​Springfield Brain & Spinal Cord Injury Attorneys

Representing Brain & Spinal Cord Injury Victims in Missouri

Victims of brain and spinal cord injuries often require lifelong medical treatment and personal care. At Lowther Johnson Attorneys at Law, LLC, we have the experience, knowledge, and skill to address your unique challenges. As one of the largest law firms in Springfield, we have the resources to pursue these often complex cases and seek full recovery of damages for our clients.

Securing dedicated legal representation is critical to protecting your rights and ensuring you have the financial resources necessary for your long term recovery in Missouri. Our Springfield brain and spinal cord injury attorneys thoroughly investigate the cause of your accident, collaborate with medical and economic experts to calculate the true lifetime cost of your care, and fiercely advocate against insurance companies on your behalf. By handling every complex legal burden, we allow you and your family to focus entirely on healing while we relentlessly pursue the maximum compensation you deserve.

Contact Lowther Johnson Attorneys LLC today for a free consultation to discuss your case and learn how we can help protect your future.

Understanding Brain Injuries

A traumatic brain injury (TBI) occurs when a sudden physical assault on the head causes damage to the brain. Closed head injuries involve a jarring of the brain against the skull, while penetrating or open head injuries involve skull fractures. Concussions are the mildest and most common form of TBI.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), an estimated 1.7 million Americans sustain a TBI every year, resulting in 52,000 fatalities and 275,000 hospitalizations. TBI is a contributing factor to a third of all injury-related deaths in the United States.

The diagnosis and treatment of TBI can be a long and challenging process for injury victims and their loved ones. Serious brain injuries can lead to long-lasting and even permanent cognitive, emotional, and functional impairments. Frontal lobe injuries can lead to behavioral changes and attention deficits, while temporal lobe injuries can interfere with language, memory, learning, and behavior. In some cases, these conditions require extensive rehabilitation or permanent care.

In Missouri, people living with a traumatic brain injury may cycle through emergency care at facilities in Springfield or across the state, inpatient rehabilitation, and ongoing outpatient treatment. This often means missed work, mounting medical bills, and sudden changes in family responsibilities. We understand how overwhelming it can feel to coordinate neurologists, therapists, and long-term planning while also trying to understand your legal options. When a TBI is caused by negligence, a brain injury attorney in Missouri can help you connect the medical picture to the legal claim so that your future care needs are fully addressed.

Understanding Spinal Cord Injuries

Spinal cord injury often occurs following trauma to the vertebrae that make up the spinal column. Because the spinal column is responsible for transmitting signals between the brain and the rest of the body, damage can result in temporary or permanent neurologic impairments, including paraplegia.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 200,000 Americans are currently living with spinal cord injuries. An estimated 12,000 to 20,000 new cases are diagnosed each year. Common back and neck injuries include spinal burst fractures, spinal wedge fractures, and whiplash.

Spinal cord injuries often have long-term health consequences. Neurologic impairments can impact nearly every body part, including the respiratory, gastrointestinal, and musculoskeletal systems. Victims who suffer quadriplegia, which involves the loss of physical ability in both the arms and legs, may lose the ability to care for themselves independently and face costly health care and living expenses.

For families in Springfield and throughout Missouri, a spinal cord injury can also require major changes to housing, transportation, and employment. Homes may need to be modified for wheelchairs and adaptive equipment, and caregivers often have to rearrange work schedules or leave jobs altogether. These very real costs are not always obvious in the first weeks after a crash or fall, which is why we work closely with medical professionals and life planners to understand what your daily life is likely to look like in the months and years ahead.

Common Causes of Brain & Spinal Cord Injuries

Brain and spinal cord injuries are often caused by severe trauma to the body. Many of these accidents occur on Missouri roadways, including motorcycle, truck, pedestrian, and auto accidents. Other common causes of head and back injuries include slip and fall accidents, sports injuries, medical malpractice, violence, construction falls, and other work-related accidents.

When a brain injury or spinal injury is caused by someone else’s wrongful or negligent conduct, you need qualified legal representation. At Lowther Johnson Attorneys at Law, LLC, our catastrophic injury lawyers are equipped to investigate your claim, file a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit, and aggressively protect your best interests.

The Legal Process After a Brain or Spinal Cord Injury in Missouri

Many people are unsure what the legal process looks like after a catastrophic injury and worry about adding more stress to an already difficult situation. In Missouri, most claims begin with a careful investigation and a claim submitted to the at-fault party’s insurance company. This stage can involve reviewing police reports, incident reports, photographs, and witness statements to understand how the crash, fall, or other event occurred and who may be responsible.

If a fair resolution cannot be reached through insurance negotiations, the next step may be to file a lawsuit in the appropriate Missouri court, such as the circuit court serving Springfield or the county where the incident occurred. Filing a lawsuit does not mean the case will automatically go to trial, but it does start formal discovery, where both sides exchange information, take depositions, and develop their positions. This can be particularly important in brain injury cases, where the effects of the injury are not always obvious to people who do not see you every day.

At different points in the process, there may be opportunities for mediation or settlement conferences to see if the parties can agree on a resolution without a trial. If settlement efforts are not successful, a judge or jury will ultimately decide the case based on the evidence presented. Understanding these stages helps you weigh the time, effort, and potential benefits of pursuing a claim so you can decide what makes sense for you and your family.

The Lifelong Impact of Spinal Cord Injuries

Spinal cord injuries are some of the most severe and debilitating injuries a person can experience. These injuries often result in permanent changes to a person’s physical abilities, requiring lifelong adjustments in how they live, work, and interact with the world around them. Individuals with spinal cord injuries may face mobility challenges and loss of sensation and may need specialized care to manage everyday tasks.

Types of Spinal Cord Injuries 

There are two main types of spinal cord injuries:

• Complete Spinal Cord Injury: This type of injury leads to the complete loss of sensation and movement beneath the injury site. It can result in complete paralysis, impacting both the upper and lower body, which may lead to conditions such as quadriplegia (loss of function in all four limbs) or paraplegia (loss of function in the lower limbs).
• Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury: This occurs when some communication between the brain and the body remains intact. While function may be impaired, there is potential for recovery, and individuals might regain partial movement or sensation below the injury level. Rehabilitation plays a key role in improving outcomes. 

Common Complications of Spinal Cord Injuries

Spinal cord injuries can lead to a combination of complications beyond the loss of mobility, such as:

• Respiratory Issues: High cervical spinal injuries can impair the diaphragm, leading to breathing difficulties.
• Loss of Bowel and Bladder Control: Many spinal injury victims suffer from incontinence and require long-term management strategies.
• Chronic Pain and Spasms: Damage to the spinal cord often results in intense, long-term pain and muscle spasms, which may require ongoing medical treatment.
• Pressure Sores and Skin Issues: Prolonged immobility can lead to pressure sores, which can be challenging to manage and may lead to infections.

What Damages Could Be Recovered in a Brain & Spinal Cord Injury Claim?

Severe brain and spinal cord injuries can last a lifetime. Our personal injury attorneys work diligently to obtain the best compensation. Potential damages include:

• Medical expenses
• Cost of future medical care, rehabilitation, and personal care
• Lost wages and future income
• Pain and suffering
• Disability and loss of quality of life

To calculate the full extent of the damages, we retain reliable experts to develop a comprehensive life-care plan that documents the full extent of the financial and emotional losses. Whether negotiating with the insurance company or pursuing your case at trial, we aggressively fight for your right to full and fair compensation.

What Is Missouri's Statute of Limitations for Brain & Spinal Cord Injury Claims?

In the state of Missouri, the statute of limitations for personal injury lawsuits, including those related to brain and spinal cord injuries, is generally five years. This means that you typically have five years from the date of the injury to file a lawsuit.

However, it is essential to be aware that there may be exceptions or nuances that could affect the time limit in your case. Additionally, the discovery rule may come into play, extending the time limit if the injury was not immediately apparent or the injured party could not have reasonably known about the injury. Failure to file a claim within that time frame could lead to a missed opportunity to seek legal action.

Why Hire Lowther Johnson Attorneys at Law, LLC in Springfield

There are many personal injury law firms in the Springfield area, but not all are equipped to handle the complexities of severe injury cases. Catastrophic injuries are life-changing, so many considerations must be taken into account when calculating damages. For example, an injured person may need years of physical therapy or around-the-clock care. They may be unable to work to support themselves and their families, temporarily or permanently, so lost wages (present and future) must be calculated. There are tangible things like medical bills to consider, as well as intangible but still very real concerns like pain and suffering and mental anguish that also demand compensation.

To stand the best chance of collecting maximum compensation, you need to work with a firm that is highly familiar with catastrophic injury cases and has the time and resources to investigate your case thoroughly. Our firm is backed by a history of results, having secured millions of dollars in verdicts and settlements for the injured since 1975.

When you choose our Springfield firm after a serious brain or spinal cord injury, you benefit from:

• Deep local experience. We have served injured people in Springfield, Greene County, and communities across Missouri for decades, so we understand how local courts and insurers typically handle catastrophic injury claims.
• A team-based approach. Our attorneys work closely with skilled staff to manage records, deadlines, and communication so that complex cases move forward efficiently and details are not overlooked.
• Resources for complex injuries. We have the capacity to work with appropriate professionals, develop thorough life-care plans, and present the long-term impact of a brain or spinal cord injury in a clear and organized way.
• Personal attention. We take the time to learn how your injury has affected your daily life and tailor our strategy to your specific medical needs, work situation, and family circumstances.

When you work with us on a serious brain or spinal cord claim, we take the time to understand how your injury has changed your day-to-day life in Springfield and beyond. We draw on our team of attorneys, paralegals, and support staff to gather medical records, consult with treating providers, and obtain opinions from appropriate professionals so your story is fully presented. Because we routinely appear in Greene County courts and other Missouri venues, we know how local judges and juries tend to view complex injury cases, and we use that knowledge to prepare your claim carefully from the start.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do I have to file a brain or spinal cord injury claim in Missouri? 

In Missouri, the statute of limitations for personal injury claims is generally five years from the date of the accident causing your injury. However, certain circumstances, such as cases involving government entities or medical malpractice, may have significantly shorter deadlines. Consulting an attorney promptly helps preserve your rights and ensures critical evidence is not lost.

What compensation can I recover for a severe brain or spinal cord injury? 

Victims of catastrophic injuries in Springfield can pursue compensation for both economic and non-economic damages. This typically includes current and future medical expenses, lost wages, diminished earning capacity, home modifications, and pain and suffering. We work closely with medical experts and life care planners to calculate the full financial impact of your condition.

Will my brain or spinal cord injury case go to trial in Springfield? 

While many personal injury cases settle out of court, brain and spinal cord injury claims often require aggressive litigation due to the substantial compensation involved. Insurance companies may refuse to offer a fair settlement that covers lifelong care. Our attorneys prepare every case as if it will go to trial to maximize your chances of a full and fair recovery.

Can I still recover damages if I was partially at fault for the accident? 

Yes, Missouri follows a pure comparative fault system, meaning you can still recover damages even if you share some blame for the incident. Your total compensation will simply be reduced by your percentage of fault. We aggressively defend against insurance company attempts to unfairly shift the blame onto you.

How do I pay for a brain and spinal cord injury attorney? 

At Lowther Johnson Attorneys at Law, LLC, we handle catastrophic injury cases on a contingency fee basis. This means you do not pay any upfront legal costs or hourly fees for our representation. We only collect a fee if we successfully recover a settlement or jury verdict on your behalf.

Who can be held liable for my traumatic brain or spinal cord injury? 

Liability depends entirely on how the injury occurred, whether from a commercial truck collision, a workplace accident, or a dangerous property condition. Multiple parties could be held responsible, including negligent drivers, trucking companies, property owners, or equipment manufacturers. A thorough investigation of your accident in Springfield will identify every liable party to maximize your potential recovery.

Contact Our Springfield Brain & Spinal Injury Lawyer Today

If you or your loved one suffered a severe brain or spinal cord injury, Lowther Johnson Attorneys at Law, LLC is equipped to investigate your claim and fight aggressively on your behalf. Our Springfield office is conveniently located on the 20th floor of the Hammons Tower, across from the federal courthouse and Springfield Cardinals stadium.

Call our office today at (417) 557-3407 or contact us online to schedule a free initial consultation with our Springfield brain & spinal cord injury attorneys!