Kansas City Traumatic Brain Injury Lawyer

Kansas City Traumatic Brain Injury Attorney

A Kansas City Traumatic Brain Injury lawyer can assist the loved ones of an accident injury victim in seeking compensation.

Northland Injury Law has represented many families who have lost a loved one due to the negligence of someone else.

At NORTHLAND INJURY LAW, we are committed to helping those who are victims of Traumatic Brain injury. We have recovered millions of dollars for our injured clients. Located in the Northland of Kansas City, we have a combined 50 years of experience and provide legal services throughout Missouri. If our Traumatic Brain Injury Lawyer can help you, call us now for a FREE CONSULTATION at 816-400-4878 or send an email to: [email protected].

DON’T WAIT. GET COMPENSATED NOW! CLICK HERE.

Understanding Traumatic Brain Injuries and Their Signs and Symptoms

There has been a great deal of media attention lately on concussions and serious brain injuries suffered by professional football players, many of whom have endured years of brutal physical contact that may have included constant slaps to the head and bone-crushing tackles or blocks. Baseball catchers also routinely experience blows to the head from foul balls or home plate collisions, and some have seen promising careers end prematurely. But did you know that car accidents account for more head injuries than any other event? A free consultation with a Northland Injury Law brain injury lawyer in Kansas City may be able to help if any of the above or more applies to you.

While sports injuries are responsible for about 20% of traumatic brain injuries (TBI), car accidents cause approximately 28% of such injuries. It is not surprising since there are millions of motor vehicle accidents each year that result in injuries, many of which are head injuries. Many people are not initially aware that they have suffered a concussion, let alone a traumatic brain injury. There are, however, certain signs to be cognizant of following a car accident to see if you did suffer a concussion.

What is a Concussion?

A concussion is typically a mild brain injury where you suffer a blow to your head, resulting in some degree of confusion, dizziness, and other symptoms. At the moment of impact in a car accident injury, your brain is literally bounced around inside your head, where it can sustain tearing, bleeding, or bruising of nerve fibers.

There are three grades of concussions:

1. Grade 1: No loss of consciousness, but you may have some temporary amnesia for less than 30 minutes
2. Grade 2: You suffer a loss of consciousness and amnesia from 30 minutes to 24 hours
3. Grade 3: You lost consciousness for more than 5 minutes or suffered amnesia for more than 24 hours

In most cases, car accident victims make a complete recovery after a week or so; some concussions can be serious and life threatening. Always seek medical attention if you suffer any of the signs of a concussion. Any concussion has the potential to cause serious long-term harm, and this risk increases substantially if the victim does not receive prompt medical care, even if the concussion appears to be mild.

Signs of a Concussion from a Car Accident

Car accidents are a leading cause of concussions, and many people experience these brain injuries without immediately realizing it due to the adrenaline rush and emotional tension of the situation. It’s vital for everyone to know the warning signs of a concussion so they can seek appropriate medical care.

Here are 8 signs that your car accident injury gave you a concussion:

1. Loss of consciousness: This is the most obvious sign since the force involved in the collision was enough to cause you to lose consciousness from striking your head on the windshield, steering wheel, or other object. You might have been out for just a few seconds, but in any case, your brain has suffered trauma. Again, be aware that you do not have to lose consciousness to have suffered a concussion.
2. Dizziness and nausea: You feel nauseous, dizzy, feel sensitive to light, and may have vomited more than once. This should alert you that you have suffered a car accident concussion, though you did not necessarily pass out at any time.
3. Experience confusion and amnesia: You may not recall even hitting your head. You may not realize for several hours, or even a day or more, that you no longer recall certain things or are confused about the date, or cannot concentrate on the task at hand.
4. See stars or have ringing in your ears: Usually, this follows a blow to the head without and indicates mild trauma.
5. Mood changes: You or someone points out to you that you are more easily angered, are irritable, listless, or appear nervous or anxious for no discernible reason. You may also be depressed.
6. Sleep patterns are disturbed: This could mean you are sleeping more than usual, have problems falling asleep, or are sleeping less than normal.
7. Headaches: Headaches that worsen or will not go away and problems with balance or blurry vision.
8. Seizures: In more extreme cases, seizures may occur.

A car accident concussion can also result in a traumatic brain injury (“TBI”), a serious intracranial condition that can affect your cognitive abilities leading to a permanent life altering disability. TBI also accounts for one-third of all injury-related deaths in the US. If you or a loved one was involved in a car accident where a concussion or brain injury occurred, consult with a car accident brain injury lawyer about your legal options.

It is vital to remember that a concussion may appear to only cause minor symptoms at first, but symptoms may change and escalate over time. Many people who suffer concussions will be more vulnerable to future concussions, and it is possible for symptoms to appear months or even years following the initial injury. Concussions are capable of causing a wide range of complex and disruptive symptoms, from chronic headaches to sensory impairment and memory loss.

Other Types of Brain Injuries

While concussions are a very common type of brain injury, it is possible for a brain injury claim to pertain to other types of brain injuries. Examples include injuries from oxygen deprivation and open head wounds. Oxygen deprivation during childbirth could lead to a birth injury claim filed under Missouri’s medical malpractice laws, and if a victim was otherwise asphyxiated due to another party’s actions, they would have grounds for a civil suit against them.

Penetrating head wounds are medical emergencies, and many of these injuries are fatal without immediate treatment. These injuries may occur because of falling objects or intentional acts of violence, such as gunshot wounds. While it is possible for the victim of a penetrating head injury to survive, there is a very high risk of severe disability or death anytime the skull is physically ruptured and the brain tissue is damaged by a foreign object.

Filing a Personal Injury Claim for a Traumatic Brain Injury in Kansas City

Whether you suffered a traumatic brain injury in a car accident or from any other incident caused by another party, you have the right to seek accountability and compensation for your damages. You may be aiming for legal recourse on your own behalf or on behalf of an injured loved one, and in either situation, an experienced Kansas City brain injury lawyer can be an invaluable asset for your impending legal proceedings.

Your attorney can begin handling your case by helping you identify the party or parties responsible for causing the brain injury. One important detail to remember about personal injury claims is the state’s pure comparative fault rule. Under this rule, a plaintiff may still claim compensation for damages if they are partially liable for causing those damages, but they lose a percentage of their case award as a penalty.

If you have any concerns about bearing partial fault for the accident, consult your attorney, and they will explain what you can expect in terms of shared fault influencing your recovery. Proving fault in any personal injury claim typically requires proof that the defendant’s negligence or illegal misconduct directly caused the damages cited in the claim and that they did not occur from any other cause.

Damages You Can Recover in a Brain Injury Lawsuit

The main objective of your personal injury claim is to hold a defendant accountable for the harm they have caused and to recover compensation for your damages. You must prove the extent of your damages and establish causation, meaning the defendant is directly responsible for causing them. A successful personal injury suit in Kansas City can potentially yield repayment of your economic losses as well as compensation for pain and suffering.

Economic damages will vary from case to case and are generally straightforward and easy to prove with the right documentation. These are the direct financial losses resulting from the defendant’s actions. If they caused property damage in the incident, the victim also has the right to file a property damage claim, and their personal injury economic damages are likely to include medical expenses and lost income.

It is important for the plaintiff to remember they can claim compensation for immediate and future economic losses resulting from a defendant’s behavior. For example, you can not only claim compensation for all immediate medical care required for a brain injury but also the cost of any necessary ongoing rehabilitative treatments. Similarly, you can not only claim compensation for lost wages but also for the future income you can no longer earn.

Pain and suffering compensation is more subjective. You have the right to claim compensation for physical pain and psychological distress resulting from the defendant’s actions, and there is no set formula you need to use to calculate these damages. Due to the severity of a brain injury and the high chance of this injury causing permanent harm, the plaintiff’s pain and suffering compensation could form the bulk of their total case award.

It is possible for punitive damages to come into play and increase your total compensation if the defendant in your claim broke the law in causing the injury. For example, if you suffered a traumatic brain injury in a car accident caused by a drunk driver, they face criminal charges for intoxicated driving along with liability for your civil damages. Penalties for breaking the law in Missouri increase significantly when a defendant has harmed or killed someone.

Benefits of Hiring a Kansas City Brain Injury Lawyer

You may believe that your case is straightforward and that you can handle filing your claim on your own, but this is a mistake, and it is vital to know the value of having an experienced Kansas City brain injury lawyer represent you. If you tried to handle any personal injury claim without an attorney, you would be forced to contend with complex court procedures while also managing your medical needs.

Even if you managed to prove fault and succeed with your injury claim unassisted, you would be unlikely to secure the same amount of compensation as an experienced attorney could secure for you. Ultimately, you are significantly more likely to win your case and more likely to maximize your total recovery with an experienced attorney’s assistance.

When you choose Northland Injury Law to represent you in a brain injury claim, you have a dedicated legal advocate who will readily answer your questions and address your concerns through all stages of your case. Our firm has successfully represented many past clients in a wide range of complex personal injury cases, including those pertaining to brain injuries, and we can leverage all our professional experience to handle your case.

FAQs

Are Traumatic Brain Injuries Permanent?

Traumatic brain injuries can have permanent effects. One of the most difficult aspects of their treatment is the unpredictability of these injuries. Some victims will display immediately noticeable symptoms that can evolve over time, while other symptoms may worsen or improve unexpectedly. Any brain injury will leave the victim more susceptible to future brain injuries, and some such injuries have delayed effects that do not appear for months or years.

How Do I Prove Liability for a Traumatic Brain Injury?

You can prove liability for a traumatic brain injury by effectively leveraging evidence and witness testimony. Depending on how your accident happened, you may have multiple forms of evidence available that can help accurately identify the party or parties responsible for the injury. An experienced Kansas City brain injury lawyer can help gather the evidence that will form the foundation of your case.

How Much Compensation Can I Claim for a Traumatic Brain Injury?

The amount of compensation you can claim for your traumatic brain injury will depend on multiple factors. A personal injury suit could enable you to recover compensation or medical expenses, lost income, property damage, and pain and suffering you experienced because of the defendant’s actions. You will also have the right to seek compensation for projected future damages you may not be able to calculate on your own.

How Soon Should I Hire an Attorney After an Injury?

You should hire an attorney as quickly as possible after an injury. This ensures that your legal representative can devote the maximum time and resources to handling your claim, and it will also help you to secure the evidence necessary for your case as quickly as possible. The victim of a brain injury is likely to need immediate medical care, but as soon as they stabilize, they should seek legal counsel.

Why Do I Need a Kansas City Brain Injury Lawyer?

You need a Kansas City brain injury lawyer because it is crucial to maximize the compensation you obtain for this type of injury, and you are far more likely to succeed with your case if you have trustworthy legal representation on your side. The right attorney can help build the foundation of your claim, uncover all your claimable damages, and handle your case proceedings for you so you can focus on recovery with peace of mind.

An experienced Kansas City brain injury lawyer can be an invaluable asset to your recovery efforts, and the faster you connect with an attorney, the more likely you will be to succeed with your case. Our firm has the resources and experience necessary to resolve the most challenging personal injury cases, including those pertaining to traumatic brain injuries. Call a brain injury lawyer at Northland Injury Law today at 816-400-4878 for a FREE Consultation.