Have you or someone you loved suffered a brain injury? Was the injury caused by another person or entity? Call today to discuss your accident. Let Peterson & Associates, P.C. help you.
A head injury is one of the most serious injuries a person can endure. Head injuries can happen in many different ways and can cause substantial changes in a person’s behavior and disabilities. Sadly, even with all of our modern technology, there is no way for physicians to fix brain tissue once it is damaged. This means that the results of a significant head injury could be permanent.
Your brain is responsible for your body’s subconscious and conscious functions. As a result, any injury your brain endures can cause numerous cognitive and physical issues. Regrettably, many brain injuries sustained in Missouri and the United States are generally caused by accidents that could have been avoided if that person had exercised due care.
If your brain injury resulted from another person’s negligent behavior, you should not have to carry the burden of your injury all by yourself. A Columbia traumatic brain injury attorney from the Peterson Law Firm can help you fight for the financial compensation you are entitled to for things such as medical expenses, lost wages, pain, suffering, and more.
With almost 30 years of experience, our attorneys help their clients fight for the maximum amount of compensation the law says they deserve. Contact our law office to schedule a no-obligation consultation so we can get you everything you deserve.
Fill out a free case evaluation today to begin.
How Can a Brain Injury Attorney Help Me?
In addition to their cumbersome emotional and physical consequences, brain injuries often bring with them hefty financial burdens. When another person was the cause of your injury, however, our Columbia personal injury attorneys can help you pursue the financial compensation you deserve.
At Peterson Law Firm, our lawyers make it their goal to seek the full amount of recovery for all the damages you sustained from every conceivable negligent party and to the fullest extent of state law.
When you are represented by a lawyer from the Peterson Law Firm, you can rest assured that we will:
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Give you the perceptive and thoughtful legal advice that you deserve
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Conduct a thorough investigation into your accident to pinpoint those responsible and start collecting evidence
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Correctly calculate the total dollar value of your losses
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Work side-by-side with professionals and experts to build the strongest possible case for negligence
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Manage all negotiations and communications with the insurer
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Deliver a compelling argument in front of a jury to secure fair and full financial compensation
You deserve to have a brain injury attorney who is compassionate and willing to work hard to get you the recovery you deserve. Call the Peterson Law Firm today for a complimentary consultation with a Columbia personal injury attorney who can start helping you right away.
Are Brain Injuries Common?
Each year, more than 1.5 million people in the United States receive a traumatic brain injury. Out of these, 230,000 will need hospitalization. Traumatic brain injuries played a role in over 56,000 deaths nationwide in 2014.
Children and senior citizens are especially vulnerable to brain injuries. Between these two demographics, falls are the leading cause of TBI, followed by motor vehicle accidents.
Even though about 70% of all brain injuries are relatively mild, more severe injuries to the brain are the leading cause of permanent disabilities and injury-related deaths.
What Are Brain Injuries?
Any injury to the head has the potential to cause an injury to the brain. These injuries range from incredibly mild to serious and life-altering. The symptoms of a mild brain injury are often hard to detect and resolve over the course of a few days. The more severe a brain injury is, however, the higher the chances are of it producing catastrophic results.
How Many Types of Brain Injuries Are There?
Traumatic brain injury is a broad term that encompasses any head injury caused by trauma, whether that trauma is a fall down a flight of stairs, a blow to the head during an assault, or a penetrating injury sustained in a car accident. These injuries vary greatly from brain injuries caused by health problems such as a stroke.
Common types of brain injuries are:
Concussions
Concussions are typically very mild brain injuries that produce a variety of symptoms that dissipate over time
Localized/Focal brain damage
This refers to damage confined to one tiny part of the brain. For example, a gunshot wound to the head with a small-caliber bullet could result in localized damage.
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Diffuse brain damage Damage to multiple regions of the brain.
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Closed head injuries: Closed head injuries occur when the brain makes contact with, but does not penetrate, the inside of the skull. These injuries are commonly caused by falls, traffic accidents, or a blow to the head.
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Diffuse Axonal Injury: This injury pertains to damage on both sides of the brain. It typically occurs when the brain rotates inside of the skull.
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Intracerebral hematoma/Brain contusion: This refers to an injury that is basically a bruise somewhere on the brain.
A primary brain injury is sudden, profound, and usually the result of trauma caused by an external force. Secondary brain injuries take place over time following a primary brain injury.
What Are the Most Common Symptoms of a Brain Injury?
The signs of a brain injury hinge largely on the type and severity of the injury, as well as the affected region of the brain.
Minor head injuries can produce symptoms such as:
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Headaches
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Blurry vision
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Concentration and memory issues
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Problems with balance
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Dizziness
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Irritability
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Tinnitus
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Confusion
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Changes to sleeping patterns
Pronounced brain injuries require prompt medical attention and can result in:
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Loss of consciousness
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Serious, long-lasting headaches
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Weakness on one side of the body
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Loss of memory
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Difficulties with speech and movement
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Seizures
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Personality changes or other behavioral anomalies
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Nausea and vomiting
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Uneven pupil dilation
Occasionally, the symptoms of a brain injury manifest immediately following an accident. It is not uncommon, however, for symptoms to take hours or even days to begin to show.
Are There Any Long-Term Consequences to a Brain Injury?
Brain injuries can be disabling, life-changing, and catastrophic. The faster they are treated, the more promising the prognosis.
The potential long-term consequences of a serious brain injury may include:
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Cognitive impairment that affects memory, communication, perception, concentration, and the ability to process information
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Physical impairment that affects motor skills, strength, coordination, and balance
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Psychological changes such as anxiety and depression
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Emotional changes and personality changes such as impaired judgment, behavioral disorders, difficulty controlling emotions, and impulsivity
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Post-concussion syndrome
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Vegetative or comatose state
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Locked-in syndrome (conscious but unable to move)
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Brain death
Depending on the type of brain injury, symptoms may be alleviated in days, weeks, or years. Some brain injury victims see improvement with mild to moderate lasting impacts. Others endure lifelong impairment.
How Do Brain Injuries Happen?
A brain injury is most likely to occur when an external force is applied to the head with such severity that it injures the brain by causing it to make contact with the inside of the skull or when an external object penetrates the skull.
Brain injuries in teenagers and young adults are quite often sports-related. Some brain injuries do not stem from any kind of trauma but are, instead, not related to trauma at all but instead are acquired brain injuries arising from a hemorrhage, stroke, tumor, or other condition.
Traumatic brain injuries are most often the result of:
Motor vehicle accidents
Auto accidents are the second-leading source of traumatic brain injuries in the United States overall and the primary cause for people 15 to 34 years old.
Violence
Roughly 12% of traumatic brain injuries and 35% of related fatalities among victims from 25 to 34 years old are due to violence.
Falls
Falls are the number one cause of traumatic brain injuries in the United States overall and are responsible for nearly 50% of all brain injury-related visits to the emergency room. Falls comprise 81% of TBI incidents in senior citizens and close to 50% of TBI incidents in children under 18
Unfortunately, although a lot of brain injuries are the inevitable consequence of numerous health problems, an overwhelming majority are caused by human negligence and preventable accidents.
When Does a Traumatic Brain Injury Warrant a Lawsuit?
If you, your child, spouse, or another family member has endured a traumatic brain injury as the result of someone else’s misdeeds or negligence, they need to be held responsible. Irrespective of whether the injury was caused by a car accident, a fall, a sports accident, or domestic violence, you may have grounds for a lawsuit.
Some persons and entities that could be held accountable include:
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A driver who caused a car accident
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A truck operator and/or the company who employs them or owns the truck involved in an accident
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Mechanics
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Vehicle manufacturers and vehicle part manufacturers
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Companies that manufacture helmets and other protective headgear
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Commercial or private property managers or owners
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Business managers or owners
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Supervisors or employers
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Persons convicted of domestic violence
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Persons with special duties of care, such as school officials, nursing home operators, hospitals, childcare providers, and more
In short, anyone whose lack of care, lack of regard, or negligence made the injury possible or anyone who committed the act that led to an accident that resulted in a traumatic brain injury could be held liable.
The person who received the injury is entitled to bring a suit, as is an immediate family member if the victim is unable due to incapacity, injury, or death.
How Much Is My Brain Injury Case Worth?
The actual dollar value of a brain injury case hangs on manifold factors that are completely unique to each individual case.
The Peterson Law Firm brain injury attorneys will review your potential case and give you a targeted estimate of your claim’s worth based on factors such as:
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If you shared in liability for your accident
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How much insurance coverage is available
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The events leading up to the accident
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The nature and degree of brain injury you sustained
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The long-term repercussions associated with your injury
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Whether or you will require continuing medical care
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Whether or not your injury caused you a permanent disability or impairment that doesn’t allow you to work
The ultimate value of your case will be calculated by adding up your economic and non-economic damages. Our lawyers may consult with financial and medical professionals to properly assess all of your damages.
What Compensation Am I Entitled to for My Brain Injury in Columbia, Missouri?
The law in Missouri affords you the right to pursue financial compensation for the damages you accrued when another party is liable for your injuries.
You might be entitled to compensation for economic and non-economic damages such as:
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Lost income and lost or diminished earning capacity if you were left impaired or disabled
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Medical costs, including current and anticipated costs for ongoing care and treatment
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Pain, suffering, emotional anguish, mental distress, decreased quality of life, and disfigurement
In a few rare exceptions, you could even be entitled to collect punitive damages. A jury can award these damages in the event that the defendant displayed intentional wrongdoing or egregious misconduct.
How Much Time Do I Have to File a Brain Injury Suit in Missouri?
In Missouri, the personal injury statute of limitations is five years. This means you have to file your brain injury suit before this deadline lapses, or you will be barred from recovering and financial compensation via the civil court system.
Five years may seem like quite a long time, but unforeseen events can cause delays that make it much more difficult to properly investigate your accident, collect evidence, and establish liability. Contact the Peterson Law Firm immediately after your accident to protect your brain injury case.
Receive a Free Consultation With a Reputable Columbia Brain Injury Lawyer
Our Columbia brain injury attorneys are prepared to put their decades of experience to work for you. We know how detrimental a brain injury can be and how it can impact you and your family for the rest of your life. Our team will work tirelessly in the pursuit of the full amount of compensation the law entitles you to.
Contact our law office today for a complimentary consultation with a Columbia personal injury attorney. We operate on a contingency fee basis, so you pay nothing out of pocket unless we win your case.