Traumatic Brain Injury Attorneys in Liberty & Kansas City, Missouri
Brain injuries are among the most complex and misunderstood personal injury claims. Symptoms may be difficult to detect and often change over time. When they do appear, they can include headaches, concentration problems, memory loss, dizziness, mood swings, fatigue, nausea, blurred vision, behavioral changes, and loss of cognitive function.
Victims of brain injuries often find themselves dealing with complex litigation while trying to come to terms with recently acquired cognitive impairments. This is an extremely frustrating and challenging experience. At Dougherty & Holloway, we work with medical and rehabilitative experts to investigate the full range of your injuries and make sure your symptoms are recognized, documented, and taken seriously by the defendant and their insurer.
You need experienced attorneys in your corner who understand the process, understand the difficulties you are experiencing, and are able to guide you forward with care.
How Insurance Companies Fight Brain Injury Claims
Insurance companies use aggressive tactics to minimize or deny brain injury claims. It is important to understand what you are up against and to take steps to protect your case early.
Unless there is objective evidence of a brain injury on an MRI or CT scan, insurers will argue that you are exaggerating your injuries or that you had psychological problems before the accident. In their search for pre-existing conditions, insurers will dig into your entire life history. School records, medical records, evidence of drug use, and any psychological or psychiatric records are subject to examination.
Insurers also monitor social media content posted by you, your family, or your friends. Any conversations with your insurance company after the accident are likely to be recorded. In some cases, insurers have gone through claimants' trash in search of evidence. Anything that can be used to contradict your claim will be used against you.
If a vehicle was involved in your accident, it is not uncommon for an insurance company to have the vehicle crushed as soon as possible, destroying your ability to obtain evidence of mechanical failures.
How We Build a Brain Injury Case
- Work with medical and rehabilitative experts to document the full extent of your injuries
- Obtain objective medical evidence through MRI, CT scans, and advances in neurological testing
- Gather before-and-after witness testimony from family, friends, and coworkers
- Counter insurance company arguments about pre-existing conditions
- Ensure your injuries are fully documented and taken seriously by the defendant, insurer, and jury
- Protect your case from insurance company evidence destruction tactics
- Coordinate with your medical team on prognosis and long-term care needs
How We Handle Your Brain Injury Case
Evaluate Your Situation
We review the circumstances of your accident and the nature of your symptoms to determine the strength of your brain injury claim.
Investigate and Document
We work with medical professionals and gather witness testimony to build a comprehensive record of your injuries and how they have changed your life.
Counter Insurance Tactics
We anticipate and respond to the strategies insurers use to deny or minimize brain injury claims, including arguments about pre-existing conditions and subjective symptoms.
Pursue Full Compensation
We fight for compensation covering medical expenses, rehabilitation, lost wages, diminished earning capacity, pain and suffering, and long-term care needs.
Brain Injury FAQ
What are the signs of a traumatic brain injury after an accident?
Symptoms can appear immediately or develop over days and weeks. Common signs include persistent headaches, difficulty concentrating, memory problems, dizziness, mood changes, fatigue, nausea, blurred vision, and changes in behavior or personality. If you experience any of these symptoms after an accident, seek medical attention immediately.
What if my brain injury does not show up on a CT scan or MRI?
Not all brain injuries are visible on standard imaging. Insurance companies often use this to argue that the injury does not exist. However, advances in neurological testing and comprehensive evaluations by specialists can provide objective evidence of brain injuries that traditional scans may miss. We work with medical experts who understand these diagnostic tools.
How much is a brain injury case worth?
The value of a brain injury case depends on many factors, including the severity of the injury, the extent of medical treatment required, lost wages, diminished earning capacity, and the impact on your quality of life. Brain injury cases can involve significant long-term costs for rehabilitation, therapy, and ongoing care. Ed and Phil will evaluate the full scope of your potential recovery during your consultation.
Can I file a brain injury claim if my symptoms appeared days or weeks after the accident?
Yes. It is common for brain injury symptoms to appear gradually. The important thing is to seek medical attention as soon as symptoms develop and to document the connection between the accident and your symptoms. Delayed symptoms do not disqualify you from pursuing a claim.
Related Practice Areas
Request a free consultation or call (816) 891-9990.
About Dougherty & Holloway, LLC
Dougherty & Holloway, LLC is a personal injury law firm based in Liberty, Missouri, serving clients throughout Kansas City, Clay County, and the surrounding communities in Missouri and Kansas. Our partners, Ed Dougherty and Philip Holloway, bring more than 70 years of combined trial experience to every case we handle.
We focus exclusively on personal injury law, including car accidents, motorcycle wrecks, semi-truck collisions, traumatic brain injuries, medical malpractice, wrongful death, slip and fall, nursing home abuse, product defect, construction site, highway and guardrail, and other personal injury claims. Every consultation is free and confidential, and we work on a contingency basis — you pay nothing unless we win your case.
Ed and Phil personally handle every case from intake through trial. You will never be passed off to a junior associate or a call center. To learn more, read who we are, review our verdicts and settlements, or contact us directly. You can also request a free consultation online or call (816) 891-9990.