Traumatic Brain Injuries After an Accident

Traumatic Brain Injuries

A traumatic brain injury (TBI) is one of the most serious injuries that can result from any kind of accident, and one of the most often missed in the hours and days after a crash. Adrenaline masks symptoms. Imaging looks “normal.” And the injured person tells the ER they feel okay because, in that moment, they do. Weeks later, the headaches, memory problems, mood changes, and cognitive fog set in. By then, the case has often been complicated by gaps in treatment and recorded statements that downplay the injury. Understanding TBIs: what they are, how they show up, and how they’re proven is essential for any Missouri accident victim with a head injury.

What Is a Traumatic Brain Injury?

A TBI is any disruption in normal brain function caused by an external force; a blow, jolt, or penetrating injury to the head. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, TBIs contribute to a substantial number of deaths and disability cases in the United States every year. They range from mild concussions that resolve in weeks to severe injuries that permanently alter cognition, personality, and physical function.

Common Causes of TBIs in Missouri

TBIs show up across virtually every type of personal injury case the firm handles, including:

• Car accidents. Especially rear-end collisions, T-bones, and rollovers where the head strikes a window, steering wheel, or headrest
• Truck accidents. High-energy impacts that produce severe brain trauma
• Motorcycle accidents. Riders thrown from bikes face direct head impact
• Bicycle accidents and pedestrian accidents. Vulnerable road users sustain disproportionate head injuries
• Slip and fall accidents. Falls onto hard surfaces produce some of the most serious TBIs the firm sees

For St. Louis-area cases, the firm also handles dedicated TBI claims on its main practice page.

Categories of Traumatic Brain Injury

Medical providers generally categorize TBIs by severity:

• Mild TBI (concussion). Brief loss of consciousness or none at all. Symptoms typically resolve within weeks but can persist for months or years (post-concussion syndrome).
• Moderate TBI. Loss of consciousness for minutes to hours. Imaging often shows abnormalities. Recovery is longer and may be incomplete.
• Severe TBI. Extended unconsciousness or coma. Often results in permanent cognitive, physical, or emotional impairment.

The severity classification doesn’t always match the long-term impact. “Mild” TBIs can produce lasting symptoms that derail careers and relationships.

Symptoms to Watch for After Any Head Trauma

• Headache that worsens or doesn’t go away
• Nausea, vomiting, dizziness, or balance problems
• Sensitivity to light or noise
• Blurred vision or ringing in the ears
• Memory problems, confusion, or difficulty concentrating
• Mood changes, irritability, anxiety, or depression
• Sleep disturbances; both insomnia and excessive sleep
• Difficulty finding words or following conversations
• Slurred speech or coordination problems

Any of these symptoms after a head injury; even days or weeks later, warrants prompt medical evaluation. Documenting symptoms early is one of the most important steps in preserving evidence for your case.

Why TBI Cases Are Different From Other Injury Claims

TBIs are sometimes called “invisible injuries” because they don’t always show up on standard imaging the way a broken bone does on an X-ray. That makes them harder to prove and easier for insurance companies to minimize. Successful Missouri TBI cases typically require:

• Neurological and neuropsychological testing. Cognitive evaluations that document deficits in memory, attention, processing speed, and executive function
• Advanced imaging. MRI, DTI (diffusion tensor imaging), and functional MRI can reveal injuries CT scans miss
• Treatment records from neurologists, neuropsychologists, speech-language pathologists, and rehabilitation specialists at Missouri trauma centers
• Lay witness testimony. Statements from family, friends, and coworkers describing changes in personality, memory, and ability to function
• Vocational evaluations. Documenting how cognitive deficits affect the ability to work
• Life care plans. Projecting future medical, rehabilitation, and support costs

What TBI Cases Are Worth

There is no cap on damages in standard Missouri personal injury cases involving TBI. Recoverable damages include past and future medical expenses, lost earnings and lost earning capacity, life care plan costs, and substantial pain and suffering compensation. Because TBIs often produce permanent impairment, settlements and verdicts in serious cases are among the highest in personal injury practice.

Why Acting Quickly Matters

Three reasons to involve an attorney early in any TBI case:

• Symptoms develop over time. Documentation in the first weeks is critical to connecting later symptoms to the accident.
• Insurance companies use early statements against you. Telling an adjuster you “feel fine” before symptoms appear can permanently damage the value of your claim.
• Evidence disappears. Surveillance footage, vehicle data, and witness memories all degrade.

The Missouri statute of limitations gives most injury victims five years, but the strongest cases are built immediately after the injury.

Talk to a Missouri TBI Attorney

If you or someone you love sustained a head injury in any kind of Missouri accident, the stakes are too high to navigate alone. Rob Schmittgens has handled traumatic brain injury cases from intake through resolution for nearly a decade. Contact Schmittgens Injury Law Firm for a free consultation. There’s no fee unless we recover compensation for you.

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