St. Louis Brain Injury Lawyer
Brain injuries can cause serious cognitive disorders that can impact every aspect of daily living. Not only can it be difficult to process information because of a severe head injury, but it is also possible for victims in a brian injury case to struggle with mobility issues. They may be temporarily or permanently disabled because of severe traumatic brain injuries.
Traumatic brain injury TBI is often a debilitating and life-changing medical emergency that can leave the victim with a multitude of symptoms and conditions to deal with for the rest of their life.
Examples of TBI include:
- Hydrocephalus
- Cerebrospinal fluid leaks
- Intracranial hematoma
- Skull fractures
- Coup-contrecoup injury, or contusion
- Diffuse Axonal Injury (DAI)
Brain injuries can also lead to secondary brain injuries that result from the body reacting to the accident and triggering an immune response. Secondary brain injuries can include hypoxia, hypotension, ischemia, and increased intracranial pressure.
When considering a brain injury lawsuit, it is important to get educated on how the process works. Every brain injury case is unique and requires a large amount of evidence to prove your claim. You can lean on a highly experienced brain injury attorney to help prove your traumatic brain injury case and properly represent you so that you can get the full amount of compensation you are owed. To speak to an experienced brain injury lawyer, call Hipskind & McAninch for a free consultation.
What are the common causes of traumatic brain injury?
Traumatic brain injury occurs when the brain is injured in an accident, whether it struck the inside of the skull during a forceful jolt or was impacted or impaled by another object. There are closed brain injuries that occur inside the skull without the skull being penetrated. An open brain injury is when the contents of the brain and skull are exposed to air.
The most common causes of TBI include:
- Falls
- Being struck by an object
- Sports injuries
- Motor vehicle accidents
- Gunshot wounds
- Lacerations
- Workplace accidents
Neurology is said to have started with the injury of Phineas Gage, a railroad worker who had a pipe go through his skull in the mid-1800s. It was his severe changes in mood and personality that got the attention of some of the most famous psychologists at the time. Before then, nobody really knew as much about the brain as we do now, or any part of the body for that matter. Discovering that damage to his frontal lobe affected his personality was a significant contribution to science, and later on to medical professionals.
Because of him and many athletes who have succumbed to brain injuries, scientists know a lot more about what happens inside of the skull when a person is injured. It can swell, bleed or fill with fluid. These can lead to long-term effects that you will need legal representation for in order to get the compensation necessary to continue getting the care in St Louis that you need.
What are the chances of surviving a traumatic brain injury?
Victims of minor head injuries are a common sight in most hospital emergency rooms. Many of these emergency room doctors will deal with patients who have suffered a brief loss of consciousness or other signs of concussion but do not require imaging tests such as a CT scan or an MRI. Recovery from minor brain injuries could be very likely if the victim sought medical attention immediately after the crash.
However, if the patient shows any of the following symptoms, then they will be a candidate for imaging to learn more about their head injury and what treatment is necessary:
- Seizures
- Severe headache
- Difficulty with short-term memory
- Visible trauma from the clavicle
- Vomiting
- Age 55 or older
- If the victim was intoxicated at the time of the accident
There may be symptoms that gradually decrease over time, or show up later. With TBI there is a risk of later developing a disease such as dementia due to the traumatic brain injury.
Unfortunately, some St Louis MO head injuries leave victims with permanent issues. Victims with a low score on the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) are unlikely to recover. Some victims will eventually be taken off life support. Others may live with permanent injuries, including:
- Nerve injuries
- Hypertension
- Hormonal changes
- Weakened immune system
- Sleep disorders
- Psychiatric disorders
What are therapies and other treatments for victims of traumatic brain injuries?
The attorneys at Hipskind & McAninch, LLC help their clients get the compensation they need to continue receiving the necessary therapies for their recovery and rehabilitation. Tasks that used to be easy before become much harder after a crash, such as getting dressed in the morning, taking a shower, balancing your checkbook, or remembering to complete daily tasks. While you are recovering, you may experience severe disruption to how you used to think and behave. Therapies that are often prescribed for TBI include:
- Physical therapy
- Occupational health therapy
- Psychiatric and cognitive therapy
- Speech and language pathology
- Medical devices such as wheelchairs and memory aids
Physical therapy is beneficial because it helps the victim learn how to do things again that are difficult after traumatic brain injuries. They include being able to walk or stand for periods of time without pain. Fine motor skills in the hands may need to be practiced in order to regain skills such as being able to button or zip up a shirt. Occupational therapy is often recommended after head and skull accidents to help injured victims manage their life again. We can explain more during your free consultation.
How do you prove brain injury?
There are numerous scans and testing capabilities available to doctors and clinicians to determine what type of brain injury the victim is suffering from and what the next steps in care are. Brain injury attorneys then use these scans when arguing a personal injury claim on behalf of their clients. These are a few ways doctors diagnose TBI:
- Computerized tomography (CT) scan: this gives doctors a look at the skull and brain tissue to determine the next course of action in the patient’s treatment.
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): these create a picture of the brain using the natural magnetism of brain molecules.
There are many different branches within personal injury law spanning from Workers’ Compensation to car accidents to product liability cases. Most injury lawyers with experience specifically in fighting or TBI victims offer a free case evaluation for clients. Be sure to ask questions during your free case evaluation such as:
- How many cases like mine have you successfully represented?
- How much have you recovered or other victims of TBI?
Can brain damage from trauma be reversed?
Brain damage can be incredibly dangerous because it could cause permanent, debilitating damage after a serious injury. There are many advanced forms of medical treatment available to help improve the chances of recovery after a brain injury. Additionally, receiving immediate medical attention can help increase your chances of trauma reversal after a brain injury.
However, in some cases, brain damage cannot always be reversed and depends entirely on the type of brain injury. Closed head injuries are entirely different from penetrating injuries, for example, as penetrating objects can have a more devastating result compared to mild concussions. Our brain injury lawyers can provide resources and refer you to a medical practitioner for additional questions.
Does a traumatic brain injury cause permanent brain damage?
Every traumatic brain injury is unique and may or may not cause permanent brain damage. This is entirely based on the type of medical treatment you receive, the severity of the brain injury, and other factors regarding the type of accident you experienced. Even if you have blurred vision after head trauma, this may be a temporary effect. Many brain injuries take years to recover from, but some patients can completely recover years later. You should speak to your doctor or have one of our St Louis brain injury lawyers refer you to a physician who can provide you with guidance.
How does personal injury law help me get the money I deserve?
The insurance companies have their own lawyers who they have hired to save them money when claims for accidents are filed. When those attorneys for the insurance company see that a victim has filed a brain injury case but is not represented by St. Louis personal injury attorney, they know they are dealing with someone who is not well-versed in injury law. Therefore, they will argue that the insurance company should pay you less. But when they see that you have legal representation from a reputable law firm in St Louis, MO, you could potentially receive more in compensation.
We offer a free consultation so we can give you an overall legal background on personal injury law and how we can specifically help you or a loved one suffering from TBI. We go over what you will be responsible for, such as ensuring that we receive all documents from you promptly.
Your attorney will use the scans and tests that were performed in the ER to explain the head injury, treatment, and expected recovery. This is why it is vital to provide your attorney with any records or bills related to your head injury as they prepare your case.
Are all personal injury attorneys the same?
While all attorneys work within the state and federal laws, their practice areas can vary widely. Personal injury It’s important that you hire a Missouri brain injury attorney that specifically focuses on this area of practice.
How much is a traumatic brain injury worth?
There are two different types of damages that people can be compensated for in their brain injury cases: economic damages and non-economic damages. Damages that can be calculated using the documents you provide, such as medical bills and the estimated value of property damage, are economic damages. To receive economic damages, you need to provide proof of your losses, including:
- Lost wages for any time you have missed from work
- Future lost earnings if you cannot return to work
- Future medical expenses if your injuries will need continued care
Non-economic damages, on the other hand, compensate victims for the emotional trauma they have endured as a result of the accident. These damages recognize the significant life change that brain and head injuries cause the victim and their families. The more severe your accident and injuries, the more likely you will receive compensation for your St Louis brain injury claim.
Injury victims and their families endure mental and emotional anguish. An experienced traumatic brain injury lawyer will also help you to get the compensation you deserve for your pain and suffering after the car crash.
What is the average payout for a head injury?
Because TBI can lead to costly treatment, our brain injury attorneys can win anywhere from $10,000 to over a million dollars in compensation. Your settlement can even include future medical costs because you suffered a traumatic brain accident. For example, you may have an ongoing post-concussion syndrome that requires additional visits to the doctor. Your personal injury claim isn’t based solely on your past damages but future damages as well.
All of your expenses, mental anguish, and other damages can have a detrimental effect on your quality of life. What’s worse, you may not even be able to return to normal. Work with proven St Louis personal injury lawyers to get the compensation you deserve. You can recover compensation that is fair and fully represents the level of damages you suffered. To find out more information, give us a call at Hipskind & McAninch, LLC to schedule a consultation so we can discuss your case.