Living with a brain injury affects every aspect of your life, from your ability to work and maintain relationships to managing daily tasks you once handled with ease. Memory problems, personality changes, and cognitive difficulties can persist long after the physical wounds have healed. Motor vehicle accidents are one of the leading causes of brain injuries in the United States, and if you suffered this trauma in a crash caused by someone else, speak with a personal injury lawyer in Kansas City to find out if you have grounds for legal action.
Common Types of Brain Damage in a Car Crash
When vehicles collide at high speeds, the force of impact can lead to various types of traumatic injuries:
- Concussion: The most common form of traumatic brain injury occurs when the brain experiences sudden movement or impact, causing temporary loss of normal brain function.
- Contusion: When your head strikes the steering wheel, window, or other hard surface, brain tissue can become bruised. Contusion injuries can cause bleeding, swelling, and pressure build-up, which can permanently damage brain functions.
- Diffuse Axonal Injury: The force of the crash can violently shake your brain inside your skull. This may tear nerve tissue throughout the brain, causing widespread damage.
- Penetrating Injury: Broken glass, metal fragments, or other debris from the crash may pierce the skull and damage the brain tissue directly.
Recognizing Symptoms of Traumatic Brain Injuries
After a car accident, brain injuries may not show any noticeable symptoms at first. However, symptoms often develop over hours or even days following the trauma.
Brain injury lawyers in Kansas City suggest watching for changes in physical, cognitive, and emotional function following an accident, even if you initially feel fine. If you notice any of the following symptoms, seek emergency medical care as soon as possible:
- Persistent headaches
- Dizziness
- Blurred vision
- Memory loss
- Confusion
- Mood swings
- Sensitivity to light
- Balance problems
- Slurred speech
- Ringing in the ears
How to Seek Justice for Accident-Related Brain Damage
A brain injury can affect far more than your physical health. In many cases, it touches every aspect of your life. You face growing medical bills while you are unable to work. The emotional strain can weigh heavily on you and your family as you adapt to new limitations and lifestyle changes. If you require long-term care or assistance with daily activities, these costs can quickly become overwhelming.
If someone else caused your car accident, you have the right to pursue an insurance claim or lawsuit and recover compensation for your medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and more. However, you must act quickly—Missouri law sets strict time limits for filing your claim.
A Kansas City car accident attorney can advocate for your rights during this vulnerable time. Your lawyer will thoroughly investigate your accident, collect medical evidence that documents your injuries, and negotiate with insurance companies on your behalf. They will focus entirely on building a strong case for the compensation that you deserve.
Speak to a Kansas City Car Accident Attorney Today
Brain injuries can have devastating, long-lasting effects on both victims and their families. At Dollar, Burns, Becker, & Hershewe, we have helped countless brain injury survivors secure the compensation that they need for long-term care and support. If you have suffered brain trauma in a car accident, contact us at (816) 876-2600 for a free, confidential consultation.