Traumatic Brain Injury Attorneys in Olathe, KS
Representing victims of traumatic brain injuries in Kansas
A traumatic brain injury can alter the course of your life forever. Victims are often lucky to have survived the accident that caused the TBI. While you are grateful to be alive, you do not have to allow the responsible party to get away with what they did to cause your injury.
The Olathe traumatic brain injury attorneys of Kansas City Accident Injury Attorneys understand that having a traumatic brain injury alters your and your family's lives forever. This is why we work diligently to bring negligent parties to justice and obtain compensation on your behalf. We have been handling traumatic brain injury cases for the last three decades and know what it takes to build a strong case. Contact us to get started today.
Are traumatic brain injuries common?
The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) reports that in 2020, there were 64,362TBI-related deaths; in 2019, there were 223,135 TBI-related injuries. This means there were more than 176 deaths and more than 611 injuries related to TBI per day. Even with treatment such as rehabilitation programs and services, the CDC says, more than half of victims will die within five years or will see a total decline in their lifestyles.
Living with a traumatic brain injury also puts you at risk of dying in other ways according to the CDC. The statistics can be scary. With a traumatic brain injury, you are:
- 50 times more likely to die from a seizure
- 9 times more likely to die from infections
- 6 times as likely as the average person to die from pneumonia
- 11 times more likely to die from drug poisoning
This makes living with a TBI a daily battle and often leaves caretakers on edge. You are truly left living your life one moment at a time. This is why our Olathe traumatic brain injury attorneys work tirelessly to get justice for victims.
What are the different classifications of TBIs?
There are two main classifications for traumatic brain injuries.
Closed head wounds
Of the two types of TBIs, this may sound like the less severe of the two, but they leave victims' lives just as altered as an open head wound. If you suffer a closed head wound your skull is not penetrated, so the brain essentially hits the inside of your skull. Think of this like your brain hitting two walls back and forth like a ping pong ball. There are subcategories of closed head wounds including:
- Contusions: This injury can happen during an open head wound or a closed head wound. This type of injury causes the brain to bruise and blood to leak inside of the head when blood vessels are damaged. There can also be blood clots or fractures.
- Concussions: This subcategory can also happen during an open head wound but is most common in closed head injuries. Essentially the blood vessels of the brain are damaged when they are exposed to force. You may experience a blackout episode or lose consciousness entirely.
- Diffuse axonal injury (DAI): This type of injury can cause instant death if severe enough. The brain will shake back and forth, and it will interfere with the function and the chemicals of your brain.
Open head wounds
Unlike closed head wounds, an open head wound happens when the skull is cracked, broken, or penetrated in any way. These injuries can happen in any number of ways and can cause swelling in the brain. It can lead to sepsis and infection. Any head wound is life-altering and should be treated properly. These injuries require a lifetime of care which is why you will need an Olathe traumatic brain injury attorney fighting to obtain compensation on your behalf.
Do I have a case?
Call now or fill out a form to receive a free confidential consultation
Who is susceptible to brain injuries in Olathe?
While anyone can be the victim of a TBI, there are certain groups of people that have been found to be at a higher risk than others. These groups include:
- Young adults: Those between the ages of 15 and 24 may be at a higher risk as this age group often participates in various recreational activities.
- Children: Concussions can be common among children due to their participation in sports and overall rambunctiousness.
- Men: The risky behaviors that some men participate in can put them at risk for TBIs. Behavior such as spending, fighting also referred to as physical assault, and driving under the influence attributed to their risk factors.
- Seniors: As we age our mobility and balance are affected. Seniors over the age of 60 are at a higher risk of falling which can cause them to hit their heads.
What causes traumatic brain injuries?
There are many factors and situations that can cause a traumatic brain injury. If it is caused due to negligence or another party you can file a personal injury lawsuit with the help of an Olathe traumatic brain injury attorney. Some of the most common ways a TBI can happen include:
- Motor vehicle accidents: car, truck, and motorcycle
- Acts of violence
- Slips, tips, and falls
- Struck by falling objects
- Workplace accidents
- Defective products
- Medical malpractice
- Sports accidents
What are the short-term consequences of TBIs?
Depending on the severity of your injury you may experience short or long-term consequences. Short-term consequences cause your mental state to be altered for a shorter period of time which can be for months or even a few years. Some symptoms or consequences include:
- Numbness
- Tired eyes or blurred vision
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- Nausea and constant vomiting
- Lightheadedness
- Dilantin of pupils (one or both)
- Bad taste in your mouth that does not go away
What are the long-term consequences of TBIs?
There are several lifelong consequences associated with a traumatic brain injury, you should also keep in mind that depending on the area that affected the brain you can also experience specific cognitive changes. If the frontal lobe was damaged you may have a hard time problem solving, impulse control, and reasoning. If the left side of your brain was damaged you will have speech problems, problems performing routine tasks, and difficulty with logic. In general, lifelong consequences can include:
- Dizziness
- Fatigue
- Memory loss
- Depression
- Seizures
- Sleep disturbances
- Balance problems
- Paralysis
- Mood swings
- Articulation problems
Will my loved one need a caretaker?
Those who suffer from a traumatic brain injury will often require long-term care. This means they may need a permanent caretaker. You may hire a caretaker but often, the family of the victim will become the permanent caretaker. This means those family members you are in charge of offering around the clock, and may become overwhelmed or suffer burnout after some time. Their lives are forever changed as well.
This is part of what a jury award or settlement will cover: the costs associated with long-term care. Whether you choose to keep your loved one at home or must bring your loved one to a residential treatment center to get the care they need, you should not have to shoulder that financial burden.
How much is my Olathe TBI case worth?
There is no way to determine the exact worth of a case because every brain injury is different. Our Olathe TBI attorneys can help you seek compensation for the following damages:
- Medical expenses associate with treatment and long-term care
- Lost wages and loss of future earning potential for the victim and, if applicable, the caretaker
- Pain and suffering, both physical and emotional, of the victim
- Loss of companionship for the family members
- Property losses associated with the accident
- Funeral and burial expenses if the injury proves fatal
Do you have a traumatic brain injury lawyer near me?
Our Olathe office is located at 110 South Cherry Street, Suite 102. Call for an appointment. We also have other offices throughout Kansas and Missouri.
Work with an experienced Olathe traumatic brain injury attorney
An Olathe traumatic brain injury attorney will work to seek compensation for lost wages, disability benefits, medical expenses, pain and suffering, caretaker expenses, and more. While we may not be able to get you your entire life back, we will work to make your life as comfortable as possible while holding the negligent parties responsible for their actions. You should not be left to suffer because of another person's careless actions.
No matter who the responsible party is we will fight as aggressively as possible to ensure they are brought to justice. Call Kansas City Accident Injury Attorneys at 816-290-7621, or complete our contact form to schedule a free initial consultation.
Olathe Office
110 S Cherry St Suite 103,
Olathe, KS 66061