Traumatic Brain Injury

If you or a loved one has sustained a serious head injury, you understand how debilitating and life changing a traumatic brain injury (TBI) can be. TBIs send 2.5 million Americans to the emergency room or hospital each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). If you have suffered from a TBI in an accident where you were not at fault, you should seek the representation of a qualified attorney to ensure that you recover the damages to which you are entitled.

There are many types of accidents that can cause a TBI, including the following:

• Falls are the most common cause of TBIs. The fall could happen after rolling out of a bed, after a bathroom slip or after tripping on steps. The elderly and young children are especially susceptible to TBIs.
• Car accidents can cause TBIs from the head hitting an interior part of the car or the airbag. Whiplash and concussions can also cause TBIs. Drivers and passengers can experience TBIs as well as pedestrians and bicyclists involved in an accident.
• Violent attacks are estimated to cause 20 percent of TBIs. Violence includes wounds from gunshots, assaults and domestic violence. Included in this figure are victims of child abuse and shaken baby syndrome.
• Sports injuries can lead to TBIs. Football, boxing, wrestling, and hockey are all contact sports that are known to cause TBIs. Non-contact sports can also cause brain injury – soccer, baseball, and skateboarding can leave participants with TBIs as well.
• Combat injuries can cause brain damage. Explosive blasts are a significant cause of brain injury in soldiers.

After sustaining a brain injury, there are many conditions that an accident victim can suffer from for years. These complications include:

• Seizures.
• Blood vessel damage.
• Nerve damage, which can result in muscle paralysis, double vision, loss of vision, loss of sense of smell and trouble swallowing.
• Cognitive issues such as trouble with memory, reasoning, concentrating and judgment.
• Executive functioning issues such as trouble multi-tasking, organizing, problem-solving and decision-making.
• Problems with communication including difficulty writing, reading, speaking or listening.
• Emotional changes such as depression, mood swings, irritability, and anxiety.
• Degenerative brain diseases such as Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and dementia.
• Coma or vegetative states.

Individuals who sustain traumatic brain injuries as a result of the negligence of another are often entitled to significant compensation. In many TBI cases, victims can recover for their medical expenses, lost income, and physical and emotional pain and suffering, as well as future losses which have yet to be realized. For this reason, victims should protect their rights by retaining a St. Louis TBI lawyer as soon as they can.

The attorneys of Kilo Flynn are available to assist clients throughout Missouri and Illinois that have cases involving TBI. We represent clients in the City of St. Louis and the Missouri counties of St. Louis, St. Charles, Lincoln, Jefferson, Franklin and Crawford, and the Illinois counties of Madison, St. Clair and Monroe. To schedule a free consultation, call our office today at 314-647-8910 or contact us online.