Traumatic Brain Injury Lawyers
in Liberty, Missouri
Traumatic brain injuries are among the most serious accident injuries in Missouri and often result from falls and vehicular accidents.
When the accident is the result of someone else’s negligence or wrongdoing, the victim may have a strong case for claiming damages.
However, claiming what is deserved is another matter as there can be many “hoops” for the victims and their families to jump through before receiving fair compensation.
An experienced personal injury lawyer can provide the help necessary to navigate the legal hurdles and secure justice. The traumatic brain injury lawyers at Noland Law Firm LLC are awaiting your call for a free consultation on how to get started on your claim.
Serving The Greater Kansas City Area
At Noland Law Firm, LLC, we fight for the rights of auto accident victims that are suffering from a resulting traumatic brain injury in Liberty and the greater Kansas City Area. We serve clients throughout:
- Blue Springs,
- Gladstone,
- Independence,
- Kearney,
- Smithville,
- Excelsior Springs
- Saint Joseph
- North Kansas City, and
- The Greater Kansas City area
We combine the sophistication of a large legal practice with the personal attention of a small firm, which helps us provide each and every client with exceptional service. If you or a loved one has suffered a traumatic brain injury resulting from negligence or intentional harm, you may be entitled to receive meaningful compensation.
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Our attorneys have over 60 years of combined experience in car accident cases and a proven track record of obtaining meaningful compensation for our clients. While no two accidents are alike, we believe that most car crashes are avoidable and negligent drivers must be held accountable. Being in an accident can be upsetting, but it is crucial to call a car accident lawyer as soon as possible.
Because the police often conduct an investigation and file a report shortly after the accident, it is vital for us to immediately begin our work of collecting evidence, interviewing witnesses, and determining the circumstances that led to your accident. We will obtain the police report and review it for errors and inaccuracies. By collaborating with a network of investigators and medical experts, we will diligently work to establish the other driver’s liability and build a successful case.
How a personal injury lawyer can help brain injury victims in Missouri
Brain injury victims often suffer extreme physical, mental, and emotional distress as well as financial issues as the medical bills and loss of earnings add up after an accident.
For many people, this is the first time they’ve had to deal with such distressing accident injuries and it can be very disorientating for all concerned. The steady, guiding hand of a personal injury lawyer can be a great relief in these circumstances as work begins on recovering the compensation you deserve.
Your attorney will handle all communication with the relevant insurance company, investigate the accident, and gather evidence to prove fault. We will also handle all the legal procedures necessary to litigate the case if necessary—even though almost all such cases are settled before trial.
What many victims are unprepared for is the strategies that insurance companies use to minimize claims. Our experienced brain injury lawyers are familiar with previous settlements for similar injuries and understand how much you are entitled to under Missouri law. We are ready to counter any underhand insurance company strategies to recover what you deserve.
What are the main types of brain injury?
Brain injuries range from mild injuries that cause temporary headaches or impaired vision to the most serious cases that result in loss of consciousness, disability, disfigurement, and other life-changing consequences that require long-term care.
Primary brain injuries are sudden and usually caused by trauma whereas secondary brain injuries develop over time after a primary brain injury.
Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) often happen when the brain is violently shaken from side to side, often due to a blow to the head or a fall. An injury that penetrates the skull, such as a bullet wound, can also cause a traumatic brain injury.
The most common types of TBI include the following:
- Concussion: mild brain injuries that usually result in temporary symptoms.
- Diffuse brain damage: where several areas of the brain are damaged from the trauma.
- Localized brain damage: injury to a small region or area of the brain, such as from a bullet wound.
- Closed head injuries: these occur when the brain strikes the inside of the skull, often from a blow to the head, a car accident, or a fall.
- Diffuse axonal injury (DAI): when both sides of the brain are damaged, usually due to the brain being rotated within the skull.
- Brain contusion: when the brain is “bruised” from the trauma.
Because brain injuries are not always immediately apparent, it’s essential to receive a full medical checkup after any serious accident that causes trauma to the head region.
What are the main causes of brain injuries?
Every year in the U.S., there are tens of thousands of deaths and hundreds of thousands of hospitalizations from traumatic brain injuries. In Missouri alone, 16,500 individuals are admitted to an emergency department or hospitalized every year with a traumatic brain injury.
Many of these result from avoidable accidents due to negligence or wrongdoing. Generally speaking, the leading causes are as follows:
- Falls: the top cause of TBIs in the U.S., especially for seniors and children under the age of 18 (who often suffer sports injuries).
- Traffic accidents: these are the leading cause for people aged 15 to 34.
- Acts of violence: whether self-inflicted or aimed at other individuals, violence (notably gunshot wounds) is a leading cause of TBI deaths among people aged 25 to 34.
When is a traumatic brain injury cause for a lawsuit?
Regardless of the circumstances of an accident injury that results in a traumatic brain injury, if it was due to another individual or organization’s negligence or wrongdoing, it may result in a substantial claim for compensation by the victim or the family of the victim.
The types of parties that are often held accountable in these cases include:
- A private or commercial property owner or business owner who negligently fails to warn customers of hazards
- Another road user who causes an accident
- A trucking company that employs a driver who causes an accident
- A vehicle repair shop (in the case of faulty repairs or maintenance causing the accident)
- A motor vehicle manufacturer (in the case of faulty parts causing the accident)
- An employer
- A person convicted of domestic violence
- A nursing home operator, childcare provider, or healthcare provider
If the personal injury law firm takes your case, a lawsuit will often be filed as an initial step to recovering the compensation you are entitled to. Most cases are settled before the trial stage by negotiation or mediation but filing a lawsuit is often a crucial step in following the necessary legal processes.
What compensation can be claimed in TBI cases in Missouri?
When you sit down with a personal injury lawyer, one of the key assessments to make will be the potential value of the compensation due to you.
Based on experience of traumatic brain injury cases, a fairly accurate assessment should be possible once the details of your case are known.
No two accidents are the same. Your potential level of compensation will be affected by the precise circumstances of your accident and other factors, notably:
- Whether you were partly at fault for your accident
- The severity of the accident injuries you sustained
- The long-term consequences of your injury (e.g., permanent, or temporary disability that prevents you from working)
- Whether you require ongoing rehabilitation and medical care
- The amount of insurance coverage available
You will usually be able to claim both economic losses and non-economic losses for a traumatic brain injury. Economic losses are usually relatively easy to put a dollar value on and include the following:
- The full costs of past, present, and future medical care
- Past, present, and future lost earnings
- Property damage
Non-economic losses compensate you for the pain and suffering and loss of quality of life suffered as a result of your injuries. These are more challenging to prove and may require expert testimony from medical and financial professionals.
Punitive damages are rarely awarded in Missouri except in cases where the defendant engaged in egregious conduct or intentional wrongdoing and the court wishes to discourage this type of conduct.
How long do I have to file a brain injury lawsuit in Missouri?
The statute of limitations for personal injury claims in Missouri is five years. After this period has expired, you may lose your right to file a brain injury lawsuit through the civil court system.
If you need to file a personal injury claim in the Liberty area of Missouri and require legal assistance, please contact the seasoned personal injury lawyers at Noland Law Firm LLC for a free case evaluation.
