaking and slow movements. Speaking could become difficult, too. Over time, they can develop motor neuron disease, which could make even swallowing and breathing difficult. 

Signs may appear years after head traumas that impacted the brain. This makes it a challenge to address the problem early. 

Why Does CTE Develop?

CTE doesn’t develop in everyone who has sustained multiple TBIs. In those who have suffered from this condition, scientists have discovered a buildup of a particular protein called tau around the brain’s blood vessels. Tau buildup occurs in people with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia, but the buildup found in those with CTE is different. 

When the brain experiences physical trauma, tau proteins (which help form neurons) detach, misfold, and accumulate. The buildup occurs around small blood vessels in the neocortex. These proteins start to spread to other cells, leading to dysfunction. 

If a loved one has developed CTE as a result of another party’s misconduct, it may be possible to begin a personal injury claim. These cases are particularly challenging because of the long time it takes for the condition to develop. It can be difficult to establish causation, which is one of the elements you must prove to win. 

When you file a personal injury claim, you have a chance to receive damages. Economic damages will address the medical expenses your loved one has incurred, as well as any future care they will need as the disease progresses. Their lost income will be part of the economic damages, too. They will not be able to work once the condition gets to a certain point. 

Non-economic damages are available, too. These can address your loved one’s loss of enjoyment of life as well as the pain and suffering they have sustained. Your loved one can also receive compensation if they are unable to offer support or love to their family. 

Contact Our Pensacola Brain Injury Attorneys at Gross & Schuster Injury Lawyers for a Free Consultation

Because of the many complexities these types of cases pose, it’s never a good idea to attempt them on your own. Hiring an attorney can increase your chances of winning the claim and helping your loved one get the support they will need for the rest of their lives. 

If you’ve been injured in an accident, please contact our experienced brain injury lawyers in Florida at Gross & Schuster Injury Lawyers to schedule a free consultation today. We have five convenient locations in Pensacola, Navarre, Crestview, Milton, and Mary Esther.

Gross & Schuster Injury Lawyers – Pensacola Office
803 N Palafox St
Pensacola, FL 32501
Phone: (850) 434-3333

Gross & Schuster Injury Lawyers – Navarre Office
9933 Navarre Pkwy
Navarre, FL 32566
Phone: (850) 757-2898

Gross & Schuster Injury Lawyers – Crestview Office
1501 S Ferdon Blvd
Crestview, FL 32536
Phone: (850) 407-7726

Gross & Schuster Injury Lawyers – Milton Office
6373 US-90
Milton, FL 32570
Phone: (850) 790-7790

Gross & Schuster Injury Lawyers – Mary Esther Office
151 Mary Esther Blvd Suite 103A
Mary Esther, FL 32569
Phone: (850) 809-0170