Traumatic Brain Injury Lawyers in Kansas City, MO, Helping You Seek Justice for Catastrophic Injuries

Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are some of the most severe injuries that can affect a person after an accident. While children and the elderly are at heightened risk for such harm, anyone can fall victim to a traumatic brain injury. All it takes is one severe blow to the head to cause serious damage, and in some cases, an individual may not even initially realize they’ve been harmed. Unfortunately, the detrimental outcomes are often similar regardless of the specific circumstances of a case. If you or a loved one were involved in an accident where your head was injured, a traumatic brain injury lawyer in Kansas City may be able to help.

While having an experienced personal injury attorney on your side won’t make an injury magically disappear, it will give you the opportunity to recover compensation for the losses you’ve suffered. The severity of traumatic brain injuries will vary based on the seriousness of your accident, but you should never assume that your injury doesn’t qualify for a personal injury claim. At Mohlman Gurney Injury Law, our experienced Kansas City traumatic brain injury attorneys will provide a free consultation to all potential clients. This will give you a better understanding of who’s liable for your accident and how to hold them accountable.

What Is a Traumatic Brain Injury?

The definition of a traumatic brain injury, as provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is “a disruption in the normal function of the brain that can be caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head, or penetrating head injury.” Hundreds of thousands of Americans are hospitalized each year after suffering a serious brain injury. In one recent year, about 64,000 U.S. citizens died from such injuries. Fortunately, most TBIs are not this severe. In fact, even mild concussions are considered a type of traumatic brain injury. When accident victims suffer a concussion, doctors typically recommend they just stay home to recover.

As any brain injury attorney can attest, however, not everyone is so lucky. In addition to the tens of thousands who die from TBIs every year, many others must seek continuing treatment, endure long-term hospital stays, undergo surgery, and even live with permanent disabilities. Additionally, such an injury can predispose an individual to serious problems later in life. If such considerations aren’t accounted for when discussing settlement offers or seeking compensation in court, a person and their family could be left facing significant hurdles on their own. Brain injury cases are complex, so don’t hesitate to speak with an attorney.

What are the Most Common Causes of Traumatic Brain Injuries?

Kansas City personal injury attorneys have seen just about every accident you could imagine. Unfortunately, many of these can lead to traumatic brain injuries. Even a seemingly minor slip and fall that results in no broken bones or other physical harm can cause a head injury that affects the brain. This is why you should visit a medical professional after an accident—particularly if your head was struck, struck something else, or was injured in any other way. You’ll find that your risk of TBI is most significant after the following events:

• Car accidents
• Falls
• Violent assaults
• Large truck accidents
• Medical malpractice
• Electrical shock injuries
• Workplace accidents

Essentially, any scenario which puts an individual at risk of a serious head injury could cause further lasting damage due to a traumatic brain injury. Recovery from such severe damage is often long and arduous and can lead to months of hospital bills and follow-up care. In extreme situations, the injured person may be disabled for the rest of their life and require around-the-clock care. In more tragic instances, an accident can even lead to a wrongful death case.

Who’s Liable for Traumatic Brain Injuries?

Missouri is an at-fault state in terms of personal liability. This means that liability is assigned to the individual found legally responsible for an accident. However, Missouri is also a comparative negligence state. That means liability is shared among everyone determined to be at fault. This equates to the possibility that multiple parties will be liable for your brain injury claim. For instance, what if a loved one suffered major brain injuries when an overserved bar patron gets behind the wheel and crashed into them? In this situation, the reckless driver would certainly be liable—but the bar that overserved them may also be at-fault.

Of course, the chance also exists that victims in brain injury cases may also hold some responsibility for their injury. For instance, imagine the hypothetical drunk-driving victim discussed above who was speeding when the accident occurred. In such a situation, the jury may decide that the victim was 10% at fault for their own accident. If this were to occur, the eventual court award would be reduced by 10%. This would still leave plenty of potential reimbursement for a brain injury victim, so don’t simply assume that you can’t recover compensation because you played a role in your accident.

The best thing you can do in such a situation is to contact a traumatic brain injury attorney in Kansas City. An experienced legal professional can identify all liable parties—even those you don’t realize are at fault—and hold them accountable. Sometimes this can be done via settlement negotiations with an insurance company, but just in case of litigation is necessary, you should have an experienced trial lawyer like those on the Mohlman Gurney Injury Law legal team. Between lost wages, pain and suffering, medical expenses, and emotional distress, you’ve got a lot on your plate. Let a traumatic brain injury attorney shoulder some of these burdens.

Should I Contact an Attorney Following a Head Injury?

We’ve already discussed how an attorney will be able to carefully work with you to determine who is at fault for your accident and subsequent injuries. They can also help determine the level of compensation you may be entitled to. Still, many individuals who suffer traumatic brain injuries question whether they need an attorney at all. After all, Missouri doesn’t require a person to have legal representation in court. Also, there’s a good chance that a seemingly friendly insurance company adjuster called and told you that they can offer a fair settlement without you having to contact a lawyer.

Unfortunately, trying to handle such complex legal matters on your own can prove risky. Insurers often take advantage of brain injury victims who they know need quick money to cover their losses. This is why they’ll frequently offer a settlement that just covers a victim’s initial medical expenses. This helps them avoid a traumatic brain injury lawsuit while also occasionally paying pennies on the dollar of what a TBI is really worth. Adjusters will likely also try to direct the conversation in a manner that leads you to admit some level of fault. In doing so, they can reduce the compensation you’re eligible for even if you go to court.

An experienced personal injury lawyer can help you avoid such pitfalls. They can also ensure you’re not going up against insurance company lawyers on your own if your Kansas City brain injury case ends up in court. When you suffer a head injury, you should seek medical attention immediately. Once you’ve done this, though, your next call should be to a legal professional. TBIs can cause life-altering injuries, so it’s important that you fully understand your situation before making any major decisions. At Mohlman Gurney Injury Law, our Kansas City personal injury lawyers can assist with this process.

Traumatic Brain Injury Lawyers in Kansas City can Help

Traumatic brain injuries can alter a person’s life forever. While some victims’ lives may be left unchanged after suffering minor concussions, those who face significant injuries could face continuing rehabilitation therapy, numerous surgeries, and life-long disabilities. If you or a loved one suffered such a personal injury, you may feel lost about what you should do next. Fortunately, there are legal professionals who can hold liable parties accountable for your serious brain injury. Even if you’re unsure whether you have a valid case, speaking with an experienced personal injury attorney in Kansas City can make all the difference.

At Mohlman Gurney Injury Law, our team of legal professionals has years of experience handling personal injury claims—including those related to accidents that cause traumatic brain injuries. Whether you’re on the streets of Kansas City or enjoying yourself elsewhere, there are countless risks that could lead to devastating injuries. When such risks result in losses for you or a loved one, it’s important that the at-fault party be held accountable for their actions. Contact us today by calling (816) 648-6000 to schedule a free consultation at Mohlman Gurney Injury Law. With traumatic brain injury lawyers in Kansas City on your side, you’ll have a better chance of securing fair compensation.