Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are among the most serious injuries you can sustain. These injuries, which arise when you suffer a blow to the head or when your head experiences violent movement, causing the brain to strike the skull, are pretty common in slip-and-fall accidents and car accidents. Knowing what to do after an accident that causes a TBI can protect your health, legal rights, and future. Below are the steps to take after an accident in Kansas or Missouri that causes a traumatic brain injury.
1. Seek Prompt Medical Attention
If you have sustained a blow to the head or your head has experienced violent movement in an accident, you should seek immediate medical attention. Even if your symptoms seem mild, do not delay seeing a doctor, as those symptoms could be warning signs of a severe brain injury. Traumatic brain injuries often worsen over time if left undiagnosed and untreated.
Some of the symptoms you should not ignore include;
- Confusion
- Nausea
- Dizziness
- Slurred speech
Apart from protecting your health, prompt medical attention can help protect your legal rights. Seeking immediate medical attention creates a crucial paper trail for your personal injury case. By seeking prompt medical attention, you can prevent insurance companies from arguing that you sustained your injury in a different incident, that your injury is not as severe as you claim, or that you failed to mitigate damages.
2. Report the Accident
Reporting the accident to the police ensures there is an official record of the accident. A police report can help clarify how the accident happened. This report contains witness statements, the time and location of the accident, and initial observations by the police. A police report can help establish liability and support your injury case.
3. Follow Your Doctor’s Orders
It’s vital that you follow all the instructions your doctor gives you. For instance, attend all follow-up appointments, see all the specialists you are referred to, and take prescribed medications. Compliance helps build a solid medical record, which is key to proving the legitimacy and extent of your TBI. In Kansas and Missouri, insurers often monitor whether accident victims follow their doctor’s instructions. Missing appointments, not seeing the specialists you have been referred to, or failing to take prescribed medication, can give insurance companies a reason to devalue or deny your claim.
4. Document Your Injury
Make sure to document your experience after suffering a TBI in an accident in Kansas or Missouri. Symptoms like memory issues, mood swings, difficulty concentrating, and sleep disturbances may not be visible on a CT or MRI scan. Keep a daily journal tracking such symptoms and how they affect your daily life. This documentation, combined with medical records, can help you build a strong personal injury case.
5. Contact a TBI Attorney
TBI cases are complex and require a deep understanding of medical issues and local personal injury laws. An attorney with experience handling traumatic brain injury cases in Kansas or Missouri can help in several ways, including;
- Investigating the accident and determining fault
- Gathering evidence
- Calculating damages (both past and future)
- Negotiating with insurance companies on your behalf
The at-fault party will most likely have an attorney. You also deserve someone who understands what you are going through and will fight aggressively for you.
Contact Us for Legal Help
Our experienced brain injury counsel at Griggs Injury Law is ready to discuss your case and help you recover the compensation you deserve. Contact us today to schedule a consultation.
