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Suffered a Traumatic Brain Injury in Missouri?
If you suffer a traumatic brain injury in an accident, the ramifications may be severe. In some cases, you could sustain permanent side effects that may impact your ability to work and care for yourself. Considering the costliness of a traumatic brain injury, it may be necessary to investigate the legal avenues for recovering compensation following an accident.
If you or a loved one has suffered a TBI as a result of another person’s negligence, it may be possible to hold them accountable with the help of a dedicated catastrophic injury attorney. A Missouri traumatic brain injury lawyer may be able to help you with recovery as well as advise you throughout any potential settlement meetings.
How Common Are Traumatic Brain Injuries?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there were 68,663 TBI-related deaths in the United States in 2023 and about 214,110 TBI-related hospitalizations in 2020. Those numbers do not include the many people treated in an emergency room and sent home, or those who never see a doctor at all. Falls and motor vehicle crashes are among the most common causes of brain injuries that lead to a hospital stay.
How Do Doctors Grade a Traumatic Brain Injury?
Emergency doctors often use the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), which scores eye opening, speech and movement from 3 to 15, to sort brain injuries by severity. The grade matters for treatment, but it does not tell the whole story: a "mild" injury can still cause months or years of headaches, memory problems and trouble working.
| Severity | Glasgow Coma Scale | What it often looks like |
|---|---|---|
| Mild TBI (including concussion) | 13–15 | Brief or no loss of consciousness, confusion, headaches, dizziness, memory and concentration problems. Scans are often normal. |
| Moderate TBI | 9–12 | Longer loss of consciousness or confusion, findings on CT or MRI, and lasting problems with thinking, mood or movement. |
| Severe TBI | 3–8 | Coma or extended unconsciousness, often with surgery, long hospital stays and permanent disability. |
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Because mild brain injuries often do not show up on a CT scan, these claims usually rely on medical records, neuropsychological testing, and the testimony of treating doctors, family members and coworkers who saw how the person changed. A Missouri traumatic brain injury lawyer builds that record from the start.
What Missouri and Illinois Laws Apply to a Brain Injury Claim?
| Rule | Missouri | Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Filing deadline | 5 years for most injury claims (RSMo 516.120); 3 years for wrongful death (RSMo 537.100) | 2 years for most injury claims (735 ILCS 5/13-202); 1 year against local government (745 ILCS 10/8-101) |
| Shared fault | Pure comparative fault: damages reduced by your share | Barred if more than 50% at fault (735 ILCS 5/2-1116) |
| Damage caps | No cap in most injury cases; caps on non-economic damages in medical malpractice (RSMo 538.210) | No cap on non-economic damages |
| Injured children | A settlement for a minor generally needs court approval (RSMo 507.184) | Settlements for minors also generally need court approval |
| Punitive damages | Require clear and convincing proof of reckless or intentional conduct (RSMo 510.261) | Allowed for willful and wanton conduct, but not in medical malpractice cases |
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When a brain injury leaves someone unable to manage their own affairs, a family member may need to be appointed as guardian or conservator before a claim can be settled. For other life-changing injuries, see our Missouri spinal cord injury lawyer and Missouri catastrophic injury lawyer pages. If a crash caused your injury, our Missouri car accident lawyer page explains how those claims work.
Award-Winning Missouri Traumatic Brain Injury Lawyer
Tyson Mutrux has recovered millions for personal injury victims across Columbia, St. Louis, and throughout Missouri and Illinois. Tyson Mutrux served one year on the executive board of the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis Young Lawyers Division. Later, he served as a Representative and as a Delegate to the American Bar Association.
Tyson Mutrux has spent his career fighting for injury victims and their families across St. Louis, Columbia, and throughout Missouri and Illinois. As a Missouri traumatic brain injury lawyer, he represents people living with concussions and more serious brain injuries after car, truck and motorcycle crashes, falls and other negligence.
A former State Farm claims representative, he knows how insurers try to cap a lifetime of care at a quick settlement, and how to fight back.
Recognition for Tyson Mutrux
- 2024–2026Selected for Super LawyersSuper Lawyers
- 2025Best Injury Lawyer in ColumbiaInside Columbia Magazine
- 2024Top 10 Car Accident Lawyers in ColumbiaTrust Analytica
- 2023Best Car Accident Lawyer in ColumbiaExpertise.com
- 2015Nation's Top One Percent of AttorneysNational Association of Distinguished Counsel
- 2014Top 100 and Top 40 Under 40The National Trial Lawyers
- 2012Superb 10/10 RatingAvvo
- U.S. ArmyArmy Commendation MedalMilitary service
Personal Injury Lawyers in the Community
When Is The Best Time To Get An MRI After A Brain Injury?
Getting an MRI at the right time after a car crash can make or break your traumatic brain injury claim. Insurance companies look for gaps in medical treatment and delays in imaging to argue that your injuries are not as serious as you claim or that they were caused by something other than the accident. If you were injured in a car crash in Missouri or Illinois and are experiencing headaches, dizziness, memory problems, or mood changes, do not wait. These are common symptoms of a traumatic brain injury that require immediate evaluation. Early MRI imaging connects your symptoms directly to the accident, a connection that becomes harder to prove the longer you wait.
What Should You Do After a Head Injury in Missouri?
Whether you were injured in a car crash, a slip and fall, a dog attack, or another incident, the steps you take afterward can help protect your health and preserve important evidence. Get medical care, document what happened, and keep records of your expenses and recovery. The right reporting process and legal deadlines depend on the circumstances of your injury.
Immediately After the Injury
- 01
Get medical attention. Seek emergency treatment if needed and arrange a medical evaluation as soon as possible. Follow your provider's advice, even if the injury initially seems minor.
- 02
Report the incident appropriately. Depending on what happened, contact the police, notify a property manager, report a dog attack to the appropriate local authority, or follow your employer's injury-reporting process.
- 03
Document the scene and your injuries. When safe and permitted, photograph the hazard, vehicles, damaged property, visible injuries, and surrounding conditions. Preserve the evidence before the scene changes or repairs are made.
- 04
Collect witness and incident details. Keep the names and contact information of witnesses and other involved parties. Save any incident report number, photographs, messages, or other records related to what happened.
In the Days After the Injury
- 05
Follow your treatment plan. Attend follow-up appointments and keep medical records, bills, prescriptions, and receipts. Consistent care also helps document how the injury affects your daily life.
- 06
Track your financial losses. Keep records of missed work, reduced earnings, travel to medical appointments, treatment expenses, and other costs related to your injury.
- 07
Be cautious with insurance communications. Before giving a recorded statement, signing a release, or accepting an offer, make sure you understand the possible effect on your claim. Consider seeking legal advice first.
- 08
Identify who may be responsible. Depending on the incident, responsibility could involve a driver, property owner, business, animal owner, employer, or another party. The available evidence and applicable law determine who may be liable.
- 09
Check the deadline for your claim. Missouri filing deadlines vary by claim type and circumstances. Some claims have shorter deadlines or special notice requirements. Seek legal guidance promptly so you can understand which rules apply to your situation.
Don't settle for less
The first offer is where insurers start. It is not where we finish.
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The insurer opened at $65,000 and later called $101,000 its top offer. Working closely with our client, we proved significant lost wages and settled for $400,000.
Figures are actual recoveries. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
What Is a Traumatic Brain Injury?
Traumatic brain injuries, or TBI’s, occur when a sudden jolt, blow or impact to the head, causing the brain to move inside the skull. This causes trauma to the brain and disruption in its functioning. TBI’s range widely from mild concussions in which the individuals stay fully conscious of significant brain injuries that cause unconsciousness, memory loss, paralysis, and potentially permanent side effects. In the most severe cases, individuals with TBI’s may be unable to return to work or even perform daily activities.
Regardless of the type of accident involved, the presence of negligence that caused the accident may allow injury victims to seek compensation for their injuries. This compensation may include damages for medical expenses, lost wages, and mental trauma, upon others. A victim who suffered a TBI as a direct result of another person’s negligence may want to consult a traumatic brain injury lawyer in St. Louis County about their options for recovery of damages.
How Long Do You Have to File a Brain Injury Claim in Missouri?
State laws establish statutes of limitation or periods during which individuals must file lawsuits or claims. These statutes apply to all types of lawsuits, as well as to personal injury claims that result in traumatic brain injuries.
Under Missouri Revisor of Statutes § 516.120, victims may file personal injury actions based on negligence within five years from the date of the accident that caused the injuries, with a few exceptions. A failure to meet this statute of limitations may result in losing the chance to seek compensation for a TBI sustained in an accident. Even if other parties were negligent in causing the accident, they would be free of liability unless individuals file their claims in time. A personal injury lawyer could help one with filing a traumatic brain injury claim within the statute of limitations.
Call a Missouri Traumatic Brain Injury Lawyer Today
Physical and mental changes in individuals due to traumatic brain injuries can be devastating not only for the individuals who sustain the injuries but also to their family members and friends. The stress of catastrophic injuries and the accompanying worries about finances often is overwhelming and highly challenging for these families. A Missouri head trauma attorney may be able to make a difference in this situation.
Documenting injuries, even if they do not arise for days or weeks following an accident, is crucial. Documenting this medical treatment is necessary for maintaining a valid personal injury claim. While you and your family focus your efforts on recovering both physically and mentally, legal counsel can focus on holding those parties accountable who caused your injuries. If you wish to get started on building an injury claim today, schedule a free case investigation as soon as possible.
Injured by someone else’s negligence?
Speak to a Personal Injury Lawyer
(888) 550-4026
Why Getting Diagnostic Brain Testing Is the Most Critical Step After a Crash?
Following a serious car, truck, or motorcycle collision in Missouri, visible injuries like broken bones or lacerations often steal immediate attention. However, traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are frequently “silent injuries”—hidden threats that worsen if left undetected. Minimizing a head impact as a “simple concussion” can obscure severe internal harm, including tissue swelling, bleeding, and long-term cognitive disruption.
At Mutrux Firm Injury Lawyers, we advise accident victims to prioritize comprehensive neurological diagnostic testing, such as CT scans and MRIs, immediately after an impact. Beyond protecting your physical health, immediate diagnostic imaging establishes an undeniable link between your accident and your brain injury. Corporate insurance adjusters routinely try to downplay head trauma as pre-existing or minor; having objective medical scans from day one gives your legal team the hard evidence required to fight for maximum compensation across Missouri and Illinois.
Where Do We Represent Brain Injury Victims in Missouri?
Mutrux Firm Injury Lawyers represents traumatic brain injury victims throughout Missouri and Illinois, not just in the metro areas where the firm is based. As a Missouri brain injury lawyer with statewide reach, Tyson Mutrux and his team travel to meet clients where the accident happened and where recovery is taking place.
- St. Louis County and the city of St. Louis, where dense urban intersections and heavy truck-route traffic produce frequent head-on and T-bone collisions.
- Sedalia and Pettis County, where rural two-lane roads and farm-to-market routes see high-speed crashes with limited shoulder space and delayed emergency response.
- Jefferson County, where a mix of highway commuter traffic and industrial routes leads to serious rear-end and rollover wrecks.
- St. Charles, where growth along interstate corridors has increased high-speed merging accidents and construction-zone collisions.
- Columbia, home to major highway interchanges and university-area traffic that creates pedestrian and intersection risks.
- Springfield, where regional trucking routes and highway junctions raise the risk of catastrophic commercial vehicle crashes.
- Joplin, where cross-state highway traffic and industrial corridors contribute to severe collision patterns.
- Metro East Illinois communities, including areas near major river crossings and interstate connectors linking into St. Louis.
Consultations are available by phone, video, or in person, whichever works best for a client dealing with injury or travel limits. Every matter begins with a free case investigation, and there is no fee unless the firm wins.
Concussion and Brain Injury Symptoms That Should Send You Back for Imaging
A clear CT scan in the emergency room only rules out immediate bleeding; it does not mean your brain escaped injury. Concussion symptoms often build over hours or unfold across the following weeks, especially after the adrenaline of a car, truck, or motorcycle crash wears off. Headaches that will not ease, dizziness, or a sudden loss of balance point to swelling that early imaging simply had not caught yet. Sensitivity to light and noise, trouble sleeping, blurred vision, and nausea often show up together as the brain struggles to regulate itself. Memory gaps, difficulty finding words, and unexpected irritability or personality shifts are frequently the first signs family members notice, even when the injured person feels fine. Seizures or weakness on one side of the body demand emergency care immediately, since they can signal bleeding or a serious paralysis risk. Any of these patterns justifies a follow-up MRI and a neurologist referral, and getting that evaluation on record matters just as much as the treatment itself. Insurance adjusters often claim that symptoms reported days or weeks later are unrelated to the wreck, so documenting them promptly protects your claim. A Missouri brain injury lawyer at Mutrux Firm Injury Lawyers can start a free case investigation while your symptoms and treatment history are still being built.
What Causes Most Traumatic Brain Injuries in Missouri and Illinois Crashes?
Most traumatic brain injuries our firm handles trace back to sudden acceleration, deceleration, or a direct blow that forces the brain to strike the inside of the skull. The severity often depends less on the type of accident and more on the speed and force involved, but the negligence behind each mechanism determines who pays for the damage.
- Rear-end and intersection car crashes: whiplash-style forces snap the head forward and back, and liability usually falls on the driver who ran a red light, followed too closely, or failed to yield.
- Semi-truck and commercial vehicle collisions: the size difference alone produces massive impact forces, and fault can extend beyond the driver to the trucking company for poor maintenance, driver fatigue, or hiring violations.
- Motorcycle crashes: riders absorb the full force of a collision, and insurers often raise helmet-use arguments to try to shift blame or reduce a settlement.
- Pedestrian and bicycle strikes: a driver who fails to see or yield to someone outside a vehicle can cause head trauma with almost no protection to soften the blow.
- Falls on unsafe or poorly maintained property: broken stairs, wet floors, or inadequate lighting point to a property owner’s failure to fix known hazards.
- Workplace and construction-site struck-by incidents: falling tools, unsecured equipment, or scaffolding failures often involve contractor or site-safety negligence.
- Sports and recreation impacts: repeated or severe blows during organized activity can raise questions about coaching decisions or equipment defects.
- Assaults: an intentional or reckless act by another person can support a personal injury claim separate from any criminal case.
Truck collisions, motorcycle crashes, and falls from height most often produce the catastrophic outcomes, permanent disability, or paralysis, that call for a catastrophic injury attorney rather than a standard claim. Pinning down the exact mechanism early, through crash reconstruction, vehicle damage analysis, and diagnostic imaging, is how a Missouri brain injury lawyer at our firm proves the accident actually caused the injury.
What Damages Can You Recover in a Missouri Brain Injury Lawsuit?
Missouri law allows brain injury victims to recover economic damages that cover concrete financial losses along with non-economic damages for the human toll of the injury. In rare cases involving egregious conduct, such as drunk driving, courts may also award punitive damages meant to punish the at-fault party rather than compensate the victim.
| Damage category | What it covers? | How it is proven? |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency and hospital care | Ambulance transport, ER treatment, and initial hospitalization following the impact | Hospital billing records and admission notes |
| Diagnostic imaging and follow-up | MRI and CT scan costs plus ongoing neurologist visits used to track the injury | Imaging reports and treating neurologist testimony |
| Surgery and rehabilitation | Neurosurgery, inpatient rehab, and cognitive or speech therapy needed to regain function | Surgical records and rehabilitation treatment plans |
| Attendant care | In-home aides or lifetime care for victims left with permanent disability or paralysis | Life care planner reports and physician disability ratings |
| Lost wages and earning capacity | Income missed during recovery and reduced future earnings tied to cognitive limits | Pay records, employer statements, and vocational expert analysis |
| Household services | Cost of hiring help for chores and tasks the victim can no longer safely perform | Receipts and testimony from family members |
| Pain and suffering | Physical pain endured during treatment and recovery from the head trauma | Medical records and personal or family testimony |
| Emotional suffering and personality changes | Anxiety, depression, and shifts in mood or behavior caused by the brain injury | Neuropsychological evaluations and testimony from treating physicians |
| Loss of enjoyment of life | Inability to participate in hobbies, sports, or activities enjoyed before the crash | Day-in-the-life documentation and witness statements |
| Loss of consortium | Strain on marriage and family relationships caused by the victim's condition | Testimony from the spouse or family members |
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Missouri applies comparative fault, meaning a settlement can shrink if the defense proves you share some blame for the crash. Insurance companies routinely lowball future care costs because they know most victims cannot calculate a lifetime of therapy, attendant care, and lost earning capacity on their own. A Missouri brain injury lawyer at Mutrux Firm Injury Lawyers builds a lifetime cost projection with medical and economic experts before any negotiation begins. Case reviews are free, and there is no fee unless the firm wins your case.
What Happens During a Free Case Investigation With Our Brain Injury Team?
Once you decide to move forward, our Missouri brain injury lawyer team makes the process direct and predictable.
- Reach out by phone, text, or the online form. Someone answers 24 hours a day, and you talk to a real person, not a call center script.
- An attorney conducts a free, no-obligation case investigation, reviewing the crash report, your MRI or CT imaging, and the timeline of your treatment so far.
- Our team preserves evidence right away: sending letters to insurance companies, locking down vehicle data and surveillance footage, and connecting you with neurologists and treating physicians.
- You receive a written breakdown of your options, including the five-year Missouri filing deadline under Missouri Revisor of Statutes § 516.120 and a realistic range for what your claim may be worth.
- If you decide to move forward, representation is on a contingency fee basis, so there is no upfront cost and no fee unless we win your case.
Bring or gather what you can before we talk, including your police report number, hospital discharge papers, photos of the scene or your injuries, witness names, and any letters from insurance companies. Speaking with Mutrux Firm Injury Lawyers costs nothing and never obligates you to file a claim.
Speak with a Missouri traumatic brain injury attorney
Have you been injured because of a car crash, truck crash, motorcycle crash or by other negligent acts of another? Our Missouri and Illinois Injury Lawyers can help you!
(888) 550-4026