Head Injury Attorneys

Serving Kansas City, Independence, Blue Springs & Lee’s Summit

Head and brain injury cases require special handling, both from a medical and legal standpoint. Principal Partner Doug Horn & Lead Litigation Attorney Laurie Del Percio have an extensive track record in head/brain trauma, including legal cases involving car accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, fall accidents, and work-related accidents.

Degrees of Traumatic Brain Injury

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is the term used when the brain tissue is damaged by an external, mechanical force. TBI is usually accompanied by an altered state of consciousness. From there, symptoms can vary from very severe and disabling to symptoms that are subtle and are hard to detect.

Brain injuries are medically classified as mild, moderate, and severe.

  • Mild Brain Injury. This is an injury that usually results in headaches, neck pain, dizziness, loss of concentration, and ringing in the ears.
  • Moderate Brain Injury. A feeling of confusion and/or a loss of concentration are pronounced. Vomiting, convulsions, and the inability to wake up are common in a moderate to severe brain injury.
  • Severe Brain Injury. This type of injury is considered to a “catastrophic injury” and may involve a stupor, coma or a vegetative state.

The special medical considerations that come into play most often are with the mild cases of brain injury. A mild brain injury tends to produce subtle symptoms which can be overlooked. Moreover, even mild brain injuries can result in long-term limitations and difficulties. Also, it is important that medical and rehabilitative recommendations need to independently investigated.

Following are some of the more subtle symptoms associated with traumatic brain injury:

  • Personality Changes
  • Memory Problems (Post-Traumatic Amnesia)
  • Emotional Instability
  • Altered Behavior
  • Concentration Deficits
  • Coping Issues

Concussions

A concussion is considered a traumatic brain injury. While many people associate concussions with loss of consciousness, concussions frequently happen without loss of consciousness. For this reason, concussions can go undetected because victims do not realize the full extent of their head injuries. Frequently, the symptoms of a mild or moderate concussion go unreported to the treating doctors and this why it is vital that any impact to the head be reported as soon as possible to the emergency or attending doctor.

Concussions are usually diagnosed based on the historical account of trauma and may include some or all of the usual head injury symptoms, including nausea and vomiting, headache, dizziness, balance issues, fatigue and sleep interruption, concentration lapses, irritability, slurred speech, blurred vision, sensitivity to light & sound, loss of memory, mood changes, and confusion.

Concussions are common in motor vehicle accidents, especially when the head is propelled backwards, forward, or to the side upon impact. Although concussions can occur with the head impacting the interior of the car, concussions are almost always diagnosed when the head has struck the interior of the vehicle.

As you might imagine, motorcycle and bicycle accidents are a common source for concussion even when the victim is wearing a proper helmet. The sharp blow to the head causes the brain to forcefully hit the interior of the skull. It is important to keep a close eye on concussion even after a person is considered “medically recovered.”

A medical diagnosis term that is frequently used to describe residual problems is “post-concussion syndrome.” Because medical treatment options are minimal to treat “post-concussion” syndrome, it is important to well-document the concussion recovery through both the treating doctors and any other doctors called upon to evaluate the client.

Another factor that must be taken into account by an attorney representing the concussion victim, is the fact that, because of the trauma resulting in the first concussion, the client is at much greater risk should they suffer a second concussion. The first concussion is considered “medically significant” and a second concussion may result in Repetitive Head Injury Syndrome.

Although the outcome of multiple head injuries has not been well-studied, neurological experts agree that the second concussion will cause more pronounced symptoms and special medical testing and imaging is warranted. While medical experts are usually hesitant to render opinions concerning the long range prognosis of concussion, there seems to be little argument that long-term brain function will be compromised to some degree and the risk of developing a significant neurological condition is more likely.

Contact Us

Horn Law offers you a free investigation. Legal consultation, case assessments, and examinations from an experienced personal injury attorney are important when you are working with insurance claim agents or other insurance company representative. Contact Horn Law at 816-795-7500 free of charge for legal consultation.