Kansas City Traumatic Brain Injury Lawyers

Advocating for TBI Victims in Missouri & Across the Midwest

Have you or a loved one suffered a serious brain injury due to someone else's negligence? Our team at Shamberg, Johnson & Bergman can help you file a claim and seek fair compensation from the negligent party that caused the accident that led to your injury. 

To date, our Kansas City traumatic brain injury lawyers have secured more than $850 million for injured individuals and their families throughout Missouri, Kansas, and the Midwest.

Call our office at (816) 542-5999 or contact us online to request a free consultation. There are no attorneys’ fees unless we win your case.

What is a Traumatic Brain Injury?

A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a type of injury that occurs when there is a sudden and severe trauma to the head, resulting in damage to the brain. TBIs can range from mild to severe, and they can have a wide range of physical, cognitive, emotional, and behavioral effects. These injuries are typically categorized based on their severity and the specific areas of the brain that are affected.

Here are some common types of traumatic brain injuries:

• Concussion: A concussion is a mild form of TBI that often occurs due to a blow to the head. It can happen during sports, falls, or car accidents. Symptoms may include dizziness, headache, memory problems, and confusion.
• Contusion: A contusion is a bruise on the brain that results from a direct impact to the head. It can cause localized brain damage and neurological deficits.
• Coup-Contrecoup Injury: This injury occurs when there is a blow to one side of the head, causing the brain to strike the opposite side of the skull. It can result in multiple points of damage.
• Penetrating Injury: This type of TBI occurs when a foreign object, such as a bullet or a piece of skull, penetrates the brain tissue. Penetrating injuries often cause severe damage.
• Diffuse Axonal Injury: In this type of TBI, the brain's long connecting fibers (axons) are damaged or torn. This can happen due to rapid deceleration or rotational forces, such as those experienced in high-speed car accidents or shaken baby syndrome.
• Shaken Baby Syndrome: Shaking an infant violently can result in TBI. It is a form of diffuse axonal injury and can lead to severe brain damage.
• Second Impact Syndrome (SIS): SIS occurs when a person sustains a second TBI before recovering from the initial one. It is extremely dangerous and can lead to rapid brain swelling, disability, or even death.

Common Causes of Brain Injuries

Brain injuries can result from a variety of causes, and the severity of the injury can vary widely. 

Common causes of brain injuries include:

• Car accidents
• Truck accidents
• Medical malpractice
• Sports and recreational activities
• Shootings/firearm accidents
• Defective products
• Railroad accidents
• Nursing home abuse
• Construction site accidents
• Industrial site accidents
• Oil and gas field accidents
• Physical assaults
• Explosions
• Falls

Compensation in a Brain Injury Lawsuit: Why It's Important to Consider Long-Term Costs

When filing a brain injury lawsuit, it’s important to consider the long-term impact of the injury on the victim’s life, rather than just immediate damages and losses. These injuries often result in enduring, life-altering consequences that extend far beyond immediate medical costs.

These injuries can lead to chronic health issues, permanent disability, and significant cognitive or emotional challenges, requiring ongoing medical care, rehabilitation, and psychological support. Additionally, the injured person's ability to work and earn a living may be permanently compromised, affecting their financial stability and future prospects. 

By factoring in the long-term impact of the injury, the compensation from a settlement or verdict can ensure that the injured person and their family have the necessary resources to manage the full scope of the injury, preserving their quality of life and mitigating future financial and emotional hardships.

Here’s why it’s crucial to factor in long-term and lifelong damages:

• Ongoing care and treatment: Brain injuries may require continuous medical care, including physical therapy, occupational therapy, and regular medical check-ups. Some patients might need surgeries or other medical interventions long after the initial injury. Lifelong medication may also be necessary to manage symptoms like seizures, pain, or mood disorders associated with brain injuries.
• Long-term rehabilitation: Brain injuries often result in physical and cognitive impairments that require long-term rehabilitation. Cognitive therapy, speech therapy, and other forms of rehabilitation can be necessary for years, if not for a lifetime. Ongoing mental health support may also be needed to address issues such as depression, anxiety, or PTSD that can arise as a result of the injury.
• Lost or diminished earning capacity: A brain injury can temporarily hinder a person’s ability to work or may prevent them from working altogether. Compensation must account for lost wages over a lifetime, including potential promotions and career advancement opportunities that are no longer possible.
• Home modifications and care: Individuals with brain injuries might need to modify their homes to accommodate disabilities, such as installing ramps, handrails, or specialized equipment. Long-term or even lifelong in-home care may also be necessary, especially if the individual loses the ability to perform daily tasks independently. This can be an expensive ongoing cost.
• Permanent changes in quality of life: Brain injuries often lead to a diminished quality of life. Compensation should consider the loss of enjoyment of life, emotional distress, and changes in relationships with family and friends. The long-term care needs of a brain-injured individual can also place a significant emotional and financial burden on their family.

At Shamberg, Johnson & Bergman, our brain injury attorneys in Kansas City are ready to present a compelling case on your behalf. We often work with experts to calculate the future economic loss and long-term care costs you face. 

Signs of Traumatic Brain Injury

TBI symptoms take several forms, including physical signs, cognitive issues, and even emotional changes. In the immediate aftermath of an accident, as well as in the days and weeks that follow, be aware of any signs of a serious brain injury.

Physical TBI symptoms include:

• Headaches
• Slurred speech
• Loss of taste
• Blurred vision
• Loss of feeling in fingers and hands
• Reduced or loss of mobility

Some of the cognitive signs of a TBI include:

• Short and long-term memory loss
• Inability to complete simple tasks
• Inability to recognize familiar surroundings and people

Emotional signs of a brain injury can include:

• Wild mood swings
• Depression
• Permanent change in personality
• Unusually quick to anger

Traumatic brain injuries, or TBIs, range in severity, but there is no such thing as a “mild” TBI. Whether you have suffered a concussion in a sports-related accident or your loved one sustained a severe blow to the head in a car crash, it is imperative that you seek medical attention at the first sign of a brain injury.

Doctors often say that people who suffer a head injury aren’t typically the first ones to notice its effects. Often, it is the victim’s family members, friends, or co-workers who first notice the short-term memory loss, personality changes, and problems handling simple daily tasks that often accompany traumatic brain injuries.

If you or a family member is exhibiting signs of a TBI, seek medical attention immediately. Then, talk to one of the brain injury lawyers at Shamberg, Johnson & Bergman, CHTD. 

The Effects of a Brain Injury

One of the worst possible injuries that a person could sustain is a brain injury. A brain injury is an incident of insult to the brain that causes damage that is sometimes immediate and sometimes delayed or gradual. Each type of brain injury is unique because the damage may affect different parts of the brain. For example, traumatic brain injury occurs when an external force causes brain trauma, while acquired brain injury may arise from a tumor or neurological illness. Nevertheless, any type of brain injury can dramatically change anybody’s life.

These changes arise from the various complications that may gradually occur in a brain injury victim. Some issues will happen immediately or soon after the brain is damaged, while others won’t appear until days, weeks, or even months later. This is one reason why some brain injuries go undetected for long periods of time until severe complications show up. For example, a person suffering a TBI may experience seizures within the first week, but with nerve damage, a person may suffer a gradual increase in loss of vision, loss of facial sensation, paralysis, and swallowing problems.

A brain injury may cause intellectual concerns, such as cognitive problems with learning, reasoning, judgment, and attention. A brain-injured patient could have trouble making decisions and beginning or completing tasks. Behavior and emotions are also often impacted.

For example, a brain injury victim may exhibit:

• Depression
• Risky behavior
• Mood swings
• Problems with self-control and anger

Severe brain injuries can result in the victim going into a coma or a vegetative state. Widespread damage in the brain might lead to brain death.

Aside from these complications, a brain injury patient may be slammed with expensive medical bills due to hospital stays, long-term medical care, medications, and other treatments. These expenses can be a huge burden on the victim and their family.

Why Choose Shamberg, Johnson & Bergman, Chtd?

Simply put, we understand the medical and emotional issues of a brain injury.

Our firm has extensive experience helping families find the social and professional resources needed to deal with short- and long-term financial and medical needs. We’ll do everything we can to get you the resources you need while your case is progressing in the courts.

Our attorneys have been helping personal injury victims recover money from insurance companies for over 70 years. We understand the complex medical issues involved in proving a brain injury case and we have the professional and technical resources to stand and fight successfully against the largest insurance companies.

Call (816) 542-5999 to schedule a free consultation. If you are unable to make it into our office, we will do our best to travel to you.