Compassionate Kansas City Traumatic Brain Injury Attorney Ready to Help You
Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) can change an individual’s life permanently. While there are many levels of traumatic brain injury, severe levels can leave you struggling with day-to-day living for a very long time. Communicating with others, remembering things, learning new skills, and even reading and writing can become difficult. Many people with traumatic brain injuries have dramatic changes in their basic personality, acting in ways they would never have acted prior to the accident. Depression, anxiety, chronic pain, fatigue, insomnia, and many more disturbing symptoms can all be a part of the aftermath of a traumatic brain injury. Should you find yourself in such an untenable situation, you need a strong, experienced advocate in your corner who will work hard on your behalf to help you get the treatment and settlement you need and deserve. A Kansas City traumatic brain injury attorney from Finney Injury Law understands what you are going through—and what you need. Many of our clients have suffered a traumatic brain injury and we have developed a broad network of medical experts who can positively impact your future.
An injury-causing accident can leave you unable to work, facing mounting medical bills, and wondering whether your life will ever be the same again. A traumatic brain injury multiplies those feelings exponentially. Finney Injury Law has a long history of attaining favorable settlements and positive trial outcomes. When another person or entity is responsible for your traumatic brain injury, they should be held accountable. Attorneys Chris Finney and Alex Ledbetter will help you do just that, providing unparalleled experience and compassion.
Overview of Traumatic Brain Injuries
Traumatic brain injuries occur when the brain experiences a traumatic blow or violent jolt. A TBI can be considered “closed” or “open.” An open traumatic brain injury results from a blow by a sharp object or a bullet wound that pierces the skull, exposing the brain tissue. A closed brain injury occurs when the brain receives a jolt that shakes the brain within the skull, while the skull remains intact. Brain injuries commonly occur from falls from a height, slip-and-fall accidents, and automobile accidents. A traumatic brain injury may or may not involve a loss of consciousness, however the longer the loss of consciousness, the more severe the brain injury likely is.
According to the CDC, about 1.7 million people experience a TBI yearly, with about 64,000 deaths related to traumatic brain injuries. About a third of all those who receive a traumatic brain injury are adults 75 and older. Those over 60 have the highest rate of TBI-related hospitalizations and deaths. Adolescents and young adults between the ages of 15 and 24, military members, and those incarcerated are at an increased risk of traumatic brain injury. Statistically, males are hospitalized twice as often for TBI-related issues and are three times more likely to die from a traumatic brain injury. In domestic violence situations, women are much more likely to experience a TBI because of their partner’s violence. In fact, up to 94 percent of the injuries received by women from domestic incidents are to the head and neck areas.
More than half of all those who receive a traumatic brain injury are moderately or severely disabled, and about 55 percent of those who were employed at the time of their accident are unable to work after their brain injury. About one-third of those who receive a traumatic brain injury must have help from others for normal, everyday activities, and 29 percent report being unsatisfied with their life. Because a traumatic brain injury can alter a person’s basic personality, making them more susceptible to depression and anxiety, about 29 percent of those who suffer a traumatic brain injury use alcohol and drugs to cope. A traumatic brain injury certainly affects the injury victim, but it also affects their entire family.
What Are the Classifications of a Traumatic Brain Injury?
Aside from open and closed traumatic brain injuries, TBIs can be divided into primary and secondary types. Those with a primary brain injury experience the full force of their injury at the time of the accident. Secondary brain injuries can progress over time. The initial symptoms of the brain injury may alter, worsen, or intensify hours or days following the accident. There are essentially eight types of traumatic brain injuries including:
- Concussions are the most common type of TBI, and while once considered relatively benign, doctors now take concussions much more seriously as they can, in some instances, cause lifelong issues.
- Contusions are bruises on the brain that usually heal on their own. If a hematoma develops, surgery may be necessary.
- Second-impact syndrome injuries
- Penetrating brain injuries are often from gunshot wounds; those with a penetrating brain injury are much more likely to develop seizures and epilepsy.
- Diffuse axonal injuries are the most severe type of traumatic brain injury, occurring when the brain is shaken or twisted inside the skull.
- Intracranial hematomas
- Coup-contrecoup brain injuries occur when the person’s head slams against a fixed object, sending the brain forward until it collides with hard skull bones, then rebounding backward, causing a second impact.
- Brain hemorrhages cause uncontrolled bleeding on the surface of the brain or in the brain itself. An epidural hematoma occurs when blood collects between the skull and the brain. A subdural hematoma occurs when blood collects under the thin layer surrounding the brain, and an intracerebral hematoma refers to the collection of blood within the brain itself.
The type of brain injury can vary greatly in symptoms and severity. In some instances, a brain injury will affect only one very specific area of the brain, while several areas of the brain may be damaged in others. Once the type of brain injury is determined, it will be further divided into four main types according to how severe the brain injury is. The Glasgow Coma Scale assigns a number based on the individual’s level of consciousness. The scale goes from 1-15, with scores between 13 and 15 considered a mild TBI, scores between 9 and 12 considered a moderate TBI, scores from 4-8 points considered a severe TBI with a disability, and a score lower than 4 likely considered a persistent vegetative state. The time of the loss of consciousness often determines the severity of the TBI.
How Long Does a Traumatic Brain Injury Last and Will It Get Better?
The effects of a mild concussion may only last a couple of weeks, while more serious TBIs will last much longer. The most severe types of traumatic brain injuries can require a lifetime of medical interventions and constant care for the victim. A doctor should be able to give you an accurate assessment of the serious nature of your injuries and what your recovery timeline may look like for you.
Contact a Kansas City Traumatic Brain Injury Attorney Near You
At Finney Injury Law, our attorneys, Chris Finney and Alex Ledbetter have negotiated and litigated many successful personal injury claims on behalf of clients diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury. We will fight zealously to secure a settlement that fully covers all your damages, including medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering. We are personally invested in each case we take, and we offer our clients a personalized experience, using all our experience, knowledge, and skills on their behalf. After assessing your traumatic brain injury, we will present options to you, then help you choose the best option—the one that will provide full and fair compensation for your damages, and we won’t hesitate to go to trial to get that fair settlement. Contact a Kansas City traumatic brain injury attorney from Finney Injury Law today for a free review of your claim.