Brain Injury Accidents in Kansas and Missouri

Brain injuries can be devastating, often occurring from accidents unexpectedly. At Kevin McManus Law, we understand how difficult these injuries can be and the importance of having the right support and legal guidance on your side to get you through it. We’re here to listen and answer your questions, and provide a strategy moving forward. We have extensive experience representing individuals and families of victims who have suffered from brain injuries after an accident. Feel free to call us any time.

What is a Traumatic Brain Injury?

Any injury to the brain is called a traumatic brain injury (TBI). It happens when the head suffers sudden trauma, such as jarring from the impact of a crash, or the head hits something hard, which causes damage to the brain. This trauma can happen in many ways like falls, car crashes, sports injuries, or assaults. TBIs can vary from mild concussions to severe damage to the brain, with a variety of symptoms and impairments.

Common TBIs Caused By Accidents

Accidents can cause many types of traumatic brain injuries. Here are some of the most common types:

Concussion: A concussion is a type of TBI caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head, or by a hit to the body that makes the head and brain move back and forth. This sudden movement can make the brain bounce, rotate, or twist inside the skull.
Diffuse Axonal Injury: A diffuse axonal injury (DAI) occurs when the brain rapidly moves inside the skull due to a collision's force. This movement causes the brain to "bounce" against the skull's inner walls, tearing nerve fibers. While the crash causes the initial injury, secondary brain damage can occur days later as brain tissue reacts to the tearing and damage caused by the brain's rotation in the skull.
Intracranial Hematoma: An intracranial hematoma happens when blood collects inside the skull after a head injury. Accidents like falls, car crashes, or blunt force trauma can damage blood vessels in the brain, causing bleeding (hematoma). The hematoma puts pressure on the brain and can cause complications if not treated quickly.
Skull Fracture: A skull fracture is a head injury where the skull breaks due to blunt force trauma. Falls, car crashes, or physical assaults can cause these fractures, which might lead to more problems like brain bleeding or other types of TBIs. Getting medical help right away after such accidents is crucial, to check how severe the fracture is and get treatment to prevent more harm.

Types of Accidents That Can Lead to Brain Injuries

There are many types of accidents that can lead to brain injuries. Below we list the most common:

Car Crash: Car crashes often lead to brain injuries because of the sudden jolts and hits involved. When your head snaps forward and backward in a whiplash, common in rear-end crashes, it can cause traumatic brain injuries, concussions, or other brain trauma. The impact from the crash might also make you hit your head on something hard (like the steering wheel), causing similar injuries.
Slip and Fall: If you fall and land hard on your head, it can lead to serious issues. Whether it's slippery floors, uneven ground, or things in the way, falls can vary depending on factors like how high the fall was and what surface was hit.
Physical Violence: Any forceful impact on the head, whether it's from direct blows, strikes, or violent shaking, can result in various forms of traumatic brain injury. Sudden force can make the brain shift abruptly inside the skull, damaging delicate brain tissue. If violence happens repeatedly, it can make the injury worsen and raise the chances of long-term effects.

Recognizing TBI Symptoms

Identifying traumatic brain injuries can sometines difficult. Keeping an eye out for these common TBI symptoms after an accident can prevent further damage.

Physical Symptoms: headaches, nausea, dizziness, and loss of consciousness or bodily functions
Cognitive Symptoms: memory problems (short-term or long-term), difficulty concentrating, and confusion
Emotional Symptoms: mood swings, anxiety, irritability, personality changes, and depression

We offer a free comprehensive TBI checklist Traumatic Brain Injury Checklist: Common Symptoms After An Accident as well as other free injury guides on our website.

Get Medical Treatment Right Away

If you've been in an accident and are experiencing any of the TBI Checklist symptoms, it's crucial to get medical help right away. Brain injuries can be tricky—you might not notice symptoms right away, yet they may show up a week or two later, somtimes longer. Early detection and treatment are important and you should still see a doctor quickly. They can check for any hidden brain injury signs and start treatments to prevent long-term issues.

Speak With Our Kansas City Brain Injury Attorneys

If you or a loved one has suffered a brain injury due to an accident, we’re here to help. We've successfully helped many TBI clients in Missouri and Kansas and our experienced brain injury attorneys are committed to fighting for you.

Reach out today at 816-203-0143 or fill out our online contact form to schedule your free consultation. We're here for you, and on your side.

Understanding Brain Injuries from Accidents in Kansas and Missouri