A traumatic brain injury can upend a life without ever showing up on a scan. Someone can walk away from a crash, pass an ER exam, and still develop memory problems, mood changes, or chronic headaches that build over the following weeks. Insurance companies know this gap exists, and some use it to argue an injury isn’t real if imaging looks normal. Common causes include motorcycle accidents, falls, and workplace accidents involving falling objects, and even a “mild” TBI, a concussion, can produce lasting cognitive and emotional effects that outlast the recovery period doctors originally expected.
Because symptoms are often invisible to a bystander and don’t always appear on a CT scan or MRI, building a credible claim usually means combining neurological evaluation, neuropsychological testing, and consistent documentation of symptoms over time. A brain injury claim needs to cover medical treatment and rehabilitation, lost income if you can’t return to your prior role, and the harder-to-quantify impact on relationships and daily functioning; family members and coworkers often provide meaningful testimony here, since they see day-to-day changes a medical chart doesn’t fully capture.
Don’t dismiss subtle symptoms as just being tired or stressed. Get evaluated by a physician who specializes in brain injuries, and keep a daily log of symptoms.
Peter A. Jouras Jr. has represented brain injury clients across Kansas and Missouri for more than 30 years and understands how these cases get undervalued. Call (913) 677-1999 for a free consultation.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I have to file a brain injury claim?
Two years in Kansas (K.S.A. 60-513), five years in Missouri (RSMo § 516.120).
Why is a brain injury hard to prove?
Symptoms are often invisible to others and don’t always show on imaging, so the claim relies on neurological testing and consistent documentation over time.
Can symptoms appear weeks after the accident?
Yes, which is why it’s worth having a legal file open early even if you’re still in the middle of treatment.
What is the difference between a concussion and a severe traumatic brain injury?
A concussion is considered a mild TBI that often resolves over time, whereas severe TBIs involve long-term structural or functional damage, requiring ongoing care and support.
How do neuropsychological evaluations help establish a TBI claim?
Neuropsychological testing objectively measures cognitive deficits, memory loss, executive dysfunction, and emotional changes that standard diagnostic imaging like CTs or MRIs might miss.
For your free consultation, call (913) 677-1999
